Whitehorse - Day 2
7/1/17 - Canada Day - the 150th anniversary
We are off, by car pool, to the MukTuk Sled Dog Adventures. We also took two ladies who were from Ontario, Canada with us. The MukTuk facility was about 30 minute drive from Whitehorse, all on gravel private roads - really out in the wilderness. We arrived to see 140 dogs, handled primarily by the owner, Jeff. He explained to us that the dogs were all friendly to people, but not always to each other. Each dog had his/her own dog box in the yard, and an individual name. Some of the retired dogs and pups too young to run, were left to roam freely. And some of the females in heat, or just had puppies are separated out. They all stay outside all year long, as their double coats keep them warm, and it is too hot for them inside. Here are some pictures of the dog yard, and the owner with some of the loose dogs.
Then we got to hold the new puppies. They were only one month old, and so cute.
The owner gave us a talk all about sled dog racing. The big race is the Iditarod - 1000 miles from Settler's Bay to Nome, Alaska. Another, and more local, is the Yukon Quest - 1000 miles from Whitehorse, Yukon to Fairbanks, Alaska. They are equally difficult, but the Iditarod gets most of the notoriety. He told us of the hardships that the mushers must handle:
1) Extreme temperatures -- to -70 degrees below zero.
2) How to carry enough food for 16 dogs and a musher, when dogs burn off 10,000 to 12,000 calories per day running.
3) How to keep the dogs hydrated. The snow there is very dry and has to be melted for drinking water. One big pot of snow melts down to about 1" of water.
4) Dogs need to wear booties for their feet or the snow will pack into their paws. Mushers must take off gloves to put on the booties, and then their hands freeze.
5) The race lasts 9-11 days and mushers get almost no sleep. It is dark all day and night. If they fall asleep, the other racers will beat them. They do get one 36 hour break, but most of that time is for tending to the dogs. Sleep depravation is a real problem.
We had a wonderful lunch there. We had bison burgers with all the trimmings. Dessert was a home made brownie and ice cream. It was delicious. This was a very special stop. I loved the dogs, as did everyone else. I especially liked Homer. The owner said that he was the hardest working dog he had, and he isn't even a husky. Here is Homer, and another husky with beautiful eyes.
After we got back to the RV, Tom and I went out one more time to look at the "world's largest weather vane". Joe Muff, an airline maintenance engineer, found an old WWII C47 cargo plane and had it restored. Then he had it mounted on a ball-bearing pedestal in 1981. It acts as a weather vane, pointing its nose into the wind. It is mounted in front of the Yukon Transportation Museum. Here is picture.
Tomorrow's drive is one of, if not the longest drive. We will travel 335 miles from Whitehorse to Dawson City over very bad roads. They expect it will take 9 hours.
We are off, by car pool, to the MukTuk Sled Dog Adventures. We also took two ladies who were from Ontario, Canada with us. The MukTuk facility was about 30 minute drive from Whitehorse, all on gravel private roads - really out in the wilderness. We arrived to see 140 dogs, handled primarily by the owner, Jeff. He explained to us that the dogs were all friendly to people, but not always to each other. Each dog had his/her own dog box in the yard, and an individual name. Some of the retired dogs and pups too young to run, were left to roam freely. And some of the females in heat, or just had puppies are separated out. They all stay outside all year long, as their double coats keep them warm, and it is too hot for them inside. Here are some pictures of the dog yard, and the owner with some of the loose dogs.
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| Dog Yard
Note the little dog on the lower left. Her name is "Little" and she is not a sled dog--just a pet. But she rules. Also, Jeff is holding Tom, a 6 month old pup, who ran in the wheel most of the time we were there. He will be a great sled dog.
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| Jeff, the owner and his dogs (Little is lower left) |
Then we got to hold the new puppies. They were only one month old, and so cute.
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| 5 of the 6 puppies |
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| Tom and Linda with puppies |
The owner gave us a talk all about sled dog racing. The big race is the Iditarod - 1000 miles from Settler's Bay to Nome, Alaska. Another, and more local, is the Yukon Quest - 1000 miles from Whitehorse, Yukon to Fairbanks, Alaska. They are equally difficult, but the Iditarod gets most of the notoriety. He told us of the hardships that the mushers must handle:
1) Extreme temperatures -- to -70 degrees below zero.
2) How to carry enough food for 16 dogs and a musher, when dogs burn off 10,000 to 12,000 calories per day running.
3) How to keep the dogs hydrated. The snow there is very dry and has to be melted for drinking water. One big pot of snow melts down to about 1" of water.
4) Dogs need to wear booties for their feet or the snow will pack into their paws. Mushers must take off gloves to put on the booties, and then their hands freeze.
5) The race lasts 9-11 days and mushers get almost no sleep. It is dark all day and night. If they fall asleep, the other racers will beat them. They do get one 36 hour break, but most of that time is for tending to the dogs. Sleep depravation is a real problem.
We had a wonderful lunch there. We had bison burgers with all the trimmings. Dessert was a home made brownie and ice cream. It was delicious. This was a very special stop. I loved the dogs, as did everyone else. I especially liked Homer. The owner said that he was the hardest working dog he had, and he isn't even a husky. Here is Homer, and another husky with beautiful eyes.
 |
| Homer |
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| Beautiful eyes |
After we got back to the RV, Tom and I went out one more time to look at the "world's largest weather vane". Joe Muff, an airline maintenance engineer, found an old WWII C47 cargo plane and had it restored. Then he had it mounted on a ball-bearing pedestal in 1981. It acts as a weather vane, pointing its nose into the wind. It is mounted in front of the Yukon Transportation Museum. Here is picture.
 |
| World's Larges Weather Vane |
Tomorrow's drive is one of, if not the longest drive. We will travel 335 miles from Whitehorse to Dawson City over very bad roads. They expect it will take 9 hours.
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