Sled Dogs

One of the highlights of our trip to Alaska for me was the opportunity to see the famous sled dogs in action.  During the winter that I was more or less housebound following my chemo treatments, I spent a lot of time playing on the computer.  During one of my spells of surfing, I discovered the Cabella website and the Iditarod.  Cabella's provided day to day and often moment to moment coverage of the famous dog race that takes place in early March. 

The Iditarod is a 1100 to 1150 mile race from Anchorage to Nome.  The miles vary because the route alternates every other year.  It is a grueling race that is accomplished in an amazing 10-17 days.  It follows approximately the route taken in 1925 when a diphtheria epidemic struck Nome.  The planes that would have normally been used to fly in desperately needed medicine were grounded due to the weather.  Someone came up with the idea of using a dog team to rush the medicine to the doctors in Nome.  Todays race is not a desperate race to deliver hope but remains none the less an unbelievable triumph of man and dog over elements.

Day after day I found myself glued to the computer as I followed the dog teams and their mushers as they passed through their check points.   Over fifty teams started the race but not all would finish it.  Each day I learned about the care and feeding of these marvelous dogs and the mushers who love them and the race.  Soon the names became people and I was immersed in their lives and what made them choose this dangerous and thrilling sport.  I followed them as they battled frigid weather, blowing snow, dangerous ice, dark nights, and the threat of a moose attack.  (Yes, a moose is the most dangerous animal they can face on the trail.  It is for this reason they are required by the race to carry a firearm.)  I began to see the strategy that would help them overcome their opponents to gain a few hours or minutes. 

Now that we were going to Alaska I was determined to visit a sled dog kennel and see these marvelous animals.  To my delight one of the stops in Fairbanks was to visit the kennel of Susan Butcher.  Susan died a few years ago of leukemia but she was a famous Iditarod racer who was a four time winner of the race.  Her husband now runs the kennel and still trains the dogs.  We were treated to an exhibition of  a team in action.  Since there was no snow for them to pull a sled over they use a four wheeler to train during the summer.  With the appearance of the four wheeler and the handlers the entire yard of dogs went crazy.  With tails wagging like wild, they jumped on and off of their houses, each enthusiastically barking "take me!! Take Me!! TAKE ME!!"  The ones chosen eagerly drug their handler to the sled to take their places.  Their excitement was absolutely palatable. 

Once in their harness they became all business.  Each was eager to get started and run, but obedient to the signals of the musher.  These dogs are controlled by voice not reins or whips.  They respond to commands of "gee", "haw", "whoa", and "get up" just like teams of horses did.  At the command of "get up" they lunged to the end of their harness and began to run.  I am still amazed at the speed and agility of these dogs.  These are the thoroughbreds of the dog world, bred for speed and endurance.  They aren't the hulking, heavy dogs of the movies but smaller, slighter and quicker.  Think draft horses versus race horses.  They aren't purebred but all show some husky influence but may be crossed with about any other breed.  All I can say about the demonstration is WOW!  The dogs returned to the starting point barely out of breath and looking immensely pleased with themselves. 

What a wonderful experience to see these dogs in their element, running like the wind.