Dog Sledding

We spent a morning at Gerald and Jennifer Azure's going for dog sled rides. The dogs are chained to their houses that you can see on the right in this picture.  When we got there the dogs were already tied up on a line to get ready for our rides.  They are jumping, barking and look so ill behaved until they are in harnass and then it's complete order. The dogs were placed one on either side of a line, 2 abreast and 4 rows back for a total of 8 dogs.  If an excited young dog doesn't stand still and behave himself, another older dog will snap at him. Younger dogs are harnassed close to older, experienced dogs to help "teach them the ropes"--wonder if that's where the saying came from?  If a dog accidentally got on the wrong side of the rope between the two dogs running abreast they have to learn how to get back over on their own side with the sled still moving. 
That's lesson #1 for the dogs.  The lead dog is in the first position and the musher calls their names and orders all throughout the ride.

 These are the new puppies that we saw 2 days ago.  One has his eyes open, the others are still closed.  Many of the people in the area don't vaccinate their dogs and parvo is a very worrisome disease.  We were not allowed to touch the dog in case we'd come in contact with any dogs in town that might be carrying the disease. 

 First they showed us how to sit in the sled.

 And off we go.  I was lucky in that I not only got to ride, but got to "mush".  I stood on the back and tried to control the dogs--no easy task!  They like to run and there is a brake bar behind the back of the sled between the runner that with all my weight on it, they could still pull me.  As you turn a corner, it's important to shift your weight to help the sled slide around the corner.  The afternoon group didn't get to mush because they said the morning group didn't do a very good job.  Well, it sure was fun and probably , I didn't do so good!!!

There are 2 breeds of dogs used for dog sledding. The Greenland Husky and the Eskimo  Sled Dog.  Some of their dogs are rescue dogs that are the husky or sled dog have been interbred with a completely inappropriate type of dog for the far north.  They have a greyhound mix and a border collie mix.  Both of these dogs can run faster and not overheat, but they don't have enough hair to keep them warm and they need to sleep inside when it's cold!

 Gerald, his brother Earnest in the orange pants, and two of our group

Sara mushing.

It was the perfect winter day with snow, cold temp and we were wrapped in caribou hides to keep warm.  FUN!

Some of these dogs will take part the Hudson Bay Quest a 210 km race from Churchill to Gillam, Manitoba.  (I notice that a woman from Kingston, WA, USA raced last year.)  The previous route from Churchill to Arviat was 240km along frozen Hudson Bay and proved to be too dangerous. There were several near fatal accidents.  The change of venue has eliminated some of the Inuit musher who usually won.  Instead of having their dogs in a line 2 wide and 4 deep, the Inuit dogs are fanned out  7-8 wide pulling the sled.  Hudson Bay is open water and there plenty of room for that but the newer route is in the trees and that configuration doesn't work.  So as a protest, some of the Inuit are boycotting the race.