It would be a long haul from Grand Rapids to Marquette by dogsled. Even by car it's a fur piece, but that's what Mr. and Mrs. McKenney did last weekend to watch the U.P. 200. The first place finisher was Doug Swingley, 4 time Iditarod winner.

Any dogsledders out there in Pasty Camville?

Kudos to the canines, I have actually watched these teams go through Chatham, and a hearty lot they are indeed.

Wheatman

A year ago this week the Pasty Cam featured a dogsled.

Yep, sled dog enthusiast here. I voluteered at the
Seeley 50-100-200 race in Seeley Lake, Montana in
January, wondered why Swingley wasn't around. He
must have been training for the UP 200. I've also
volunteered for the Race to the Sky in Montana.
Many of the races in the west have been cancelled
due to lack of snow. Sled dog racing is a sport
requiring total commitment to the health and
safety of the dogs...more a lifestyle choice,
really. If anyone's interested in "armchair"
viewing of the Iditarod, check out
http://www.
cabelasiditarod.com
For more info about sled dog racing, check out
http://www.s
leddogcentral.com

My husband and I have come up to Marquette from Evanston, IL, the past three years to see the sled dog race. The race goes by near our camp in Sand River, and it's a beautiful sight to spot the glow of the musher's headlamp far down the trail in the wintry night. The dogs and sled then go by so quietly. Pant pant, trot trot, whoosh and they're gone. A different scene from the frantic start in downtown Marquette! But the real highlight of the past weekend was shoveling all that snow off our roof!

Unfortunately, due to various hip displacea my malamute will never lead a team; however, he does lead a very happy life indeed

Thanks Toivo for Posting my pic! It was a beautiful weekend for the race, although it was chilly, and us 'southerners' from Downstate thought it was downright cold. But the sun was out and the people of Marquette turned out! Left Marquette 2 years ago for the 'greener' job oppertunities of Grand Rapids, and my wife and I still say we will be back at some point for good! Thanks again!

Look at all the smiling dogs. There's nothing a malamute or malamute mix likes to do more than pull. They don't seem to mind the cold either. What attitude!

Holy cats!!! Must be about a dozen dogs in that bunch and not a beagle to be seen! Sure its in the UP?

Most of the dogs in the above pic appear to be Siberian Huskies...Not Malamute...Although i'm sure there are some cross breeds also.
Malamutes are known for their pulling ability,heavy weights over short distances. They are a larger breed than a husky.
Huskies are known for their endurance, able to run for longer periods of time.
As we speak, my Siberian Husky that is 9 years old, sleeps at my feet after a long walk we just returned from on this mid February springlike day here in Southeast Michigan.

MAN'S BEST FREIND--THE ANSWER TO THE GASOLINE PROBLEMS.---PLUS BICYCLES.--BEAUTIFUL

I love dogs - but chicken is easier to fix!

We had a wonderful Siberian Husky when we were kids that loved to play with us in the snow. We never could get her to pull us on the sled, though. She would pull only as long as someone walked beside her. As soon as you sat on the sled she would run back for the chance to lick your face, maybe even sit down wit you on the sled. She liked being close, I guess.

Actually, if that's a photo of Swingley, his dogs
are Alaskan huskies...big difference as they're a
combination of breeds and Swingley is known for
the excellence of his breeding program. A purebred
Siberian team is a beautiful sight to behold
however, and Malmutes are indeed strong and
hearty. I love those lil doggies. What a great
family sport!

Try harnessing a chahuahua to your sled. Not fun.

As kids, Grandpa made a harness for an old sled, and hooked up our collie to it. She'd pull us kids back and forth from Gram's to Mom's and do it all day long.

What a wonderful memory!

Woof Woof is correct, my understanding is that all Swingley's dogs are Alaskan Huskies, they are a smaller breed. Many people who we overheard who had never seen a Dog Sled race were confused because the dogs runner were smaller that they are use to seeing, the Siberian's for Example and Malumutes are larger dogs.

I had a boarder collie/poodle mix that looked just like the little black dog in the last picture. My Woody dog lived to be 18 years old. He loved to go snow shoe hiking but he'd get so excited that he'd run up on my snow shoes. Pretty soon, I'd be bottoms up in a snow bank and laughing so hard that I couldn't get up. Good folks, good old dogs and snow, thats real fun!
I've had so much fun looking through the archives this winter, I think I'll drive up and vacation with you folks this summer. See you all then.

Hi My name is emma rayner im in grade 7 at Glenora District High.
im doing a project on Alaskan Malumutes and was wondering if you could email me and tell me some infomation on them i would apprisiate it if you could but dont worry if you cant.by now

many thanks Emma Rayner

we live in the South (SC) and a couple of weeks ago, a beautiful female huskie wandered into our lives...we have tried to find the owner but w/ no luck...she jumped into the car, we went to McDonald's and she's been with us since...she's very young (she's had pups) and is very well house trained...she's not real crazy about our 2 shelties nor they of her but we're working on it..she goes out w/o us and comes back after about 30 mins.---we never leave her outside while we're away and she goes on an hour walk every morning....any special info. would be appreciated...thanks...the Corley's

Hi Doug Swingley I am sending you a mesage for 2005 this year and I was wondering how you where doing on this years Iditarod race and I am studying you for the Iditarod 2005 race and I think you are cool and nice too.


by samantha gurwell