Running of the Reindeer at Fur Rondy 2008

It’s “Rondy” time again . . . and we’re gonna love it!

When "winter" lasts almost six months, you have to find things to do to break up the monotony . . . So we party.

Every February, we celebrate . . . whatever . . . at the Anchorage Fur Rondy.

Remember in the full light of summer during forth of July you cannot see the fireworks so we save them for Rondy. It started many years ago as a gathering of hunters & trappers to trade furs and get supplies. Now, we spend the time with parades, outhouse races, food, ice & snow sculptures, sled dog races, snowshoe softball, ice bowling, fireworks and many other events.

Tomorrow (Sunday) there are more dog races, as well as the inaugural “Running of the Reindeer” (you can’t make this stuff up!). Late Feb/Early March in Alaska where the additional sun, the slightly warmer weather, and the snow all combine to make people just a little bit lightheaded we are all ready to have a little fun.

I have a pretty good feeling that Alaska is about to get in trouble again with the ‘tree huggers’ in the lower 48. Radio morning DJ’s Bob and Mark on Alaska's KWHL radio station, seem to have put the idea in the heads of the Fur Rondy folks that it would be a great idea to stage a new event this year, a ‘Running of the Reindeer’ down 4th Ave in downtown Anchorage.

The proceeds from the entry fee will go to benefit ‘Toys for Tots’, although I have to wonder if the charitable nature of this will keep the animal rights groups from gasping and clutching their chests in horror? Maybe if we used the money to buy more ice for the polar bears during this time of Global Warming? Do you think that would help make it more acceptable to PETA? I'll be interested to see what Leno and his fellow night owls have to say about this one as there were reporters from around the world here to witness this first running. Spain watch out, Anchorage may steal your thunder now!

Fur Rendezvous officials are capping participation at 1,000 -- 500 men and 500 women, who will run with the reindeer separately. No one was quite sure how it's going to come off during practice runs out at the reindeer farm out by the Butte. Television reporters were seen to spend more time running after the reindeer than being chased by them earlier in the week. Would there be mass goring’s as in Spain? This is Anchorage's answer to Pamplona's running of the bulls. Will reindeer be standing idly by refusing to chase anyone or will the partying Arctic wanderers try to ride possibly scared animals . . . it's anybody's guess how this will turn out. I'll see how this will turn out this afternoon. Here's hoping for a fiasco!

It was that and more as 4 people decided that great costumes were needed to set the mood for the reindeer . . . and decided the best way to get them to chase everyone was to go as giant carrots!

* Photo by Janson Jones

This 1st Annual ‘Running of the Reindeer’ during the 2008 Fur Rondy Celebration in Anchorage was a wild one. The women went first with the men following a few minutes later. One guy turned up in a Speedo and several others in briefs with six blocks to run before the warmth of additional clothing could be found.

It was madness and total insanity . . . just what many Alaskans needed to finish another long winter. A total success for everyone involved with only a few people knocked off their feet or brushed by the speeding reindeer.

Although this wasn’t quite as dangerous as the running of the bulls in Spain it was fun either way because many of the participants in Anchorage . . . had four layers of clothes on . . . so it’s not like the reindeer’s antlers could break through to hurt anyone.

The weather turned out beautiful, clear skies, no clouds and the temperatures hovered around 30 degrees . . . a warm spell after the last several weeks.

Let me tell you that the whole town seemed to be there. Fur Rondy . . . It’s Back stronger . . . bigger . . . and better and the Running of the reindeer worked as this event turned into a great success! People and animals ran down 4th Avenue . . . Just another unique day in the land of the Arctic chill.

Ice