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Susan Butcher dominated Iditarod, became pioneer

Freedman, Lew

2006

Overview

[Susan Butcher] eventually moved to the Alaska bush. While training dogs she hardened herself by living without electricity or running water, nearly always alone. Later, she gravitated to Joe Redington Sr., founder of the Iditarod, training on his family's property north of Anchorage. Redington became a mentor and identified the resolve, determination and boldness in Butcher that would make her a champion. In what most considered a crazy stunt, Redington, Butcher, famed Mt. McKinley guide Ray Genet and a photographer completed an extreme adventure, driving dog teams to the 20,320-foot summit of the highest mountain in North America in 1979. Butcher had made her Iditarod debut in 1978, finishing 19th. By 1984, when she placed second, it was assumed she would become the first woman to invade the men-only club of champions. Women in few sports compete on equal footing with men and fewer still beat them head-to-head repeatedly. Butcher's fame spread and many Americans who did not recall Butcher's name called her \"That woman in Alaska who always wins that race.\" Although Butcher retired in 1994 to start a family, many in the Lower 48 still thought she was racing.

• Publisher: Tribune Content Agency LLC
• Subject: Butcher, Susan / Monson, David / Redington, Joe / Riddles, Libby