February 2 is Sled Dog Day

I don't know who made it an official holiday, but today is Sled Dog Day. Figured I would celebrate the day by sharing some of my favorite sled dog shots from the last 18 years. Be warned, this will be a photo heavy post. So without further adieu (as we all know, a photo is worth 1000 words anyway) here they come:

The first sled dog shot I ever shared on my blog. Only fitting it
is the first one I share on this post. This is from the 2006? Iditarod.

To save on bandwidth and space, I'll put the rest under a cut:

Mushing fans come together to help Yukon Dogs

Don't say the Mushing Fandom isn't devoted to their sport. Several weeks ago news broke that due to a record low Chum salmon run, dog teams in the Yukon River villages were looking at a bleak winter. Unlike dogs in other parts of the country or even the state, there isn't a local pet food store these mushers can run to. The dogs of the Yukon feed off of fish and other subsistence foods - just as they always have. Shipping in extra dog food is a financial hardship in a good year, in one where "real food" can't be supplemented into the dogs' diets has many dog owners looking at not so great alternatives. Many dogs are facing being sent outside to other kennels or homes, or possibly even being humanely put down to save them from starvation.

A plea for help went out quickly, started in large part on social media by Steph Quinn-Davidson the Director of the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. Steph's original plea was directed more towards dog food companies seeing if any would be willing to donate some kibble to the doggos in need. Fans quickly helped spread the word and tagged their favorite brands. Only one, Purina, stepped up - donating 35,000 pounds of dog food as well as the shipping costs to get the dry dog food to Fairbanks. And then things were quiet again.

This past week, Steph once again took to social media for help. With the announcement of Purina's sponsorship, now all she needed was to fund the shipping of the relief food to the different villages that were in need. Alaska's News Source gave a signal boost to the plight of the Yukon Sled Dogs running a story on their website and Steph created a GoFundMe fundraiser. Word spread. By Thursday people were posting what they could to the fundraiser and sharing through many platforms. By Friday - the fundraiser had met the original goal and changed their goal to twice the original number. With shipping costs taken care of, all other funding will go to purchase more dog food. More mushers along the river are asking for help, and the cost will no doubt increase.

At present, $22,160 has been raised in just over 24 hours. A huge part of that is due to the UglyDogs (a fan group that supports Blair Braverman and Quince Mountain - dog mushers in Wisconsin who've brought the sport to a whole new generation of fans) who love their spreadsheets and LOVE to help in however way they can. The fans not only boosted the fundraiser, they are actively looking for other dog food companies who would be willing to help offset some of the dog food costs. The UglyDogs have done this before, with their IGiveARod donations over the last two races as they followed their favorite teams along the trail they would donate to different causes in the villages and towns along the race map. 

The donations of food, shipping, etc will greatly help not only the dogs survive - but it also keeps tradition alive. For generations dogs have been a crucial part of life for Alaskans, especially those "off grid" and "off the road system". While the Iditarod was a way to celebrate and keep that tradition alive, the sled dogs of the races look a little different than the dogs used for every day recreation and lifestyle. Dogs that help haul wood, wild game, and other supplies don't need to be fast - but they do need to be strong and hearty - and that requires food. And they'll get it. Thanks in large part to the dedication of fans all over the globe who understand just home important these canines are.

The fundraiser is ongoing for shipping and food costs. You can contact Steph via her twitter account if you would like to help or would like more information. 

What a T200 Checkpoint looks like

Okay, I might as well just post the rest of the photos while I'm on my blog, right? These are just highlights. I took far more photos than I want to post here (because I just don't want to bog down the bandwidth). You can view all of them (and then some) on my galleries page ( click here ).

Freddie's Roadhouse is located in the heart of the Caribou Hills (outside of Ninilchik, Alaska). The hills are where the snowmachine (snowmobile for you outsiders) enthusiasts congregate all winter long. The Roadhouse feeds and houses many of these folks. It's central in the trail systems. This includes the mushing trails, and so it's the first and last checkpoint during the race. Good food, warm hospitality, just a great place to meet up and watch the dogs come in.

Mt Redoubt was huge and very visible from Freddies.

Iliamna was also very visible.

More under the cut!

Lance Mackey to run in Iditarod 2016

Four time Iditarod Champion Lance Mackey made headlines yesterday when he announced on Facebook that he will run Iditarod 2016 if he can come up with the money to do so. Mackey is one of the most recognizable names in Iditarod history, as his story of overcoming adversity to win his 4 consecutive Iditarods resonates with people. Lance is part of a mushing dynasty with his father Dick and brother Rick also having won Iditarod titles - and his father was one of the original Iditarod mushers.

Mackey made headlines in the 2015 race when he had one of his worst races in recent memory, he was suffering from severe frostbite to his fingers and two of his dogs passed away on the trail. Lance gave an interview during the race saying he just couldn't do the race anymore. With the help of his brother, Jason, Lance Mackey and team made it to Nome, but everyone expected him to retire.

And retire he had, or so we all thought.

Mackey has been travelling to different film festivals this year, following along with the documentary about his life and racing entitled "The Great Alone." The film has been wildly accepted and won numerous awards, with Mackey making a quick trip to Hollywood earlier this month. It's no doubt that the story is more than one about a musher and dogs, it speaks to people in all walks of life. It's inspirational.

One has to wonder if it isn't what inspired Mackey to not hang it up just yet.

Where MY personal concern is, is Lance Mackey's health. I am not trying to suggest he is ill, or anything like that. I don't have insider knowledge or sources to suggest he isn't healthy. My concern is based solely on how he fared in the race this past March. Mackey was unable to handle the cold temperatures (a record bitter cold of -40+ in some parts of the trail), losing feeling and movement in his fingers meant he was slower to care for his team. Jason, his brother, scrapped his own race plan to run alongside his brother and help him get to Nome.

Mackey losing two dogs suddenly while running the trail caused concern as well. Necropsy reports could not provide a reason for their deaths. It was just quick onset death. This ruled out Lance's issues on the trail as being a factor in the cause of death. Most dog mushers suggested it could've been a defect in whatever line the litter was from. Speculation is all any one can do, the matter is closed, and Mackey - while devastated at the loss - moved on as best he could.

All of this prompted bloggers, fans, media, and other mushers alike to post their support and hope that Mackey would finish what they all declared his final race. Again - Lance himself also said it was most likely this last time he would run.

But I have to think that the documentary's success has Lance thinking differently. I haven't yet seen it, but it's heralded as being uplifting and inspiring. Fans have reached out to the musher all year hoping that he would run again. Lance looks better than he did all of last year leading up to the 2015 race. Things are looking up. That attitude alone no doubt has bolstered his drive to try again. Maybe this will be his final run, and he just wants to go out his way, or maybe that "I can't do it anymore" interview he gave to Iditarod Insider last year was just a man frustrated with how his race was going and he wanted to quit in the moment.

When Lance runs in March, I wish him the best. Hopefully the weather is kinder, and he can finish the race on his terms. But, I do hope that he takes last year's race into consideration when he assesses not only his team of 16 dogs... but of himself.

Roster of 18 to run the Yukon Quest

The Yukon Quest, a thousand mile sled dog race that starts in Alaska and crosses into Canada, begins tomorrow morning at 11am. The roster includes 13 veterans and 5 rookies. Several of the veterans are known by even the most casual fans. Reigning champion Allen Moore is back to try to win another championship. Hugh Neff is back in the race, as well, with his laughing eyes team. Two time winner, John Schandelmeier is also back in the race trying for another title. John's taken a backseat - at least in the limelight - to his partner Zoya Denure who was considered an up and coming women's musher a few years ago. Denure is at home with their two daughters, so John is taking the helm for this race.

With the weather being unseasonably warm the last few weeks in Alaska, small changes have been made to this year's race. Instead of starting on the Chena River where they traditionally start, they will be running through the streets of Fairbanks before meeting up with the river later on down the trail. River conditions were cited as the reason behind the change.

The concern of trail conditions and heat will no doubt be the talk of early race discussion. Though most of South Central Alaska is mainly ice (if that) the Interior and Yukon areas have had a little better luck in keeping some snow on the trails. The weather forecast is also looking more favorably on the race as temperatures are dropping to closer to normal temperatures. But, it's anyone's guess how the race will play out weatherwise.

With the weather being so weird for this time of year, many of the races that one would use to gauge who the front runners are were cancelled. This leaves room for a lot of guess work and discussion as to who to choose for any sort of bets or predictions.

But here's my limited knowledge top three:

1. Allen Moore - not only is he the reigning champion, he and wife Aliy Zirkle have one of the best kennels in the 1000 mile race business right now. He won the Quest with his team, and she turned right around and came in second in the Iditarod (second time in as many years). This year Allen won the Copper Basin 300, which was one of two races that went on this season. It was a good bit of racing, and in the end he came out on top. No doubt his team will bring their A game once again.

2. Brent Sass - some may know him for his work on the first season of Ultimate Survival Alaska (it's a good show, by the way), but most who follow the sport know this up and comer is done waiting his turn. He's had top three finishes. I haven't paid much attention to his team this year so far, but something in my gut tells me he'll be one to watch for the Quest.

3. Hugh Neff - who doesn't love the Cat in the Hat? Neff breathes the Quest. He's won it before, and he's always in the mix. There's no indication that he can't win another one. It will come down to who wants it, not just musher - but team. No one seems more in tune with their dogs than Hugh.