Dog Sledding – A Bit of History
The dog sled, as we know it today, was not originally meant for fun – it was actually a real tool for some of our ancestors!
Dog sled driving is therefore not a new practice! It already existed 6000 years before our era. Its development is mainly attributed to Inuit culture, which popularized the practice around the year 1000. It was essentially a means of transport for trappers.
Dog Sledding History
In the 19th century, Europe banned dog sledding, notably in Versailles and Paris. However, in France as well as in Belgium, the lower social classes continued to use it; it was somewhat of a “low-cost horse.”
It was during the Alaska Gold Rush (1896) that dog sledding gained popularity. Dog sledding competitions then began to appear. The first major dog sled race took place in 1908, in Alaska.
Today, dog sledding is an activity that makes both children and adults dream. It has developed in mountain resorts and has become very popular. It is a highly sought-after winter activity that allows people unfamiliar with the mountains to discover breathtaking landscapes during a ride.
Dog Sledding Adventure
Dog sledding has also fascinated cinema, and we can see it on the big screen in several films.
For example, in the film based on a true story, Iron Will (1994) by Charles Haid, we follow the story of a 17-year-old boy who, after the death of his father, enters a 600 km dog sled race to support his mother.
Dog Sledding in Movies
Eight Below (2005) is also a very well-known Walt Disney masterpiece about dog sledding. The film follows the story of a guide, Jerry Shepard, and a geologist, Davis McClaren, who lead a scientific expedition in Antarctica. After an accident, their survival depends on their sled dogs… However, they are forced to abandon their eight dogs in this hostile environment. Jerry tries everything to return to rescue them, but it is impossible. We then follow the dogs’ adventures in the Antarctic cold.
More recently, the film Togo (2019) by Walt Disney Studios retraces the story of the town of Nome, struck by diphtheria in 1925. This marks the beginning of what would later be called the “serum run to Nome” or the “Great Race of Mercy.” Leonhard Seppala and his dog Togo were enlisted in this life-saving race against time. This is also the event that made the dog Balto famous.
Guaranteed emotions with these films… After watching, come live the excitement of a real dog sledding adventure!