The sound of howling dogs filled downtown Anchorage as mushers from around the world gathered for the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
For three days Perrault and Francois threw chests up and down the main street of Skaguay and were deluged with invitations to drink, while the team was the constant centre of a worshipful crowd of dog-busters and mushers.
However, over the years, they have improved the nutrition of the dogs and also started resting the dogs more frequently, and this has resulted in increasing the speed with which the mushers are able to move.
The mushers now have their own sponsorships or agreements with these big companies which pay the expenses of the musher, and of course, the musher then wears something that advertises that particular company.