Remembering Joe Redington, Iditarod Founder
The Marine Corps asked me about an overboot. They wanted an overboot that could be used with existing issue combat boots. It had to be as light as possible, easy to put on, and had to perform to -25 degrees. The weight of large size is 12 ounces each. I had made several custom Joe Redington mukluks that are rear entry, so this became rear entry for ease of putting on; if you wear a good sock like the Smartwool brand, -25 is not a problem.
The sole is the same construction as I use for the Joe Redington mukluk. The upper shell is a waterproof 600 denier polyester and the lining is 200 denier oxford nylon, also waterproof laminated to the L-6 Lamilite. In addition, there is a one-inch web strap that goes around the ankle to hold it in place.
Hunters, you can now have warm feet if you are in a tree stand. You needn't take the boots off if you have to get out of the tree in a hurry. There are products on the market that you put on when you get into your stationary position. These were not made for walking. With the Wiggy overboots, however, you will be able to walk, run and, to some degree, climb.
They are made to fit all hiking or hunting boots.
TESTING
We have supplied a number of dog-mushers who competed in the Yukon Quest sleddog race. It starts in Fairbanks, Alaska and ends in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. It is run in February. It is somewhat colder than the Iditarod.
With the help of many of the people who ran the race or worked at the race in some capacity, we have developed what may be the warmest mittens ever made. I call them Arctic Extreme. They are two-part mittens. An insert made with one layer of 6-ounce Lamilite and a shell made with a double layer of 12-ounce Lamilite throughout. It has a high gauntlet as well. The temperatures were -40/-50 for days, and not one person complained of cold hands.
This type of testing can not ever be done in a laboratory.
JOE REDINGTON 1917-1999
For those of you who don't know who he was, Joe Redington started the Iditarod Dogsled Race.
Since I was a supplier of clothing and sleeping bags to many of the races, I was known to most people involved in the race. When Joe had a problem getting a company to make the mukluk he designed, he called me to see if I would make them. My initial response was yes, even though I had never seen a mukluk.
I had the opportunity to speak with Joe many times, but I have yet to visit Alaska so I never met him face to face, which I am very sorry about.
Joe fits the category of a hero of sorts. He represents what American people did at one time in the U.S. in large numbers, and that is to be single-minded of purpose, to accomplish something without infringing on anyone else's space. When he first proposed the idea of this dog race, people in Alaska thought it was crazy. Without going into detail, it is now a 3-million-dollar event and brings several thousand people to Alaska every March, as spectators, which is good for the Alaskan economy.
He was not a native of Alaska, but he was certainly considered a native son. He will be missed by all that knew him.
I received the following letter from him after he finished the Iditarod race.
3/20/92
Dear Jerry,
Just returned from Nome. We had a cold race this year. We used a lot of sleeping bags in the last 50 years, but none as good as the Wiggy's bag. We had -40 degrees, to as much as 56 degrees below zero, for several days. I never once got cold; it's so roomy and soft. We'll be ordering more for our Alaska Tour. The boots were also tested and proved okay. Thanks for everything. We'll be talking to you soon. So long for now, Joe Sr. Joe told me he thought steam was coming out of the bag. It was his body perspiration condensing and freezing. Since the atmosphere is so dry, the atmosphere basically sucks the moisture away.
Joe was 76 that year, a remarkable achievement for a man his age to complete the Iditarod.