Day 57 - Denali National Park

Going To The Dogs

Sled dogs that is.

It was a mixed forecast for the park today...supposedly periods of rain, but we didn't take it very seriously. It wasn't an early start, but we climbed on our bikes at about 8:30 and headed up the road to the Sled Dog Kennels four miles away. It was literally up as we ascended neary 700 ft to the kennels. The park has sled dog demonstrations three times a day with the first at 10 am. We hoped to get there early. We did, but not before the first tour bus. We could have taken the bus from the visitor center, but I convinced everyone that riding would be just as quick and the visitor center was nearly halfway there. I didn't mention the climb...

The park keeps over 30 Alaskan Huskies as sled dogs for winter work in the park. Even in this age,they are one of the most efficient ways of getting around in the winter...and they are the only way, aside from sking or snowshoeing, to travel in the park's wilderness area where motorized vehicles are not allowed. The dog teams are used for patrols, hauling of construction materials and supporting scientific research. They have been used from the very beginning days of the park, primarily patrolling for poachers. That isn't much of a problem now, but they still patrol looking for activity, checking on wildlife and park infrastructure.

The dogs take the summer off except for the daily demonstrations. The kennels are quite open to visitors during the day and many of the dogs are kenneled in houses right in the open so you can go up to them. They are very friendly and all pats are welcome...no treats though. They have a pretty strict, but high quality diet, very high in protein and fat with even more fat in the winter when they are working. They each get hour long walks every day in summer, but sleep a lot. Starting in the fall, they go into training to get ready for working nearly every day all winter at temperatures as low as -40. They are most comfortable, according to their handlers, at -20. These are dogs that live outdoors all the time. (They do have nice log cabin dog houses though.)

For the demonstration, the handlers spend a fair amount of time explaining why and how they use the dogs and then bring out a four-wheeled training sled. As soon as the dogs see it the entire pack starts jumping around and barking. It's "Pick Me, Pick Me". The handlers pick out five of them and  hitch them to the sled. As soon as they are allowed they take off at a sprint. They only make a short lap of a track at the kennel, coming to a stop in front of us. The dogs just rest awhile chewing on bones while the handlers explain how they are chosen for the various positions in the team and how many they use. For an unladen demonstration five pulled the sled at top speed, but they can put together teams of a dozen or more for hauling heavy loads...where heavy means a ton. When the presentation ends the dogs are released from their traces and most run directly back to their own kennel.

These are well trained and well cared for dogs. When they reach nine years old, they retire and are adopted out to good homes. Unfortunately, it is too warm in Massachusetts for these dogs. They have a breeding program here and breed all their own dogs, usually one litter a year, with this year's litter due next month. The puppies just run along with the teams during the first winter, but are trained as sled dogs by the second year.

After the presentation and more dog patting, it was down the hill (no peddling necessary) to the visitor center for lunch, then back to camp. It never did rain, except for a brief sprinkle just before dinner.

Tomorrow we are off on a Discovery hike into the backcountry with a ranger about 60 miles further into the park. We'll take a bus for that.