Mushing Facts

[ Home ] [ Mushing History ] [ Distance Vs.Sprint ] [ Dog Athletes ] [ Mushing Facts ]

Here are just some facts about mushing:

• During a race, a dog can burn as much as 6000 calories. 
• The best known races in Alaska are the Iditarod(1049 mile race from Anchorage to Nome) and the Yukon Quest(1100 miles between Fairbanks and Whitehorse on the Yukon territory)
• Mushers usually use larger and heavier sleds to race in the distance races so that they can include all their equipment. 
• For Sprint Races, they use smaller, lightweight sleds so that it'll be easier and faster to race.  
• For training, mushers use sleds that aren't too heavy for the dogs to get tired easily, and not too light because they need the work out.
• The Iditarod is a race from Anchorage to Nome. This race started in 1952 when an epidemic in Nome broke out and everyone was dying. The only way for transportation was by dog mushing, and some people made it on time before people started dying.
• Before late 1850's, only men raced in the Iditarod, until a women named Libby Riddles raced in the Iditarod and won first place.

Mushing Terms:

Hike: Get the dogs moving

Gee: Turn right

Haw: Turn left

Easy: Slow down

Musher: One that drives sled dogs

Mushing: The act of driving sled dogs

Lead dog: Dog that steers the sled dog team and regulates speed

Wheel dog: Dogs closest to the sled

Sled: Wooden rig the dogs pull in the snow and on which you stand

Snowless rigs: Also called training carts. Take the place of the sled when there is no snow.