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dog sled
July 2008 
yukon quest
Posted on Jan 3rd, 2008
by 
geognosy
geognosy
Another evocative sub-culture in the Yukon are mushers. Mushers train with dogs and enter competitions such as the Iditarod in Alaska, and the international race, the Yukon Quest.
Today was the first time I actually saw a team of dogs racing along the river. It is such a stereotypical image of the north and yet it has taken me months to actually see it. The Yukon Quest passes through Dawson each year, and here are the Dawson City pictures from 2007. This site provides lots of information about the race and the mushers for 2008 (for example, here's a playful profile of a Whitehorse musher).
The team of dogs was moving so quickly, I had no time to prepare and my shots of it are not clear. The picture above shows the track of the dog sled in the snow on the Yukon River, with the glow of the sunset in the background (just before 4 p.m.). You can see the tracks of the dogs and the sled runners. The dogs all wear little booties, very cute, and in the spring lost little dog booties turn up all over the place.
This picture to me captures so much of the Yukon sensation. The glow on the horizon, pink sky, the large landscape, the tracks in the snow. The dog sled races are a connection to history, since dog teams were the main form of transportation in the winter, to bring in mail and supplies, and the Iditarod is inspired by (although not an accurate re-enactment of) the heroic effort to bring diphtheria vaccine from Anchorage to Nome to save people from an epidemic. The interdependence with dogs remains a living tradition in the north. A more common sight these days, at least near town, is one or two dogs pulling someone on skis across the river from West Dawson so they can run some errands. (I've since learned the name for this activity: ski + dog = "skijor", a Scandinavian word.)
Today was the first time I actually saw a team of dogs racing along the river. It is such a stereotypical image of the north and yet it has taken me months to actually see it. The Yukon Quest passes through Dawson each year, and here are the Dawson City pictures from 2007. This site provides lots of information about the race and the mushers for 2008 (for example, here's a playful profile of a Whitehorse musher).
The team of dogs was moving so quickly, I had no time to prepare and my shots of it are not clear. The picture above shows the track of the dog sled in the snow on the Yukon River, with the glow of the sunset in the background (just before 4 p.m.). You can see the tracks of the dogs and the sled runners. The dogs all wear little booties, very cute, and in the spring lost little dog booties turn up all over the place.
This picture to me captures so much of the Yukon sensation. The glow on the horizon, pink sky, the large landscape, the tracks in the snow. The dog sled races are a connection to history, since dog teams were the main form of transportation in the winter, to bring in mail and supplies, and the Iditarod is inspired by (although not an accurate re-enactment of) the heroic effort to bring diphtheria vaccine from Anchorage to Nome to save people from an epidemic. The interdependence with dogs remains a living tradition in the north. A more common sight these days, at least near town, is one or two dogs pulling someone on skis across the river from West Dawson so they can run some errands. (I've since learned the name for this activity: ski + dog = "skijor", a Scandinavian word.)
Access: Public
I'm all in favour of free speech and debate, but I was surprised to find a very long comment by a group which just joined zaadz overnight who have absolutely no material posted in their profile, not even a link to their own website. I deleted this comment. The same material can be found through the links in the article below.
A fellow zaadzter, Mary Martin, is contributed a series of very interesting articles here about the rights of animals. She is in favour of abolishing these dog races, and here is another article she wrote about sled dog races. Most mushers, just like most pet owners, are animal lovers. However abuse does occur in both groups.
George,
My heart flip-flopped when I saw your picture and when I read your post. You live in a beautiful part of the world… I enjoy seeing it through the lens of your camera… I love reading your blogs… my heart skipped a beat when I read about your first sighting of the dog sled team. Everything else aside - thank you for sharing… the mental image of the dog booties made me smile. I look forward to hearing more about life in your corner of the world!
Hugs!
-Susan
Anonymous comments are a breach of net etiquette. Please develop your own profile on zaadz and post your material there. For people who want more information, Mary's article above contains links to many organizations (including the Sled Dog Action Coalition) who advocate the abolition of sled dog races.
Ahem, George,I am going to abstain myself from commenting about the dogs, you are in a tough place already, if you want to honestly report to us more than air-brushed glimpses , or PG ratings stories of the Great North, yet again it is the hypnotic charm of your photo which is drawing me again to your blog…
Captivating photo, dreamy, heavenly,pink and baby blue hues, suitable shades for painting a baby room and nesting fragile things like that, paradoxically when those colors are in fact your landscape, a warning of the necessity to be as tough as nails, and ruthlessly selfish, otherwise you won't survive for long in that decor. George I am totally besotted by the photos of your birds, especially that tiny bird perches on some sugar-coated look- alike, icy frozen branches. Now how can they survive in that climate? with their delicate feathers? when there is a snow storm and temperature below zero and the wind is hurling? do they gang together on some roof to catch some of the heat seeping through? but the real wild ones far away from human homes, how do they cope? How many casualities after those storms?
The birds amaze me. The gray jay in this blog photo is not that small a bird, about the size of a blue jay (a close relative), or a little bigger than a robin. They were quite bold at the rest stop, and we gave them bits of food, but I've never seen this type of bird in town. In the photo it is sitting in a bush covered with frost. This was during the time of the ice fog, and I posted other pictures of that, because the sight of millions of trees and bushes coated with this frost was spectacular.
There are little birds around, like black cap chickadees, and even smaller birds which I call titmice because I believe they are in the chickadee family. These little titmice I see flying in groups through the birch trees, where they nibble on seeds? buds? bark? There are always scatterings of little brown bits on the snow under the trees after they visit.
I don't know how they survive or where they sleep. Maybe inside a clump of nice evergreens, because they can provide some shelter. One thing about winter right here is that even though there has been snow and cold, there has not been a “storm” like I associate with winter in other parts of Canada. There is hardly any wind here and that's a blessing when it's cold. No wind can make all the difference.
Yesterday was a time for smugness in the Yukon, because it was colder in Toronto than it was here.
The red poles travel in flocks. They have very thick under feathers that they fluff up when it gets very cold; their legs and claws get completely covered by the fluffed feathers and stay nice and warm. At -40C they eat constantly during daylight hours; during the dark hours the nest in the evergreens or any other sheltered spot they can find. They are incredibly skilled scavengers and can find even the best hidden bird feeder in a flash.
I have been feeding them for years now and have long ago stopped counting the number of 10 kilo bags of Niger seeds they have eaten. At -40C they eat non-stop; not even a bathroom break is worth stopping eating. They multi-task; the front end eats while the back end poops. No matter how cold it is they chirp and chase one another around. l could spend hours watching them at the feeders.
Sadly they do die, they get sick, injured or other predators eat them. Like all creatures they are subject to that natural law. But come March the survivors migrate north and a whole new generation is born and comes back to my feeders in November to delight me through another long winter.
I have volunteered for the Yukon Quest during the mandatory 36 hour rest period in Dawson City, Yukon the race's mid point. The dogs are treated like Olympic athletes complete with a team of qualified vets, physio therapist, handlers/trainers. They are fed hot, high energy diet cooked by their musher and handlers - the dogs always eat first. The Dawson City camp groung where they are lodged is a combination health spa pet resort with custom designed tents, individual straw beds, blankets, dog coats; meal cooked and delivered hot by loving mushers and handlers. Feet are massaged with ointment to prevent any damaged to the paws specially between the toes and the pads; booties to keep paws warm and protected from being cut by sharp ice. Personal handler/trainer for exercise and walks several times a day. The mushers don't have it that good! While the handlers feed the dogs hot meals they live on cold rations like energy bars.
No dog is ever allowed to continue racing unless the vets declare them in perfect health. On the trail musher will not make an injured or sick dog run. They make them ride on the sled in a kind of sleeping bag that keeps the dog warm and securely anchored to the sled. I have seen teams come in with a dog on the sled; the dog sits in the bag head sticking out enjoying the ride watching the other dogs pulling it in front and its master pushing behing. Oh! the hardships of life on the trail.
Volunteer teams of snowmachine owners pack the snow on the trail before the race and continuously monitor the racing teams' progress. Any team in trouble is airlifted to a safe enviromnent; same for dogs in difficulty. Volunteer residents all along the trail host and care for sick/injured animals and their handlers. I have hosted such animals and their caregivers and can vouch for the love and attention these animals get from their mushers and handlers. I have seen handlers sleep outside in tents with sick animals in extreme temperatures as low as -40. I have watched handlers cook for their charges on my kitchen stove and launder hundreds of dog booties; dry and clean their harness and coats by my wood furnace in the basement.
Believe me no animal abuse is tolerated during those races; even the suspicion of abuse will get a competitor disqualified from the race. No animal is ever allowed to race without being declared fit and in full health by qualified vets. I personally know one of those vets; he has cared for my pets for over 10 years now. I don't know of any other individual more caring for any animal under his care; he is loving, gentle.
I have met and know a number of mushers; all share a great love of their animals and superb dedication to provide the best care to their animal; no expense is ever spared.
What more can I tell you to reassure you that the dogs are well treated. Perhaps watching the race in person and visiting a racing sled dog kennel is what is needed.