The JROTC of Northern High School enjoyed a hands-on tour at Husky Power Dogsledding in Accident on Sunday. Linda and Mike Herdering, owners and "mushers" of Husky Power, hosted the complementary tour for the group of Cadets who learned to "run with the dogs." Joining them was Senior Army Instructor, Lt.Col. Jack Riley, parent Kim Lowery, volunteer and owner of Garrett Petminders, Jay Clark and mushing intern Jessica Drain. Plus, of course, the 20 northern-breed sleddogs who pulled hard to please the awe-struck group. "No Snow--We Still GO" is Husky Power's motto... which is exactly what the dogs and students did.
Everyone went mushing down the tree lined trails with twists and swerves, sharp turns, and rest stops while shouting mushing terms such as: "Gee" and "Haw" and "Ready.... Hike," (the dogsledding command to run and pull.) Each wheeled sled hosted two Cadets, a Musher, and an 11-dog team working and pulling at least 700 pounds. The well-trained team would exchange a few dogs as needed, while the human-team changed riders. If the cadets had been on runnered sleds on snow that day, they would have used a much smaller team (about 7 dogs.) The extra long 11-13 dog team on the tall wheeled-dogsled made it easier to see and appreciate the canine athletes. Plus, the wheeled sled was stable enough for the passengers to occasionally stand up and see from a musher-eye-view. After dogsled runs the Cadets enjoyed three hours of education about the many aspects surrounding the sport of mushing... history and racing talks; equipment briefings; presentations about commands, team positions, dangers in mushing and more. Everyone learned what makes lead dogs have "leadership potential," what makes wheel dogs the strongest in the team, what the most important aspect and the most fun aspects of mushing are.
The day's event was topped off with a visit to the working dog yard to meet each dog and learn about traits of the athletic northern "pulling breed."
If you'd like to learn more about a tour, visit www.huskypowerdogsledding.com.

Cadets of the JROTC (Northern High School) learn "mush" about dogsledding as Linda Herdering, owner of Husky Power Dogsledding, explains what makes the sleddogs behind her want to pull.

An 11-dog team pulls two JROTC (Northern High School) Cadets up the hill while Musher Mike Herdering, owner of Husky Power Dogsledding, gives the command for the dogsled team to turn. The JROTC enjoyed a tour and "runs" with Husky Power on Sunday.

Several JROTC Cadets watch as the long 11-dog team pulls their friends down the Husky Power Dogsledding trails in Accident. Everyone yells the commands to the well-trained sleddog team

Northern High School JROTC Cadets "met and pet" the 20 sleddogs after the same dogs pulled them on mushing tours down local trails.