Redington’s team. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Redington)
A Native Alaska dog musher with Skagway roots was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Wisconsin during a training run. Last week’s incident left two dogs injured, with one requiring multiple surgeries.
Inupiat Dog Musher Ryan Redington, originally from Knik, spent more than a dozen summer seasons giving tours at Alaska X in Dyea just outside of Skagway. More recently he’s been spending summers in Girdwood.
Last Saturday evening, he was training in northern Wisconsin for the upcoming race season when his team was struck by a snowmachine that was speeding down a multi-use trail.
Redington says the Tri-County Corridor Trail has long straight stretches, and it was on one of those straightaways where the accident happened.
“The person sped up at a high rate of speed approaching us to pass us head-on and he veered into our side of the trail and struck my team. Some dogs got very badly hurt,” said Redington.
It was about 6:30 in the evening on a Saturday night and the team was only about three miles away from home, nearly finished with their daily training run. The dogs were equipped with flashing lights and Redington wore a bright LED headlamp that lit up the area in front of his lead dog.
He saw the snowmachine approaching but didn’t have much time to react before it swerved into his team.
“I remember tipping my sled over and trying to watch and I remember Wildfire going up in the air and getting flung off into the snow off the trail just where I was as well,” said Redington.
Team member Wildfire. (photo courtesy of Ryan Redington)
He tipped his sled over to avoid getting struck by the snow machine. Wildfire, his wheel dog, and one of his strongest young competitors, wasn’t so lucky. His back left leg was broken in three places. He’s undergone multiple surgeries already to install two plates into his upper leg. The goal is to allow him a full range of motion when he’s healed.
Another one of his dogs, Willy, was also injured.
Team member Willy. (photo courtesy of Ryan Redington)
“No broken legs but he’s very lame and we’re just going day by day here,” said Redington.
A social media update posted by Redington’s kennel partner Sarah Keefer claimed Willy was able to put some weight on his leg on Thursday.
Some early reports of the incident claimed that the person on the snow machine had stopped at a stop sign then sped up to impact Redington’s team. But witnesses later said the snow machine had actually blown through the intersection.
Keefer’s sled was just a couple of minutes behind Redington’s and was nearly hit.
“The guy approached her team on the opposite side of the trail at a really high rate of speed again and he just veered off right at the last second narrowly missing her and her team,” said Redington.
As of Wednesday Redington said no arrests have been made for the hit and run, but investigators told him that they may have a suspect. The Bayfield County Sheriff’s Department would not comment on its investigation.
He says he will compete in upcoming races.
“I plan on doing the John Beargrease in Minnesota here on January 30, in Duluth. And then right after that race, I am heading to Alaska to get my final preparations for the 50th anniversary of the Iditarod,” said Redington.
He and his team finished seventh in last year’s Iditarod and he has won several shorter races. Redington is the grandson of Joe Redington Sr., known as the “Father of the Iditarod.” He plans to borrow two of his dad’s dogs to replace Willy and Wildfire for this season and he expects those dogs to fit into his team seamlessly.
“The dogs are very well trained, both my dogs and my dad’s dogs. and it doesn’t take very long to have dogs fit in and be comfortable and work well,” said Redington.
Keefer started a GoFundMe page to help pay for the veterinary care, her goal was $9,000. Within a week they have raised over $40,000. The team’s website is redingtonmushing.com.
