Dogsled

Dog Sledding in the Future

admin — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:33:46 +0000

While dog sledding as a means of transportation in snowy climates is relatively outdated, thanks to the snowmobile, dog sledding still remain popular in certain circles and continues to be a celebrated part of the northern wilderness culture. Today, dog sledding is most often seen as a competition sport though there are still those that use dog sleds for transportation. The dog sled is a thing of the past but like most things from our past we continue to hold onto it because of what it represents. Dog sledding represents a simpler time when the wilderness was not yet conquered by man and machine, a time when man was still dependant on animals for transportation in many parts of the world.

Although dog sledding isn’t likely to increase to the level of popularity as other more mainstream sports in the future it will always survive in the harsh northern climates where the cold runs deep but tradition runs deeper. After all, the horse is a thing of the past but many people still keep it around for nostalgia purposes right? Having a horse on a farm where it is really no longer needed thanks to tractors and four wheelers is similar to keeping a dog sled team around even though we have trucks and snowmobiles. Riding in a dog sled offers a glimpse into the past, the way things used to be done. Although questions of animal cruelty have often been associated with dog sledding and its evolution into a competitive sport the sledding in of itself is not cruel to the animals and in fact many believe that sled dogs enjoy taking on a big race just as much as people do. In summary, As long as the northern regions of America and Europe maintain their distinct climate, which they are bound to do, we will always have a constant reminder of why people once used dog sled to traverse the wild.

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Types of Dog Sled Equipment

admin — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:32:16 +0000

There are almost as many different types of dog sled equipment as there are different types of dogs that can be used to pull a sled. Obviously the most noticeable piece of equipment required for dog sledding is the sled itself but in many ways the sled is one of the least important pieces of equipment that a dog sled team needs. Gang lines and harnesses are at the forefront of the minds of almost every experienced musher because without these two pieces of equipment the sled team and the sled will be going nowhere quickly. The harness is what is used to allow a musher to harness the power of the dog and apply it to the pulling of a sled. Each individual harness is attached to the runners by gangline, allowing each dog to literally pull its own weight.

In addition to these two pieces of equipment most sled mushers would be lost without the small metal caribiners that hold all of this line together. The dogs themselves also use a few different types of equipment, ranging from booties to keep their feet warm while running to insulated vests that protect them from the cold and help displace the weight of the harness. The types of dog sled equipment you use will also depend on the type of trip you will be taking. A short trip requires less equipment than a planned long trip where you might have to spend one or more night in the wilderness on your own. In case anything happens to your sled or any of your other equipment it is a good idea to always keep a decent set of tools on your sled at all times. It’s kind of like not leaving home without that emergency roadside bag you have stuffed into the bag of your car next to your spare tire.

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Packing Your Dog Sled

admin — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 14:31:12 +0000

In many ways the method you use to pack your dog sled for a long trip is just as important as the things that you decide to bring along. Improper packing could result in equipment, being damaged, supplies being lost or even damage to the sled itself. The last thing that you want to do is find yourself without something that you need in the middle of nowhere just because you used improper packing techniques to pack the supplies and equipment onto your sled. In the Second World War the allies used to pack their ships backwards, putting things that were most important into the ship last that way they would be the first things to be unloaded when the ship reached port.

The same principal applies here; when packing your sled you should wait and put the stuff that you will use the most or need to find quickly on top and put everything else on the bottom. After you have lost a few things on the trail it becomes rather easy to tell what is secure on your sled and what isn’t. Even the smallest bump can send the contents of a sled flying if they are not secured properly. Bungee cords can be useful but things often slip out of them so you have to pay close attention to how everything is set up. Another thing that you have to worry about when packing your sled is the weather. If it starts to rain, or more likely snow, the stuff on top of your sled will be exposed to the elements. This is why most mushers wrap their sled in some sort of weather proof sled or blanket. Using a cover for the contents of your sled will also prevent things from coming loose and falling off while you and your team are on the go.

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