What can you do with 18 hours of darkness?
The Yukon is as mysterious as it is beautiful. Larger than California and covering more area than Belgium, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands combined, only about 36,000 people inhabit Canada’s westernmost territory.Jack London was here. So were the likes of Robert Service, Pierre Berton and Robert Kennedy, who became the…
VIDEO: Dog-sledder Leigh, of Derby, ‘seconds away’ from winning medal at world championships
A 41-YEAR-OLD man says he was “seconds away” from winning a medal in the world championships of sled dog racing after his rigs broke.Leigh Marsden was racing eight of his Scandinavian hounds at the two-day event in Italy.He ended up in fourth place after the steering on his cart failed…
Couple’s love of sled dogs takes them from South Africa to Colton
The trip from South Africa to the United States began with a dog.Andre and Natalie van der Merwe adopted Sabre, a Siberian husky, 20 years ago. It was to be the first of many, and the decision eventually led the couple to Colton and into the world of competitive sled…
Helena Man Prepares for Race to the Sky
There are less than 100 days left before the annual Race To The Sky dog-sledding event, Mark Ibsen of Helena is preparing for the journey with some of his best friends.Ibsen, a physician, says that dog-sledding is not just a hobby for him but more of a life-changing activity that…
Learn About Mushing: A Great Way to Enjoy the Winter Woods
Dogs bound through the woods on the snowy trail. Their commander behind them barks orders. The sled eases under the canopy of trees, the obedient and athletic dogs making turns, avoiding objects and, when told to do so, stop, though perhaps begrudgingly as they’re wired to run.Mushing conjures up images…
Chukchi Musher with Alaskan Ties Carries the Olympic Torch
Fairbanks, AK – The Olympic flame traveled by dogsled through the capital of Chukotka in Russia earlier this week. The torch was carried by Russian musher Mikhail Telpin, who has run his traditional Chukchi sled dogs in both of Alaska’s longest sled dog races.A thick crowd lined the streets of…
Exhibit: History of the K300 Sled Dog Race
Association of Village Council Presidents and the Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee are proud to announce that they will be cosponsoring the next gallery exhibit at the Yupiit Piciryarait Museum in Bethel. The exhibit will run from November 2013 through January 2014, and will focus on the history of the K300…
No Snow, But Sled Dogs Still Go
There was an international dog competition Saturday in Harrow, which was a little different than most might expect.This competition involved sled dogs but there was no snow.This event is for a growing number of people and dogs involved in dryland racing, or urban mushing.The Essex County International Dryland Dog Derby…
Yukon Quest Auction Saturday
The annual Yukon Quest Bunny Boots and Bids auction fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday at Pioneer Park’s Civic Center. The event takes place from 6-10 p.m. and features Alaska Brewing Co. beer, tuxedo-wearing mushers, hors d’oeuvres, live music and auction items. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the…
See Who is Registered for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and Beargrease 150
MarathonJohn Beargrease–Beaver Bay, MNPeter McClelland–Ely, MNDenis Tremblay–St. Michel des Saints, Québec, CABlake Freking–Finland, MNBeargrease 150Jerry Trudell–Calumet, MISaul Ellering–Grey Eagle, MNBrian Wiese–Kakabeka Falls, Ontario, CAJerry Papke–Kingston, MIAlex LaPlante–Esko, MNNick Turman–Two Harbors, MNAlice White–Finland, MNPaul Amano–Kaministiquia, Ontario, CAAndy Heerschap–Kakabeka Falls, Ontario, CADusty Klaven–Gheen, MNLeanne Bergen–Sioux Lookout, Ontario, CAErin Altemus–Grand Marais, MNMichael Bestgen–St….