Dog sled
A vehicle designed to travel over snow or ice while pulled by dogs. Its runners or skis support the load and reduce friction on the surface.
Sled runner: A long, narrow support that slides over snow or ice beneath a sled. Runners carry the sled and provide the sliding surface that makes travel possible.
Thule people: An Arctic people whose ancestors spread across the North American Arctic beginning around a thousand years ago. Thule communities used dog-drawn transport as part of life across Arctic landscapes.
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race: An annual long-distance sled-dog race across Alaska, usually run from Anchorage to Nome. The Iditarod is a prominent modern test of dog teams, sleds, and mushing skill.
Snowmobile: A motorized vehicle designed to travel over snow using tracks and skis. Snowmobiles replace animal traction with engines, increasing speed while requiring fuel and mechanical upkeep.
Dog harness: A fitted harness that distributes pulling force across a dog's body. Harnesses connect each dog to the gangline without concentrating force at the neck.
Inuit: Indigenous peoples of the Arctic regions of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. Inuit traditions include varied forms of dog-sled travel adapted to regional conditions.
Yukon Quest: A long-distance sled-dog race historically run between Fairbanks, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon. Its demanding route demonstrates the sled's use in remote winter travel.
Pulksled: A lightweight sled pulled by a person or animal, commonly used for hauling gear over snow. A pulk is typically smaller and individually pulled, unlike a dog team's larger vehicle.
Gangline: The central line that connects a sled to the dogs in a working team. It transfers the team's combined pull to the sled.
Qamutiik: A traditional Inuit sled, often built with crosspieces lashed to long runners. This distinctive sled design shows how Arctic transport adapted to snow and uneven ice.