Dog
Mushing Photos
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Dog mushing in Alaska
 The broad expansive landscape of Alaska has been traveled by dogseld for centuries. © Patrick J. Endres
Alaska in general has a long history of dog mushing. It was, and still is in some places, an important mode of travel during winter months. Although, many have switched over to machine powered transportation like snow machines or four wheelers, there are still plenty who choose to run dogs for both practical, recreational, or professional sporting reasons.
 Limited North American Championship. Sled dog races held annually in Fairbanks at the Dog Mushers Hall. Four to eight dog teams race from 4 to 10 mile sprint races. © Patrick J. Endres
In accord with the different types of dog mushing comes a variety of types of sleds. A basket sled, used in dog sled racing, has a bed raised several inches above the surface of the snow. Sprint sleds are often short-bodied basket sleds. In contrast, a toboggan sled has a lower carriage and uses a closed bed, allowing the sled to slide or float over deep snow.
 Dogs bed down on straw at the 101 mile checkpoint and rest stop during the 1000 mile Yukon Quest sled dog race. © Patrick J. Endres Both of these types of sleds have runners which stick out behind the sled, on which the musher can stand. Older sleds relied on hooks attached to the sled with a rope, whereas modern sleds usually include drag and claw brakes built into the sled. Fairbanks hosts many dog sled races, including the
Yukon Quest, the North American, and even the Iditarod which
made a historical start in Fairbanks in 2003 due to lack
of snow in South-central Alaska.
Yukon Quest
 Musher Richie Beattie crosses overflow on Ptarmigan creek near mile 101 checkpoint during the 1000 mile Yukon Quest sled dog race 2006, between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon. © Patrick J. Endres Held in February, the racers often face inclement weather.
Cold is an understatement, with temperatures reaching 50
below zero and winds up to 100 mph.
 Yukon Quest musher Hugh Neff in near whiteout conditions crossing Eagle Summit. © Patrick J. Endres
The race trail crosses
frozen rivers, through remote villages, and over four mountain
ranges, including the arduous ascent of Eagle Summit in the
Steese Mountains.
In Fairbanks, the race either starts or finishes on the Chena
River between the Cushman Street Bridge and the new Centennial
Bridge. The race follows the river to North Pole, and may
be viewed from many locations where the river passes under
other bridges.
Gear and Equipment
 Specific gear is required during the race for both safety and fairness amongst the mushers. © Patrick J. Endres
The following items must be presented to the checker before checking in at each checkpoint (2007 race)
- Proper cold weather sleeping bag.
- Hand axe with an overall length of at least twenty-two (22) inches/56 centimeters.
- One pair of snowshoes with bindings, with an area of at least two hundred and fifty (250) square inches (1612)
square centimeters each.
- Veterinary records (loss will incur a two hundred fifty dollar ($250) fine.) The veterinary book must be
returned to a race judge upon completion of the race or when withdrawing for any reason.
- Any promotional material that YQI has asked the driver to carry to Fairbanks/Whitehorse. YQI may require 1
or 2 banners of no more than 400 square inches (2580 square centimeters) be displayed on the sled as
directed.
In addition, eight (8) booties for each dog, either in the sled or in use and in the sled, are required when a driver
signs out of each checkpoint.
For more info, visit the Yukon Quest official website: www.yukonquest.com
All Alaska Sweepstakes
 Lance Mackey leaves the checkpoint of Candle, the halfway point of the 400 mile All Alaska Sweepstakes race. © Patrick J. Endres
The 2008 All Alaska Sweepstakes dog sled race was the 100 commemorative, marking a milestone in dog racing and painting an intriguing historical picture. Sixteen mushers participated and the $100,000 purse went to the exclusive first place position! Mitch Seavey won the 400 mile race in a record time, and was followed in second by Jeff King, just 10 minutes behind, and Lance Mackey took third. The race is held in Nome, Alaska, and was last run 25 years ago.
Iditarod
 Dog Musher Dee Dee Jonrowe leaves the shoot for the 1000 mile 2003 Iditarod sled dog race from Fairbanks to Nome, Alaska . Lack of snow along the normal trail route further south forced the relocation of the restart on the Chena River in Fairbanks. © Patrick J. Endres Covering more than 1150 miles of beautiful and desolate wilderness,
the Iditarod trail sled dog race is one of the most extreme
known to man. Raced as a tribute to the brave life-saving
serum run to Nome in 1925, the Iditarod is more than just
a competition. The mushers guide a team of 12-16 dogs
from Anchorage to Nome in 10-17 days.
The trail passes over the Alaska Range and on the Yukon
River, which takes the teams west across vast expanses of
arctic tundra.
Click here for our Iditarod
photos.
For more info, visit the Official Site of the Iditarod: www.iditarod.com
Limited and Open North American Championships
The Open North American Championship Race is the oldest continuously run sled dog race of any kind in the world. First run in 1946. © Patrick J. Endres The North American sled dog race has a different spirit than
the Iditarod and Yukon Quest because it is a series of
sprint races. That is not to say it is easy! The race
attracts top sprint mushers from around the world. The Open North American is a combined
three day race, which begins in March from downtown Fairbanks,
Alaska. The first two days consist of 20 mile heats, and
the third day hosts 30 mile heats. Times from the combined
races reveal the winner.
The Limited North American Championships (LNAC) is the premiere limited sled dog sprint race in the world, attracting top sprint mushers from North America and beyond. The three day race is run every year in March from the Jeff Studdert Race Grounds in Fairbanks, Alaska. The term "limited" refers to a limit to the number of dogs in a team that may be run in a given class; the race includes 8-dog, 6-dog, and 4-dog competition, and skijoring with one, two, or three dogs.
For more information, visit the Alaska Dog Mushers Association
website: www.sleddog.org
Recreational Mushing
 Dog sledding through the boreal forest. © Patrick J. Endres Many residents of Alaska mush dogs for fun and pleasure, to run a trap line, access areas for hunting, and an increasing number of people are offering dog sled rides to tourists that come visit Alaska.
A team of dogs requires, training, consistent care, attention and exercise year round. The joys of being in the Alaska wilderness behind a quite team of dogs, hearing the patter of their feet and sounds of their harness--away from snowmachine smoke and noise--is a grand experience.
Links and resources
www.iditarod.com
www.yukonquest.com
www.yukonquest300.com
www.sleddogcentral.com
www.sleddog.org
www.fjdma.org (Fairbanks
Junior Dog Mushers’ Associations)
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The excited dogs are transported to the race
in trucks outfitted with boxes to safely house the dogs.
The dog teams travel over rivers and mountains to
reach their goal.
The North American is a fast paced sprint race
which attracts sprint mushers worldwide.
Dog Musher Aily Zirkle leaves the shoot for the 1000 mile 2003 Iditarod sled dog race from Fairbanks to Nome, Alaska . Lack of snow along the normal trail route further south forced the relocation of the restart on the Chena River in Fairbanks.
Mushers and dogs face harsh winter conditions of minus 40 degree weather and 100mph winds.
Booties are put on the feet of sled dogs to protect from ice and snow build up between their paws.
Dog care along the race trail is important. Musher Hans Gatt tends to his dogs during a rest stop at mile 101 checkpoint during the Yukon Quest.
The start of the Yukon Quest alternates between
Fairbanks, Alaska (shown here) and Whitehorse, Yukon.
Exhausted Yukon Quest musher rests at a checkpoint.
A broken sled reinforced with brackets. Trail side maintenance in common during a race.
Veterinarians play an important role in assisting mushers with dog care and animal health education and advice before and during a race.
Visitors gather at the Chena river in Fairbanks for the start of the Yukon Quest.
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| Patrick J. Endres | P.O. Box 81312 | Fairbanks, Alaska 99708
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