Front:
ACHORAGE
20
1986
Dog Sled 1920s
toSled 1920s
17 USA
17 USA
Hail
AK
Back:
ALASKAN DOG SLED
First Day of Issue: August 20, 1986
First Issue Location: Anchorage, Alaska
When pulled by a team of Alaskan huskies, dog sleds
can transport up to half a ton across hundreds of miles
of glacial terrain. In North America, dog sleds were first
used by Eskimos, who fashioned wood, bone, and
rawhide into sleds that were lightweight and remarkably
durable. Early explorers quickly adopted dog sleds to
cross otherwise impassable snowfields and ice ridges.
In succeeding years, sleds have been put to a large
number of uses, including mail delivery. Although the
snowmobile has replaced the sled in many areas, in
remote regions the dog sled remains the most dependable
means of travel. Most modern dog sleds feature two
steel-reinforced, grooved runners approximately seven
feet long. And, unlike earlier models, newer sleds have
movable runners and can be steered. As a sport, dog
sledding continues in popularity. Events like the 1,046-
mile Iditarod Sled Dog Trail Race provide drivers with
a unique opportunity to test their skills and the endurance
of their sled teams in fierce competition.
No. 86-65
©1986 The Maximum Card Collection
A Division of Unicover Corporation • Cheyenne, WY 82008-0007
Original painting by Basil Smith.
