In 1922, Lydia “Whistlin’ Lyd” Hutchison, pictured here, became the first female musher to enter the American Dog Derby in Ashton, Idaho.
The annual sled dog race, which began in 1917, recalls a time when dog sleds were the only way that people, mail, and supplies could travel to and from the Upper Snake River Valley during the winter.
Lydia Hutchison competed in 1922, 1923, and 1924. Her unique character caught the eye of promoters, who used her to advertise the event. Reportedly, she was also offered a movie contract. Hutchison wouldn't live to see many more of the races, though, as she died of pneumonia in 1930.
In the photo above, (L-R) Bill Trude, Bill Kooch, Tud Kent, Lydia Hutchison, George Pilcher, Lewis Jones, George Cordingly, and Smoky Gaston.
"Tud" Kent, third from the left, ran the mail from Ashton, Idaho, to Island Park, Idaho, at the turn of the twentieth century and was one of the derby’s founders. He and his canine team would go on to win the first race in a heavy blizzard, taking 26 hours to go 55 miles from West Yellowstone. Over the next 10 years, he would win five more times.
Information copied on Jan. 27, 2024 from Idaho Experience Facebook page.
