Dog sledding

Working with my own dog team was a new experience for me.

Lotti has 100 Alaskan huskies, but only one Siberian husky.

Having been shown how to harness the dog team I had to gather my dogs and harness them, starting with the lead dog and working my way back. Running a team on my own, I had four dogs and when two of us used a team, we had 6 dogs. Below is the sled.

You control the speed and movement of the dogs and sled using the break located between your legs where you stand.

The dogs are so friendly and extremely keen to work. If the sled tips over it is vital that you hold on otherwise the dogs will continue to run with the sled and leave you behind!.

It really is a fantastic way to travel, but when travelling up hill, you have to run behind the sled to reduce the work for the dogs.




The sun has only been appearing over the horizon for the last few days and doesn't currently get much higher than this.


Dog sledding is also a great way to see and meet the locals.

My next post will be about constructing a snow shelter.

Snowtrail Dogcamp AB

For the first few days of my trip I stayed with Lotti Anderson and her crew at the Snowtrail Dogcamp and wilderness lodge, between Kiruna and Gallivare.


http://www.kirunadogcamp.com/

Lotti owns 100 sled dogs and provides a variety of courses and activities in winter and summer, including;

Husky ABC
Snowmobile and sled dog experience
Sled Dog Expedition
Reindeer herding with the Sami
and much more


For more details please contact Lotti via the contact details below;

Lotti Anderson
SnowTrail Dogcamp AB
Skaulo 92
SE-98204 Gällivare
Sweden

Tel +46 970 510 23
Fax +46 970 510 23
mobile +46 10 212 39 48
lotti@snowtraildogcamp.com
http://kirunadogcamp.com/

Snowtrail Dogcamp

While in Lapland I stayed at the Snowtrail Dogcamp and learned how the dogs are trained when there is no snow on the ground. The sledge is replaced by a quad bike.


At the end of January I will be returning to the dogcamp to learn how to work with the dogs, sledding in the snow and harsh winter temperatures.