Dogsledding is alive and well throughout Alaska and Canada, and Skagway is home to a few different dog mushers who participate in regional races and promote this important tradition. As a driver for Alaska Coach Tours, I have the opportunity to take my passengers on two different dogsledding experiences where they can learn about this Alaskan State Sport – and pet the puppies… which is really why they come on the tour!

Dog Mushing and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

The most well-known race in Alaska is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. This race, held the first week of March, starts in Anchorage, Alaska and travels over 1,000 miles northwest across the Alaskan wilderness to the city of Nome. There are two routes, used every other year, in order to include a variety of Native American villages and promote the sport of racing.

All along the trail are established check points where veterinarians check the health of the dogs- especially their feet. The health of the musher, and the contents of their sleds, are also checked to make sure they have all the necessary equipment to survive the challenging course and adverse weather. Depending upon the conditions, race teams take between 8-15 days to complete the Iditarod.

During an Iditarod Race, these 50-pound dogs eat approximately 13,000 calories a day and the team can go through as many as 5,000 booties!

Dogsledding Tours

Therese and Peter Bartlett are well known Dog Mushers and are long time participants of numerous sled dog races including the historic Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Here in Skagway, at Alaska 360, Therese gives a wonderful demonstration about the dogs and life on the Iditarod Trail.

She also explains the outfit that a musher needs to wear. Just look at the size of the boots a musher uses in order to keep their feet warm in sub-zero temperatures!

Then, she introduces us to the dogs and we get to see them in action. They do love to run!

After the presentation, of course, the puppies steal the show. Bred for speed, smarts, and endurance, many of these dogs are mixed breeds of Alaskan Huskies, Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, labs, pointers and hounds.

Another location, Wild Adventure Yukon, teaches passengers all about the summer training and conditioning of the dogs. When there is no snow, mushers tie the dogs to ATV’s with the engine running in neutral. The dogs work together to pull the machinery around a track and it is here where my passengers can ride along.

During the tour, a musher explains that summer time is the season to really get to know their dogs. Which ones like to pull from the left or the right? Which ones are more competitive when paired with the same or opposite gender? Which ones are smart and strong enough to be in the lead? And, which ones are especially agile and best positioned directly in front of the sled as a “wheel dog”? By the end of summer, a good musher has their dog team well-honed, and when the first snow comes, they can fly!

It’s really fun to understand more about this historical and exciting tradition!

I hope you enjoyed the tour!