Dogsledding

by Michael Black

Most people have heard of the Iditarod dogsled race held annually in Alaska. However, dogsledding is much more than a sport to some. For centuries, people have used dog-pulled sleds for necessity. The native Inuit people of Arctic Alaska, Canada and Greenland are credited with inventing the dogsled. The sleds were used to transport cargo and people across the frozen tundra. The early sleds were fashioned from wood and runners from ivory. The dogs were connected to the sleds with harnesses made of leather.

In the early 19th century, the dogsled was a very popular method of transporting freight, food, mail and people. Everyone from early explorers to gold miners in search of their fortunes used dogsleds. These "newcomers" to the dogsled world made various enhancements to the early sled, such as replacing the ivory runners with iron. As you might imagine, when two explorers or gold miners were heading for the same place, there was a race to get there first. Naturally, recreations of these events quickly became sport.

Sled dog racing began as a formal sport with the first All-Alaska Sweepstakes race in 1908. Held around Nome, the annual event covered about 400 miles of wilderness trails. In the 1920's, airplanes were gradually replacing sled dog teams for transportation, freight hauling, and mail delivery.

It wasn't until 1925 that sled dogs proved that they were invaluable during the Great Race of Mercy to Nome. An outbreak of diphtheria in Nome threatened to become a fatal epidemic. A 20 lb package of antitoxin serum needed to be relayed from Nenana to Nome. Twenty drivers and more than 100 dogs were recruited for the run. Planes were ruled out due to extreme cold (40 below and colder). If the plane crashed, the serum would be lost. The drive was a success and the serum was delivered and lives were saved. The drive covered some 674 miles in less than five and a half days. This, along with the simple commemoration of the uses of the Iditarod trail, is the origin of the Iditarod sled dog race.

Now, dogsled races are held anywhere there are enough miles of open trail. The types of races include sprint races (where the dogs go all out, as the name suggests), middle-distance races (competitions under 300 miles), and long-distance events (over 300 miles).

Rather than starting shotgun style, the teams usually start short intervals apart with the order assigned by lottery. The trails are generally smoothed out for the sleds and clearly marked. There is no such thing as cancelling a race due to weather. Instead, the mushers have to be prepared for anything, snowdrifts, blizzards, and wildlife.

Most northern breeds were used as sled dogs. Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, Eskimo Dogs, Greenlands, Samoyeds, Norrbottenspets, and Hokkaidokens are all sled dogs. However, lots of different breeds of dogs have been and are used to drive sleds and carts. People use Irish Setters, Dalmations, Golden Retrievers, etc. to enjoy mushing sports. In fact, most modern-day speed and endurance mushers use mixed breeds (often Siberian crossed with Greyhound). The size of the dog teams varies depending on the specific competition. The most common race classes are for 4, 6, 8, or an unlimited number of dogs. Rarely are the teams much larger than 20 dogs. The Iditarod, for example, allows only 16 dogs maximum per team. Even with few dogs, spring racers can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour.

Although tough work for the dogs, the general consensus is that the dogs absolutely love to run. The racers are also very close

to their dogs (they had better be, out on the trail they all sleep together to stay warm). Animal cruelty is a serious issue in dogsled racing. Race officials can request veterinary examinations and can disqualify dogs or whole teams from competition for the mistreatment of dogs, including the use of choke collars, muzzles and whips. Any sign of animal mistreatment results in severe punishment of the guilty musher.

Contrary to common belief, the word mush is not used to drive sled dogs. Mush comes from the French word marche, which is from the verb marcher, which means to walk. Undoubtedly, the French used this during gold rush days. The word mush is felt to be too soft a sound to be used as a command.

Mushing Terms

.There are two main types of sleds, basket sleds and toboggan sleds. Basket sleds (also called stanchion sleds) are popular among sprint racers and recreational mushers. They are fast on glare ice and hard-pack trails, and are also good in high wind conditions. They are lightweight, and the basket is set high off the runners, which keeps gear dry. Toboggan sleds are more durable and stable than the basket sleds, and they are capable of carrying bigger loads. They are more rigid and generally less maneuverable than basket sleds. The bed of the toboggan rides two inches above the snow. These sleds handle soft snow better than their basket counterparts.

Both types of sleds are equipped with a brake, which is a vital item. The brake is very simple, consisting of a spring-loaded wood plank attached to the sled bed at one end and a metal hook at the other. When riding the sled (standing on the runners) one simply pushes down on the brake, driving the hook into the snow. It is an effective method of slowing and stopping the sled.

Sometimes the dogs will wear dog booties, which are used to protect their feet from injury, particularly on long journeys. They are typically used when mushing on rough ice, along roadways where chemicals from de-icing can be present, or when driving the dogs on a snowless, hard surface.

If you are interested in learning the sport of dogsledding, there are many avenues available for you to try. From December to March, Voyager Outward Bound School offers 4, 8, 15 and 22-day dogsledding and cross-country skiing courses. Courses are open to adults (18+) and require no previous experience. Participants join in all aspects of dog handling, including setting out lines, feeding and watering, harnessing, and packing the sled. They learn to ski expedition-style with a backpack, mush a dog over varying terrain, and camp comfortably despite extreme temperatures. They also learn map and compass navigation and ice rescue.

How about the cost? Well, it varies, of course. The numbers below are average costs.

For more information on dogsledding, check out the following websites:

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