Idaho Falls man practices for dog sled race in fresh snow

The Sunday snow day means fresh powder across eastern Idaho.

It was a perfect day — of course — for snow sports.

One Idaho Falls man and his four-legged friends took advantage of one doggone good sledding day.

“Seeing them want to pull you and be part of you, it’s great,” said musher Buck Rogers.

Mushing is a term for dog sledding, and even through the driving snow there’s almost nowhere else Rogers would rather be than driving his team of Siberian Huskies through fresh snow.

“It’s really beautiful and wonderful,” said Rogers. “You’re out there with nature.”

Rogers is 51 this year.. It’s only his 4th year mushing.

“Very much a beginner,” said Rogers.

Rogers and his wife Gail Birdsong have been rescuing Huskies for years. It wasn’t too long ago they started keeping some of their rescues. Their sled team is half made up of rescue dogs.

“We’ll actually get to a point where we can run them and let them work,” said Rogers. “The way they’re suppose to run, it’s a Husky.”

For Rogers, the later on in life love for those dogs quickly became something more, and the frosty Sunday morning was a perfect time to practice for a big first.

“I’m finally going to go down to Logan, Utah,” said Rogers.

On March 1st and 2nd, Rogers will race his team in the beginner class in his first ever race.

Snow-packed Sundays in Idaho Falls are a God-send.

“We could use some more miles on the dogs,” said Rogers.

Because of practice makes perfect.

So, Rogers and lead-dog Belle take the pack on lap after lap wherever they can. On Sunday morning it’s an Idaho Falls park, all to prepare for that big day.

Rogers and his team will practice with another team in Ashton on Presidents’ Day weekend.

From there, it’s straight on to that competition in Logan, Utah.

Rogers, Belle and the rest of the team will have to race 6 miles on the first day of the competition and another 6 the second day.