Contrary to what one might think, colder temperatures at night are an advantage for dogs who prefer to run when it is -10° C. Taking a step at night requires even greater trust between the musher and his dogs. In the descents in the dark, in particular, it is the dogs who know where to go.
Doing a night race on La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc obviously requires special equipment. The sleds are equipped with a fairly powerful lamp which is rather grazing in terms of its lighting. The mushers also have a headlamp which will indicate the direction to the dogs, but which will be especially lit in very technical passages.
It is generally agreed that to be with the dogs in the middle of nature, the silence of the night and, with a little luck, the moon as an accompanist, it is magnificent.
Visit the La Grande Odyssée Savoie Mont Blanc website to follow the race and view the rankings.