Dog Sleds
Alaska is the home to the annual Iditarod Race, where professional
mushers test their skills in an 1868 kilometer trek. Beginning In the
small town of Willow, located near Anchorage, the course runs to Nome
with sledding enthusiasts trying to beat the world record time of 8 days,
22 hours and 46 minutes set by champion musher Martin Buser in 2002. Led
by a team of sixteen Alaskan Malamute dogs, the Iditerod is among the
most scenic and challenging of any winter sport, demanding strategy
skills along with endurance and physical strength.
Visitors to Alaska during the month of March align themselves along the
dog sledding route and its 26 checkpoints. However, the best seats in
the house are the first checkpoint and starting gate located on 4th
Avenue in downtown Anchorage. The ceremonial start kicks off with much
fanfare as the hopeful mush teams gain encouragement from the crowds.
And you need not worry about the welfare of the animals, as these dogs
are specially trained to wether the tough weather conditions and are
carefully placed on the sled team to minimize each Malamute's work load.
With tails wagging and a youthful energy, the dog sled team is anxiously
awaits the start signal and they are ready to go.
The dog sledding experience is available to tourists with several dog
sled camps opened to the public. You may book this Alaskan adventure
from most of the cruise ships for a half-day excursion and enjoy a fast-paced
sled run through the pristine Alaskan scenery. The duration of the ride
is under three miles, but you will be able to meet and greet the dogs at
their camp and learn about their training, pampered living conditions
and all about the sport of dog sledding.
The Alaska dog sled adventure rides charge a hefty fee, however, the
proceeds go to the care and welfare of the animals. The dog sled leader
may ask you to sign a waiver that you may not sue them in case of an
injury, which is most likely only if you are thrown from the sled. This
has never happened, but they must protect the dogs from a lawsuit that
could take away the quality of their lives. So don't be discouraged and
go ahead and sign on the dotted line, then buckle up for a thrill ride
of a lifetime.