Experience the excitement of racing champion sled dogs at the Alaska Mushing School, just 75 minutes from Anchorage.
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Get a professional’s look into the mushing lifestyle as you ride behind a team of energetic sled dogs on trails connected to the famous Iditarod route. Bundle up and ride in comfort, or brave the cold and drive the team yourself!
For thousands of years, sled dogs have been depended upon as a critical means of winter travel in Alaska’s wild and remote reaches. In fact, up until the 1940s, people still relied on these hard-working dogs to help deliver U.S. mail to rural villages.
You can learn more about this history and experience the thrill of mushing yourself through the Alaska Mushing School.
The school is a cooperative venture of several professional mushers, who want to share their passion with visitors and teach them about the dogs and this unusual – but very Alaskan – lifestyle.
Most Alaska Mushing School rides begin at the Happy Trails Kennel in Big Lake, Alaska, operated by four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser, who is also a 2017 Inductee into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame.
When you arrive, the first stop is the Visitor’s Center, a large structure with huge glass windows, and racing memorabilia such as sleds and trophies.
You’ll watch a 19-minute video narrated by Buser that illustrates the year-round lifestyle of a dog musher, including clips from the trail.
Check out the 10-foot map of the Iditarod trail, sleds, gear and then it’s off to the kennel to meet sled dogs of all ages – from puppies to up and coming dogs, current leaders, and retired dogs who are sure they’ve still “got it.â€
The kennel accommodates about 50 dogs and is set up so you can walk through the middle, greeting dogs on both sides. Once you reach the yard, you’ll hear how excited the dogs become as they bark loudly for attention and the chance to be chosen to run.
You’ll meet the dogs for your team, take some photos and try to remember their names. Maybe Flash will lead the way, or his sister Quick, who’s just as excited but provides some maturity to Flash’s sheer exuberance. Hooking them to the sled is a practiced art, as they literally jump for joy at the prospect of heading out on the trail once again.
Any musher will tell you – it’s easy to get dogs to go, but it takes some skill to get them to stop!
Each sled dog offers its own talents, training, and personality. Your driver knows them well, and will take many factors into account when choosing which ones to hook up to your sled. Some work harder than others, or better with a sibling nearby.
Head out over frozen tundra on trails at the end of the road system. Away from cars and communities, you’ll get a sense of the quiet – of being out in the wilderness with just you and the dogs.
Mount Susitna is usually always visible unless it’s snowing, and on a clear day, Denali looms in the distance, about 140 miles north.
Mush past thickets of birch and spruce, the sled runners sliding over snow and the dogs running swiftly, leading you on. If you let them keep going, you could mush on the Iditarod trail all the way to the Bering Sea.
When you’re on a morning run, the sun sits low on the horizon, creating a pink glow perfect for photos. As the dogs muscle through this five-mile trail, there’s always excitement for them and a question of what’s around the next bend.
About half the time you’ll spot moose. Ravens abound.
You’ll hear them cawing, and sometimes they even provide an honor guard, flying ahead of the team.
ushers will bring a working sled into the theater to show you its features (note: the brake is most important!). You’ll check out the gangline where dogs are hooked up, and even try harnessing a few yourself
Before running with the dogs, your sled will be hooked up to a snowmachine (snowmobile).
You’ll get to practice everything while being pulled about a half mile to a mile up and down different turns. Finally, you’ll meet your team.
You can help harness them or get used to your place on the back of the sled while another driver deals with their exuberant antics. When you call “Ready†and then “All Right,†hang on for a five-mile ride that will help you understand firsthand what the attraction is for drivers who make this a year-round commitment.
To ensure the safety of yourself and the dogs, you will be escorted on the trail by a snowmachine, another dog team, or even both. Upon returning to the kennel, be sure to get more photos, and warm up with a hot drink or lunch. Now you can say you’ve driven a dog team in snowy Alaska, just miles from the Iditarod trail.
What to bring:
• Camera
• Synthetic or wool long underwear
Provided by Alaska Mushing School: Arctic-quality parkas, snow pants, boots, hat, neck warmer, and mittens are provided free of charge
Where to go: 19391 West Lakes Blvd, Big Lake, AK.
Good to know: Duration 1 - 8 hours, prices wary depending on time spent. ■