Interview with Balto, Son of Aniu and Alosaka; December 6, 1928

INTERVIEWER: Good evening everyone and welcome. Now this evening we have someone who is to become a legend in his own time. Someone who showed the world that anyone can make a difference if you just believe that you can do anything. Someone who defied all the odds and battled through the impossible to save the lives of those who did not deserve to die. He is also a teacher and a wonderful father; and he has helped his children to find their destiny and show them how important friends and family are to this world. We know him as the dog with "Endurance, Fidelity, and Intelligence". The most famous dog in the world. Ladies and gentleman please welcome our guest this evening: The one and only hero of the town of Nome, Alaska: BALTO!!

BALTO: Good evening.

Good evening, Balto. It is an honor to have you with us on the show.

It is an honor to be here, thank you.

Okay, first; whereabouts were you born?

I was born high in the mountains some distance east of Nome.  I think that it was somewhere near Eagle Pass. The wolf pack that my parents and I lived in consisted of about 12 wolves. My mother and father only had me, so far as I know. I was their only child. I remember that my mother was as white as snow, and she had words of such wisdom, heart, and loyalty. She made me feel so safe. As for my father, I never really knew him. Apparently he had been kicked out of the pack by the other wolves shortly before or after I was born. I was then told that he had traveled back to his home town in Nome, where he belonged. He was a husky, it turned out, and my mother was indeed a wolf, so I knew that I was half wolf, half husky.

I understand that you never really knew much about your mother because you got separated from her when you were young, but what did you remember about her?

I remember that she was as white as snow. She was known by many as “The White Wolf”, or “The Great Aniu”. She was the only one who was there for me for the first half a year that I was born. Every night when I went to sleep she would sing me these beautiful lullabies, which would put me to sleep even before she finished the songs. The most common lullaby was a song called “Reach For The Light”, which I remember had the words: “Stand on a mountaintop and see yourself flying” and “Come out of the darkness and find out who you are”. The words in the song were so special, because they were basically saying to get away from what you are afraid of and find in yourself who you really are so that you can make a difference if you just believe. Her warm, gentle voice made me feel so safe. She spoke words of wisdom and nobility; and every time that I felt sad and lonely, she was always there to dry my tears and comfort me. Deep down inside, I believe that she was the perfect mother. She also had this sense of guiding those in need, and to assist others to make their lives worth living.

Did your mother ever tell you anything about your father?

I only wish I could recall every single detail about him that my mother told me, but I was too young to remember. What I do remember from her, however, was that my father’s name was Alosaka, and that he was the lead dog of a sled team. He was a pure bred Siberian husky who was about three years of age when he met my mother.

Did your mother mention how they met?

From what I remember, he was running with the sled team in blizzard conditions in the middle of winter in 1922, but they got lost and buried in the snow near Eagle Pass. Aniu found him barely alive in the middle of the blizzard, and the rest of the team had frozen to death, including their musher. How he was able to withstand exposure to the deadly storm before his rescue, I have no idea. Anyway, Aniu took him into the cave and started to take care of him, but also immediately began having feelings for him. The other wolves saw that he was indeed a husky, and suggested that he did not belong. Aniu protested but the other wolves banished both him and her from the pack. They needed each other because Alosaka loved her like he had never loved anyone before, and Aniu saw him as someone completely different to anyone else: Someone who would love her and support her in the way that she deserved to be supported. Therefore they moved into an abandoned cave around Eagle Pass, and lived together as a two-numbered wolf pack.

Can you remember how your father banished?

The only thing I remember from my mother’s words is that members of her former pack chased him away from the wilderness of the wild just after I was born. Apparently they found out that they had a pup; or pups if more than just me, but I can’t remember any of them if it is true; and banished Alosaka because of what he had done. Technically, it is against the protocol of wolves to mate with dogs. After he was banished, Aniu was left to look after me by herself.

How long were you with her until you were separated?

I was only around half a year old, so it must have been around six months.

What were you thinking at the time when your mother told you that you were in fact a hybrid?

Well first I’ll tell you what she said to me. She told me that my father was in fact a husky, and the fact that because of whom I had become; a hybrid; it might be difficult for me to be accepted into the world. Others might despise me for my crossbreed heritage of wolf and husky and see that I don’t belong with them; especially in the human world where humans would attack and kill me and never accept me as a pet. After she told me that, I started to feel extremely scared about the bad life that was expected to come for me. However, she told me that on the inside there was nothing wrong with me and that there was a way to get through despite who I was. She said to me that you cannot let anyone judge you because of who you are. You must look at yourself on the inside and believe that you are capable of finding a way to become accepted. You just have to believe in yourself and have faith, and then you can do anything. You have to show everyone what you are made of and what you can do. If you can do that, others will think better of you. It was certainly better said than done, that’s for sure, but she strongly believed that I was capable of anything. That is another thing I admired about my mother; her faith. If you don’t have faith in life, you will never be able to get through. I knew then that it was going to be a very tough uphill climb, but because of my mother’s belief in me, I started to become more confident about myself.

How did you and your mother get separated?

It was the day after mother told me about my wolf heritage. It was a stormy night in the mountains in the middle of springtime; when suddenly four wolves decided to invade our cave for shelter and territory. Aniu grabbed me in her mouth while the wolves chased us away. She ran on for a while until she started to get tired. She couldn’t run any faster and the wolves eventually caught up with her and pinned her down. I flew out from her grip and into the snow; and then mother was chased further away in another direction away from me. Feeling the shock that had just occurred and the fact that I had lost her, I gave myself up, lay down in the snow and fainted. I don’t remember anything else. Those wolves probably killed her or chased her away somewhere. I had no idea what happened to her since. I know that she has passed on now but I still don’t know if she lived on for a little while longer or those wolves killed her.

What happened when you regained consciousness?

I was lying on an old abandoned boat on the outskirts of a small town near the ocean, which was Nome, and next to me was this white Russian accented snow goose, called Boris. He looked at me as if he was a concerned parent hoping that I wasn’t dead, and he told me everything that happened. Apparently he had been flying through the snow and found me unconscious. He then picked me up and flew towards the town of Nome with me on his back. I think that he took me there because he was living in Nome for the rest of his life for some reason and he thought that this was the safest place for me to be because it was risky being out in the wilderness on my own. He said that he couldn’t just leave me out there to die. He then asked me where I came from; and I told him everything about my mother and father’s union together; what mother told me about my heritage; and then finished with the separation. He really felt sorry for me about what I had gone through, and he promised to take care of me while I was still young. He really insisted because through his life back at home in Russia and here in the United States of America, he never got the chance to love someone; let alone have children of his own; and he saw a possible sibling in me. So he became my adopted father and I became his adopted son and he and I both lived on the abandoned boat while I was growing up.

What was it like growing up and being raised by a goose?

Well for one thing, it is really a wonder why I don’t honk instead of bark after being with him for so long (laughs). For another thing, it seemed to be a very special connection between us. He seemed to be a pain in the butt at certain times because of the things he would say or do to annoy me, but I just took it as it came because I knew that he was just trying to be a good father, and I was trying to be a good son to him. We both saw that in each other’s eyes and respected each other for it. He showed me how to get a feed in; whether it was catching fish by the sea or stealing from the butcher, which I would rather NOT do again; played games with me; took me walking; helped me to cheer up when I was down; and helped me get to sleep and times when I couldn’t. He would also teach me the right ways of life and the correct paths to follow. I saw great wisdom and nobility in his eyes, and I admired him for that. What I think he saw in me was how open hearted I seemed to everybody and how I would never turn against anyone, or even fight them for that matter, even if some of them did seem like enemies. I never wanted to do anything to make my parents or any of my friends disapprove of me for bad or unwise things that I might have done; and since Boris was a parent of my own, I based that on him as well. He really admired me for that, and said that I was the perfect son for anyone, even if some of them did seem different or even thought differently about me. He added that the important thing to understand is that the only difference you will see is on the outside; when on the inside there is much more that what you think, and that is where it comes from: The real truth about anybody; which is who they truly are. Anyway, for almost a year he raised me, and I loved him like I had never loved anyone before. He really felt the same for me. He said that if he couldn’t have anyone to love, he could at least have me, and that was all that mattered to him. To have someone who he could love would keep him alive, and I felt the same for him. It was really that strong family connection that we shared while growing up together which kept us alive. I will always love him as a father. He will always be known to me as the father that I never had.

You also grew up with those polar bears, Muk and Luk, because it seemed that Boris was taking care of them as well. They were both mentally challenged and they seemed to be annoying to him. Did you feel the same way about them?

Look, to tell you the truth, they were really amusing to me. Their stupidity just got the best of laughs out of me and I know that they were just trying to be friendly. They would do some pretty silly and annoying things at times like playing games that didn’t quite appeal to Boris and I and continuously hug us in a friendly fashion, but in the end it was that sort of family connection that they wanted out of us; and I saw that sort of “brotherly love” in them. So in short, they were just so amusing and loving that I really couldn’t help admiring them. Boris, on the other hand, was a little more sensitive. They both referred him to as their “Uncle Boris” because he took care of them both and they loved him for it, but they both drove him crazy and he couldn’t stop scolding them for their stupidity. He was like a very strict parent who wanted to see the mature side of everyone and not put up with the stress of immaturity. But no matter how old they got, their mental side just wouldn’t leave them, and that is how they will always be. They cannot be changed. Boris understands that and just has to continue to put up with them.

Did you ever go into town much?

It was really something that I couldn’t help doing because I wanted to see the sights of town and even attempt to make new friends. I especially loved to watch the dog sled races that were held annually in town, because I was very passionate about racing, like my father. But I knew that going into town wasn’t safe because humans and other dogs would see the wolf side about me and they would tease and hurt me, or even kick me out of town. Boris was never comfortable about going into town either, because humans eat geese and he was scared that a human would take his head off. Anyway, as it turned out, many dogs didn’t trust me and wouldn’t talk to me. Some said that I didn’t belong in their world and that I should go back and join a wolf pack. Either they were saying that to make fun of me or they were saying that as a manner of wisdom in me to make the right choice about belonging. As for the humans, they just kept kicking me and chasing me away. They were never fooled by my appearance and they knew immediately what they had to do. Luckily I was never hunted though, because hunting dogs and wolves is supposed to be illegal in Alaska. It was exactly what I expected from what my mother taught me about what I would have to put up with being a hybrid.

What were you feeling about being prejudiced against?

It was very painful and it hurt my feelings. Every night I just kept thinking about making the choice of staying or leaving to join another wolf pack; and if I made the wrong choice, I would be better off dead. But it was hard for me to go back to the wolves because I was afraid that they would treat me just the same as the humans and dogs of the town, and I would never be accepted as a hybrid. But over time I kept thinking again and again what my mother had told me I must do to become accepted. It was hard trying to figure out what to do, but I couldn’t give up. I just had to keep the faith and keep believing. That included giving others time to see my true side. If they could eventually see that, maybe they would change the way that they see things.

Was there anyone who did see your true side?

Mainly Jenna and her owner Rosie; who was one of the children struck down by diphtheria at the time. Jenna was someone who never judged anyone by appearance and saw who they were on the inside. She felt for me every time I was being picked on and saw the innocence within my eyes. She would even tell the others to leave me alone, even if she knew they would ignore her and continue to play games with me. After seeing her beauty as well as how much she stood up for me, I started having feelings for her, and I wanted to tell her how I felt. As for Rosie, she was the same as Jenna. She saw that I wouldn’t hurt anybody and considered me a dog that deserves to have a home of his own. She wanted to play with me but her parents kept kicking me away from her. They never trusted me. It wasn’t fair at all. Why couldn’t they see the true side of me like their own dog and daughter? It just didn’t make sense. So it was mainly their belief in me that kept me going.

Of all the dogs and humans who prejudiced against you, Steele picked on you and hurt you more than anyone. Was there something about him that made his heart so black?

I think that it was mainly his passion for racing and the fact that he was the famous sled racing dog of the town of Nome. Everyone admired him for his fame; and Steele took advantage of that. His fame put so much pride into him that he kept thinking too much about himself and not others. He was just so proud about being popular that he forgot about friendship and loyalty. No one else seemed to notice though. And on that day where Steele and his team won another race for the third year in a row, I ran alongside him and his team just to get Rosie’s hat from the finish line; and I outran him. His Norwegian musher, Gunnar Kaasen, mentioned that Steele was loosing his edge and that any other dog could outrun him. I think that he was starting to feel threatened by me and that I might steal his thunder. He really loved his job and he didn’t want anyone to take anything away from him, especially not someone with wolf blood. That is why his prejudice grew stronger against me, and he did some things that turned everyone against me. I really wanted to tear him apart and be free from his prejudice, but other dogs were watching out for him; and if they saw me fighting Steele, they would really see the wolf in me and would try to banish or even kill me. I just couldn’t let the wolf in me get out, metaphorically speaking, or else no one would accept me. So with Steele, he would never accept me for who I was because he was controlled by his pride and his greed. I really didn’t know why Steele acted that way, but there must have been a reasonable explanation; if only I knew what it was.

Where did you first get the idea of the “Northern Lights” and were they used for anything in particular?

Well first of all it’s really something that I came up with myself. When I was about a year old I explored around Nome and found this boiler room in the middle of town; and inside there was this other entrance to an underground area below the floorboards of other buildings. This led to the underground of the floors of the town hospital, where open floor grids allowed visibility to the insides of buildings. This place was certainly good enough for eavesdropping on what humans would have to say for one thing. Pretty cheeky thing to do though (Laughs). Anyway, it was this place where I found broken coloured bottles. I really didn’t know how they got under there. I then saw inside the building from the floor grid a lantern shinning. That then got me thinking about how the sunlight deflects off the polar ice caps and makes the coloured lights of the Aurora borealis. Of course at high latitude near the North Pole where we are on the earth, this is the only place to see the Aurora borealis; and of course if you are near the South Pole you would see the Aurora australis. Anyway, I got this idea that if you put the lights closer to the coloured broken bottles, the beam will shine through the bottles and illuminate the walls with the coloured lights of the Aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights. I tested it and it worked, just like how the sun and the ice caps make up the lights. I then thought that they might be useful in lighting up the dark of night and providing a light for those who needed to find their way. I showed the Northern Lights to Jenna on our first date under the building, and she thought it was beautiful. I think that she was starting to have feelings for me soon after because I was showing her something beautiful and trying to tell her that I loved her. Anyway, after showing her the lights I told her that it would be a guide and a symbol for those who needed to find their way when all lights went out. They turned out to be quite useful when we needed to find our way back to Nome with the life saving medicine.

What were your thoughts when you first heard about the outbreak of diphtheria in the town?

Well I was in town one night asking Jenna if she would like to catch up with me and I saw her looking through the window of the town hospital; where her owner Rosie was being examined by the doctor. She had a really horrible cough and high fever; and the doctor said that it was diphtheria, which was an extremely deadly epidemic that takes the life of children. The doctor was out of antitoxin and he requested more from the town of Anchorage in southern Alaska; but weather conditions were so fierce that they couldn’t ship it across sea because the Bering Straits were frozen over, and planes could not handle the strong winds in the air. The train that carried the antitoxin could only go to Nenana because there wasn’t a rail line that ran to Nome; and as a matter of fact there isn’t even a road that leads into Nome. Therefore they ordered the fastest sled dogs to carry the antitoxin from Nenana to Nome. Now at this time I was really starting to feel scared for the stricken children; especially little Rosie because she was the owner of the dog who I was in love with and she was one of the only ones who believed in me. I didn’t want to see someone so young; let alone many so young; die in a horrible and unfair way. The old saying, “too young to die” fits the situation perfectly. The young must be able to live to see a fair age before they pass on, and this was definitely one of the worst ways to die. I then thought that if they are sending a sled team to collect the antitoxin and they are holding a race to determine who would be on that team; this could be my opportunity to prove myself to everyone. If I could be apart of the sled team that ran the serum to the stricken town to save innocent lives, others might start looking up to me and not treat me like an outcast any more. I really wanted to be apart of a sled team all my life because I have a passion for racing; and mainly because it runs through the other side of my family: My father; Alosaka. In short, it was a chance to live my dream, make my parents proud, and prove my true side to others.

You won the race that determined who would be on the sled team and then Steele hurt you and caused you to bear your teeth to then cause the musher to mistaken it for a snap. He then couldn’t trust you and left you out of the team. How did you feel after that?

I started hating Steele more than ever. He did a really cruel and mean thing to once again turn the others against me when I was only trying to help. I really wanted to rip him to shreds, but again everyone would hate me even more for what I would have done. There was nothing I could do. I sat on my boat that night and reluctantly watched the team leave without me, and I really started to loose faith.

I feared that my chance had slipped away and there was nothing else for me to do except endure more pain and suffering for days; months; even years to come. I felt like I was at the end of my tether.

You decided to go for the sled team when you found out that they were lost. How were you able to find them?

Well first of all, Nome couldn’t send another team to find them because the weather was too severe and it would have been too dangerous. Second, there was no other dog in town as fast as the others on the team or who could track well enough. I took these factors into consideration and found that the wolf in me enabled me to pick up the scent of others by smell. I could track others down from miles away. Therefore I had to go after the team. I was the only one who was capable of finding the team and guiding them back. Just to be sure that I knew the way back and we wouldn’t loose our way again I scratched the bark off the tree trunks to mark the trail to Nome.

I just kept onto the scent of the path that they took to get to Nenana, which was mainly along the Yukon River, and found them in the mountain, which was some miles north off their scheduled route. At this point they were around 300 to 350 miles away from Nome.

Along the way you, Jenna, Boris and Muk and Luk encountered a fight with a grizzly bear, which eventually got you trapped under ice. How did that feel?

First of all, I could only hold my breath for a very short period of time before it would finally leave me before drowning. The water just kept rushing to my lungs and I couldn’t keep my eyes open before passing out. Second, the water temperature was absolutely unbearable. I was certain that the blood would rush back to my heart too quickly and cause my heart to fail because the temperature had to have been below negative degrees Fahrenheit or worse. If it was not the lack of air that killed me first, it would have definitely been cardiac arrest.

Even when Muk and Luk got me out of there I was still shivering like mad. It took me a few minutes at least and Jenna’s body temperature to warm me up and stop me from shivering.

Let me just say that dying under ice is really not a pleasant way to go. I would rather die fighting than by disease or in a frozen lake. It was really scary and I am still amazed to have lived to tell the tale.

Before you left to continue searching for the team and left the others to go back to Nome on their own, Boris mentioned to you that although a dog could not make the journey alone, a wolf probably could. What was he trying to say?

He was saying to me that there were some things that I was capable of doing that some dogs could not. It was the very wolf characteristics within my blood that could help me get through this journey. Although it was painful being an outcast because of my wolf heritage, there were some positive things about it at the same time. No matter how hard I tried to deny the wolf in me, it would always remain within my blood for the rest of my life. Therefore if I just used it the right way, I would be able to get through the most difficult of situations. As it turned out, I did. I recovered from trouble along the journey, avoided danger, and survived against the odds. So I have my wolf heritage to thank for saving my life.

When you took over as lead dog and you were leading the team through the woods, all the other trees had been scratched in their trunks and made it hard to find the correct trail. We know that Steele was responsible for attempting to sabotage the mission. Why would he have done that?

He was just in a state of jealous rage. He always had been with me. From the start he hated me for who I was and he was afraid that I was trying to steal his thunder. He was always thinking about himself and his pride, and I knew that he would rather see the entire town suffer than have his job and his fame taken away from him. He just couldn’t control his pride within himself. I knew that there was no way he was going to let a hybrid like me ruin his life. It was all just jealous rage, really.

Were you afraid of loosing your way again?

Pretty much at the time. The blizzard was still severe as ever and we had no idea where we were going. Steele had managed to scratch all the trees in the forest; there was not a single tree he wouldn’t touch.

We just kept going around in circles and got terribly close to the edge of a cliff; which I managed to fall through with the crate carrying the medicine. I now knew that there was no way to get out since the trail was completely messed up and the storm was too severe. But when I saw that the crate hadn’t broken, I remembered what Boris told me; how the wolf in me enabled me to do things that other dogs could not do. I even got some guidance from the “White Wolf”, or my mother Aniu, as I realized now. That got my hopes up immediately. I knew that the wolf in me gave me strength, endurance in running, withstanding freezing conditions and a strong sense of smell; and because of that I didn’t need to mark trails to find my way around. I could sense the scent of others including my own. I then howled along with her to tell her that I received her calling and guidance then grabbed the crate and climbed back up the cliff face, eventually making it back to the top.

It wasn’t easy at all, but I still managed to make it. As we continued along the wilderness the blizzard was still very strong, but I still managed to pick up both Steele’s and my own scent along the way. I didn’t need to worry about the trees now. As long as the scent was still there, we would make it back.

Finding the right way was only half the challenge of the battle, and you went through several other challenges throughout the mountain trail, which could have been the end of you all. What did you face that put you in such great danger?

The first challenge was crossing a very narrow and unstable ice bridge over a very steep abyss.

It started collapsing as we walked across it and we had to run to avoid falling in, but the bridge gave way just as we got to the other side and the sled, carrying our musher Gunnar Kaasen, started to fall down the cliff, taking us with it. Luckily there was a strong tree root that I managed to grab onto to hold us from slipping further. We then managed to pull the sled away from the cliff and continue on. The second challenge was outrunning an avalanche started from a loud sneeze from one of the sled dogs, Star. He sneezed so loud that the vibrations from the noise caused the snow on a steep slope to give way and cause a fast and deadly tsunami of snow to come right for us. We ran as fast as we could but the avalanche of snow was gaining speed on us and it was only a matter of seconds before it would carry us with it like a very fast-moving tsunami, and that would have been the end of us all. But I managed to spot an entrance to a cave inside the mountain, which was our only way out, and we just managed to scramble inside before the snow caught us. At the same time the massive amount of snow caved the entrance in, and the only way for us to get out was to find the other entrance to the cave. This led to the third and final challenge of getting through the ice cave unscathed. As we were walking through the cave we had to remain quiet or the icicles would give way and the entire cave would collapse. But the back half of the sled hit the ice hard after coming down a step and caused the entire cave to give way. Icicles broke from the ceiling and the sharp points hit the floor of the cave, but also came very close to stabbing us. We managed to avoid them by running as fast as we could towards the exit out of the cave. We just managed to avoid the last of the falling icicles and the cave collapsing on us near the exit before running out safe.

That was the last challenge that we faced before running another 100 or so miles safely towards the town of Nome without any more deadly challenges or distractions. I’ll tell you what though, wolf blood or no wolf blood, I am still amazed that we managed to escape from such incredible dangers despite what I was capable of. No matter how brave or lucky you are, the changes of escaping such dangers have to be about a hundred to one chance. Metaphorically speaking, we being the underdogs at a bet like that would have won people thousands to even millions of dollars (laughs). I don’t like to boast about the escape, but it still amazes me to this day that we were able cheat death and get through unscathed.

Of course everyone admired you after the job was finished and you were known as the town hero. How were you feeling at the time?

I finally felt like I had proven myself to everybody and what I was capable of. I had shown my loyalty, my heart, my courage, and my determination to everyone, and everyone else no longer picked on me for being different. They saw me as someone who would never turn his back on anybody, never give up, never think about himself, and who showed everyone what makes a true sled dog and leader. The children all looked up to me as their savior and kept saying how they would be able to see their teen and adult years to come because of me; especially Rosie; and I just felt completely flattered. Most of all, I had won over someone who meant the world to me and who was the main reason for me going on this journey: Jenna. Part of the reason why I went on the run was because of her and the suffering of her owner. At the start I thought that going on this journey was not only a chance to prove myself to everyone, but also a chance to get what I had always wanted: A loving family of my own. I love Jenna more than anything or anyone in the whole world. It was her love, affection and loyalty that have kept me going. I will always love her.

But I also love Rosie for believing in me when no one else did, and it was also because of her belief in me that kept me going. I was never going to let somebody as special and as noble as a beautiful little girl like her get taken away by something dangerous and deadly. She said to me, “Balto, I’d be lost without you”, and again it showed how much she loved and believed in me, and I really looked up to her as a member of my own family. She is one of the most special people in the world. God bless her forever.  

What happened to Steele after you returned?

From some of my sources, they described him as “positively disposable”. I immediately knew that Steele had been dumped because of what he had done: He had lied to everyone about how he was “trying to accept my help when there was not much I could do” and my supposed “death from falling over the edge of a cliff”. He tried to make it sound convincing that Steele had failed when he tried and he was sorry for the “death of everyone else”.

Everyone else believed him, but not Jenna because she always knew how disloyal, cocky, cruel, and hateful Steele really was, and she believed that I was still alive and I was coming home. Nikki, Kaltag and Star, who were apart of the team, then apparently went to Steele and did what I always wanted to do: Beat the living daylights out of him. They scratched and beat him to a bloody pulp then sent him out into the wilderness of Alaska, where he was exiled. I would have done all those things myself, but it didn’t matter to me anymore because I had already got the best of him and everyone else saw who the true villain really was. Plus I am too sensitive and loyal to fight someone; I have never liked it. So Nikki, Kaltag and Star did the job for me. Why?  Because they always looked up to Steele as a friend and a team partner; but over time they saw how full of himself he really was and how extremely obnoxious he had been to them. They were more concerned about sticking to their jobs and making good friends than hanging with Steele and even helping him to get rid of me. It now seems that the tables have turned. Anyway, they felt that Steele totally betrayed them and left them to die, and they had to get back at him for his treachery; and rightfully so.

Do you think it is possible that he will return?

Anything is possible in my point of view; and for this particular situation I have a feeling that he wants to get back at me so badly because of his pride within himself and what has happened to him because of me. He really has no one to blame but himself for what has happened to him, but I know that he will take it out on me. If he is planning to kill me then I am ready to take him on. Besides, the other dogs, and even people, have got my back. As long as they do, Steele cannot touch me. On second thought, he might try to plan the perfect time to get back at me; like when I am alone or the other dogs are not watching out for me any longer, and that is why I make sure that I do not go anywhere out of town alone. If that is his plan, I will have to be careful.

After Steele was beaten, it was apparent that you let him go with a second chance. Is that true?

Yes, it is. I have learned a lesson in life that there are good and bad people and animals in this world, and no matter whom they are, everyone deserves a second chance: The chance to think about what they have done in life and decide what they can do to make up for their mistakes and follow in the footsteps of good. I know that this might sound strange, but I kind of feel sorry for Steele in a way. I feel sorry for him to see who he has become; because I am quite sure that there is a reasonable explanation as to why he is so prideful and cocky, and why he doesn’t appreciate some for who they are. If only I could see what has made him who he is; and if only he could also see what has made him who he is. If I could find out, maybe I might be able to help him. It might be a bit of a risk, but if he wants a second chance in life, he will need help from someone. I might see him again one day, and if I do, I hope that we can settle our issues and make up.

After all the celebrations and congratulations, you were taken to New York City in eastern U.S.A, where your own bronze statue was unveiled in Central Park. How did it feel to be known as the most famous dog in the world?

I really felt lucky to be known like this. All I ever wanted to do was to find a way to be accepted and loved by everyone, but for it to come to me becoming a world icon; let alone having my own statue; is something that I would never have expected to become. It really just flatters me all the time and I feel a bit shy when others look up to me, but at the same time it makes me feel proud for fulfilling my family’s destiny as well as my own. I never wanted to brag about my fame, but it just feels great to be loved and well known by the entire world for who I am. I just want to tell everyone how much I appreciate their love and support for me. It is another thing that keeps me going and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.

Did you continue being a sled dog after the events were over?

It’s kind of funny in a way, but most of the dogs retired when it was over; even Nikki, Kaltag, and Star; who were the main veterans of the team. They felt that they had had enough of the risks and danger of running out in the wilderness of Alaska. Well, the run back to Nome certainly proved a point: That sled running can be dangerous even if it is one of the most reliable ways of transport in a treacherous climate like Alaska. Plus they had been running in the sled team for three years now, and they felt that it was getting too much for them and it was their time to let it go and live their own lives with their families, or try to start a family. What happened with me was that they offered me a long-term contract to continue as being lead dog of the team; and I have to tell you it was very hard to decline; but I decided that I would not take it. I wasn’t retiring because I still loved racing as much as any other dog, but I felt the same after the serum run: It was a bit too much for me and it was time for me to settle down for a while as well. Besides, after the serum run I had got everything that I wanted: Respect from everyone and a wonderful dog to love; which would give me the chance to start a family of my own. The point is that family is more important than anything. Whatever you love in life is never worth more than the individuals of your own blood. They always come first. So at the time I was just semi-retiring to take care of Jenna and give some time to raise my future children. After that period was over, I would then probably consider sledding again.

After you became a hero you still decided to roam on your boat instead of finding a new and comfortable home inside a house where humans might have accepted you this time. Is there any particular reason why you stayed on your boat?

Well lets just say first of all that I had been living on this boat my entire life, and because I have been living on it for so long I have thought of it as my home, event though it may not sound like much of a home. I still go and visit Jenna at her house and see my friends in the boiler room every now and then, but the old abandoned boat is where I grew up, and this is where I was raised; so I treat it as a place that I have known for so long that it becomes important to me and it cannot be left alone; and because of that it is so special in that sense. So it is really that lifelong connection that you don’t want to leave behind. It is like when you have come out of prison after being sentenced to 20, 30 or even longer years: You live in prison for so long that you become so attached to it because it has become your home for life. Even though it is one of the worst places in the world to call home; when you are finally released you feel so mentally blocked because you are entering an unfamiliar world that you have not known for a long, long time; and you feel that you can’t fit in and you just want to do anything to break the law again and go back to your “home in prison that you have been living in for so long that you cannot let it go”; because it is the only familiar place in the world that you know and that you are used to. I feel exactly the same way about my boat. Even though it is not one of the best homes in the world, I have been attached to it for so long that I cannot leave it behind. Second of all, a lot of mushers leave their husky dogs to sleep outside so that they grow a really thick coat and get used to the really cold temperatures. Huskies are working dogs and have always been trained to handle extreme negative temperatures in the wilderness. Personally, I have both husky and wolf blood and I love to run, so I am able to endure absolutely freezing temperatures out in the wild. After living outside for so long I barely even feel the cold, and so I don’t even need to go inside very much to survive. Again it is the wolf in me that allows me to endure and survive the cold weather. Plus it has prepared me for further sled runs and journeys into the wild more efficiently. So the bottom line is that I treat my boat like the home I can’t leave behind because as I have stuck with it for so long; and I am capable of enduring the coldest temperatures because I have been living outside for so long.  I might just conclude that someone once said, “Anywhere you roam, where you lay you head is home”.   

It was the year after the serum run when you and Jenna had your first litter of pups. How did you feel about becoming a father?

I was feeling like I was about to start a loving family. If there was anything or anyone who I wanted more than Jenna, it was children of my own. I was so exited about becoming a parent; yet at the same time I was a little nervous. I was really hoping that our pups would have all dog in them and little to no wolf features, both on the inside and outside. It was only a one in four chance because Jenna and I both had mostly husky genes, but there was still a possibility of one or a couple of quarter wolf-featured pups. That would also depend on how many pups we would have. I just didn’t want my children to suffer what I had gone through: Pain, exclusion, and prejudice. I know better than anyone that being different is painful, and it would make things worse for me to see what my children would have to go through. The other thing was that we would have to give them away to other humans for adoption, and if one or a few of our pups looked like a wolf, how would humans ever want them? I’ll tell you what, I was really scared, but I had to keep the faith because of my mother’s words to me about not letting others think differently of you because of who you are. You would have to show them who you really are on the inside and what you are capable of. Therefore I decided that I would have to tell this to my children when the right time came. They might not like it and they might get scared or angry, but it had to be told or else they would never understand what would be going on around them, and who knows what they might do then. The bottom line is that no matter what, I would have to do what I could to become a good father, because I wanted my children to look up to me.

Could you tell us just a little bit about your children?

We had a litter of six puppies; three males and three females. Four of them were red with white underbelly and white snout, and one was red with a red face and snout and also a white underbelly. The sixth was mostly grey with a white underbelly; and that was the one that turned out to look like a wolf. The five red ones all looked like Jenna, because I assumed that Jenna’s external and internal genetic features were dominant and my wolf features were recessive. Yet the one that looked like a wolf inherited my recessive genes, and she turned out to look more wolf than me. It was exactly what I thought would happen, and I started to worry about her. Anyway, we named the males Kodiak, A.K.A Kodi, Dakota, and Dingo; and the females Kiona, Saba, and Aleu; who was the wolf-like one. Kodi was very passionate about racing, like me, and he loved to run; but he also loved to make new friends. He very much wanted to follow in my footsteps and become lead dog.  Dakota also loved to run, but he was never as fast as Kodi. He was more concerned with doing the right things in life and being loyal, like me. Dingo was very mischievous at times but very friendly and playful to everyone. He also loved to sing, like Jenna, and he did have a very good singing voice. Kiona always wanted to make new friends along with being loyal to everyone. She believed that life is all about love, friendship and honoring your family legacy; and she would choose to live life in the way that eventually brings you to heaven when you die. Saba looked up to me as one of her only hopes in life. She was a little scared about what life was going to bring to her, and that is why she needed my guidance. I would always be there to guide her, and because of that she felt better about herself and more confident about life. And as for Aleu, she was very playful, but she also had this cheeky attitude towards everyone; not to mention a knack for correcting bad grammar. I think that she was just trying to show a sense of humor, which is what I think everyone wants to see in a good friend, because someone without a sense of humor may seem boring to some of his or her friends. She also had a beautiful signing voice, like her mother.

Did you feel like you raised them well?

I gave them all that they could ever expect from a good father. I would see them as much as I could, take time with each of them to educate them into the ways of life and what life holds in store, play with them, and support them in the way that they deserved to be supported. They all seemed satisfied and they loved me very much as a father, even though we only had them for a short period of time before giving them away. I was only hoping that after we gave them away I would still see them around so that I could have time to talk to them and play with them when possible. I also hoped that they still loved me as much as I loved them.

Did you find it hard to give your puppies away?

It is always a very tough thing giving your children away. Jenna aside, I love my children more than anything else in the world. They and Jenna mean everything to me. I really have such a soft spot for them. Mainly because of the fact that I was separated from my mother when I was young and I never got to spend more than 6 months with her. I really didn’t want to have my family separated from me again. But on the bright side of things I would still see them around town as all their adopted humans would live in Nome. As long as I would get to see them again was all that mattered to me.

Aleu was the only one of your puppies who wasn’t picked up by a human because of her wolf features. Did you feel that something might happen to her if no human would ever want her?

I was really starting to worry about her. I knew that she wanted a home and a human as much as her brothers and sisters, but she never really understood that she looked like a wild animal or that she had wild animal instincts. That was my fault. I never told Aleu about being part wolf or the fact that no human would want her because of that, because I was scared for her and I wanted to protect her. If I did tell her sooner she might have freaked out and ran away; which is pretty much what she did when I finally told her. I also felt that hunters might even try to hunt her down. I therefore could not let her go by herself. I loved her too much to see what might happen to her. She was probably my favourite out of our litter. It would really break my heart to see her leave me forever if not get killed. She deserves a wonderful life as much as anyone, but I just wasn’t quite sure how to give it to her.  

When she was going to leave to join the wolf pack, how were you feeling about letting her go without possibly seeing her again?

Again it was a very hard decision because as I said, I loved her too much and she was one of my favourite children; but I knew that she had to go because she really needed to know where she truly belonged, and this was it. If she didn’t belong with humans, she belonged with the wolves. She was certainly capable of becoming a part of a wolf pack because she had wolf instincts and she knew exactly what to do to survive in the wild. She was able to hunt and she liked the taste of raw meat, which is what wolves eat, of course. She also had leadership instincts, which gave her the right to lead the pack after original leader Nava could not continue because of his age. The other wolves also accepted her as a part of them. This was everything that my daughter ever wanted: A welcoming home and a wonderful life; and because she had finally found her true belonging, I knew that I had to let her go. Besides, this was her destiny in the first place as Nava called her out as the one who was wolf and did not know to lead the wolf pack to the caribou, where life was waiting for the pack. All that mattered to me was to see each of my children happy. Whatever is best for my children I will let them have it. I would still love to see my beloved daughter’s face again one more time; but as long as she is happy, I am as well.

You mentioned Nava, the old leader of the pack that your daughter joined. From what our sources have told us, is it true that he is indeed related to your mother Aniu?

Yes, it is true. Nava told me that he was in fact the brother of Aniu. They were in the same litter, and when he was old enough, Nava decided to run away and join another wolf pack because some of the other wolves in his own pack were not treating him very well. Nava was very wise and very loyal and he knew how to make a good leader. Therefore the wolves in the pack that he joined picked him as the alpha, and he continued to lead them over some years. It was that time when he was old and the wolf pack’s food was declining when he sent for Aleu and I. Yes, it was him who sent Aniu to bring us to the pack, because Aniu saw what Aleu was going through and she guided her towards her destiny. Ever since my mother passed on she has been able to guide not only me, but my family as well; to show them who they really were and help them to find where they belonged. Anyway, I see now why she was sent to the pack that Nava was leading, because Nava was related to my mother, and he wanted his grand niece to help lead his pack towards their destiny. It all makes sense, really. So the bottom line is that I am in fact Nava’s nephew; “Uncle Nava” as he was known to me; and it was that family burden that helped my daughter to find out who she was and where she truly belonged.  

When you returned to Nome and you told Jenna everything about what happened with you and Aleu, how did she feel about it?

At first she was very surprised that we had traveled a long way to help Aleu reach her destiny and the fact that she had become apart of a wolf pack. At the same time she was feeling a bit sad about loosing her daughter; let alone the fact that she never even got to say goodbye to her in the least. She was feeling it hard to have to let her go and possibly never see her again, just like me, but she was also happy at the fact that she finally found her home and she was going to have a wonderful life. At least Jenna was happy for her daughter. She always said that children have got to be free to live their own lives. She is a very understanding person, and that is another reason why I love her. We have both learned to accept that she is gone but also enjoying her life with wolves, and we have moved on. Besides we still have our other five children, and we will always see them around town.

About a year after you returned from your “wolf quest”, your son Kodi became a new member of the mail sled team. How did you feel about that?

I was feeling very proud of him for what he had accomplished. All his life he was passionate about racing, and when he was young we would always run up and down the beach. I would teach him how to run properly and train him to become fit and strong, which would give him the endurance that he would need for long-distance sled running. He kept practicing on the beach day after day from when he was a pup to adolescence to finally maturity.

Even in my absence he wouldn’t stop trying. He stayed extremely committed to his hard work, and all that hard work eventually earned him a spot on the sled team. I would have to say that Kodi was my other favourite out of our litter, because he wanted to make me proud by following in my paw prints, both in racing and loyalty. He remained loyal to his friends and family, was committed to important duties, and was determined to help others. From what I see in him, he has made me even more proud of him than I could ever be. You always want your children to honour the family’s legacy, and Kodi has done just that. I know that one day he will carry on in my place and fulfill our legacy when I am gone. He will always be my favourite son.

You seemed fascinated by the bush plane when it came into Nome. What was it about the plane that made you so interested?

It was like nothing that I had ever seen before. At first sight I had no idea what it was or how it could fly like a bird, but it just seemed like the greatest feeling; looking down on the world. Being able to fly through the clouds and seeing the earth from the sky is like an opportunity that you may only get once in a lifetime, and that it is just so special in that sense. When I took that flight in Duke’s bush plane, it was amazing. You just get the best views of the world and the feeling of soaring through the clouds just makes your spirit soar, and you feel free. It is almost impossible to describe. There is nothing that I could ever compare it too.

When you first got the news that there was going to be a race between the dog sled team and the bush plane to determine which of the two would deliver the mail and they asked you to lead the team, what were you thinking at that point?

I was feeling a little uneasy about leading at first, because I saw the bush plane fly and I chased it, only to have it outrun me by miles. That plane was so fast and there was no way to keep up with it. At the same time I knew that the team was counting on me because they were afraid of loosing their jobs. They thought that if air mail was the way of the future and they no longer delivered the mail, no one would want to use them any more. It especially meant a lot to Kodi because he was proud of his job and he really wanted to keep it; plus he was counting on me because he looked up to me not just as the town hero, but a loving father. He thought that if anyone could keep his hopes up, it was me. Not to mention that he looked to me for love and guidance growing up. The truth is that if we lost the race I wouldn’t be able to look my son in the eyes because I would feel that I would have let him down, and goodness knows how he would have reacted. However, I went to Jenna and she told me that I didn’t have to be a hero; I just needed to be there for my son. She said that Kodi loves me because I am his father, and that was all he needed from me. Whatever happened, he would always have a hero for he would always have me. Plus when the race would be over, I would have accomplished all that I was capable of. At the end of the day you can only do what you can do, really. After she told me that, it gave me the confidence to enter into the race and lead the team, no matter what the outcome. As long as I was there for Kodi and trying my very best for him, it was all that was important to him. He certainly had confidence in me along with the sled team and all the people of Nome, so that certainly put some motivation in me as well. Regardless of the outcome, I was willing to make everyone proud; just like I did on the serum run in 1925. Again, this was for my son Kodiak.

That same night that you went to see Jenna, you met and befriended the bush pilot, Duke. How do you feel about him?

He is basically a real gentleman. He appears very friendly to everyone and is the type of person who everyone would want as a friend. The first time he met me was the first time that he landed his plane in Nome. Immediately he seemed to recognize me the moment he saw me: The Great Balto who saved Nome. I was wondering where he found out about me, but it must have been pretty obvious considering I was known around the world. Plus even if I wasn’t “The Great Balto”, he didn’t jump to conclusions when he first saw me, meaning that he didn’t judge me when he saw that I was part wolf. That is another thing that I like about him: The fact that he doesn’t judge others on the outside before he sees them on the inside as well. He really seemed to like me for whom I was, and he saw that I was very fond of his plane. He also shared the same passion about flying as I did. He said that nothing can beat being up in the clouds, soaring free. All in all, he is another human friend of mine, and probably the nicest human I have ever known.

What was race like heading to White Mountain and back to Nome? Where there any difficult obstacles to overcome or weather to handle?

Not really. The race was pretty smooth the whole way considering we had to run very fast pretty much the whole journey. It was the start of spring so weather conditions where certainly staring to get a bit warmer; plus there were no blizzards to contend with this time, and we didn’t run into any dangerous animals such as bears or moose. Plus there were no avalanches or unstable ice bridges that we had to cross. There were a few times when we ran very close to the edge of cliffs. One of those times one team member, Dusty, slipped on an ice patch and slipped onto the edge of the cliff. She almost fell down the cliff, but with our support she was able to make it back up easily. It would have been horrific if we lost her though. Apart from that the entire trip was pretty safe.

How did you reckon you compared against the bush plane during the race?

It was quite surprising. Although the bush plane seemed faster than us, it seemed to be traveling at the same speed as we were. We heard the plane above us pretty much the entire race and we both seemed to be evenly matched. Plus we managed to get a head start at the start of the race because Duke had trouble with his starter motor; and at White Mountain he made it first but had to scrape ice off of his wings before he could fly, because I assumed that ice was a potential hazard to the condition of the plane in the air. That gave us a slight advantage but it seemed like nothing to me considering how fast his plane flew. I really don’t know why he wasn’t traveling as fast as a plane should, but maybe it had something to do with the weather. Turbulence increases as you rise higher in the sky, and so maybe the wind slowed him down. Plus visibility in the sky can be poor sometimes, and so maybe it wasn’t easy finding the right way. If Duke hadn’t crashed his plane, the race would have been close to a tie. That certainly shows that both the sled and the plane are capable of delivering at an even time rate.

After you won the race you told Kodi that the sled team’s jobs were only saved for the time-being. What were you trying to say?

I didn’t think that that was the last we would see of the bush plane, because I knew their day was coming. The plane was a new generation of transport that could be used for many other things as well as delivering mail, and it seemed to me a very important part of the lives of humans. I knew that planes will still be wanted for other things for future generations to come, no matter what the outcome of the race. I never said that sled dogs would be stripped of their jobs in the future, because they will still be needed as much as any other transport, especially here in Alaska where dog sleds are very reliable and important, but planes will be just as important. I didn’t want to sound negative to Kodi because I knew how much his job meant to him, but I just thought that he should know the truth.

When you found out that plane had crashed you decided to go after Duke and rescue him from the cold temperature, assuming of course that he was indeed alive. Was it just because he was your friend or was it something more than that that made you go after him?

Well of course my loyalty has remained in me as long as I have lived, and that is the reason why I help everyone in desperate need. I really care about Duke because he is one of my best human friends ever. I even think of him as my owner. Plus Boris was on the plane by accident, and I couldn’t leave the one who had raised and loved me since I was a pup to die. I would have broken my heart. The truth is that I cannot let my friends or my family be killed in such horrific ways, and particularly for Duke he was one of those people who deserved to live life to the fullest as much as anybody else, because he is a really nice man. Plus it is not for us to say that someone deserves to live or die. Everyone deserves a fair chance at life; even those who seem a little less than friendly; like Steele for example. It also made me think back to the diphtheria outbreak, and how it was killing those who did not deserve to die. This was one of those similar situations; where the cold weather in the open country was killing someone who did not deserve to die. Again it is my fidelity that makes me think of others in desperate need. All in all, yes I did it because he was my friend and because he, along with everyone else, did not deserve to die in such a horrific way.

When you alerted the sled team of the situation they seemed reluctant to help you out, especially your son. Why didn’t they want to join you?

I just knew that they, along with Kodi, saw him as the enemy because he could have stolen their jobs, and their jobs meant a lot to them. The last thing that they wanted was to have to help out someone who they despised. What they didn’t understand was that they were given their jobs to help others out, by bringing in mail and supplies; and now when someone really needed help, they didn’t do anything about it. It is about more than just bringing supplies. If they could use their skills to help others out in desperate need, they would really prove their heart and superiority, and therefore would be loved and appreciated by others more greatly. They eventually figured that out and changed their minds and came to help me on my way back to Nome with Duke.

What were you feeling at the time when they refused to help you and you left alone?

I was feeling a little heartbroken that my own son refused to help me on a very important mission. I always looked to him as following in my paw prints, and now he was doing this to me.

I understood that his job meant a lot to him and he despised Duke for trying to take his job away from him, but like I said before, it is a lot more than just bringing supplies; it is about using your skills to help out others in need, and at the start Kodi never fully understood that. I really thought that Kodi wanted to help everyone, but he was valuing his job over a human life. It made me think back to when Steele valued his job and his fame over more important things, and it was because of that that he let the team and the whole town down and almost cost the lives of so many innocent children. Because of that I hated him for what he did. In this situation I felt that Kodi was letting me down by choosing something else over the most important thing, and if he didn’t come after me to help, it might have caused me to think less of him. I didn’t want that, but as a father it means a lot to you when you want your children to make you proud. He understood when Jenna told him about valuing life over his job, and then he and the team came to help me. I was proud of him for finally understanding what being a sled dog is all about, and I love him so much more.

Did you really need help on this rescue mission or where you able to handle it on your own?

Some might think that because I am part wolf I am well equipped and am capable of just about anything. But this was different. Just because I might be able to do things that dogs cannot doesn’t mean that I can handle difficult journeys and dangerous missions on my own. During the serum run I never did that alone. I had help from Boris, Muk and Luk on the first half of the journey, and I had help and support from the sled team on the other half. There were some very difficult obstacles that we had to cross that could only be accomplished from teamwork. I was leading the team, but they gave me the extra muscle and helpful advice that I needed to help get me through. For this particular mission I needed the support and help from my friends to successfully make the journey. I needed navigation and sighting from Muk, Luk and Stella to help me find the plane and the muscle and pulling power from the sled team. I knew that when I found Duke he would need a lift to get back to Nome because he might be injured to walk back on his own. Besides, he probably might have been too cold or too weak to make it through the wilderness alive because he was just a human. Pulling his weight on my own; well, it was certainly possible, but it might have lasted only so long before I would start to fatigue from the weight; and if there were any dangerous obstacles along the way; which there was; no matter what that obstacle might have been, I couldn’t run fast enough to beat it before it collapsed; I couldn’t run fast enough to outrun it; and I certainly couldn’t run fast enough to avoid it falling on me. I think you get what I’m talking about (laughs). Anyway, the bottom line is that sometimes you can’t make it on your own, no matter if you are well equipped or not, and everybody; I repeat, EVERYBODY; needs help sometimes; even heroes.

You mentioned that you needed Muk, Luk and Stella to help you find the way to where the bush plane crashed. Was there anything more that you needed them for during the journey?

Well as I said before, everyone needs help, so they might have been able to help me out with dangerous obstacles or wild animals that we might have had to face. I’ll tell you what; if the sled team had agreed to come with me in the first place it would have been an even greater help with the advantage of numbers to overcome the obstacles and get the better of wild animals. The thing is that two young polar bears and a goose are probably not “game enough”, if you will, against wild animals, because those animals would have a definite fighting advantage against small and young animals. On the other side of things, a pack of dogs against one dangerous animal are a better match and might gain a sufficient advantage in battle. That is one of the main reasons why I needed the other dogs: For their fighting skills and ability to overcome the most difficult obstacles. Even if it meant that one or a few of us had to sacrifice themselves to save others, it would ensure that we would get through. In short, Muk, Luk and Stella were mainly there to navigate to the bush plane, but also to lend a hand in numbers in case of an obstacle.  

When the sled team caught up with you on the way back and they saved you and Duke from falling down to the abyss when the bridge collapsed, it was apparent that Kodi was leading them on the way. Is that true?

Yes it is. It was Kodi who had caught and stopped me from falling into the abyss, and was able to hold me before the other members of the team; Kirby, Ralph, and Dusty; followed suit and grabbed the sled carrying Duke and pulled it back up before he let go and fell in.

Kodi was leading the team into the wilderness and tracked us down with his sense of smell, which he inherited from me. Because he inherited my senses he was able to find me easily, whereas the others would not have had as strong a sense as he and I did. Kodi had a very good sense of direction, and it was because of that that the team was counting on him to lead them in and find us. Kirby was the original leader of the team; even before Kodi joined them; and he was very experienced and fast, but his sense of direction was not as advanced since he has no wild animal blood in him. It was the very wolf part in Kodi that not only helped the team to find us, but also helped him to endure cold temperatures and overcome difficult obstacles. All in all, Kodi saved mine and Duke’s lives and proved that he is worthy of lead dog. It was really one of the proudest moments of my life to see my son lead the others that night, and I really love him.

When you and the team returned with Duke, was there any afterglow or other things that happened?

Firstly, the whole town congratulated me and the team for rescuing Duke, but they were also impressed that we were able to find him in the middle of the wilderness where humans would not be able to in such short time. The postmaster, Mr. Connor, said that we had proved our superiority and fidelity in helping others in need and we were very reliable in our duties; and because of that, humans would still want us for important things; even if the sled dogs did have their jobs taken from them. He concluded that there will always be something for sled dogs to do, especially in a cold climate like this where certain transport is dangerous or risky and sledding is the safest and most reliable way of bringing supplies into towns. Duke even agreed that the weather conditions in the air blinded his views and made it difficult to control his plane, but it also caused him to slow his plane down because flying too fast in bad conditions would be dangerous. Another point to add is that it is not just about how fast mail and supplies gets to the towns, but ensuring that transport makes it safely. Therefore the postmaster made a joint agreement: Both the dogs and the bush plane would deliver the mail and supplies. This would ensure that double the amount of mail and supplies would reach the towns, which would save the number of trips for both to take. The agreement also said that the bush plane only flies when conditions are favorable, and when conditions are too severe for flying, mail and supplies only travels along the ground. Everyone was satisfied with the agreement, and it certainly prevented conflict not just among the sled dogs, but also all the mushers who were afraid of loosing their jobs. So the agreement ensured that people and dogs were not out of a job and that there was always something for all the bush plane pilots to do.

Are you officially retired now as a sled dog?

Yes, I decided to retire after the mail race was over. I am 6 years old now and I probably have another 5 to 7 years left until I die, so my age is reaching the point where my body is weakening my ability to run and endure. It is still strong is some senses, but it is not worth risking my body’s weaknesses for another race where I could loose my edge and have other teams outrun me because of their youth and strength. It is my time to give in and relax for the rest of my life, which I have hopefully earned after all this time. Everyone’s time comes in life where they have a decision to make, and we all must make the right and wisest choices. Besides, Kodi is a sled dog now and so he will take my place following in my paw prints and fulfilling the family legacy. He continue to do me proud as he already has done, I’m sure.

So is Kodi new lead dog now?

Yes he is. After he led the sled team to rescue us he proved that he is capable of being a leader. He has been practicing his running for a long time from when he was a puppy to a mature adult, and now he runs very fast; just about as fast as me; and not only that, but he has a great sense of smell and direction. He is also strong in endurance and very loyal to his teammates; plus they look up to him as the son of The Great Balto, as I am known, and respect him not just for who he is, but for his courage and commitment to important duties. For that, they and original leader Kirby decided that Kodi should take over as lead dog. He has been leader for a few months now, and so far he hasn’t failed a run. He has been getting mail and supplies to other towns on time and on average at the most is no more than 10 minutes late. The team also hasn’t crashed, got lost in the wilderness, got attacked by wild animals, or faced dangerous obstacles as yet. Kodi has made me even more proud of him to see him following in my paw prints as a very loyal and trustworthy lead dog and fulfilling the family legacy. I believe that one day he will be as good as his old man, and other people will look up to him.

What have the other members of your family been doing growing up and what are they doing now?

In general they have all been living very good lives with their owners so far. Not one of them seemed to have any trouble with themselves or even others. They are making plenty of friends; well, everyone looks up to them as the children of the Great Balto, so they will always be as popular as me. Metaphorically speaking in human terms, they are the children of a multi-millionaire, and so they were born rich and famous (laughs). Not to mention that Jenna is also the most popular female in Nome at the moment because she is the mate of Balto. So it all fits when you think about it. I still see them around town a lot and they always come around to see Jenna and I. It seems that they want to keep in contact with their parents because they miss us too much. I certainly missed them when we had to give them away. So it is great to see them remaining in contact. Specifically speaking, Dakota always came to watch the annual dog sled races growing up because as I said earlier; he was passionate about racing, like me. He kept working as hard as he could to become a sled dog. He ran up and down the beach almost every day on the beach like Kodi always did. His work eventually paid off about a month ago when he was accepted into the sled team with Kodi and the others after coming third in the race to determine who was going to be on the sled team. He was at the very back behind Dusty’s position. It makes me proud to see not just one but two of my children on a sled team and hopefully Dakota will earn his way further towards the lead position with his brother. Dingo is owned by a boy called Jason, who was one of Rosy’s friends; and so we got to see a lot of Dingo and Jason when he was around visiting Rosy. Dingo loved Jason very much, and he was a very good parent who treated him well and gave him everything a good owner could possibly give; love, affection, and a wonderful life. Dingo still loves to sing like his mother and his friends loved him for who he is just as much as I do. He has lived a great life and there is nothing more that he can really ask for. Kiona was really trying to be like a guide growing up, teaching her friends the wisdom in the ways of life and what she believes in life. She would never hesitate to help others out in desperate need, and she would always be there to dry their tears and comfort them. She would show them their true self deep down inside them and help them to find out who they were. She very much inherited my mother’s genes; being a guide and helping those out in need. I love her for choosing the correct ways of life and teaching others all about what life is about. I am so proud of her for being a second guide in the family behind Jenna and I. She has done me proud. As for Saba, she came to see me a lot when she needed help. She never really had much confidence about herself and it was hard for her to choose the right path of life. Therefore she always looked up to me as a father and a guide whenever she wasn’t sure what to do in any particular situation. She mentioned that because of me her life is worth living and she didn’t know how she would continue her life without me. It really flatters me to think about what she has said about me, and I love her so much. I will always be proud of her, no matter what she does or where she goes. As long as she knows the correct path, I will love her forever more. In short, all my children are very happy with their lifestyles and they love Jenna and I for being good parents to them, and we both love them all for being such wonderful children. God bless them all and I hope that they will continue to do me proud when I die.

Are you and Jenna thinking about having a second litter?

It’s hard to say. We have certainly been thinking about it because there are a few things that we knew we should have done with our children as they were growing up that we forgot to do. I still haven’t entirely forgiven myself for what has happened to Aleu. I know now that she has found her place and that she is happy, but at the time I was feeling scared for her because of her wolf appearance and what others might have done to her. I should have told her earlier about being part wolf, and maybe then she might have been more prepared for what was to come for her in the life ahead. I was just scared to tell her because of how she would react to it; but I also wanted to protect her. She was one of my favorites out of our first litter and it would have devastated me to see what might have happened to her. As for the others, we never really told them because we didn’t think that it would matter as they looked more dog than wolf.  Plus they all seem to be living happy lives regardless, so it probably wouldn’t matter still even if I told them now. The truth is that I was going to tell them all anyway once they had matured, because I didn’t want to cause them any pain when they were young. I cared too much about them. So the whole point is that if we do decide to have a second litter, and one or a few of our children happen to inherit exterior wolf genes, then, this time, we will tell them when they are about 2 or 3 months old about their wolf features so that they know when they grow older what could possibly wait for them in their lives to come. They may take it hard and struggle with things, but they will have to know before they could possibly hate me for not telling them earlier and turning against me for being a bad parent. Plus if it means that they have to go on a quest to find out who they are and where they belong, then I will leave it be. I might not like it and it may seem like I might not see their faces for some time or even life, but whatever is best for my children is what keeps me happy. It is not like I will have much of a choice. Bottom line: Having a second litter would give Jenna and I another chance to show our children what family, love and friendship is all about.

Have you yet told the other members of your family about being part wolf?

Yes I have. I have told Kodi, Saba, Dingo, Kiona, and Dakota about their wolf genes. I have basically explained to them that I was half wolf and they have partly internally, not externally, inherited this gene from me. I have told them not to worry at all because they don’t look wolf on the outside and that no one will suspect this to the point where they will hurt them or even kill them. Plus all of them behave like dogs and not wolves, so that makes it harder for humans to see their wolf side. But I have also told them that being part wolf is an advantage to them. They are able to endure freezing temperatures out in the open cold wilderness; they can hunt and kill wild animals if necessary if they need food, which includes finding raw meat tasty; they can track humans and animals down with their sense of smell; and they can make it through difficult journeys that dogs probably could not. So I told my children in short: “Do not be afraid of what you have. Remember, my children, you are well equipped; and what is inside of you is something special. You must use this very part inside of you to help you through life.” They all understood very well and they have kept in mind what they have on the inside to get through life. They are not afraid of their wolf features as their friends and owners have not and never will take notice. All in all, they will continue to live happy lives, and that makes me happy. I am just glad that I could tell them now before the last minute when something might have unlikely gone wrong.

Through your experiences in life and after all that you have been through, what are some of the things you have learned?

I think that the most important that I have learned is that everyone is born into this world with a different personal character. Although many of us may seem different, there is always something on both the inside and outside of an individual that makes them special in a way. Sometimes we may not be able to find out what is inside us that makes us unique in some ways, but this side of us shows us what we are made of and who we really are. We may also be able to use this to our advantage to get through life and be respected by everyone. Others may think differently of you if they don’t see your true side; and if they cannot figure it out, you have to show them. You must never let others judge you for what or who you are. What we find within ourselves is the gift that we have been given for being born into this world, and one we have it, we are stuck with it forever; even after we die, because this gift lives within and never leaves our spirit. Even if this “gift” is a disadvantage to our personal character, there are also some positive values that it might hold, and again we use this to our advantage. Another thing that I have learned is that we all have a destiny in this world, and we all have to follow our destiny. If it means that it is the key to our life, we have no choice but to take it. It may be either safe or dangerous at times, but it is the path that we must take to again show everyone what we are capable of and to find out who we really are; even if it means dying. We must find out the correct paths to follow in life and use them to our own benefit. Another one of the most important things that I have learned is that everyone values something in life, and it is normal. We may value our jobs, our fame, our toys and souvenirs; whatever it might be. But the most important that we value in life is family and friends. Without family and friends it is very difficult for us to get through life. It is family and friends that hold the key to our lives. That is why sometimes to do what is right we have to give up some of the things that we value to save a life; even our dreams. You might have a real passion for sled racing, and you can love it and do it as much as you want, but in the end sled racing is just something that you want to do and is not an essential part of our lives because it is not necessary for our survival. It is all about creating a balance between the needs and wants in life. The needs are the things that we must have in order to survive. Wants are something that we would like to have, but are not necessary for survival. Sometimes if you value something that you want over something you need, you may not be able to get through in life. That is why; no matter how much I love sledding; I would do absolutely anything to give it up to save a life of a friend or family member; and even an innocent life. Friends and family are forever. Wants are not, because you never know what can happen to them. So friends and family are the most important things in this world.

Well Balto, son of Aniu and Alosaka, it has been more than a pleasure having you with us this evening. Thank you so much for being with us and we wish you and your family all the best of luck in the future.

Thank you very much for having me. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

THE END

Balto, Aniu, Jenna, Boris, Muk, Luk, Rosie, Gunnar Kaasen, Steele, Nikki, Kaltag, Star, Kodiak, Saba, Dingo, Aleu, Dakota, Kiona, Nava, Duke, Dusty, Ralph, Kirby, and Stella; © Universal Studios.

Interviewer, Alosaka, and Jason; © BlackJack16

All images; © Universal studios. I do not own any of the images.

© June 2009 BlackJack16.