Dog Races


ok.. Have to admit, when I think of Dog Sledding, I think of big husky dogs that pull a sled with a guy on it. Not so much what I saw. Well yes, the guy/girl on the sled, but no big Husky dogs. Just these little Heinz 57 looking thin dogs!

The dogs were all lined up at 1300, jumping barking totally aware they have to run like the wind down the side of the ice road and return in first place. Their owners will be very happy if they came back in 1st place, as they will be $2000 dollars richer!

And they are off.. The funny thing was, just after the dogs were off, everyone waiting along the side lines bee-lined it to their vehicles, engines running, reverse mode on, taking off down the ice road to follow the dogs sleds. I couldn't believe the traffic. And these vehicles did not move slowly, they were flying to follow the race.. All I could think was 100 cars, driving fast, pure ice under the wheels... it only takes one vehicle to do something and we would have a 100 car pile up.

The good thing, no 100 car pile up was completed. Cars followed them, way way way down the ice road, and then followed them way back to the finish line. It was a great experience!

Later I found out, that these dogs are used for shorter distances, and many of these teams are not from Inuvik or area. Husky's are traditionally used for longer distances, and have more endurance for a couple day or week long dog sledding races. So I guess I was not completely wrong!