278: Everything You Want to Know About Dog Mushing (Sarah Varland, amateur musher and author)

Curious about dog mushing? You’re in good company. Dog racing, known as mushing, is one of the many sports that draws tourists and lures enthusiasts to live in Alaska. But not everyone who mushes is a pro-racer tackling the Iditarod or keeping a huge yard of sled dogs. The north and Alaska are full of amateur racers who take on the sport because they both love dogs and the time in nature running a sled and dog teams brings.

In this episode Sarah Varland, an author, high school English teacher and amateur musher gives us the inside scoop on dog mushing, why she loves it and how it connects her to the world. Listen now.

Connect with this episode:

Alaska Dog Mushers Association

Read Sarah Varland’s books

Follow Sarah on Instagram

Listen to Iditarod dog mushers Kristy and Anna Berington on Humans Outside

Join the Humans Outside Challenge

Follow Humans Outside on Instagram

Follow Humans Outside on Facebook

Some of the good stuff:

[3:49] Sarah Varland’s favorite outdoor space

[4:53] How Sarah became someone who likes to go outside

[6:59] About Sarah’s writing and how going outside impacts it

[9:26] The basics of dog mushing and dog racing

[12:28] How Sarah got into dog racing

[14:36] What is mushing like?

[17:11] Is there “flow” when mushing?

[19:04] Top secret musher math

[23:05] What do sled dogs actually look like?

[24:41] What happens when a dog doesn’t want to work or pull?

[26:41] Is mushing and dog racing cruel to the dogs?

[29:22] What does dog racing cost?

[30:35] What dog mushing teaches Sarah about herself

[35:45] What dog mushing teaches Sarah about her faith?

[39:03] How to learn more about mushing if you’re interested or want to try it

[41:08] Sarah’s favorite outdoor moment