by mélinda théberge
Among all of the winter sports the area can offer you, dogsledding stands out by its unbelievable ability to reconnect us to nature. This activity allows us to dive into a universe where resourcing, freedom and adventure meet, awakening our explorator spirit. Accompanied by loyal canine four-legged companions, we discover the enchanting landscapes of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, all while sharing moments rich in emotions. Discover more about this sport inviting you to marvel at the complicity between dogs and men.
What is mushing ?
The term mushing designates the art of piloting a dog-sleigh, a discipline requiring force, endurance and a genuine complicity with the dogs. The pilot, called a musher, plays a crucial role in the rig, by guiding his dogs and by watching and caring for their well-being all along the ride. The connection between a musher and his dogs is primordial, because their success depends on mutual trust and a subtle communication. The word mushing finds its roots in the french word marche, which evolved into mush under the influence of the English-speaking Canadians over the years, a linguistic heritage dating from the times of colonization. Today, mushing has become both a competitive sport, and a recreational activity.
The Union between the Musher and his Dogs
The bond uniting the mushers to their four-legged companions is captivating. These brightly-spirited dogs, sometimes restless and talkative, are disciplined and obedient teammates as soon as the first command is given. Orders such as Marche! or Yup! Yup! resound in the fresh and pure winter air.
Among the sled dogs, we find the Alaskans, the Siberian Huskies and the Malamutes, which all distinguish themselves by their unique characteristics. Alaskans, for example, are exceptional athletes, deploying an unbelievable energy, especially during races. These dogs are true champions, able to cross impressive distances during expeditions stretching up to thousands of kilometers.
For neophytes, please note that the Alaskans are a cross between Huskies and other dog races, such as the Pointer, the Greyhound or the English Setter. The objective behind this crossing is to optimize their performances. No other dog race rivals them in matters of speed, which explains their domination on the race circuits.
A Mushing Race in Abitibi-Témiscamingue
The PG Expedition, a mushing course in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, is the result of over 10 years of work, and of the passion of Pierre Germain, a musher from La Sarre. Launched in February 2022, this adventure has reunited about thirty mushers, among which many were from the area. The event offers two races: one of 40 miles, and one stretching over 100 miles, which present challenges adapted to different experience levels. Since, this race allows mushing to shine, all while enjoying a unique experience at the heart of the enchanting landscapes of Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Moreover, the cheering crowd keeps growing and the mushers’ passion remains just as captivating and inspiring to witness.
The Testimony of Passionate Mushers
Mushing is a genuine endurance sport. The 100 miles race can take up to 19 hours to complete. To learn more about this passion, we talked to many mushers. We first met with André, who has been practicing this sport for 21 years.
In this interview, a passionate musher shares his family journey, evoking that the art of mushing has been passed down from generation to generation in his family. His father, his son and himself participate actively in renowned international races, such as the Eagle Lake Sled Dog Races, and the Taïga Challenge. With his son, the musher manages a kennel of 50 dogs which they train from their youngest age. While their kennel isn’t set up as a tourist attraction, their lives are dedicated to the dogs, with a winter routine focused on the races, the training sessions and the expeditions.
"Sled dogs are an integral part of our lifestyles."
- André Longchamps
He explains also the importance of the dogs’ diet during the races, precising that they feed them raw meat and a kibbles’ soup to maintain their hydration level.
Then, we met with Sabrina, a musher now for 17 years. She was preparing for her first race.
In this interview, Sabrina shares her journey with passion. Coming from Chibougamau, she discovered mushing at the age of 10 years old because of her cousin who owned sled dogs. After having moved to Abitibi-Témiscamingue, she reconnected with this activity after having met Pierre, the founder of PG Expedition. Wishing to create her own pack, she became an owner with this goal to combine tourism and races with her pack, finding inspiration from local mushers such as David Boyer who manages a great tourist kennel while participating in 100 miles races.
"The race represents a personal challenge, while the tourist aspect is a great training opportunity that allows me to share my passion. I adore the dogs, I love teaching others to do mushing, answer their questions and help them to improve."
- Sabrina Bernier
She enjoys especially the community aspect of mushing, which she shares with enthusiasm.
If you wish to go on a ride with Sabrina and share her passion with her, do not hesitate to visit La Meute de la petite Germaine !
A shared passion
Dogsledding is more than a simple winter activity; it’s a passion uniting mushers and their four-legged companions in an adventure full of emotions and challenges. The mushers’ stories, like André and Sabrina’s, testify of their commitment and the community spirit which animates this unique practice. Moreover, some mushers from Abitibi-Témiscamingue share this unique experience with visitors seeking an immersion at the heart of this fascinating universe.
