As winter begins winding down in Alaska, it's prime time for the sled dog racing season. Numerous races are held throughout the state, like the Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race in Bethel and its smaller brethren, the Bogus Creek 150 and the Akiak Dash. These are joyous, raucous weekend events, filled with devoted fans watching rural mushers polish their skills and seasoned champions train for the granddaddy of them all, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The Iditarod spans 1,161 miles, from Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast. Along the way, mushers and their teams of 12 to 16 dogs face some of the roughest, most spectacular terrain in the world – everything from mountain ranges to forests to frozen rivers to endless miles of deserted tundra. Often called "The Last Great Race on Earth," the Iditarod is one of the most grueling athletic events in the world, requiring intrepid mushers and their hard-working dogs to push through harsh zero-visibility winds, sub-zero temperatures and dangerous climbs, often in complete darkness. Their journeys can take anywhere from 10 to 17 days – and could only take place in Alaska.

But while the Iditarod's adrenaline-fueled excitement draws tens of thousands of spectators, it's the sport's moving history that inspires many Alaskans. Now a National Historic Trail, the Iditarod Trail began during the Gold Rush days as a rural dog sled route, bringing mail and much-needed supplies from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik to the interior mining camps spanning hundreds of miles to Nome. On their reverse trips, mushers and their dogs transported newly-discovered gold back to the coast.

Years later, in 1925, the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway, as brave mushers and their loyal dogs transported life-saving serum to Nome, where residents were stricken by a diptheria epidemic. Today's dog sled teams brave the wilds of Alaska just as their forebears did, racing through metropolitan cities and small village outposts. As they forge ahead, they're heralded and welcomed by old-timers and youngsters alike – a welcome burst of excitement that livens the long Alaskan winter and celebrates a unique and storied past.

You can experience the unique sport of dog sledding during the "On the Mendenhall Glacier via Helicopter" excursion. View Itineraries for a complete list of cruises that visit Juneau.