It was in the middle of the flats between Gwinn and Marquette, during Darlene Walchs first Midnight Run dogsled race, and the wind-chill was about 20 to 30 degrees below zero. She was not wearing any ski goggles and her contact lenses were in danger of freezing. At a checkpoint during the race she ran into a race judge whom she had known for a few years, and he was nice enough to lend her a pair of his goggles. “Needless to say I went out and bought two pairs of goggles the day after the race,” Walch said.
Proper apparel is an integral part of musher’s gear when they are running long-distance races through inclement weather.
Mushing is a sport that goes from low exertion to high exertion in a moment. Polypropylene is a near necessity as a first layer of clothing for mushers. This is because it wicks perspiration away from the body and is often used for outdoors activity because of this. “Even when it gets wet it still holds the heat in,” Walch said. This can be a life saver because cotton and wool tend to hold moisture and can chill the body when wet and against the skin.
Mushers must be prepared for any type of weather conditions that Mother Nature may throw at them. The key to being prepared for the weather while mushing is to have plenty of layers. These layers allow mushers to adapt to whatever weather situation they encounter. After the polypropylene, one or two layers of polar fleece or other lightweight warmth is next. The last layer is the parka that protects from the wind. This is often not a very warm layer but is used as a shield to keep the wind from getting to the mushers skin. Walch said that she actually only wears two layers on her legs because she found a really good pair of ski pants years ago and they do the job of keeping her warm while shutting the wind out as well. Walch, a veteran musher of 12 years, said she would go overboard on her clothing when she was a rookie. She said she would always have way too many extra clothes in her sled. She now has a saying so that she knows just what to take when she races: “Have what you need and no more,” she said.
Walch said that one of the best items she owns is her big rabbit fur mitts. She remembered racing in the Midnight Run years back where she had forgotten those mitts. She had regular synthetic ski gloves but quickly realized they were not going to be enough.
About 30 miles into the race she was putting one hand inside her jacket and hanging onto the sled with the other. She said she has been unable to find anything that can compete with the big mitts, which go almost to her elbows and keep her hands warm in all weather conditions.
Trevor J. Black, who makes beaver pelt mitts, said his mitts are much more durable than their synthetic counterparts. He is a homesteader in Alaska with 20 years of experience mushing and being in the Alaskan wilderness.
Black said his beaver pelt mitts are more durable than the synthetics as well as lighter and also more flexible. “Synthetic mitts are full of insulation, warm, yes, but very bulky,” he said. “I feel like I’m wearing boxing gloves when I put on synthetics. I hate them.”
Black’s last pair of mitts lasted him 10 years and about 17,000 miles of mushing trails. These are one facet of mushing that seems to be irreplaceable by modern technology according to Black. The beaver mitts are nonflammable except for the fur, and if that burns off then the mitt will still hold warmth in.
Warm hands are essential to the mushers, as cold hands make it difficult to handle the dogs and start fires or make camp. Black also said he is able to make his mitts so flexible that he can grab a knife and work with them on.
Another integral part of staying warm while on the trail is the boots that mushers wear. There are many different styles and opinions as to which are the best. Mukluks are the traditional and often-preferred footwear because of their warmth and lightweight construction. These mukluks are like a boot but the sole is softer because it is often not made of rubber. These are often fur lined and are quite warm but are not always waterproof.
Walch said she has a few pairs of mukluks but doesn’t like the support they give. She opts for a much stiffer and more supportive boot. She has a pair of winter pack boots made by Baffin. These boots are able to withstand temperatures well below zero and keep feet dry. They offer support to the arch of the foot as well as the ankle unlike the mukluks. She said that these boots give her more comfort because of the added support. She even lines them with an extra sheepskin insole in order to add warmth to the boot.
There are not many stores that specialize in selling gear strictly for mushing, but there are a few different Websites. For the most part mushers buy regular cold-weather outdoor gear and make sure they are able to use this gear while out on the trail.
Walch has had her share of experiences with gear and has come up with a way to justify spending the money on her apparel. In her mind there is no reason to try to cut cost when it’s worth it to spend the extra money. Her motto for her clothing is, “Don’t chince out. You might pay twice as much for something, but then you have to replace it half as often.”
