Going to the Dogs

Our first cruise stop was at a quaint town called Skagway and the featured event on our schedule was a ride with the sled dogs. It turns out that the mushing teams need exercise in the summer and some mushers move to a camp near such a town. They then offer enjoyable educational opportunities for the tourists.

The full team is attached not to a sled but to a buggy. With seating for six it is a comfortable ride and the musher stands on back using the reins to direct the dogs. Our musher Richie Beattie has competed in the famed Iditarod winning Rookie of the Year honors. And among the educational things involved in the event was to hear him say that his team would no longer participate in the Iditarod. When asked why, he responded that it is not as much a challenge as the Yukon Quest. The Quest runs a month earlier, so it is considerably colder and darker; it also runs further east through wilder country.

It was interesting to hear him talk to the dogs, always in a calm and supportive voice. They are a true team, man and dogs, working together for survival when competing and training for it when they are not competing. Upon our arrival the dogs were ready to run, straining at their reins, but after their workout they were wonderful, powerful animals who appreciate petting and attention.

Beattie's lead dog, Wado, is shown above. He runs next to his predecessor as lead, his own dad. And we had an exciting ride, and educational afternoon, and a chance to pet and hold several outstanding dogs. Wado's picture seen above is one of my favorite images from the entire trip, as you will see in the next post.