Dogs on the Trail: A Year in the Life

People are fascinated by sled dogs and mushing—witness the incredible popularity of TV shows set in Alaska. This beautifully photographed book is a small treasure in which Braverman (Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube) and her husband Mountain capture a year in the life of their dogsledding team, based in Northern Wisconsin. They show the backbreaking labor of feeding their dogs thousands of pounds of meat and supplements, along with the unimaginable joy of riding the rails of a sled propelled by ecstatic, bounding dogs whose primary pleasure is to be out in the snow, pulling something heavy. The dogs are cherished individually, and readers can admire their quirks and unique foibles while appreciating their stamina, conditioning, and athleticism as they run in sync through the snow pulling sleds or other equipment. Braverman and Mountain do a remarkable job of demonstrating just how special these Alaskan Huskies are, and how their half-wild nature can help them successfully adapt to life as a house pet when they retire from sled-dog responsibilities.