Category archives: Uncategorized

Dog mushing, really is just a set of self-adopted rules that govern your reality. I’ll give you an example. During the sixties and seventies it was popular among certain sets to get back to the land, and, of course, many of these proponents lived in Alaska. When I landed on…

Mushing is a very time intensive sport. We all know how it can consume our every spare moment, not to mention resources. However, we do know that our readers are a great and varied bunch with incredibly diverse backgrounds and professions. In “Other Lives” we continue to explore the interesting…

While the intelligence of dogs in so many areas is highly regarded and proven a million times over, their ability to harm themselves by eating the most ridiculous, tasteless, large, and completely indigestible items can only leave a person shaking their head and wondering, “What was he thinking?” Rocks, wood,…

Much has been written about preventing and treating sled dog injuries. Less is written about injuries to mushers. This article is a slightly graphic, and perhaps somewhat jocular, look at the mushing injuries of a perennial Iditarod racer, Jim Lanier (pictured). The SubjectJim is 66-years-old. He began mushing in 1977…

The pet food industry, like human food is highly regulated. The guidelines are set out by the Food and Dr.ug Administration, the American Association of Feed Control Officials, and, as Dr. Al Townsend of Eagle Pack notes, the US Coast Guard can even play a role in the regulations. In…

Researher comes closer to unlocking the secrets of common sled dog maladies. Michael Davis has been hanging around Alaska’s two 1,000-mile sled dog races for about six years now. And it’s not because he’s interested in attempting either event.Davis, a veterinarian and associate professor at the Oklahoma State University Center…

Matt Carstens said he never felt better after racing the Can-Am 250 than when he finished this year. That’s quite a statement considering how difficult the going was with deep snow, punchy trails and warm temperatures. “We’re going to take a nap and do it again,” he said enthusiastically while…

It’s been said that the Can-Am Crown 250 is one of the most difficult races in which to participate – and it is certainly the longest and largest race east of the Mississippi. However, it was surprising when this year’s winner, first-time Can-Amer but veteran musher Rick Larson of Sand…

With the noticeable absence of a few past champions, the top spots in the Limited North American were up for grabs. In the 3-dog skijor class, Andy Warwick led the field for all three days, while behind him the positions were shifting between Cindy Salmon and Kim Wells. The final…

Downtown Fairbanks’ Second Avenue doesn’t look the same to me without dog trucks, orange snow fencing, banners across the streets, and mushers all decked out in their signature racing colors.Arriving at this year’s Open North American Championships was like coming home. The trucks were parked, the sleds were being prepared…