No, many dog sled races are run every winter in Alaska, Canada, and the northern Lower 48 states. Races are also held in Europe, Russia, and even South America (during the austral winter). Additionally, four types of sled dog races exist. The Iditarod is in a category known as long-distance sled dog races, which are races that are 300 miles or longer and run in a continuous format where the clock doesn't stop at any point throughout the race.

For six thousand years, sled dogs have served as the principal form of transportation for the native peoples of the north. As white settlers, gold miners, and fur trappers moved into what is today Alaska and the northern territories of Canada, they, too, used the dog team for winter transportation. When gold camps boomed in the interior, the call for mail and supply delivery in the winter months was answered by the hearty dogs and mushers.

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A good sled dog is a lot like a good person: honest, hardworking, friendly, with a positive attitude, and curious. Other dog characteristics include good appetite, good feet, and an ability to run fast for a very long way! The physical traits and muscular structure of the dog's body are important, but the best dogs are the ones with heart, willingness, and the desire to get the job accomplished. Lead dogs show signs of being leaders from puppyhood. They are usually very curious and spunky.

There are literally hundreds of REV 440 sleds that are being driven on the trail with 91 and 87 octane. Using the low compression heads, #3 base gasket and jetted properly there should never be a problem due to fuel. I have 4 friends with them who have run 87 octane and not one burn down with proper jetting and iso propylene. I am willing to guess burn down was from ice covering the main jet momentarily.

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The Silent Way' has existed for 130 years, and we have been in the dogsled business for 16 years, combined with wilderness guiding experience. People from all walks of life, from all around the world have been enjoying our tours. Our guides are Swedish, Norwegian, English and French spoken, experienced in backcountry winter survival, first aid and dog handling, and carries a NMT mobile phone for evacuation or emergency first aid assistance, along with the assistance of a GPS.

Most importantly, bring warm clothes. Even on a warm day it can be cold on the lakes where we give tours. A warm cap, mittens, winter boots, snow pants, long underwear, and a winter parka with a hood are all recommended. You can always shed clothing if you get too warm, but being cold can ruin a wonderful experience. Other than that you might want to bring a camera and an attitude of fun, fun, fun.

years this winter! The first 8 years were mainly hobby years as I combined a teaching career with my love for the sled dog sport. The last 20 years, we have been operating full time from South River, Ontario into Algonquin Park. Our standards for our guiding staff are very high. Unlike canoeing, there are no industry standards for a dog sled expedition guide. So we developed our own.

Mostly I feel a sense of pride in what my dog athletes can do. No other animal on the planet can sustain and master what racing sled dogs do. I am always in awe of their ability both mentally and physically.

years this winter! The first 8 years were mainly hobby years as I combined a teaching career with my love for the sled dog sport. The last 20 years, we have been operating full time from South River, Ontario into Algonquin Park.

Any qualified musher is welcome to enter the Iditarod. A qualified musher is a person who is at least 18 years of age, is in good standing with the Iditarod Trail Committee, and has met one of the two following requirements: successfully finished a previous Iditarod or successfully finished two approved qualifying races totaling 500 miles or more in the 24 months prior to the start of the Iditarod the musher wishes to enter.

The Junior Iditarod is a 160-mile race that runs from Wasilla to the Iditarod race checkpoint at Yentna, and then back to Wasilla. Mushers are required to take a 10-hour mandatory stop at Yentna. Mushers from the ages of 14-17 are eligible to participate. As in the "big" Iditarod, no assistance is allowed to the Junior Iditarod mushers. As an extra challenge, Junior Iditarod mushers are not allowed to enter any buildings along the trail or at Yentna while they are running the race.

Sorry, but pets are not allowed, except for seeing-eye dogs. While we realize it is fun for both you and your pet to run/walk together, this policy has been established by both our insurance company and us for safety reasons.

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If you didn't pick up on April 3 or 4, you must go to Chumash Park to pick up before you can proceed to the start line. The half marathon, 5K and 10K start on Carell Ave. The Kids Mile and Family Fun Run races gather at Chumash Park. Read below for details. Inevitably and unfortunately, every year, someone makes the mistake of going to the Pre-Race Expo and Pick Up location on race morning.

The Iditarod is officially 1,049 miles long. However, this number was adopted because Alaska is the 49th state and the Iditarod is always over 1,000 miles long. The actual mileage is probably somewhere around 1,100, and does vary each from year to year based on whether the race runs on the northern course (even years) or southern course (odd years).

The maximum number of dogs to start the race with is 16. The minimum number mushers can start with is 12. The mushers usually finish with between 8 and 12. The remainder of the team is dropped off with the vets at the checkpoints along the way. The reasons for dropping the dogs vary from sore wrists and shoulders to a common cold.

No. If you would like to sponsor me with about $30,000, I would love to run the Iditarod. It?s every mushers dream to run the Iditarod. Click here to see a list of races entered by Suomi Hills Kennel.

Meredith College does not allow pets on campus. Please do not bring pets to the event. To read more on Safety click here..

A light, modern, racing sled weighs around 40 lbs. Mushers also carry an additional 100 pounds of mandatory food, supplies, clothing, lines, repair kit, etc. Depending on the size of the musher this brings the total weight of the sled to 300-400 pounds.

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As long as you are heavy enough to stop and hold the team, you qualify. If you are not you have the option to drive tandem so you too can experience the back of the sled. If you do not want to drive, that’s okay. We need passengers too!

The guided sleds have 3 (2 guests/1 guide) The sleds in which guests are driving their own vary. You can have a family of 2children /2adults, a couple, or a group of three. It really depends on weight. The average sled carries 500lbs.

We do not allow personal sleds to be used on the tubing runs, or any ski runs. The tube rental is included in the cost of the tubing ticket.

Yes. We almost always pull two sleds behind one dog team. An experienced musher will drive the front sled and you and your friends can take turns driving the second sled. Fun, Fun, Fun!

We offer two styles of trips. On our Premier Trips, there is one participa nt per sled, and of course it is this person driving the team. These trips maximize your time with your dogs and driving the sled. Many family groups, couples and people who want to ease into driving our dog teams enjoy our Traditional Trips, where two people share a team and sled. One person drives the sled and the other rides in the basket, and the driver and rider can change positions, as they desire.

The Iditarod Trail Committee promotes the Iditarod as a commemoration of the 1925 Anchorage to Nome diphtheria serum delivery. However, the race actually celebrates the memory of musher Leonhard Seppala. The Iditarod was patterned after the All-Alaskan Sweepstakes which were races held in the early 1900s. The Iditarod was not patterned after the serum delivery.