Wanted: Dog Musher, Experienced

If you have experience as a dog sled musher, love the cold and don't mind being by yourself, have I got a job for you! In fact, it is the only dog-mushing job within the federal government and it hasn't been open for the past decade. According to the Anchorage Daily News, the National Park Service is currently looking for for a new kennels manager at Denali National Park.

The duties include running Denali's dog kennel as well as mushing into the Alaska wilderness throughout the park to deliver supplies and visitors to various parts of the park, rescuing stranded campers and patrolling the area. The candidate must also be capable of presenting educational programs as well as providing community outreach services. The pay range is $33,477 to $66,542 with a 25% cost of living adjustment.

The perks, according to Karen Fortier who has occupied the position for the past ten years, are immense. "There's really nothing that quite compares to being out on the trail in the middle of winter," she says. "It's beautiful, it's completely silent, and by March you have the long daylight too."

She does notes, however that the job is physically demanding and the hours can be long, especially in the summer when hundreds of tourists can pay daily visits to the kennel. Oh, and about that kennel, it currently houses 31 dogs, all of whom must be fed, bred and trained. It is the manager's job to keep the kennel clean as well as to keep the dogs up to date on their vaccinations.

"There's a new litter of pups each year," Fortier added. "Watching them grow, seeing which ones become lead dog--it's like being a teacher and seeing which kids excel." The Denali sled dogs, by the way, are bred for strength and stamina, not speed, like the dogs who compete in races.

Getting tired? Don't forget the paperwork that accompanies every job--especially those that are part of the federal government. "You think it's going to be this glory job, but so much is managing the operation behind the scenes," Fortier admits.

Still, there is the allure of being part of history since do-mushing dates back to the founding of the park. "You're part of the history dating back to the early 1900s," Fortier elaborated. "There's a whole line of dogs we've held on to and that's special."

Think you're up for the task? Check out the National Park Service website for details!