Boy howdy, have we been having a cold snap here in the Susitna Valley this past week! Overnight lows have been pushing 30 below, and that’s a tad unusual for late February and early March – although far from unexpected. The main impact that this has on us in our homestead is that a huge flock of redpolls has descended on our sunflower seed feeder, meaning that I’m filling it up every day instead of once or twice a week.
That’s all right. They need the energy. And, it never hurts to be neighborly; you never know when having a flock of small seed-eating birds owing you a favor may come in handy.
Now, this week it’s dog week! The Iron Dog winners for this year have been announced!
For the fourth time as teammates, Tyler Aklestad and Nick Olstad are Iron Dog champions. The veteran team thundered into the parking lot of Pike’s Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks to screaming fans and applause as their families waited at the end of the chute.
The win secured the veteran duo a place in Iron Dog history as they became the winningest pairing in the event’s 41-year history. With the victory, they surpassed the three consecutive wins by John Faeo and Dan Zipay from 1986 to 1988, as well as the three straight titles earned by Scott Davis and Mark Carr from 1997 to 1999.
Aklestad and Olstad’s carbon fiber clad Ski-Doos navigated the Iron Dog’s 2,318 mile course with an unofficial time of 51:25:26, good for an average course speed of 45.08 mph.
“This one is going to have a lot of stories that go with it, but it feels good to be here and feels good to be here first,” Aklestad said moments after crossing the finish line.
This year’s course set off from Big Lake and made stops in Kotzebue and Nome before heading east to Fairbanks for the finish. There were 23 official village checkpoints along with numerous unofficial village stops, like Golovin near Western Alaska’s Norton Sound.
These are tough people driving tough machines through a tough environment, with no warm, comfy hotel room at the end of the day. It’s a uniquely Alaskan event, even so.
Alaska Man score: 5 snow machines in need of an oil change.
Read More: Alaska Man Monday – Dogs Both Iron and Flesh, Volcanoes, and Weather
Speaking of dogs: Good boy! Good boy!
A 31-year-old man who police say brandished a knife while attempting to walk away from a midtown gas station with stolen merchandise was arrested and charged with theft, among other charges.
The Anchorage Police Department said Daquan Ziegler was caught by a K9 officer named Rylin late Wednesday night after Ziegler ran from the Circle K gas station and convenience store on the corner of C Street and West 36th Avenue.
Police said Ziegler was initially seen by witnesses putting merchandise in his pockets and backpack around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.
When a store employee confronted him at the front entrance, Ziegler — who police say was armed with a fixed-blade knife — reportedly shoved the employee and ran. Both Ziegler and the employee suffered minor injuries from the altercation.
Police caught up to Ziegler about a block away at 36th Avenue and Eureka Street, where officers say he ignored commands to stop.
At that point, police say Rylin was deployed to apprehend Ziegler, who suffered minor injuries from the dog.
Police dogs are often unsung heroes. We all know, even if we don’t care to think about it too much, that the dog is meant to take a bullet or knife that may have otherwise hit the officer. But these dogs are hard-working and brave, just like their handlers. We’re happy that Rylin came out of this unscathed; as for the goblin, if he got chawed on a little, well, no problem. He had it coming.
Alaska Man score: 5 big juicy beef bones for Rylin.
Read More: Alaska Man Monday: Dumb Crooks and Dumb Ideas
Now then: This week, in my weekly Alaska Man Monday video segment, we talk about grouse. Also, check out all my Alaska Man shorts!
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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