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Brenda Mackey and Kathaleen
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I had never seen sled dogs before, much less taken
a ride through a crevasse filled sheet of white! When we arrived
at the Juneau ice field I was very excited to try dog sledding but
I was slightly apprehensive. Brenda told me that some of the tracks
hadn't been used in a few days and could be dangerous. Since the
variations in temperature are so great, some of the snow melts very
quickly and can sometimes expose deep crevasses.
However, I knew Brenda was very experienced, and
once the dogs took off, that fear was soon replaced by the instinct
to hang on for dear life! The dogs take off at a very high speed
and there isn't much warning before you are zipping over the snow.
I felt very comfortable once we got going and I thought that even
if we did hit a crevasse, the dogs were so fast that we could get
across in time. Once I saw how much the dogs enjoyed it, I sat back
and soaked up the ride of a lifetime.
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As I sat in front of Brenda while she mushed
the dogs ahead, I thought about what it must of been like
for the early explorers. I developed enormous respect for
anyone who does this professionally.
Even though the sun was shining, you feel
the wind whip in your face and your eyes tear up as you squint
to see where you're going. It is cold no matter what you do
to layer up, and anyone who does this often must be made of
hearty stuff.
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These dogs are different from domestic dogs
in several ways. They are bred to have an instinct to run
through the snow pulling a sled. They are solid dogs and are
not affected by the cold temperatures and snow beneath their
paws. They are fed high protein diets instead of regular dog
food because they burn calories very quickly when they are
running.
When the mushers get the harnesses out and
get the sled ready, the dogs go absolutely crazy. They bark
and jump up in the air, almost as if they are all saying "pick
me, pick me." You can tell the dogs love it, and once
the chosen dogs are harnessed up, Brenda can barely contain
them as their anticipation to hit the ice field at high speed
grows. Then before I knew it, with no warning, we were off
like a shot. It's not like a car or a bicycle when you start
slow and then build up your speed, this is more like going
from 0 to 20 mph in 3 seconds! And with no seatbelt, but what
a blast!
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Dog Sledding is a very intense sport and
demands dedication, fitness and a love for the dogs. Following
in her father's and grandfather's footsteps, Brenda Mackey
started racing sled dogs when she was 4. She is the third
generation of professional racers in her family. At the tender
age of 21, she already has over 15 years of experience under
her belt.
She has recently finished the 1,000 mile
Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. She has also participated
in the famous Iditarod Dog Race and is one of the few women
involved in professional dog sledding. Brenda says it is a
full-time job looking after the dogs and keeping them trained
and fit. She and her father have dozens of dogs that they
raise at home. Just feeding them can take several hours. She
says that her love for the dogs and the satisfaction in the
sport keeps her motivated to become one of the best.
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Brenda is a very driven young woman who will
succeed in anything she does. She is passionate about the
sport and told me she loves every minute she spends with the
dogs. Her goal is to be a champion.
A wonderful aspect of dog sledding is that
men and women can compete equally since personal physical
strength and size is not a largely determining factor. It
is a wonderful sport for men and women to race side by side
knowing that it all comes down to the speed of the dogs and
the techniques used in training.
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