Mushing Terminology

The Beginning

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race first ran to Nome in 1973, after two short races on part of the Iditarod Trail in 1967 and 1969. The idea of having a race over the Iditarod Trail was conceived by the late Dorothy G. Page. In 1964, Page was chairman of the Wasilla-Knik Centennial and was working on projects to celebrate Alaska’s Centennial Year in 1967.

ATV

All terrain vehicle

Big Su

Refers to the Big Susitna River

Boonies

A non-rural or urban area, generally an area where no one lives.

Booties

A type of sock that is made to protect the dog’s feet from small cuts and sores. These are made out of various materials, i.e., denim, polar fleece, trigger cloth, etc.

Burled Arch

The finish line in Nome

By-Pass Mail

Service provided by US Mail System for remote villages to get mail and goods delivered. By-Pass Mail has been used to ship everything from toilet paper to refrigerators.

Come Gee! Come Haw!

Commands for 180 degree turns in either direction.

Dog in Basket

Tired or injured dog carried in the sled

Double Lead

Two dogs who lead the team side by side.

Dropped Dog

A dog that the musher has dropped from his team at a checkpoint. The dog is cared for at the checkpoint until it is flown back to Anchorage to the musher’s handlers.

Gee

Command for right turn

Haw

Command for left turn

Heet

Alcohol based fuel used by mushers in their cook stoves on the trail.

Husky

Any northern type dog.

Indian Dog

An Alaskan Husky from an Indian village.

Last Frontier

Alaska’s State motto. Alaska was the last frontier in the United States

Lead Dog or Leader

Dog who runs in front of others. Generally must be both intelligent and fast.

Line Out!

Command to lead dog to pull the team out straight from the sled. Used mostly while hooking dogs into team or unhooking them.

Malamute

Term often used by old timers for any sled dog. Larger husky

Mush! Hike! All Right! Let’s Go!

Commands to start the team

Neck Line

Line that connects dog’s collar to tow line and between the two collars of a double lead.

Outside

Any place in the lower 48 states.

Overflow

When the ice gets so thick that the water has nowhere to go, it pushes up and over the ice. This overflow often gets a thin layer of ice when the temperature drops making it dangerous to cross.

Pacing

Leading a team with some sort of motorized vehicle that can set the 'pace' at a specific speed.

Pedaling

Pushing the sled with one foot while the other remains on the runner

Rigging

Collection of lines to which dogs are attached. Includes tow line, tug lines and neck lines

Rookie

A musher who is running the race for the first time or who has never completed the race.

Runners

The two bottom pieces of the sled which come in contact with the snow. They extend back of the basket for the driver to stand on. Runner bottoms are usually wood, covered with plastic or Teflon. This plastic or Teflon is usually replaced at least once during the race.

Siberian Husky

Medium sized (average 50 pounds) northern breed of dog, recognized by the American Kennel Club. Siberians usually have blue eyes.

Slats

Thin strips of wood which make up the bottom of a wooden sled basket. Note: Toboggan sleds have a sheet of plastic as the bottom for their basket

Snow Hook or Ice Hook

Heavy piece of metal attached to sled by line. The snow hook is embedded in the snow in order to hold the team and sled for a short period of time.

Snub Line

Rope attached to the sled which is used to tie the sled to a tree or other object.

Stake

Metal or wooden post driven into the ground to which dog is tied

Swing Dog or Dogs

Dog that runs directly behind the leader. Further identified as right or left swing depending on which side of the tow line he is positioned on. His job is to help "swing" the team in the turns or curves.

Team Dog

Any dog other than those described above.

Termination Dust

The first snow that covers the top of the mountain in the fall. So called because this is a sign of the termination of summer in Alaska.

Tether Line

A long chain with shorter pieces of chain extending from it. Used to stake out a team when stakes aren’t available.

Toggles

Small pieces of ivory or wood used by Eskimos to fasten tug lines to harnesses

Trail!

Request for right-of-way on the trail.

Tug Line

Line that connects dog’s harness to the tow line.

Wheel Dogs or Wheelers

Dogs placed directly in front of the sled. Their job is to pull the sled out and around corners or trees.

Whoa!

Command used to halt the team, accompanied by heavy pressure on the brake.

Perhaps it’s best to skip some of the language used by drivers when their leader is distracted and leads the team off the trail, or the team becomes tangled for some reason. Let’s just say that in addition to the above voice commands, various other colorful expressions are used.

Note: It should be thoroughly understood that as dogs are not driven with reins, but by spoken commands, the leader of the team must understand all that is said to him and guide the others accordingly. An intelligent leader is therefore an absolute necessity. At times it appears that there is ESP between musher and lead dog. Don’t be surprised if you hear a musher have an in-depth conversation with his lead dog.