The Cruelest Miles

The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic

By: Gay Salisbury, Laney Salisbury

Narrated by: Barrett Whitener

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

The year is 1925. It is sixty degrees below zero. The wind sweeps tons of snow over the deep-frozen Alaskan landscape. The nearest railhead is seven hundred miles away. Airplanes cannot fly. The way to Nome is blocked by a treacherous frozen sound, an icebound port, and mountains to the west. But there is a diphtheria epidemic in Nome. The children need serum from the outside world if they are to survive. Their only hope is a few chosen Eskimo drivers and their teams of dogs, who must make a relay race across the wilderness if the serum is to get to Nome in time. The heroism and stamina of the men and their dogs can only be called legendary. Now, their story can be told.

©2003 Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury (P)2003 Books On Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is an elegantly written book, inspiring tremendous respect for the hardy mushers and their canine partners." (Publishers Weekly)
"The Salisburys have written an amazing story of endurance and courage." (Booklist)
"Margot Dionne delivers this mind-numbing experience in a calm voice, allowing the words to convey the terror and agony that characterized the journey." (AudioFile)

Dogs in the lead

I enjoyed this book and learning about how and why Alaskans love their dogs so much.

Alaskan Dogs Race the Grim Reaper -- Dogs Win!

1925. Nome, Alaska. Diptheria epidemic. No roads lead to Nome. Norton Sound was iced in. No ships could make it there either. It was on the front pages across the nation for more than a week. One United Press headine read: "Nome situation critical. All hope rests on dogs."

There were other options than relying on a prehistoric means of transportation to get the medicine to Nome, mainly flying in. But with temperatures and wind chills at more than 80 below, that option with an open cockpit biplane and snow storms was fool hardy.

So the dogs it was. A relay of 20 mushers running the medicine more than 600 miles through hazards incomprehensible to those who did not live through it, or read the story. Through a blizzard, windchill factor 82 degrees below zero, across the shifting ice of Norton Sound, and . . . . You'll have to read the story.

And the story wonderfully tells the backstory of the mushers, the dogs, the geography, and how the epidemic started. You have to know these backstories to understand why sane men would do what they did, such as one musher did crossing Norton Sound, risking floating out to sea on shifting ice. But his daughter was in Nome too.

Coldest winter in 20 years. Frostbite, amputation, and death -- all part of the job if you were not careful.

A wonderful true life adventure, wonderfully told, and well read in a matter of fact manner which to me brings out the mushers' extraordinary courage and accomplishments. To the mushers, it probably was more matter of fact. Which tells you much about them.

Great Adventure

Dogs and mushers race time, the cold, and bitter storms to bring life-saving serum to Nome. A true and exciting story. Narration is excellent.

Narrator mispronounces “slough”

He says “sluff” when the pronunciation of slough in this case would be “slew.” The story is absolutely fantastic though.

Chilling!

This is one of the best listens in my 3+ years of audio-book listening. It is extremely well-read, has wonderful flow, and includes lots and lots of relative facts and detail which serve to enlighten the tale and not bog it down. The events and people are fascinating and inspiring, and the history is amazing -- sometimes hard to believe that it all actually occurred in the early 20th century, at a time when most of the country (lower 48) enjoyed modern luxuries and forms of transportation.

I found this book so fascinating, that I purchased the written volume also, and my young son and I read along/listened to the entire thing for a history lesson. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Alaska, sled dogs, or simply a fascinating event in American history.

Compelling true story

Facinating true account of the Nome serum dog run. The author makes history come alive, particularly the history of the sled dogs and their mushers. The information on the breeding and training of these working dogs was detailed and very interesting, as was the information on the politics and people behind the serum drive. Great compelling listen

Shirley

beautifully narrated and written. The history about the Alaskan natives and the wonderful dogs was awe-inspiring. I never knew of such deep commitment from a group of people and their dogs to exist. Touching, tear jearking, and awesome true story preserved for us. Now this wuld have been a history lesson worth sitting in class and taking notes! I enjoyed every second of this history rich and interesting book. A must read!

Heroism and loyalty between man and dog

This story leaves me stunned at the heart, loyalty, reasoning and determination of these dogs and their mushers. Amazing story that is too good not to pass down from generation to generation. A tour guide in Alaska told us a few tidbits of this amazing race to save lives. It left me wanting to learn more. I’m glad I did.

Adventure...History...Dogs...

This audio book had it all!! A must read/listen to account of the heroic challenge to save the town of Nome during the 1925 Diphtheria epidemic. If you like adventure, history, dogs, true grit and determination you’ll be love this book!

Fascinating story

Authors clearly researched details. Felt almost like I was on the trails with the sled teams because the descriptions were so vivid. Narrator is great.