The far north by sled
The respected and decorated musher Don Cousins whom I met a few years earlier, gave me an appointment for a unique adventure; accompanied him to the world championships of sled dogs. From Western Canada to the borders of the Arctic Ocean via Alaska, I tell you here...
Rémi & Shari ( left photo), live and work at Don's ranch. They run sled dog tours on the Don circuit, up to 40 Km in the forests of Alberta. Visit Wildforestadventure and you too live a unique experience.
Harnessing a dog is part of the routine during training as well as during competitions, same thing once finished. If the coupling is not correctly executed, the harmony and symbiosis of the running team will be harmed and therefore will waste time, the objective being to finish the circuit as quickly as possible. In this case it was a team of 12.
Valleyview, Alberta.
In January, the sun rises around 9:00 am usually giving a spectacle of color and it's never boring scenario.
February 8, 2023 begins the first official race of the season. Until now we were busy training at Don's, the serious things are starting. This is the first edition of the Yellowstone special in Montana and a good preparation for the world championships in Alaska later in February.
Our way to Montana was endless, after 2h30 of travel the truck stops for a tank problem we will stay 1 day at the garage. Don prefers maps to Google map (laughs).
The truck loaded with 24 dogs for the next few weeks and months. The routine is quite simple on the road, a stop every 2 hours max to stretch the dogs, we feed them in the evening around 4am and on racing days once in the morning and once in the evening. The landscapes on the road are breathtaking. The routine is rigorous and the days intense.
West Yellowstone at night. Calm and silent.
Temperatures can be quite cold in the morning in Yellowstone, _25 C when I took the photo.
Don Cousins before crossing the finish line with his team of 12.
This image represents the reality of life in competition; the musher, the dogs and the handler. Life on the road, the routine, feeding, preparing is a job for two. All the mushers are accompanied, it would not be possible to do without them. Here, once the finish line is crossed the dogs must stop but where? how ? for this reason this man and others are their guides, otherwise the coupling can be confused and cause accidents. Another great team work.
Open world championship sled dogs in Alaska.
I was there. The sport's most recognized race, simply the biggest race in the world. Called "La Rondy", this 3-day race has been a tradition in Alaska since 1930. Mushers run 25 MILES a day with their teams. More than a race, it's the event of the year in downtown Anchorage, more than 3000 peoples come to enjoy the show. A memory that will always live in me, moreover several records have been established.Keep scroling down to discover them...
This sport is about the family, every year the mushers get together with families and friends. Most of them know each other and respect each other. Below, the Streeper family from Fort Nelson, Canada representing Streeper Kennels (18x world champions) and winner of the 2023 edition.
