Iditarod 2021 Countdown – Packing The Sled

Veteran mushers have sled packing down to a fine art – everything they need and nothing they don’t. Each musher figures out their own ‘essentials’ and some may carry more than others.

Aliy will pack supplies for the dogs and herself plus safety and mandatory equipment. For the dogs there is dog food, both kibble and frozen meat snacks, jackets, booties, spare harnesses and T-shirts plus any vet supplies that might be needed along the way. For the sled there are spare sled runners and tools. For Aliy there is human food, water and snacks, spare clothing, headlights, sleeping bag and mat, and personal medical supplies. She’ll also carry other survival items like matches, hand warmers and space blanket. The drop bags that go ahead of the team to the checkpoints allows the mushers to replenish their supplies as they go.

There are also a number of mandatory items that must go in the sled and down the trail with mushers and that gets checked at checkpoints; a penalty may be given if a musher is missing any of it. Mandatory items vary from race to race but they are always safety and dog welfare items. For the Iditarod all mushers must have with them:

• Proper cold weather sleeping bag weighing a minimum of 5lbs
• Ax, head to weigh a minimum of 1-3/4 lbs, handle to be at least 22” long
• One operational pair of snowshoes with bindings, each snowshoe to be at least 252 square inches in size
• Any promotional material provided by the ITC
• Eight booties for each dog in the sled or in use
• One operational cooker and pot capable of boiling at least three gallons of water at one time.
• Veterinarian notebook, to be presented to the veterinarian at each checkpoint
• An adequate amount of fuel to bring three gallons of water to a boil
• Functional non-chafing harness for each dog in team and a functional neckline
• An insulated dog coat for each dog in the team that can be used while running and or resting
• When leaving a checkpoint adequate emergency dog food must be on the sled. (This will be carried in addition to what you carry for routine feeding and snacking.)

Check out the 2021 Rules document for more information.

Aliy did a trial run to pack her sled earlier this week and put together a video to talk you through what’s the team is taking with them down the trail.