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The Iditarod rules require that "some
type of sled" be drawn. The rules also require that the sleds carry
certain items in addition to whatever the musher wants to pack for the trip.
Here's the basics:
Mandatory (Required)
Gear: These Items Must Be in the Sled Throughout the Race
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Axe (top left),
Cooker (top right)
Traditional and Modern Snowshoes (bottom) |
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Axe--this
piece of equipment is a key survival tool. Not only can it be used
to cut wood to make a fire, the axe can also be used to cut holes in ice
to get water, fix broken sleds, splint broken sled stanchions,
cut frozen dog food, and more.
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Snowshoes
w/ Bindings--this piece of equipment is a traditional essential that
allows a person to walk on top of lots of deep, powdery snow and pack down
a trail. However, snowshoes are rarely used by mushers while racing
in modern day races because the race trails are typically broken open and
packed ahead of time.
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Cold
Weather Sleeping Bag--mushers make good use
of their sleeping bags whenever the chance for a few minutes' sleep
arises.
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Stove
and Water Pot (cooker)--the dogs require a lot of
water, and the primary source of this water is the snow. These
"cookers" can melt up to 4 gallons of snow and heat it to
boiling water in just over 30 minutes. They burn denatured alcohol
for fuel (it's safer to transport than gas and less explosive). The
warming water inside the cooker pot is also the main way that mushers heat
up their own food, which is usually sealed in vacuum-sealed plastic bags.
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 Dog
Booties (8 per dog)--the boots worn by the dogs
to protect their feet from potential wear and tear by abrasive snow and
ice conditions.
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Vet
Book--a small notebook carried in the sled that serves as the health
record for every dog in the team during the race. Mushers and
veterinarians make notes about the health and welfare of each dog so that
the best possible care can be given to the dogs as they make their way to
Nome.
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Race
Promotional Material--the Iditarod Trail is an old United States
Postal Route, and teams in the Iditarod Race carry a packet of ceremonial
U.S. Mail from Anchorage to Nome. These "cachets" as they
are called, are special edition envelopes that are signed by the musher
who will carry them, and then stamped and postmarked in Anchorage on the
day of the start. When the team crosses the finish line in Nome, a
second cancellation postmark is placed on the envelop with the date of the
team's finish. The envelopes are available for sale as collector's
items after the race. Some sell for several hundred dollars.
Common Additional Items:
These Items Are NOT REQUIRED, But Nearly Every Musher Carries Them
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Headlamp--the
light on the musher's hat that is used to see the trail and care for the
dogs at night.
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Extra
Gloves and Socks--always a good idea to carry a few dry clothing
items in case the ones you are wearing get wet.
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Knife--useful
when opening fuel bottles, food
drop bags, or plastic bags with personal food. Also can be used
to cut a portion of the gangline in an
emergency.
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First
Aid Kit--an essential whenever you are on an outdoor adventure.
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Cooler--most
people are a bit surprised we carry a cooler. The reason to have one
is not to keep things cold. In fact, mushers use coolers to keep
things warm. A 5-gallon cooler is the perfect thing to mix hot
water, dog food, and meat into a warm stew to feed a hungry dog team.
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Dog
Food Dishes--for feeding the dogs. Usually made of aluminum
or light plastic.
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 Dog
Jackets--coats that are used to help the dogs conserve energy and
rest comfortably at checkpoints and rest stops. The coats can be
worn when the dogs are running if the temperatures are extremely cold (-35oF
or colder), but care must be taken not to overheat the dogs.
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Wrist
Wraps--usually Neoprene, these are used to keep the dogs' wrists
warm and stimulate blood flow if a dog's wrist becomes sore.
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Dog
Food and Snacks--even if a musher isn't planning to stop until the
next checkpoint, prudence dictates that you always plan for bad weather.
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Human
Food and Snacks--the musher's main job is to take care of the dogs,
but he or she can't do that if you don't eat and drink and take care of
yourself, too.
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Sled
Repair Kit--the "first aid kit" for dog sleds. A good
kit contains everything needed to completely disassemble and reassemble a
sled.
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Extra
Plastic for Runners--the plastic on the
bottom of the runners can get quite rough when trail conditions are
bad. New, smooth plastic makes the pull easier for the dogs.
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A
Few Personal Items (Toothbrush, Walkman, Alarm Clock, Spare Jacket,
etc...)
How
does all this fit in the sled?
 Most
mushers would answer, "Very tightly." Sleds are designed to be
lightweight and maneuverable, so the cargo space is somewhat limited.
Mushers have to be good at compressing things like dog jackets and sleeping bags
and jamming them into little nooks and crannies.
The
basic arrangement most mushers use when packing their sleds is shown to the
right.
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