


{"id":3640,"date":"2016-09-21T07:30:29","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T11:30:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.insightvacations.com\/?p=3640"},"modified":"2024-03-20T10:11:26","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T10:11:26","slug":"a-guide-to-mushing-in-alaska","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/a-guide-to-mushing-in-alaska\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Mushing in Alaska"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Mushing, or dogsledding, isn\u2019t just a sport in Alaska; it\u2019s a way of life. Out on the \u2018Last Frontier\u2019, much of the land is iced with giant permafrost and possesses few highways, so using sled dogs to get from A to B is often a necessity. Not that the pastime doesn\u2019t have its own thrills. Speeding through the fresh air of the Alaskan forest pulled by a highly trained dog team is great fun, which is perhaps why it\u2019s also been a popular sport here for as long as anyone can remember. Read on for more on the history, customs, tactics, and even dress codes of mushing and you\u2019ll be a pro in no time!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Husky-ride-at-sunset-iStock-hopsalka-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_husky-ride-at-sunset-gm467700192-60522168.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3646\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Husky-ride-at-sunset-iStock-hopsalka-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_husky-ride-at-sunset-gm467700192-60522168.jpg\" alt=\"Mushing in Alaska\" width=\"1290\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Husky-ride-at-sunset-iStock-hopsalka-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_husky-ride-at-sunset-gm467700192-60522168.jpg 1290w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Husky-ride-at-sunset-iStock-hopsalka-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_husky-ride-at-sunset-gm467700192-60522168-200x167.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Husky-ride-at-sunset-iStock-hopsalka-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_husky-ride-at-sunset-gm467700192-60522168-768x643.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Husky-ride-at-sunset-iStock-hopsalka-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_husky-ride-at-sunset-gm467700192-60522168-1024x857.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Husky-ride-at-sunset-iStock-hopsalka-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_husky-ride-at-sunset-gm467700192-60522168-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Husky-ride-at-sunset-iStock-hopsalka-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_husky-ride-at-sunset-gm467700192-60522168-600x502.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"IVcaption\">Husky Ride At Sunset\u00a0\u00a9 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/husky-ride-at-sunset-gm467700192-60522168?st=_p_DogSledding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hopsalka\/iStock<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The History <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Dog sleds have been used in Alaska for hundreds of years, but it wasn\u2019t until the 16<sup>th<\/sup> century that French colonists (known as <em>coureurs de bois<\/em>, \u2018runners of the wood\u2019) started using dog mushing as a means of transport. In fact, the term \u2018mushing\u2019 can be traced back to this period. In time, the French-Canadian word for, \u2018go!\u2019 (<em>marche!<\/em>), which had been used as a term of encouragement for the dogs, was Anglicized to \u2018mush!\u2019<\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Dogs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In reality, almost any dog that\u2019s over 50 pounds \u2013 especially mastiffs and terriers \u2013 can help pull a sled, but over the centuries some dogs have been specifically bred for the purpose. The most common breeds are the Siberian Husky (usually blue-eyed), the Alaskan Malamute (deep-chested and exuberant), the Canadian Eskimo Dog (one of North America\u2019s oldest purebreds) and the Samoyed (black-eyed and very friendly).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/People-Dog-Sledding-in-Winter-iStock-benoitrousseau-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_people-dog-sledding-in-winter-near-mountains-gm184915883-1945177.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3647\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/People-Dog-Sledding-in-Winter-iStock-benoitrousseau-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_people-dog-sledding-in-winter-near-mountains-gm184915883-1945177.jpg\" alt=\"Mushing in Alaska\" width=\"1290\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/People-Dog-Sledding-in-Winter-iStock-benoitrousseau-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_people-dog-sledding-in-winter-near-mountains-gm184915883-1945177.jpg 1290w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/People-Dog-Sledding-in-Winter-iStock-benoitrousseau-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_people-dog-sledding-in-winter-near-mountains-gm184915883-1945177-200x167.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/People-Dog-Sledding-in-Winter-iStock-benoitrousseau-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_people-dog-sledding-in-winter-near-mountains-gm184915883-1945177-768x643.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/People-Dog-Sledding-in-Winter-iStock-benoitrousseau-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_people-dog-sledding-in-winter-near-mountains-gm184915883-1945177-1024x857.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/People-Dog-Sledding-in-Winter-iStock-benoitrousseau-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_people-dog-sledding-in-winter-near-mountains-gm184915883-1945177-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/People-Dog-Sledding-in-Winter-iStock-benoitrousseau-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_people-dog-sledding-in-winter-near-mountains-gm184915883-1945177-600x502.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"IVcaption\">People Dog Sledding in Winter\u00a0\u00a9 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/people-dog-sledding-in-winter-near-mountains-gm184915883-1945177?st=_p_DogSledding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">benoitrousseau\/iStock<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Formation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>When picking your dogs, you need to know what you\u2019re looking for. The two at the front, known as the \u2018leads\u2019, set the pace and steer the team. It\u2019s usually the more intelligent dogs that are selected for this role. The \u2018swing\u2019 dogs behind are labeled as such because they take the force of the sled\u2019s turns, so they tend to be strong and sturdy. The \u2018team\u2019 dogs behind them are the bread and butter of the show, while the real power in the setup comes from the \u2018wheel\u2019 dogs at the back \u2013 those actually attached to the sled. Often chosen for their ability to stay calm under pressure, it\u2019s very much a case of leading from behind in mushing.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Dogs-in-the-snow-iStock-castenoid-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_the-funny-company-on-the-snow-gm507066526-84526427.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3642\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Dogs-in-the-snow-iStock-castenoid-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_the-funny-company-on-the-snow-gm507066526-84526427.jpg\" alt=\"Mushing in Alaska\" width=\"1290\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Dogs-in-the-snow-iStock-castenoid-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_the-funny-company-on-the-snow-gm507066526-84526427.jpg 1290w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Dogs-in-the-snow-iStock-castenoid-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_the-funny-company-on-the-snow-gm507066526-84526427-200x167.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Dogs-in-the-snow-iStock-castenoid-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_the-funny-company-on-the-snow-gm507066526-84526427-768x643.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Dogs-in-the-snow-iStock-castenoid-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_the-funny-company-on-the-snow-gm507066526-84526427-1024x857.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Dogs-in-the-snow-iStock-castenoid-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_the-funny-company-on-the-snow-gm507066526-84526427-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Dogs-in-the-snow-iStock-castenoid-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_the-funny-company-on-the-snow-gm507066526-84526427-600x502.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"IVcaption\">Dogs in the snow \u00a9 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/the-funny-company-on-the-snow-gm507066526-84526427?st=_p_huskypuppies%20snow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the-funny-company-on-the-snow\/iStock<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Lingo<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>\u2018Hike, hike\u2019 is how to begin a run. \u2018Gee, gee\u2019 turns the sled to the right. \u2018Haw, haw\u2019 turns to the left. \u2018On by\u2019 is important to remember because it commands the dogs to ignore any distractions, from fireworks to squirrels. Another essential phrase is \u2018Line Out\u2019, which gets the dogs back into formation should they drift apart. Finally, \u2018Whoaaa\u2019 stretched out long and loud should bring the whole operation to a standstill. Just remember, when giving out these commands it\u2019s important to be confident, slow and authoritative if you want to keep control of your team!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-iStock-ventdusud-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-gm159008694-22628839.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3644\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-iStock-ventdusud-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-gm159008694-22628839.jpg\" alt=\"Mushing in Alaska\" width=\"1290\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-iStock-ventdusud-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-gm159008694-22628839.jpg 1290w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-iStock-ventdusud-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-gm159008694-22628839-200x167.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-iStock-ventdusud-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-gm159008694-22628839-768x643.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-iStock-ventdusud-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-gm159008694-22628839-1024x857.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-iStock-ventdusud-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-gm159008694-22628839-300x251.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-iStock-ventdusud-www.istockphoto.com_gb_photo_four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-gm159008694-22628839-600x502.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"IVcaption\">Four sled\u00a0dogs running up a snowy hill\u00a0\u00a9 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/four-sled-dogs-running-up-a-snowy-hill-gm159008694-22628839?st=_p_DogSledding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ventdusud\/iStock<\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Gear<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Mushers take the weather very seriously. It\u2019s all about layering up with fabrics that will keep you warm and dry. But it\u2019s not just snow or rain that can ruin a run; sweat can be a real problem too, so breathable, quick-drying clothes, like alpaca socks, some quality boots and strong overshoes to stop feet from getting soggy in the elements are key. A decent parka should also be worn over clothing, as this will be the first line of resistance. Top it all off with a GoPro, so the wintry wonderland can be captured in all its glory.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019d like to learn more about mushing in Alaska, why not book a place on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/uk\/jewels-of-alaska-summer-2016?utm_campaign=hg2&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_source=blog&amp;utm_content=mans-best-friend-how-to-go-mushing-in-alaska&amp;c3ch=blog&amp;c3nid=blog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jewels of Alaska<\/a> journey? On this trip you\u2019ll have the opportunity to meet Martin Buser and his dogs, four-time winner of the biggest mushing race of them all, the 1,049 mile Iditarod.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mushing, or dogsledding, isn\u2019t just a sport in Alaska; it\u2019s a way of life. Out on the \u2018Last Frontier\u2019, much of the land is iced with giant permafrost and possesses few highways, so using sled dogs to get from A to B is often a necessity. Not that the pastime doesn\u2019t have its own thrills. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":3641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1830,1164],"tags":[801,799,313,65,796,800,271,802,798,797,645,527],"class_list":["post-3640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insights-advice","category-usa-and-canada","tag-adventure","tag-alaska","tag-america","tag-destinations","tag-dogs","tag-frost","tag-insight-moments","tag-last-frontier","tag-mushing","tag-sled-dogs","tag-snow","tag-sport"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Guide to Mushing in Alaska - Insight Vacations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Mushing in Alaska, or dogsledding, isn&#039;t just a sport; it&#039;s a way of life. Read on for more on the history and customs, and you\u2019ll be a pro in no time!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/a-guide-to-mushing-in-alaska\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Guide to Mushing in Alaska\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Mushing in Alaska, or dogsledding, isn&#039;t just a sport; it&#039;s a way of life. 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