Balto and the Great Race

Balto and the Great Race is a real-life story of humans and dogs versus nature and an example of what is possible when The Bond Between Dogs and Humans overpowers all odds of failure. The task of transporting the essential serum to the western Alaskan city of Nome during the throes of a brutal winter was dangerous and carried slim odds of success, and it was largely due to the developed trust between the mushers and their dogs that the serum was transported successfully. It was Kaasen’s intuition and trust in Balto that allowed him to see Balto’s eagerness to lead the team, and it was Balto’s intuition that led them through the dark blizzard to Nome. The story became a national sensation and inspirational message of courage, hope, and Perseverance in the Face of Great Obstacles. All of this is why Balto’s story continues to be relevant today, and why children and adults alike continue to identify with his devotion and strength. An illustration shows the many newspaper articles that were published across the country that brought fame to the dogs and mushers of Alaska and their unbelievable determination.

Although Kimmel’s story focuses on Balto and Kaasen’s team, she also points out the contributions of the other 19 teams who participated. Included in the story is an excerpt about Seppala’s feelings toward Balto’s fame, which he struggled with for the rest of his life: “He felt as if one of his children had been rewarded over another” (87). Seppala saw Balto’s success as deserved, but believed it was not Balto alone who deserved this recognition. His own lead dog, Togo, was also a fierce Leader who traversed over 250 miles with his team in the effort to transport the serum. While Balto is the main focus of the story and the dog who was immortalized in both statue and stuffed mount, Seppala’s concern reminds readers that the journey was a wider team effort. In many ways, Balto became the feature and forefront of the story due to the way he surprised Kaasen and the people of Nome by being a natural leader. Years of experience with both Kaasen and Seppala led Balto to a point where he became part of the landscape, fully confident in his ability to navigate it.

In the novel’s denouement, Kimmel describes the years after the Serum Run and the rest of Balto’s life. She initially cites an article that claims Balto died shortly after the run: “On February 9, 1925, the New York Times ran a story that caused hearts to sink across the country. The headline read BALTO, DOG HERO OF THE DASH TO NOME, IS DEAD.” (87). She follows this with, “In fact, Balto was very much alive and in extremely good health” (87). In the author’s note, Kimmel mentions how difficult it was to find reliable information on the Serum Run. Many newspapers published conflicting dates and locations, and in some cases, more extreme examples such as the one above even led people to think tragedy had struck. Such was a symptom of the lack of modern telecommunication available in Alaska in the 1920s, which continues to be an issue in many parts of the state today. Balto’s life “completed a circle he had begun in Alaska in 1925” (93). The run is further immortalized by the Iditarod Race which takes place yearly.