Ashepoint German Shorthaired Pointer kennel is situation on 25 acres near the small town of Lowood i
27/01/2025
On January 27th of 1925, 100 years ago, a relay of sled dog teams was organized, but the journey was perilous, with treacherous blizzards, -30c to -40c temperatures, and endless kilometres of slippery ice and deep snow. The freezing temperatures and strong winds froze essential equipment including harnesses, booties, food and water supplies. The teams were split up for the run, but Togo’s team, led by Seppala, would end up covering the longest stretch of all.
Togo’s run to Nome in January of 1925 is one of the most extraordinary stories of endurance and bravery in the history of sled dog racing. It’s the tale of an unlikely hero, a 12-year-old Siberian Husky who, alongside his musher Leonhard Seppala, covered over 420kms of a 1,000+km journey to deliver life-saving diphtheria antitoxin to the incredibly isolated town of Nome in Alaska. The town's supply of antitoxin was dangerously low and the only way to get the medicine to Nome was by dog sled. The harsh winter had made travel by plane or boat impossible.
While Balto, another famous sled dog, led the final leg of the relay, it was Togo who was the true hero of the entire journey. At 12 years old Togo was considered an aging dog, yet he was the one who guided Seppala’s team through the most challenging and dangerous parts of the trek. Togo had a reputation for being smaller and more agile than other sled dogs, and his drive and stamina were simply unmatched.
Starting in the town of Nenana, Seppala and his team made their way across treacherous terrain. The run was gruelling, with Togo pulling through the night and often leading the team over 160 kilometres in a single day. The route they took was no small feat - crossing frozen rivers, scaling ice-bound mountains, and navigating through blinding snowstorms. Seppala and Togo often had to find their own way, as the established trails were completely wiped out by storms.
Over the course of the run, Togo showed immense leadership, never hesitating to push forward even when exhaustion seemed overwhelming. He was able to guide Seppala safely through a part of the trip where a cliffside trail was so narrow that Seppala feared for their lives with every step. But Togo, ever steady, kept moving forward, proving his remarkable stamina and tenacity.
After nearly a week of travel, Togo’s team covered a mind-blowing 420 kilometres, far exceeding the distance covered by the other teams. When they reached the final relay station, Seppala handed off the serum to the next musher, but not before Togo had earned his place in history as the true hero of the journey.
While Balto was celebrated for leading the final leg and reaching Nome with the antitoxin, it’s Togo’s long, exhausting run that truly deserves the spotlight. Togo’s contribution was critical to ensuring the serum was delivered in time. Without him, the medicine would not have reached Nome when it did, and countless lives would have been lost.
Togo’s remarkable story remained largely overshadowed by Balto’s fame for many years, but today, Togo is rightfully recognized as one of the greatest sled dogs of all time. His perseverance, leadership, and unyielding spirit saved a town and solidified his legacy as a true hero of the North.
