Seppala

Alaskan Dog Driver

De: Elizabeth M. Ricker, Leonhard Seppala

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

The Incredible True Account of Leonhard Seppala and Togo's Life of Adventure in Alaska and the Far North.

Leonhard Seppala a legend throughout Alaska, got his introduction to the dogsled as a musher for the Pioneer Mining Company during his first winter there. Where he was presented with his first team—a batch of puppies brought back from Siberia for use on an expedition to the North Pole by the arctic explorer Roald Amundsen and presented to Seppala when Amundsen canceled the expedition. It was with this pack of Siberian huskies led by Suggen, that Seppala made history in the All-Alaska Sweepstakes race.

This was the golden age of the dogsled, and the All-Alaska Sweepstakes was the first notable race of its kind. A precursor to the Iditarod, the sweepstakes was a run from Nome to Candle, Alaska; then back to Nome, a journey of 408 miles along the Bering Strait.

In this no-holds-barred race Leonhard Seppala was a diamond in the rough. A diminutive in size, dominative in spirit Norwegian, he took his huskies to the finish without ever whipping them once, a concept that was unheard of in those days. With his faith in the dog’s love for running and his exceptional care and handling Seppala went on to win the Sweepstakes three years in a row, as well as establishing the best time in the history of the race. He set a precedent that would continue to the modern age of dogsled races such as the Iditarod—a 1,049-mile race that commemorates the route of the 1925 serum run in which Seppala and his lead dog Togo played a crucial role.

During the bitter cold December of 1925, a horrific diphtheria epidemic gripped Nome. In this remote Alaskan outpost of 10,000 people the mortality rate from the disease was predicted to be close to 100% and the only way to combat it was to receive antitoxins. If this wasn’t bad enough, the only method of transportation to Nome in the dead of winter is by dog sled, and the distance much too far for it to be done alone.

A relay of dog teams and drivers was quickly organized, and the 674-mile brutal journey to save a city was begun. From Nenana to Nome normally a 30-day trip, the heroic mushers and dogs did it in six.

There is much to be said about the serum run and the truly exceptional dog “Togo” and his greatest and last run there. But it is best left to Seppala himself to tell the story.

Written in 1930, this biography of the exceptional man is the only first-hand account of his life.

Not bad for virtual voice

I would have liked less detail on his childhood in Norway and more detail on his time in Alaska.

Great story but lacks human emotion

I was torn about listening to a book that is A.I. read but this story is an important one to me so I listened. I am grateful for the information but it so lacks emotion. Adventure books need the human element. This could have been so much better.

Good story, would prefer human narration

The AI voice left much to be desired in my opinion. Mispronounced some words and lacked the emotion needed to deliver this story

An Amazing Firsthand, True Account That Should Be Heard By All.

Thank you, Audible, for publishing this book in audio form, as the book is no longer printed, and the copies that are still in existence are greatly expensive. Leonhard Seppala’s story is outstanding and one that should be heard by all. Any one who even has a slight interest in Alaska or in the interest of sled dogs should listen to Seppala’s account. The last chapter is dedicated to Togo and the Nome serum run, the middle chapters about 9 though 14 are tales from his dog racing career (the best parts of the book as I already knew the spectacular truth of Togo), and the first several chapters are of Leonhard’s early life and upbringing, a very hard life style in the late 1800s/early 1900s, which doesn’t seem to even phase him at all. What an inspiration he was and his miraculous dog team, especially Togo. The book is from his own perspective, with Elizabeth Ricker getting his words onto paper, which for me makes it that much better, as if he is speaking to you and telling you his story. It is read in an automated voice, which doesn’t bother me as the book is so good I don’t even care about that. To other listeners who are not fond of the nonhuman voice, don’t let it defer you from this one. Just this once. ;)