The power of the dogs

Dog sledding is one of humanity’s oldest means of transportation. Though modern technology has largely made mushing an antiquated mode of transportation, the practice has evolved over 9,500 years and endures among hobbyists, racers and tour companies. One such company — based in the remote mountain town of Ohio City — is keeping the spirit of mushing alive.

In Ohio City, just northeast of Gunnison, it’s not uncommon to see the dogs racing through the snow with sleds in tow. At the heart of the pack is founder Abigayil Crowder, who has been mushing for more than a decade. Crowder brought the dog sledding tradition to Ohio City in 2022 when she launched Mushing Mutts as a way to give adventure-seeking tourists a unique view of Colorado.

Crowder’s passion began with a single Alaskan husky puppy her parents shipped from Fairbanks to Maryland for her 15th birthday. Within seven months, Crowder started running her dog on bikes and a small sled.

What began with one dog and a modest sled, has since grown into 44 dogs and four sleds. Crowder raised much of her current pack herself, and many of them share the same lineage.

“It’s so rewarding because then you get to see a puppy go from being just a puppy to being one of the best star athletes,” Crowder said.

When selecting traits for breeding, Crowder prioritizes big paws that provide greater traction; low-set tails that allow for greater muscle development in the hind legs; and light-colored coats, which fare better in the Colorado sun. She also seeks personalities that are playful, affectionate and sociable. She wants dogs that behave more like pets, but still enjoy the work of pulling a sled.

“I want dogs that can get along with everybody and everything,” Crowder said.

Two and a half years ago, Crowder expanded the Mushing Mutts team by bringing on Emery Petrozelli, a friend and now romantic partner. She met Petrozelli while working at a dog sledding tour company in Alaska in the summer of 2022. At the time, Crowder was already an experienced musher, while Petrozelli had been hired as a handler, who assists the musher by harnessing and attaching the dogs to the sled.

After meeting in Alaska, Crowder offered Petrozelli a job and he accepted. With the added manpower and some extra training, the pair can now take out two dog sledding teams and carry more people into the backcountry.

The dogs behind the team

As a musher and handler, Petrozelli helps take care of the dogs and keeps them in peak physical condition. Their diet is meticulously planned and features high-protein, high-fat kibble enriched with raw elk and deer meat, alongside joint-support supplements. Each cup of kibble contains 750 calories. Depending on whether the dogs are training for a race or running tours, a sled dog may consume between 5,000 and 13,000 calories daily. They are fed at least twice a day, with more frequent feeding times when they are working harder.

At their physical best, each dog is capable of pulling up to 100 pounds and can cover over 60 miles in 24 hours. A dog’s performance can vary based on trail conditions, breed and individual size. A team of 20 dogs can pull half a ton or more, and some sleds travel over 1,000 miles in the course of a few weeks on the Iditarod trail in Alaska.

“They're running marathons,” Petrozelli said. “Think of it that way.”

In addition to their physical strength, the sport is a mental game for a lot of sled dogs, Petrozelli said. The dogs must have a desire to pull a sled and run for up to 16 miles, or about two hours, on the longest tour route the business offers in Taylor Park.

“If they don't have that, you don't want to run them because that would be cruel,” Petrozelli said. “And that's why we still do it. We have dogs that want to do it. We do it for them [the dogs]. We do it for the people that want to see them happy. The dogs actually want to fulfill that experience and go out with [people] because it's always a great time. And they love to do it. They're bred to do it.”

During the summer months, when the dogs aren’t pulling sleds, they stay active by bikejoring (when the dogs pull a bike), hiking and playing in their spacious pens. But the work doesn’t stop, even during the off-season.

“You never get a day off,” Crowder said. “It’s definitely not just a hobby, especially when you have as many as I do. These guys don’t know if you’re sick. They don’t know it’s a holiday.”

Through their dedication and love for the team, Crowder and Petrozelli ensure the age-old tradition of dog sledding thrives, offering a glimpse into history.

(Garrett Mogel is a journalism student at Colorado State University.)