Mary Shields is a pioneer in women's dogsledding as the first woman to complete the Iditarod, a 1,000-mile historic dog sled race between Anchorage and Nome Alaska in 1974.
[1][2][3][4][5] As a college student from Wisconsin, Shields visited Alaska while working for Campfire Girls and fell in love with it.
[6] Shields lived mostly alone though sometimes she would stay with her racing competitor, Lolly Medley, who finished the Iditarod shortly after she did in 1974.
[1][2][3] Shields was often present at the start of the Iditarod races and gave speeches about her journey.
[1] Shields has written five books, including Small Wonders: Year-Round Alaska and The Alaskan Happy Dog Trilogy.