Running a 1,000-mile sled dog race across Alaska is no small feat. Like any professional who performs at the highest level, dog mushers must be dedicated and focused in order to be competitive and successful. Raising, training, and racing sled dogs is more than a sport鈥攊t's a lifestyle.

As owner and operator of , I live with my dogs in Eureka, a remote Alaskan mining town that鈥檚 150 miles from the nearest city. I鈥檝e traveled through country that鈥檚 as rugged as it is beautiful, and I鈥檝e encountered some of the harshest conditions on the planet鈥攊ncluding gale-force winds, negative 50-degree temperatures, and freak blizzards.

Having the right equipment is essential to a musher鈥檚 success. Here鈥檚 a list of the most important gear we use to keep our dogs and ourselves happy, healthy, and safe along the trail.

Race-Mandated Gear

We're required to carry some gear with us at all times: a cold-weather sleeping bag; an axe; a pair of snowshoes; fuel; cooker and pot; and dog booties and harnesses. If I camp along the trail, I need a good sleeping bag, and I鈥檝e found makes a high-quality product.

I use the axe throughout the season to chop meat for the dogs' meals and collect firewood for camp. All mushers carry methanol and a specialized cooker large enough to heat at least three gallons of water. The hot water comes in handy when I need to heat my frozen, vacuum-sealed meals and make the dogs' food. Iditarod mushers are allowed to pick up methanol and water at each checkpoint.

I've rarely used snowshoes during a race, but when I need them to break trail, I鈥檓 happy to have them along. 聽

The Sled

The sleds used in the Iditarod need to be lightweight, strong, and durable. We use 鈥渞unner plastic鈥濃�攅ssentially ski wax designed for different temperatures and conditions鈥攐n the runners to help the sled glide quickly over the snow.

Every musher has a preferred sled design鈥攕ome competitors even build their own rigs. Cody Strathe of 聽builds my sleds, which tend to be small and maneuverable.

Small sleds also prevent me from carrying gear I don鈥檛 need. All my equipment has to fit in the sled bag, a durable, custom-made pack that attaches to the sled. It stores everything I need. I use a , which I found can withstand a lot of wear and tear.

Dog Booties, Jackets, and Harnesses

I pack 3,000 dog booties to run the Iditarod. Made of lightweight cordura, this is easily the most important piece of dog gear I use. Over the course of 1,000 miles, my dogs will race over bare ground, ice, fresh snow, and open water鈥攁nd booties are the best way to prevent injury.

Harnesses aim to capture as much energy from the dogs as possible while still keeping the animals comfortable. I use the traditional 鈥渪-back鈥� style that crisscrosses across the dog鈥檚 back.

Finally, there are the dog jackets. I use to help dogs conserve their energy when we鈥檙e travelling in extremely cold temperatures. The jackets also keep the pups warm and comfortable when we鈥檙e resting for the night.听

iPod

If this doesn鈥檛 sound like essential gear, then you鈥檝e never tried staying awake and focused during a 1,000-mile dog race. 聽

Mushers get very little rest, and there are sections of the Iditarod trail that are extremely monotonous, so most of us carry a music player. You won鈥檛 find me out there without an iPod. I listen to music, podcasts, audio books, and even movies to help keep myself entertained.

And while I admit I鈥檓 not famous for my vocal talent, I do sing along to the songs. The dogs pick up on the energy you put out, and it helps keep their spirits up, too.

Layers

Every musher wears a wicking next-to-skin base layer. The outer layers come down to personal preference and conditions, and are made from merino, fleece, silk, down, or other synthetic fibers. We need to stay warm and dry, and when we do get soaked in sweat, we need quick-drying gear that will wick the moisture away from our bodies.

My go-to layers are , a one-piece full-body by Carol Davis Sportswear, windstopper fleece shorts, a wool long-sleeve shirt, down vest, down jacket, and a .

Parka

I wouldn鈥檛 survive these races without a good parka鈥攁 durable, wind-resistant, well-insulated shell. It鈥檚 so vital to the Iditarod that most mushers have these jackets custom-made to fit their exact specifications. I turn to to make my parkas鈥攅ach of which have a fur ruff. 聽 聽 聽

Sometimes there鈥檚 no competing with nature, especially when it comes to warmth. When I need to stay warm in temperatures 50 degrees below zero, I use fur in my jacket from the animals that have evolved to survive these harsh conditions.

Every musher has a fur hat, fur mittens, and a fur parka ruff. You鈥檒l see beaver fur鈥攌nown for its warmth, softness, and wind- and frost resistance鈥攊n the hats, mittens, and parkas of most mushers. You might also spot pelts from muskrats, wolves, and wolverines.

The fur ruff around the hood is the most important piece of the parka because it helps protect and insulate my face. Mushers typically use beaver or wolverine fur to line the inside of the ruff鈥攖hese materials shed frost鈥攁nd wolf fur along the outer rim.听

Gloves and Mittens

So how do I keep my hands warm in frigid temperatures? A combination of beaver fur, wool, and hand warmers. For traveling on the trail, there is nothing that compares to the warmth and wind-protection of beaver mitts. Inside of the mittens, mushers usually wear a pair of thick wool or fleece gloves.

When I鈥檓 taking care of the dogs鈥攂ootying, massaging, snacking, feeding鈥擨 need more dexterity, and for those tasks I wear tight-fitting liner gloves, or half-gloves that only cover the palm of my hand. I use hand warmers all the time.听

Footwear

In addition to taking care of 64 paws, I have to make sure my feet stay as warm and dry as possible. I'll usually wear a lightweight merino wool liner under thick alpaca socks from .听

Some mushers also pack extra boot liners. There are different boot options, but mainly mushers are looking for efficiency鈥攚e need a boot that鈥檚 as light as possible while still being warm, durable, and wind- and water-resistant. A thick sole or insole helps insulate our feet from the cold ground. I鈥檒l wear an aftermarket boot liner inside a pair of 鈥攁 tall felt boot from Norway鈥攚hich in turn fit inside a pair of .

Ski Poles

Toward the end of a race when the teams are moving slower, a musher can help his team by kicking behind the sled or poling. Most mushers carry a sturdy, lightweight ski pole for this purpose.

During the 2014 Yukon Quest, I also discovered that the poles come in handy for fending off moose, although I don鈥檛 recommend anyone try that at home.

GoPro

I love sharing my races with my fans and friends, so I always carry a GoPro to capture the incredible moments along the way. Enough said.

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