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SDC Talk! Archived
Messages
December 7,
2000 - January 17, 2001
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From: JM
Date: 1/14/01
Time: 2:34:35 PM
Tammi
There are almost as many answers to this as there are dog mushers and a lot of variables that make a "set in cement" routine impossible. A concern, mostly with beginners, is that the dogs should never be hungry so they're fed (snacked) too often. What happens is that some of them begin to refuse food at some feedings and so the musher loses control of a regular feeding schedule..and thus, hydration.
A consideration that's generally overlooked is the water content of the snacks..it's just as important as the nutrient..dry snacks suck water out of the system that can be hard to replace.
Everybody does it a little different (some a lot) but I believe if it's thought of as an accounting system even someone relatively new to it can feel their way through without getting into serious trouble..Consider everything going into the dog as a some portion of their total "meal"..Don't continually throw food at them on the trail or they'll drive you crazy at some point. (unless it's deadly cold, not oftener than 2 hrs.)
A 3 gal cooler is a little small..a 5 is a little big. Lots of combinations. Depends a lot on your chosen run-rest schedule. I've seen 2, 3 gal coolers in a long race work well..one gets dropped when the number of dogs gets reduced.
This could go on forever. If I can leave you one good thing, it's the importance of the water on a long race..Joe