She’s an international masters speed skating champion turned dog sled musher.
Ann Douglas, 74, and her seven-dog team, were at the Gold Rush Trail Dog Sled Mail Run that saw mushers go from Troll Resort in Quesnel to Barkerville during a three-day frozen adventure from Feb. 7 to 9.
The 33rd annual Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run sees dog team mushers become official mail carriers as dog teams transport Canada Post mail in their sleds across the Gold Rush Trail.
This celebration of historically significant Canadiana culture honours the heritage and resilience of the region while showcasing the role dog sledding played in the country’s cultural and economic development.
One of the only mail run events carrying official Canada Post mail, the mail is marked with a stamp, Carried by Dog Team, to signify its journey once delivered to Barkerville, where it enters the regular mail system for delivery anywhere in the world.
It was 20 below at Troll where the run started when The Citizen caught up with the dog sledder, Douglas, who was about to start her adventure.
The cold that takes a human’s breath away is perfect for the dogs who won’t get overheated at that temperature but for the handlers it is a bit on the breezy side as the wind whistles past their ears as they stand on the back of their sleds.
In anticipation of the event the cacophony of barking dogs is deafening and continues throughout the harnessing process that sees the dogs attached to the leads ahead of the sled.
And those continuous sounds echoing through the little valley come to an abrupt end as soon as those eager dogs are allowed to start their joyous run into the wilderness. Then the only sounds are the shushing of the sled runners against crisp snow and the whoop of joy Douglas gave as she headed out on her adventure.
“I’ve been dog sledding for about 20 years,” Douglas said. “And I’ve been coming here to the Gold Rush Sled Dog Mail Run for about 15.”
What got her started as a musher was her husband who said he wanted sled dogs.
“So I told him as long as they don’t have to come into the house I’m good – get whatever you want,” Douglas laughed. “And then I fell in love with them.”
The breed of her 15 dogs is Alaskan Husky and the team of seven at the mail run, included Kit and Wizard as the lead dogs, Red and Fred, Salt & Pepper, and Lightning.
“The trail is gorgeous here,” Douglas said as she took in the beautiful scenery.
“We climb up the mountain and the view is fantastic. The snow is nice and the weather is nice and cold. I prefer it not so cold but the dogs love the cold so we’re good. The reason I keep coming back is the camaraderie. When we’re up on the trail, we’re meeting other teams and it’s so nice to get to see everyone again. It’s wonderful. Here it’s about the people and that’s why I come here to see all the people that I might only see once a year.”
Part of the Mail Run is the swearing in of the mushers as official Canada Post carriers. Each person is assigned a bib number that matches the bag of mail they will be carrying but not so for Ann.
She took charge of mail bag 13 and her bib number is 10. Rumour is a past participate kept the bib as a souvenir.
“I am going to be so confused,” Douglas laughed and joked. “I thought don’t do this to me!”
With foreboding Douglas explained she wanted everything to go as smoothly as possible because two years ago she received the Hard Luck Award because she had taken a spill and completed her journey will a bloody face – she didn’t realize she had been cut during her tumble.
“When I came back my face was full of blood but I was smiling because I didn’t know,” Douglas laughed. “So they gave me the Hard Luck Award and I am just hoping I don’t get it this year. I don’t want that one! But it’s all in fun.”
Douglas lives north of Fort Fraser on Dog River so it took her five hours to get to Troll.
“My dogs are here all happy to get going,” Douglas said.
Unfortunately Douglas did indeed earn the Hard Luck Award once again when her team failed to successfully navigate a corner. One of her dogs, Wizard, was injured early on and Douglas chose not to continue the run. It was a relatively minor injury required only a few stitches at the veterinary hospital in Quesnel and Wizard is recovering nicely at home and will soon see another day of sledding.
“You can’t keep an old dog down, they just love it,” Douglas said.
Douglas started her winter sporting adventures when she was in her 40s. She decided she would not remain on the sidelines as she took her teenagers to speed skating practice.
“I would have to get up early in the morning to drive them and I thought I’m not going to sit there and look at them, I’m going to skate myself,” Douglas said. “I really loved it and I competed in the province and I got a Canadian record.”
Douglas started as a sprinter and got the record for the 400m race.
“I was so excited about doing that and I said ‘OK, I’m going for it,’” Douglas explained.
After settling in another town where there was no speed skating club Douglas said she didn’t skate for a while.
“And then I had grandchildren and I joined some other people and we started a speed skating club.”
The group founded the Vanderhoof Clippers Speed Skating Club and this time Douglas was in her 60s.
“I knew my grandchildren needed to speed skate and so I coached for quite a long time,” Douglas said.
“That’s when I started thinking about competing again, so I did.”
Douglas said she loves the sport for its sheer speed and the skill level at which people compete.
Douglas competed across Canada and then went on to compete at the Worlds in Austria in 2020 where she took bronze in the 3000m long track.
Now Douglas competes indoors and took gold in the 1000m and 1500m at an International competition held in Calgary in 2020 and in Amsterdam in 2023 she took bronze in the 1000m.
“What I really like about skating is that I can leave all my troubles behind and just hang on to that corner,” Douglas said. “Every corner is an adventure.”
Check out Douglas at the start of the Gold Rush Trail Dog Sled Mail Run at www.youtube.com/MastersinMotionAnnDouglas.
