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Iditarod
Basics
What were the reasons the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race was started?
For six thousand years, sled dogs have served as the
principal form of transportation for the native peoples of the north. As
white settlers, gold miners, and fur trappers moved into what is today Alaska
and the northern territories of Canada, they, too, used the dog team for winter
transportation. When gold camps boomed in the interior, the call for mail
and supply delivery in the winter months was answered by the hearty dogs and
mushers. One of the major routes followed by the teams was the Iditarod
Trail, which crossed Alaska from Seward on the Kenai Peninsula to Nome on the
Bering Sea Coast.
In the winter of 1925, a diphtheria epidemic struck
Nome. The anti-serum required to stop the epidemic needed to be quickly
transported to Nome, but no roads to Nome existed, ships could not sail through
the pack ice, and air travel was too dangerous. The Iditarod Trail was the
only answer, and a group of 18 dog teams and mushers relayed the serum 674 miles
from Nenana to Nome. This is the well-known story of Balto.
Clearly sled dogs were a key part of Alaska's early history,
but they began to disappear as snowmobiles, airplanes, and roads arrived in
Alaska during the middle 20th century. In response to this disappearance,
Joe Redington Sr. and a group of mushers worked together to start a race across
Alaska that followed the old Iditarod Trail. This race was the Iditarod
Trail Sled Dog Race, and it has become the world's premiere sled dog race since
its first running in 1973.
Who are considered the "mother" and "father" of the
Iditarod?
Joe Redington Sr. is considered the Father of the Iditarod. Dorthy
Page is considered the Mother of the Iditarod. Both Joe and Dorthy
worked very hard with a number of other people to get the first Iditarod race
started in 1973 and keep the race going during the following
years..
Where does the race run?
Although the old Iditarod trail actually started in Seward,
the race currently starts in Anchorage and runs to Nome, the traditional
northern end of the Iditarod Trail. The race trail crosses the Alaska
Mountain Range at Rainy Pass, the highest point on the trail at elevation 3,500
feet, and then crosses the Alaskan interior to meet the Yukon River. The
race trail takes one of two routes as it crosses the interior and runs on the
Yukon River. In even numbered years, the race heads north from the cold
camp of Ophir and reaches the Yukon at Ruby. The trail turns down river
for 150 miles to Kaltag. In odd numbered years, the trail heads south from
Ophir and meets up with the Yukon River just south of the village of Anvik.
From Anvik, the trail follows the Yukon up river for 150 miles to Kaltag Once at
Kaltag, the two trails meet and are the same to Nome. From Kaltag, the
trail follows the Old Woman Portage to Unalakleet on the Bering Sea Coast.
From Unalakleet, the trail follows the Bering Sea Coast north to Nome.
Are there two different race trails?
Yes. The middle 300 miles of the trail
alternates. The Northern Route, run in even-numbered years,
heads north from the checkpoint of Ophir, reaches the Yukon River at Ruby, and
travels downriver to Kaltag. The Southern Route, run in
odd-numbered years, heads south from Ophir, passes through the ghost town of
Iditarod, and reaches the Yukon River just below the checkpoint at Anvik.
The trail then heads upriver to Kaltag. From Kaltag the trail is the
same every year to the finish, and the trail from the starting line to Ophir
is also the same each year. See Race Trail Map
What is the exact mileage of the Iditarod?
The Iditarod is officially 1,049 miles long. However,
this number was adopted because Alaska is the 49th state and the Iditarod is
always over 1,000 miles long. The actual mileage is probably somewhere
around 1,100, and does vary each from year to year based on whether the race
runs on the northern course (even years) or southern course (odd years).
Where does the race actually begin--Anchorage or Wasilla?
The answer is both, actually. The race begins the
first Saturday of March on Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage. However,
the first day is just a ceremonial start, and teams run only from Anchorage to
Eagle River, 25 miles away. The time from that day has no effect on the
final outcome of the race. This ceremonial start is done in order to allow
for better publicity and coverage for the mushers and the race, and it also
allows each musher to give one lucky "Idita-Rider" a ride in his or
her sled at the starting line. Idita-Riders bid in silent auction to ride
in the sleds, and the money goes toward funding the
race.
On the following day, the race is re-started in Wasilla,
about 50 miles from Anchorage. This is the official timed start of the
race. The reason for moving the teams out of Anchorage for the restart is
that the congestion of Anchorage streets coupled with the geographic barrier of
the Knik River and Knik Arm of Cook Inlet (part of the Pacific Ocean) make it
safest to start in Wasilla.
It should be noted that Seward is actually the traditional
start of the Iditarod trail and the location where most teams started their runs
into the interior during the gold rush. Currently, the Alaska Railroad
runs over much of the old Iditarod Trail from Seward to Anchorage, making a
Seward start to the race almost impossible.
What does the word Iditarod mean?
Iditarod is believed to come from an Athabaskan Indian word pronounced
"Hi-dit-a-rod." There are many translations for this word, but
the most widely accepted meaning is "a distant or far off
place." The Iditarod River was the site of one of the last major
gold strikes in Alaska in the early 20th century. The town of Iditarod
was built on the banks of this river, and the trails leading to Iditarod from
Seward (on the south central coast) and Nome (on the west coast) were
collectively known as the Iditarod Trail.
How many mushers run in the Iditarod? Is there a limit?
55-75 mushers usually start the race. The
most mushers ever to start the Iditarod was in the 2000 race when 82 mushers
left the starting line. The most to ever finish was in ’92 when 63 mushers successfully made it
to Nome. No limit has
been imposed on the number of entries, but talk has been made of limiting the
number to 100 teams if needed at some point in the future.
Are
all the mushers from Alaska?
No,
many mushers have come from other states as well as from many foreign countries.
Austria,
Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, Switzerland, and Russia have all fielded teams
in the Iditarod.
Does every team that starts the race finish?
No. Every year a handful of mushers drop out of
(scratch) the race. The reasons that a musher may scratch are varied, and
tend to often be based in the musher being very tired or not feeling well.
These feelings can make things seem worse than they really are, and lead to a
musher deciding that he or she cannot finish. However, sometimes
scratching is the right thing to do, especially if a musher is sensing that it
would be in the best interests of his or her dogs. Sometimes mushers get
hurt, and despite courageous efforts to continue with injuries, many mushers
have decided (or had the race officials decide for them) that scratching is the
best option.
Who can run in the Iditarod?
Any qualified musher is welcome to enter the
Iditarod. A qualified musher is a person who is at least 18 years of age,
is in good standing with the Iditarod Trail Committee, and has met one of the
two following requirements: successfully finished a previous Iditarod or
successfully finished two approved qualifying races totaling 500 miles or more
in the 24 months prior to the start of the Iditarod the musher wishes to enter.
 Do women compete in the race? Have any women every won the race?
Yes, women have both competed in and won the
Iditarod. In fact, women have raced in every Iditarod since 1974, and
currently about a dozen women run the race every year.
Two women have won the race. Libby Riddles was the
first woman to win the race when she braved her way through a storm in the 1985
Iditarod. Susan Butcher has won four Iditarods in the years 1986, 1987,
1988, and 1990. Because of Libby's and Susan's hold on the winner's circle
from 1985 to 1988, the Iditarod Trail Committee trademarked the phrase:
"Alaska: Where men are men and women win the Iditarod."
Who is the oldest musher to run the Iditarod?
Joe Redington, Sr. is the oldest musher to have finished the Iditarod. He
finished the Iditarod in 1997 at the age of 80. Colonel Norman Vaughn
started the Iditarod at the age of 88 but was not able to complete the race that
year. Col. Vaughn technically holds the record as the oldest Iditarod
musher, but Joe Redington, Sr is the oldest musher to ever finish the
Iditarod.
Who is the youngest musher to compete in the
Iditarod?
Dallas Seavey is the youngest musher to compete in and finish the
Iditarod. Dallas ran the race in 2005, just one day after turning
18. Since race rules require a musher be 18 on the day of the race start,
Dallas' record may hold for quite some time. Ellie Claus is the youngest
woman to complete and Iditarod. Ellie ran the Iditarod in 2004, just over
a week after turning 18. Many other young men and women have run the
Iditarod at the age of 18, including Ultimate Iditarod's creators, Jim Gallea
and Tyrell Seavey. All of these mushers turned 18 weeks or months prior to
the start of the race, making them technically older than Dallas and Ellie.
How
much training do the dogs require before starting the Iditarod?
Most mushers attempt to log around 1,400 training
miles between Sept. and Feb. In addition to this they run several two and three
hundred mile races. The yearly mileage grand total for a competitive sled dog is
over 3,200 miles counting the Iditarod!
How
long does it take to finish the Iditarod?
The
record currently stands just over 8 days 22 hours. The record was set in 2002 by
Martin Buser or Big Lake, Alaska. The record longest time to finish the Iditarod is 32 days!
Currently, the top 20 teams usually finish in under 11 days, and the last
place team finishes in 14 or 15 days. The "middle of the pack"
is somewhere in between.
How
cold does it get on the race?
The
coldest temperature ever recorded on the Iditarod Race was in ’73 when the
temperature with wind chill plummeted to –130º F.
Who
holds the record for most wins overall?
Rick
Swenson has won the Iditarod five times, though he has not won since ’91, he
is still very much a contender. Susan
Butcher and Doug Swingley are tied for most consecutive wins at three in a row,
both with an overall total of four wins.
What does the winner of the Iditarod receive?
The Iditarod Champion receives over 68,000 dollars in
cash plus a brand new Dodge Ram 4x4 pickup (Alaska Dogde Dealers is a major race
sponsor). A total of 600,000 dollars is distributed to the top 30
finishers in the race each year, and every musher who finishes the race is
awarded $1,049. A few other smaller prizes are awarded along the trail to
the first mushers into the checkpoints of McGrath and Unalakleet, as well as the
first musher to the half-way point and the Yukon River. Other race awards
include the Sportsmanship Award, the Humanitarian Award (for the musher who
demonstrated the best dog care), the Rookie of the Year Award, the Most
Inspirational Musher Award, and the Red Lantern Award (for the last place
musher).
What is the Red Lantern Award?
The Red Lantern Award is the award presented to the last place musher every
year. When the Iditarod starts in Anchorage, a lantern known as the Widow's
Lamp (shown in the photo at right) is lighted at the finish line in
Nome. The lantern burns day and night until the last musher finishes the
race. Once the last musher finishes, it is that mushers job to extinguish
the light until it is lit at the start of the next day. The Widow's Lamp
is sort of the "Olympic Torch" of the Iditarod. It serves as a
"guiding light" to the teams on the trail as well as a signal to the
people in Nome that there are teams on the trail.
The Red Lantern Award
is now considered a symbol of the perseverance and dedication required to finish
the Iditarod. The last place team usually takes about 14 or 15 days to
complete the Iditarod.
What
is the closest finish in Iditarod history?
In 1978 Dick Mackey edged out Rick Swenson by
only one second.
Do mushers make their living running sled dogs?
$68,000 is a lot of money to win in a dog sled race, and
that money could definitely support a regular family for a year. However,
the money can't support both a family and a large kennel of dogs requiring the
best food and care possible every day. In other words, the prize money
that mushers win helps to support the dogs, but is not enough to make a
living. Most mushers view their lives with the dogs as a hobby, and focus
considerable time on earning the money necessary to support the dogs.
Some mushers, however, are fortunate to have generous
sponsors who provide money, dog food, and other services, allowing these mushers
to use their race winnings to support their families. Other mushers use
their dogs as a source of income with tour businesses that provide dog sled
rides and tours to the public.
Is the Iditarod the only dog sled race?
No, many dog sled races are run every winter in Alaska,
Canada, and the northern Lower 48 states. Races are also held in Europe,
Russia, and even South America (during the austral winter).
Additionally, four types of sled dog races exist. The
Iditarod is in a category known as long-distance sled dog races, which are races that are 300
miles or longer and run in a continuous format where the clock doesn't stop at
any point throughout the race. The second type of racing is sprint racing,
which consists of short (less than 20 miles) races that are run at very fast
speeds (up to 25 miles per hour compared to Iditarod teams which average less
than 10). The third type of racing is mid-distance racing, in which teams
run up to 200 miles, sometimes in heats broken up over two or three days.
The fourth type of racing is a hybrid of distance and mid-distance racing where
the races are composed of legs, or stages, run on consecutive days.
Usually at least five stages are run, and the total mileage of the race can be
upwards of 300 miles.
Iditarod
Race Procedures and Rules
Do mushers get any help while running the Iditarod?
No. After the team leaves the starting line in Wasilla,
no help is allowed from outside people. The only exception is that mushers
are allowed one helper for the first ten miles out of the starting line when the
team is fresh and excited. This helper rides with the team to Knik, the
first checkpoint. No crew is waiting at any of the checkpoints to help the
mushers. The race officials at the checkpoints are able to assist mushers
with getting the teams to a campsite and showing mushers where the food drops
and water is. Veterinarians are available at all the checkpoints to answer
questions about dog care and look over dogs when needed. Mushers cooperate
with each other and often help each other out. According to the race
rules, "...good sportsmanship shall prevail."
Are there rest points or checkpoints along the race trail?
Yes, the race trail has a total of 22 checkpoints between
the Wasilla starting line and Nome. The checkpoints
vary from people's homes along rivers to old cabins in the woods to villages and
ghost towns. A few checkpoints are just remote place where planes could
land to drop off officials and food and set up tents.
The checkpoints are sort of the activity centers for the
race. All of the veterinarians, officials, and food for mushers and dogs
are at the checkpoints. When a team arrives at a checkpoint, a checker
signs the team into the checkpoint and records the time, date, and number of
dogs in the team. Checkers also point out the location of camp sites for
the team, the food drop bags (if a food drop checkpoint), and water (if
available). Teams are not required to rest at every checkpoint, however,
so sometimes teams just pass through and head out on the trail again.
Other times, teams stop for a rest.
Checkpoints are nice places to rest because a place for
mushers to go inside and warm up is usually provided, and the veterinarians and
officials are on hand to answer questions. Village checkpoints do special
things for mushers and give teams a hero's welcome the village. The
arrival of the first team into a village is usually signaled by a ringing church
bell. Many villages let the children out of school to see the arrival of
the first teams. For all the mushers, children gather around the teams and
get autographs and souvenir booties from the mushers and ask questions.
What
is the average distance between Iditarod checkpoints?
Though the distances range from 18 to 120 miles the average
distance is 60 miles. This requires approximately six hours for a steady dog
team.
Are the teams required to rest a certain amount of time every day?
No, the race rules do not require a minimum amount of
rest every day. The decision of when to run and when to rest is made by
the mushers based on what each musher thinks is best for his or her team.
As a result, race strategy is extremely important. Mushers spend 50 weeks
a year thinking about the perfect strategy and the other two weeks every year
testing and revising it while on the Iditarod trail. The general principle
that guides strategy development is based on the fact that mushers want to keep
making good progress in the race, but rest is essential in order to keep the
dogs' energy levels up. (see next question)
Do teams run by day and rest at night?
For the most part, teams don't follow a day and night
schedule. The dogs can easily run for about six or seven hours without
getting too tired. Running more than this tends to tire the dogs quickly
and necessitate long rests (12 or more hours) to "recharge their
batteries." After a six or seven hour run, the dogs need only about
six hours of rest to be refreshed and ready to go again. This makes a six
on-six off schedule of running and resting the common "rule of thumb"
that most mushers follow when racing.
Are there required rest stops along the trail?
The Iditarod rules require a total of three rest
stops. The first rest stop is a 24-hour stop that must be taken at a
checkpoint of the musher's choice along the trail. This rest is typically
taken between 300 and 600 miles into the race. The second rest stop is an
eight hour stop that must be taken at a checkpoint along the Yukon River.
The third and final required rest stop is an eight hour stop at the village of
White Mountain, 77 miles from the finish line in Nome.
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| Food bags are organized
alphabetically by the musher's name at each food drop checkpoint.
This is McGrath on the shore of the Kuskokwim River. |
Do the mushers carry all of their food and supplies in the sleds?
How are food and supplies provided for the dogs on the trail?
No, mushers don't carry all of their food and supplies in
their sleds. 18 of the race checkpoints are "food drops" where
food and supplies are waiting for mushers and their
teams.
The food and supplies at each food drop checkpoint are
provided by the musher. Mushers prepare all of the dog food, personal food
and extra equipment needed for the race, package everything into large woven
bags, and label each bag with the destination checkpoint and their name.
These bags are taken to Anchorage or Fairbanks by the mushers about three weeks
before the race, and the race organizes the shipping. Each musher usually
sends out about 2,000 pounds of food and supplies!
After the race, unused gear can be sent home to the musher,
but extra dog and human food is donated to locals along the trail. Read
more about Food Drops.
Do all mushers start the race at the same time?
No, the Iditarod, like most dog sled races, starts every
team at two-minute intervals. This allows teams to get out on the trail in
an orderly and safe fashion and prevents teams from getting too congested on the
trails.
Who wins the race if the teams don't all start at the same time?
In the Iditarod, the first musher to cross the finish
line (determined by the nose of the lead dog) wins the race, no matter what his or her starting position was. The
reason that this works is because the race rules provide a mechanism to equalize
the times in the middle of the race. This is called the Common Start
Differential Rule.
The easiest way to understand this rule is that you could
think of every team having a head start on the last-to-start team. All
teams except the last-to-start team must be delayed for the exact amount of each
particular team's head start during the race. This delay is added to the
mandatory 24-hour rest stop in the race. This means that the first team to
start the race can have over two hours added to their 24-hour rest stop because
55-80 mushers run in the Iditarod every year.
Is there an advantage to starting closer to the front or closer to the
back?
This question is debated by some mushers every year, but
a majority of mushers see no real advantage one way or the other. The
longer rest time at the 24-hour stop has very little advantage because the
difference between 24 and 25 or 26 hours of rest is negligible to the
dogs. Sometimes the trail is better if you are over it sooner. Other
times the opposite is true. The Iditarod always has new challenges.
How is it decided what order the mushers start?
Mushers draw starting numbers from a boot two days before
the race starts. The order in which mushers pick numbers from the boot is
determined by the order in which mushers signed up for the race the previous
summer and fall.
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 |
| A trail marker is visible on the
left side of this photo. The Alaska Range is in the
background. |
The Iditarod Trail Breakers
sometimes must build stick and snow bridges across creeks. |
Is the trail marked, or do mushers and dogs all find their own way?
The Iditarod Trail Breakers are some of the
most hard-core snowmobilers in the world. They make an 1,100-mile
"highway" across Alaska every winter. About 10,000 pieces of
surveyor's stakes with orange paint and reflective tape are used to mark the
trail. Additional ribbons and tripod markers are used in places like the
Alaska Mountain Range and the Bering Sea Coast. The rules require mushers
to stay on the marked race trail.
Despite such a heroic marking effort, winds, passing dogs and
snowmobiles, and even wild animals can knock down markers. Mushers still
must know how to find their and search the snow for signs of other dog teams.
Is the trail groomed?
The Iditarod Trail Breakers also work to
keep the trails broken open and packed down, but they can't be everywhere at the
same time, and storms, winds, and drifts can fill in the trail and make it slow
going for the teams.
What
is the age limit for joining the Iditarod?
18,
though there is the Jr. Iditarod for mushers 14 to 17.
What is the Junior Iditarod?
The Junior Iditarod is a 160-mile race that runs from
Wasilla to the Iditarod race checkpoint at Yentna, and then back to
Wasilla. Mushers are required to take a 10-hour mandatory stop at Yentna.
Mushers from the ages of 14-17 are eligible to participate. As in the
"big" Iditarod, no assistance is allowed to the Junior Iditarod
mushers. As an extra challenge, Junior Iditarod mushers are not allowed to
enter any buildings along the trail or at Yentna while they are running the
race. "Big" Iditarod mushers are allowed to enter any publicly
accessible buildings along the trail or in checkpoints.
How
long is the Jr. Iditarod?
The Jr. Iditarod is 160 miles, and takes around 24
hours to complete.
The
Dogs
 What kind of dogs are used in the Iditarod?
The most commonly used dog in the Iditarod (and in all of
mushing) is the Alaskan Husky. The Alaskan Husky is actually a
mixed breed, or mutt, dog that is born and bred to love to pull. Alaskan
Huskies are a descendent of the original northern sled dogs (mostly domesticated
wolves and wild dogs) used by the native peoples of the North
Country.
Beginning 150 years ago, white settlers, gold miners, and fur
trappers moved into thee northland and brought their own dogs with them.
These dogs were a hodge-podge mix of larger breed dogs from the Lower 48 and
other parts of the world that were not raised and bred for pulling. As a
result, these dogs didn't do very well, but as these dogs interbred with the
native sled dogs, the resulting dogs were excellent sled dogs, and the original
"mutt" Alaskan Husky was born. The mixing of the breeds provided
a great deal of genetic diversity and hybrid vigor that is still found in these
dogs today. Over the last 100 years, mushers have mixed in other breeds in
order to obtain dogs best suited to various uses. Some of these breeds
include hounds, pointers, collies, and even some German Shepard.
Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are purebred
derivatives of the original sled dogs, and can be considered cousins to the
Alaskan Husky. Some mushers use these breeds, but these breeds lack the
stamina, endurance, and attitude of the Alaskans.
Do the dogs like pulling?
Absolutely! The dogs have been born and bred to
pull for thousands of years. Sled dogs don't know how to catch a frisbee
or fetch a stick like labs and retrievers. Their play time is when they
are running. Working together in the teams is an instinct believed to be
related to the instinct that wolves have to hunt and travel together in
packs. As other breeds have been mixed into the Alaskan Husky lines, the
desire to pull and run has been strengthened along with the dogs' athletic
ability and friendly disposition.
Is any wolf bred into the dogs?
Strictly speaking, no. Wolf hybrid dogs are very
unpredictable because too much wild instinct is still present. Sled dogs
are very friendly and love to work with people. They are extremely loyal,
and very reliable and predictable. However, the original sled dogs used by
the natives nearly 6,000 years ago were likely domesticated wolves and wild
dogs, so in that sense, the dogs' ancestors are wolves.
Are the dogs friendly?
Very. Nearly all sled dogs are friendly to a
fault. Many of them have bad manners and like to jump all over people and
lick faces, but mushers don't seem to mind too much. Some sled dogs are
actually a bit shy of strangers, but mushers go to great lengths to socialize
their dogs from the time they are puppies in order to get them used to being
around groups of strangers.
What temperatures are too warm or too cold for the dogs?
Sled dogs are amazingly adapted to living and performing
in cold climates. They have a thick layer of outer guard hairs that
protect against wind and water, and then a dense inner layer of fur similar to
wool that acts as insulation. This insulating layer is shed out every
summer and then re-grown at the start of winter. In fact, some people spin
sled dog fur into yarn and makes hats, pillows, and other items that are
extremely soft and warm.
The dogs also are very well adapted in terms of their
physiology. Dogs don't lose heat through their skin as we humans do.
To cool themselves, they pant and sweat a little through their feet, but nowhere
else. Also, the dogs have metabolisms that allow them to efficiently
digest fats, allowing their "furnaces" to run hotter and keep them
warmer. This means that the dogs are capable of surviving at temperatures
below -60oF without problem. However, this also requires a
considerable amount of energy, so mushers give the dogs coats to wear when to
help them conserve energy at such cold temperatures, and some mushers even build
large heated barns for the dogs to live in when the weather is that
cold.
In the summer, despite the fact that the dogs lose their
dense insulating layer, they are still very well insulated with fur. This
means that the dogs typically do not run for sustained distances at temperatures
above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter with thicker, more insulated
coats, the dogs can run sustained distances only if the temperature is below
about 35 degrees. However, even this temperature may be too warm if the
weather is sunny or if the dogs are working hard.
The bottom line is that the dogs are very accustomed to cold
weather, and mushers pay special attention to the dogs if the weather is
warm.
How many years can the dogs run?
Dogs can run for essentially their entire life.
Training begins when they are puppies of age 6 to 8 months. When dogs are
between a year and two years old, they are trained in teams that will compete in
shorter, less competitive races. This gives them valuable experience and
confidence that they will use in subsequent years as candidates for the Iditarod
racing teams. Dogs can competitively run the Iditarod until they are up to
8 or 10 years old. After that, they can still run the race in slower teams
not trying to compete for one of the top places until they are 12 or 13.
After that, dogs can still run in recreational teams, with young, up-and-coming
mushers, and on camping trips.
How long can the dogs live?
The sled dog lifestyle is the perfect formula for
longevity. Because the dogs get excellent exercise, care, and food, it is
not uncommon for sled dogs to live up to 17 years. Another reason for the
longevity is that most sled dogs are mixed-breed dogs, giving them added hybrid
vigor and stamina over their pure-bred counterparts.
What is the dogs' favorite temperature?
The dogs' favorite temperature is somewhere between +10o and -20oF.
The
Dogs During the Race
How
many dogs are in an Iditarod team?
The
maximum number of dogs to start the race with is 16. The minimum number mushers
can start with is 12. The mushers usually finish with between 8 and 12.
The remainder of the team is dropped off with the vets at the checkpoints along
the way. The reasons for dropping the dogs vary from sore wrists and shoulders
to a common cold. If a dog is not
feeling well or has a minor injury, it is not only in the dog’s best interest
but also in the mushers because teams can only travel as fast as the slowest
dog. (See next question)
Does every dog that starts the race finish?
No. Mushers are allowed to take dogs out of their
teams (called dropping a dog in musher lingo) and send them home
from the checkpoints along the trail. The rules require that mushers
finish with a minimum of five dogs. The dogs that don't finish are sent
home courtesy of the Iditarod Air Force.
The reasons for taking a dog out of the team vary. Sled
dogs are professional athletes, and they are prone to the same types of sports
injuries encountered by basketball, football, tennis, and soccer players and
long distance runners. These injuries are often just stiffness or a sore
muscle, but they are best healed by time off, so dogs developing any kind of
injury are left at the race checkpoints in the capable hands of race officials,
veterinarians, and volunteers. Dogs are also sometimes "dropped"
from the team if the musher feels that the dog is not mentally keeping with the
game. A dog that is not enjoying him or herself on the trail can
dramatically change the attitude of an entire dog team--again illustrating the
importance of dog psychology on the trail. Remember: You can only
go as fast as your slowest dog so taking a dog out of the team is in both
the dog's best interest as well as the musher's. 16 dogs is a lot of power
to pull the lightweight racing sleds and gear. 8-10 dogs is all that is
really necessary.
Additionally, mushers sometimes take dogs out of their teams
for strategic reasons. For example, mushers may choose to reduce the size
of the team once the team reaches the Bering Sea Coast because the trail is
mostly flat for the remainder of the race and fewer dogs means a little less
time to care for the dogs and a little more sleep for the exhausted musher
during the "home stretch."
What if something happens to a dog between checkpoints? How is the
dog taken out of the team?
The racing sleds are required by the race rules to be
able to safely and comfortably be able to carry a dog. If a dog begins to
show signs of soreness or fatigue on the trail, the dog can be placed in the
sled and carried. However, most occurrences of stiffness or soreness
happen gradually, and the mushers are well aware of how every dog is doing, and
dogs are taken out of the team before the problem requires that the dog be
carried. The bottom line is that the dogs want to run, even if they are a
bit sore, so carrying a dog is easier said than done!
Can "dropped" dogs be replaced or put back in the team once they
are taken out?
No. Race rules state that only the dogs which start
the race can run in the team, and that a dog that is dropped (taken out of the
team) can not be placed back in the team. This rule means that mushers
must give their dogs the best possible care, attention, and feeding. The
rule prevents mushers from being able to run a group of dogs for a long distance
and then replace the entire team with a fresh group of dogs. This makes
the strategy of running and resting a very important dynamic of the Iditarod.
What happens to "dropped" dogs?
Once a dog is removed from a team at a checkpoint, the
dog is in the care of the Iditarod's veterinary staff and volunteer dog
handlers. From the checkpoints, the dogs are placed in airplanes that take
them back to Anchorage. Once in Anchorage, the dogs are cared for by
inmates at the Eagle River Correctional Center until the dogs are picked up by
the musher's waiting family and friends. After nearly 30 years of putting
on the Iditarod, the Iditarod Trail Committee has an excellent system that
guarantees that every dropped dog has its every need fulfilled and is returned
quickly and safely home.
Dropped dogs are in no way prevented from competing in future
races, just as an injured human athlete is allowed to return to the game after
he or she is feeling better.
What do the dogs eat?
The first answer is: a lot! Each dog consumes
10-14,000 calories every day during the Iditarod. The dogs' metabolisms
are great at burning fats as well as carbohydrates, so the foods eaten by the
dogs are high in both. Protein is also essential to help the dogs maintain
strong, firm muscles and a good coat.
Most mushers feed a combination of high fat, high protein dry
dog food plus raw meats and fats from sources including beef, horse, lamb, fish,
seal, moose, and other wild game.
A typical meal for a sled dog is about 2/3 of a pound of dry
dog food, a pound of meat, up to a half a pound of fat, and about a quart of
water.
How often do the dogs get fed during a race?
Mushers feed their dogs at least once at every rest
stop. Teams typically take at least two rests every day during the
Iditarod, and many mushers will feed more than one meal at at least one of those
stops. As a result, a dog will eat at least three large meals dry food,
meat, fat, and water ever day. Additionally, mushers also give the dogs
pieces of meat or fish at intervals along the trail as snacks.
Mushing
Basics
How
fast can a dog team travel?
Although
a team can hit speeds of up to thirty miles an hour for a short distance it is
inefficient to go that fast for very far, so an efficient, competitive speed
would be a constant eleven or twelve miles an hour.
 What does the sled look like?
see The Anatomy of a Dog Sled
How
much does a sled weigh?
A
light, modern, racing sled weighs around 40 lbs. Mushers also carry an additional 100 pounds of mandatory
food, supplies, clothing, lines, repair kit, etc.
Depending on the size of the musher this brings the total weight of the
sled to 300-400 pounds.
How are the dogs connected to the sled?
see The Anatomy of a Dog Team
How are the dogs stopped, and how do you keep them stopped when you want
to rest?
see The Anatomy of a Dog Sled
How many dogs are trained even though only sixteen dogs run in the
Iditarod?
Most mushers who compete in the Iditarod beginning
training about 30 dogs in early fall.
Many reasons exist for this: First, many mushers run more races than just
the Iditarod, so some dogs will run the other races, some will run the Iditarod,
and some may run in more than one race. Second, dog mushing is a sport,
and like other professional sports, mushers want to have a pool of athletes to
select the best team from. Third, sometimes a dog will get a minor injury
like a pulled muscle or sore shoulder. Most of these injuries don't take a
dog out for the entire season, but having a few reserve dogs is always a good
idea. And fourth, many mushers train 2 and 3-year old dogs for the
Iditarod even though only a few of these young dogs will run in many
teams. Training is a great way to give young dogs valuable experience and
build their confidence.
What do mushers do to train the dogs during the
summer and before it snows?
The most common means of training when no snow (or not enough snow) is on the
ground is by using a four-wheeler. A four-wheeler is a four-wheel
all-terrain vehicle that weighs about 500 pounds and has an engine that can be
used to regulate how fast the dogs run and how hard they pull.
Some mushers do train all summer. Some run their dogs
as a part of a summer tour business, like IdidaRide
Sled Dog Tours in Seward, Alaska. Others train their dogs all summer
to keep them in shape. However, a number of mushers don't train during the
summer and let the dogs have time off to rest and relax. More
on this topic
How are the dogs transported to and from races?
 Mushers
drive big pickups that have specially build boxes placed on the cargo bed.
These boxes have individual kennels for the dogs, and usually also have
considerable storage space for gear, equipment, and extra dog food. The
sleds are secured to the top of the truck.
Traveling long distances with the dogs is not a problem, but
mushers have to allow for extra travel time because the dogs must be let out of
their kennels every few hours to go to the bathroom and stretch. Mushers
from the Lower 48 face a 3,000-mile drive to Alaska for the Iditarod. The
trip usually takes three or four days. By the end of such a trip even the
humans are ready to run a thousand miles!
What
is a “bootie”?
It is a
protective ‘glove” the dogs wear during training and racing.
They help keep their paws dry and cut-free while the dogs are running.
A dog team will easily wear out 6,000 booties in a single season, and at
a dollar apiece they are one of the largest expenses incurred by racing.
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