As well as doing
tours, which introduces others to the wonder of a hardworking
husky, Kingmik fields a team of race dogs that spend
some of the winter on the road, testing their metal
against other teams across North America. The race dogs
are the dogs that not only have the most athletic ability,
but the dogs that also exhibit the most “attitude”
. Attitude is everything and we often see dogs go far
just on pure heart and a competitive edge. They know
when they are racing, and while they may just go through
the paces during training, they pour it on at the races.
After years of racing in skijoring, sprinting, and stage racing, it was time to experience the most difficult test of endurance possible. Distance racing. The Iditarod, and less familiar Yukon Quest, are considered the two distance races in North America. Kingmik is fielding a team for the Yukon Quest in 2013. The run will link up Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory, with Fairbanks in Alaska, a distance of just over 1000 miles.
During this time the team will run and rest on roughly an equal schedule. Sleep deprivation for the musher is always a challenge, for while the dogs rest, the musher does dog care. Bedding down dogs, massaging tired muscles, preparing dog food and feeding, fixing gear, sorting drop bags, feeding some more, and forever “number crunching” as he or she figures out distance to next check point, estimated travel time, how long they will rest, and when exactly they should start getting ready for an accurate departure for the next leg of their journey.
The world becomes surreal as night blends into day into night again and much is done by the narrow beam of a headlight. In that half light of day, it is often easy to forget if it is dawn or dusk.
The bond formed with the dogs in such travel is parallel to none. You become equal members of the same team, relying on, and taking care of each other. However the dogs are the true champions of the run. To witness their heart, joyful willingness and pure athletic ability is a humbling experience.
To travel with such partners is an honour.
