An invention of the peoples of the North
Although not officially proven, it would appear that dog teams have been used by the indigenous peoples of the North for winter travel since as far back as 6,000 B.C. One need only imagine the extreme conditions of the northern regions, with their thick layers of snow - sometimes hardened by the cold - and the absence of roads or tracks, to grasp the vital importance of this means of transport. The first European explorers and trappers also adopted the dog sled, a highly efficient means of transporting people, food and goods over long distances in a wilderness entirely covered by powder snow and frozen lakes and rivers. At the end of the 19th century, in the Klondike region of northwestern Canada, sled dogs proved just as useful during the gold rush. Gold seekers used them to transport their belongings, furniture, food and wood. They were also the preferred means of mail delivery, which took place two or three times a month in Dawson City. Given the high demand, thousands of sled dogs roamed the Klondike mining territory. More recently, in the mid-twentieth century, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) discovered the practicality of this mode of transport for their travels in Canada's Far North. But while dog sledding is still used by Aboriginal people today, it is no longer the primary means of travel, the snowmobile having of course taken over.
It's worth mentioning an important event in the history of dog sledding: in 1925, in Nome, Alaska, a diphtheria epidemic raised fears of the worst. Ice and blizzards made it impossible to send medicine by air or sea. So the big furry beasts joined the rescue effort, carrying the life-saving serum to the isolated community. The dog leader of the last team, Balto, has since been immortalized in statues, one near New York's Central Park Zoo, the other in downtown Anchorage, Alaska. An annual race commemorates this feat, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, also known as the "Serum Road" or the "Mercy Race".
The call of the forest
It was during the gold rush (1896-1899) in the Klondike region, between Alaska and the Yukon, that dog sledding really became popular. Jack London, an American author with a passion for adventure and the wilderness, who set out on the Klondike Trail in 1897, helped to spread the word about this epic. He arrives in Alaska via the Inside Passage between British Columbia and Alaska to reach Dyea and Skagway, and from there Dawson City via Lake Bennett. Arriving in Dawson City in late autumn, he spent the winter there, listening to the stories of gold seekers that inspired his most famous novels, such as L'Appel de la forêt, Croc-Blanc, Les Enfants du froid, Belliou la fumée and Le Fils du loup. Somewhere between fact and fiction, his books plunge us into the fascinating era that left such an indelible mark on the Yukon Territory. But L'Appel de la forêt is undoubtedly his greatest success. It was in Louis Bond's Yukon cabin that London met the dog Jack, the future model for Buck, the hero of this novel. Buck's life changes dramatically when he is sold to a sled-dog trader in the Klondike region. He has to get used to the harsh climate of the Far North and the men lost in this corner of the world, but also to the cold, the other dogs, the men and the hunger. He finds comfort in his last master, who is unfortunately murdered by natives. Buck flees into the forest and gives in to the call of the wild. The Call of the Wild has been adapted for film and television for over a century. The first adaptation was made in 1908, while Chris Sanders' version, starring Harrison Ford and Omar Sy among others, was released in 2020, combining live action and animation.
Breeds of dogs and composition of the team
Bred by the indigenous peoples of the North, sled dogs are descendants of wolves domesticated for transportation and hunting. One of the oldest sled dog breeds is the Alaskan Malamute, which is still very popular today. It's a powerful dog, renowned for its strength and endurance, just like the Canadian Inuit dog, originally from the north of the country, although the latter is smaller than its colleague the malamute. Both the Malamute and the Canadian Inuit Dog are registered as pure breeds with the Canadian Kennel Club.
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the fur trade and the Klondike gold rush made this mode of transportation popular. To meet the ever-increasing demand, mixed breeds were developed, notably the Mackenzie River Husky, a powerful dog at home in deep snow. With the advent of dog sled racing in the 20th century, a new selection criterion came into play: speed. The Siberian Husky, a purebred from Russia, was introduced to Canada, as was the Alaskan Husky, the result of crossbreeding with other racing breeds such as sighthounds, setters and braques.
The composition of the team is just as important as the selection of the dogs, and is divided into four categories. There are always one or two lead dogs, positioned at the very front, who direct and guide the team. Next come the point dogs, who essentially serve to encourage the lead dogs. Dogs in this position are very often future lead dogs in training. The pair just in front of the sled are the most powerful, whose job it is to keep the sled on the track: these are the steering dogs. All the other dogs positioned between the lead and helm dogs are the center dogs.
The lead dogs are directed by voice by the handler. Depending on the route and weather conditions, the driver may be at the rear of the sled, walking in front of the team or running at the rear. As for the term "musher" for the driver, it has its origins in a linguistic misunderstanding. While early French-Canadian drivers shouted "Marche!" to their teams, English explorers heard "mush". So much for history!
Races
Now a hugely popular winter pastime, dog sledding has achieved the status of a sporting discipline. Several annual races are organized in Canada, Alaska (in 1908, the All Alaska Sweepstakes was the world's very first dog sled race) and the northern states of the USA, often held in conjunction with winter carnivals. Many countries outside North America have also joined the movement, including Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia and even France. While some races are more for fun, others are part of a professional circuit where winners pocket various prizes and accumulate ranking points. These competitions can take the form of sprints, i.e. races over short distances, or outright endurance events over several days, during which mushers cover hundreds of kilometers every day. For a well-earned, even mandatory rest, the endurance race circuit is punctuated by the famous "checkpoints", places where the good health of all is checked, dogs and humans alike, and where advice and race stories are exchanged.
Canada's most famous endurance race is the Yukon Quest. Until recently, it offered a 1,600 km route between Fairbanks in Alaska and Whitehorse in the Yukon. Now participants can choose between three circuits starting in Whitehorse (160 km, 400 km and 720 km).
Experiences at your fingertips
Now it's time to get practical. For this purpose, La Belle Province offers a wide range of possibilities, from a stroll lasting an hour or two to a multi-day expedition with overnight stays in a tipi, prospector's tent, refuge or cottage. Whichever option you choose, a visit to the kennel is usually included, and you can lend a hand harnessing the dogs or helping serve their meals during breaks. While some opt for the relaxed comfort of the sled, others prefer to get hands-on and drive their own dog team, the preferred option for the ultimate dog sledding experience. And don't forget to bundle up from head to toe. If you don't have the perfect winter adventurer's gear, don't worry: accessories and warm clothing can be rented or even lent on site. Just make sure you check if this is possible when you book, so you're not caught unprepared when the time comes.
Living this most authentic of northern adventures couldn't be easier: outfitters and companies specializing in the field are present in virtually every tourist region of Quebec. Forest outfitters and inns generally all offer this activity during the cold season, not to mention the many snowmobile rental companies that often offer guided excursions lasting from a few hours to a few days. The ultimate experience is a dog-sledding trip across the Arctic tundra in Nunavik, in Quebec's far north. A return to our roots with this winter mode of transport, combined with a sharing of knowledge with the Inuit people whose presence in this territory dates back thousands of years. In addition to dog sledding, you'll discover local flora and fauna, learn how to build your own igloo and experience the famous throat singing. Unforgettable! For more great deals, visit the Québec Aventure Plein Air website.
