EAGLE, Idaho — The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge, one of the premier events in the mushing calendar, is set to begin on Jan. 27 and will run through Feb. 5.
Idaho is known to be a tough territory for sledding. "There's a lot of vertical climbing in this race," said Rick Katuki, a seasoned musher and former marshal for the Warm Lake Stage Race. "And sometimes going down the hill is as challenging as going up the hill."
Katuki explained that the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge serves as an essential qualifier for the world-renowned Iditarod. "If you can successfully complete the Idaho Sled Dog Challenge, then you have demonstrated that your dogs are fit and that you are able to manage a team for that kind of distance," he said.
One of the key aspects of the race is managing the steep descents. "Going down a steep slope, the dogs want to run. You have to have good sled-handling skills to be able to negotiate the turns," Katuki noted.
Katuki introduced Merle, an Alaskan Husky, who is not an official breed but specially bred for sledding. "He's an athlete, and he's been bred from other dogs that have traits that are desirable for sledding," Katuki said.
The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge promises to be an exciting event. Spectators can follow the race online through the official website, idahosleddogchallenge.com, which offers live tracking of the teams and detailed event information. Checkpoints are available for those who wish to witness the competition in person and see the mushers care for their dogs.
"Going to the start, the enthusiasm of the dogs is infectious. They just want to hit the trail," said Katuki.
