Tag: Sled Dog

sled, sledding, dogs

Dog training

In Alaska, dogs can be team members with mushers and also with hunters, using their abilities to extend our own. But first, someone has to let the animals know how to do those jobs. Judging by the dogs we've seen around Anchorage, many of us are not very good at training-- but our guests on the next show are. They work with upland hunting dogs and sled dogs to create an effective dog/human team. Thanks for listening!

As The Iditarod Start Shifts North, So Does The Economic Boon

This year’s Iditarod restart will be in Fairbanks for only the second time in the race’s 43-year history. Poor trail conditions prompted the move, and many some mushers are happy with the change. For businesses in the Susitna Valley, however, there will be a significant economic impact. Download Audio

Layovers Vital To Yukon Quest Mushers, Dogs

After Yukon Quest mushers arrive in Dawson City, they drive their teams head across the Yukon River to a public campground, where handlers build elaborate camps for the dogs. They’ll get massaged, fed and sleep for the 24 hour layover. Download Audio

For Yukon Quest Musher Lance Mackey, ‘Retirement’ Is A 4-Letter Word

Lance Mackey is currently running in 12th place on the Yukon Quest trail. He is the winningest musher in Yukon Quest history. The four-time champion is a cancer survivor and both his public and private life hasn’t always been positive. The lifelong musher knows he can’t run dogs the way he used to, but he may never be ready to hang up the harnesses. Download Audio

Brent Sass First Yukon Quest Musher To Reach Dawson

Brent Sass was the first Yukon Quest musher to arrive today in Dawson City, the halfway point on the Yukon Quest trail. The 200-mile stretch of trail to Dawson City is the longest between official race checkpoints. Download Audio

Yukon Quest Trail Puts Dog Sled Designs To The Test

On the Yukon Quest Trail, there are a few things mushers have to be especially picky about including a sturdy sled. Jumble ice near McCabe Creek, half way to Pelly Crossing is testing sled engineering this year. Download Audio

Yukon Quest Rookies Tout Knowledge, Experience Of Champions

Of the 26 mushers signed up to race dog teams in this year’s Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race, 10 are rookies. They might be new to the race, but a few trained dog teams with a handful of well-known and champion long-distance mushers. Download Audio

Climate Change, Weather Variability Challenge Yukon Quest Personnel, Mushers

The Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race starts Saturday. For more than 30 years, the race course has followed an old Gold Rush era trail that took advantage of the frozen Yukon River. But recently, there have been places where the river hasn’t frozen up. That’s starting to raise question about the impacts of climate change on Alaska’s state sport. Download Audio

Copper Basin 300 Called Off Due To Cold

Severe weather has often made the Copper Basin 300 one of the most challenging of the mid-distance sled dog races. This year it was so bad that the race was called off after beginning on Saturday Cold weather and deep snow, plus winds that blew away much of the trail were cited.

Jeff King Wins First Race Since Coming Out Of Retirement

Mushing legend Jeff King is back in the game. In his first race since retiring following the 2010 Iditarod, the Denali Park musher posted a convincing come from behind victory in a big early season race this past weekend.

K-300 Sled Dog Race Will Happen After All

There will be a K-300 sled dog race next year after all. The Bethel-based mushing organization has hired a new race manager.

Alaska News Nightly: August 4, 2011

Seward Highway Crash Leaves 1 Dead, 14 Injured; Shell Gets Conditional Drilling Approval; Congressional Deal Allows FAA Employees to Return from Furlough; Alaska Hit Hard by Debt Ceiling Agreement; and more...

2012 Kuskokwim 300 Race Could be Called Off

John Baker, Martin Buser, and Jeff King may have to look elsewhere for their January Iditarod training. The Bethel-based Kuskokwim 300 sled dog race may be a thing of the past.

Alaska News Nightly: July 19, 2011

‘Gang of Six’ May Break Through Debt Ceiling Stalemate, Legislative Hearing Targets Government Waste, BP Continues Cleanup of Lisburne Drill Site Spill, 2012 Kuskokwim 300 Race Could be Called Off, and more...