My dream is to move back to Alaska (I lived there from 1997-2001) and start a sled dog team. I would eventually like my dream to evolve into competing in races, including my ultimate goal of competing in the Iditarod. However, for this project I will devlop a more realistic plan, as this is how it would really have to happen. I’d start with a very small team of dogs (maybe five) and run them recreationally while my family transitions up to Alaska (they haven’t ever been there) and we figure out finances. Not to mention, I need time to learn and train myself to become a musher!
I have lived my dream partially in the past. When I lived in Alaska I “acquired” three sled dogs. It started with Selah,
a Siberian Husky/Wolf mix. Pelican, a Husky mix, came next. Then a couple of years later I “inherited” Dave, a beautiful Husky from a line of professional sled dogs. Dave was considered a “runt” and turned out to be anything but!
Some challenges in living out my dream stem mostly around my family. Finances would be an issue, but I have confidence that we could work that out. My biggest obstacle would be in convincing my husband that this is a good idea! He’s never been to Alaska and is not quite as “outdoorsy” as I am. You pretty much love it or hate it up there. That’s what I encountered anyway. The people who weren’t enjoying it so much were those who were not as in to the outdoors. There’s where my big challenge will be. However, we could easily make a home in Fairbanks or Anchorage and my husband would then feel more comfortable being in a more developed area. It would just have to be on the outskirts of town so that we’d have a large enough plot of land for my “dog yard”, etc.
My support system of course begins with my family. They may pose a challenge for me, but will be my strongest supporters at the same time. My most important support, however, will probably come from friends in the mushing community that I have from when I lived in Alaska before. I learned a lot from them when I was there and I know that they will again take me under their wing.
Mushers always need “dog handlers” to help with the daily care and training of their dogs when they have large teams. They also need extra help at races. People are there to help get things taken care of before the race and to help the dogs to the start, as they are extremely excited and try to get the race going before it begins! By helping other mushers out I’ll gain first hand experience. I would say this is the best way to learn.
