Tuesday, March 03, 2009
The Sun Dogs Are On You Tube!!
Leslie visited us in 2007 and just posted these great videos of her 1.5 mile trip with us on her You Tube channel. Check them out at http://www.youtube.com/user/benjamine128 The four clips are titled "my dog sled ride starts", "dog sledding and passing a beaver dam", "dog sledding and spotting a moose" and "dog sledding". Thanks Leslie for these great clips!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Alaska Dog Mushers Challenge Series Race #1
January 25 ,2009 11:45 AM. It was 2 degrees Fahrenheit, great for racing dogs!! The trail had a light layer of new snow to give just the right amount of grip. We ran a team in the six dog class. They finished in fifth place in a time of 23 minutes 31 seconds - thats just under 4 minute miles. Leo and Kate ran lead and it was the first time these guys ran solo without my other main leaders there for them to "fall back on". Tinker Bell and rookie racer Ruby Sue ran swing. Making sure the sled steered well was my wheel dog sensations Jiminy Cricket and Baloo.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Answer To Question - How Fast Do Sled Dogs Race?
How fast do sled dogs go? This is a question I hear often. The speed at which a sled dog races depends on the distance it is being asked to complete, trail conditions, terrain and the load in the sled. Touring dogs, distance race dogs, middle distance race dogs and sprint race dogs "run" speed is very different.
Tour dogs tend to be the slowest because they are being asked to pull the heaviest loads (i.e. people or cargo). These dogs are usually bigger in weight because they are being asked to pull hard. They are like the "draft horses" of the sled dog world. Their speed is well under 10 miles per hour, usually. They don't go for any real long distances.
Distance race sled dogs are your Iditarod and Yukon Quest types - the ultra marathoners. They can be asked to run up to and beyond 100 miles in a 24 hour period. They can eat well over 10,000 calories in a day (I'm not kidding - they are the epitome of the word "chow hound"). Usually these guys aren't hauling an excessive amount of weight in the sled - hopefully under 200 pounds. They are hauling sled and musher over some of the roughest terrain in the world so their speed is not always consistent. They average between 5-15 miles per hour over the course of the entire 1000 mile race. The speed is averaged with rest breaks included.
Middle distance racing sled dogs are the marathoners. They go distances, 100 to 300 miles, over the course of a long weekend. They have considerably less weight to carry in the sled, because they aren't going as far. The musher can use a lighter weight sled and the speeds are consistently faster than the long distance sled dogs. They are averaging about 8-15 miles per hour over the course of the race. Many middle distance dogs are just in training to be long distance dogs, anyway, so many are just kept to a long distance pace.
Sprint dogs are the fastest of the entire bunch. These guys are the "sports cars" and run at high bursts of speed for not more than 30 miles in a day. They can average 15-20 miles per hour for up to 30 miles in a day. The sleds are lightweight and EMPTY.
Tour dogs tend to be the slowest because they are being asked to pull the heaviest loads (i.e. people or cargo). These dogs are usually bigger in weight because they are being asked to pull hard. They are like the "draft horses" of the sled dog world. Their speed is well under 10 miles per hour, usually. They don't go for any real long distances.
Distance race sled dogs are your Iditarod and Yukon Quest types - the ultra marathoners. They can be asked to run up to and beyond 100 miles in a 24 hour period. They can eat well over 10,000 calories in a day (I'm not kidding - they are the epitome of the word "chow hound"). Usually these guys aren't hauling an excessive amount of weight in the sled - hopefully under 200 pounds. They are hauling sled and musher over some of the roughest terrain in the world so their speed is not always consistent. They average between 5-15 miles per hour over the course of the entire 1000 mile race. The speed is averaged with rest breaks included.
Middle distance racing sled dogs are the marathoners. They go distances, 100 to 300 miles, over the course of a long weekend. They have considerably less weight to carry in the sled, because they aren't going as far. The musher can use a lighter weight sled and the speeds are consistently faster than the long distance sled dogs. They are averaging about 8-15 miles per hour over the course of the race. Many middle distance dogs are just in training to be long distance dogs, anyway, so many are just kept to a long distance pace.
Sprint dogs are the fastest of the entire bunch. These guys are the "sports cars" and run at high bursts of speed for not more than 30 miles in a day. They can average 15-20 miles per hour for up to 30 miles in a day. The sleds are lightweight and EMPTY.
Don't Forget To Dress Warm - Yes, This Is A Repeat!
Alaska cold can, at times, be unforgiving. Wear layers of loose fitting clothing instead of one heavy layer to better regulate the amount of insulation. If you get warm shed a layer or add a layer if you get cold. A steady flow of warm blood is essential to keep all parts of your body heated.Wear breathable fabrics and avoid cotton. Damp clothing and skin can cause your body to cool quickly leading to frostbite or hypothermia. Your footwear is subject to more exposure and moisture. Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not provide enough insulation. You should wear either mukluks or rubberized insulated boots.At least two pair of warm socks are recommended. Pull trouser legs over top of boots to keep out the snow.Mittens are warmer than gloves, they allow fingers to be in direct contact with one another. Warm gloves are a must however for our mushing school students because the fingers need protection while working with the snaps of the dog lines.Most of your body heat escapes through your head. Wear a hat and bring a scarf, neoprene face mask or neck gator to cover your face from wind.
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