The Dogs

Finnmarksløpet (The Finnmark Race) is getting closer. The main priority now is to keep the dogs happy, healthy and fit for fight. The time for the long and hard runs are over. To morrow I will go for a 80 kilometer run, the last long run before the race. Right now I got the dogs were I want them to be. They are happy and eager to run. There are no injuries or other problems. We are getting ready. Although I didn't have many dogs to chose from I had more in training than I am going to use in the race. The team, as it looks now is:
Sting: Main leader. 8 years. Sting is a running machine. He is really good at keeping up the speed, working hard up front. A bit arrogant, not the one that comes up to you wanting to be petted. But he is there when he is needed. His weakness is soft trails and deep snow.
Petra. Main leader, 8 years. This hardworking female is half Greenland Husky. A bit shy and not an attention seeker. But she know her job. If there is no trail, snowing and blowing and a long way home, Petra is the dog to put in lead. If she was just a little faster she would have been the complete lead dog.
Trangia :Leader, 7 years. My little running machine. She just love to run. On good trails she is the one to put up front. When the going gets tough and the mils long she prefer to run an other place than lead.
Gunnar: Leader, 4 years. Son of Petra. Gunnar is a happy dog, always seeking attention. He is the one that it´s hard to get the harness of after a 120 kilometer run. He is just happy, never tired. Will go in lead in all conditions, but when there is no trail he sometimes need someone to help him remembering the difference on left and right.
Kesam: Team dog, 4 years. Hard working dog, loves speed. But he is also the dog that gives me most headache. He sometimes could need psychological help. For no reason he sometime start going backward, just looking at me. And I can´t find the reason for it. And other times he don´t want to eat. He behave like the food dish is going to attack him. He hates running in lead.
Dønning: Team dog, 5 years He is just there, doing his job. You don't notice him before it´s time to take a shit. Then he stops. An honest dog who trust you and that I trust.
Pompen: Team dog, 4 years. Pompens dream is to run lose in a forest, being able to pee on every tree there is whit out interruption for an hour and then get a big meal. Pompen is not a hardworking maniac and he don´t like speed. But after 30-40 kilometers he is on, when the going gets tough, he pulls. He never gets tired. He is the dog that is happily pulling in the end of a long day.
Vosko: Team dog, 3 years. Big and happy dog. Loves attention. An honest worker who just keep on going where ever in the team I put him. He wont pick up speed in lead, but he will go on. When I was swimming (post: dog swimming) through almost a meter of snow, Vosko was the one who had to lead. He don´t care if its a good trail, a bad trail or no trail; he keeps on going. But he have no clue about the difference on left and right, its just one way, straight ahead.


Whit this not especially streamlined team I am going to run the Finnmarksløpet. It´s not a wining team, but it´s a team I think I will have a good time together whit.

Cold Weather

Just back from a week long trip in Finnmark. Due to cold weather and my British companions we did not do very long days of mushing. But we spent long relaxing evenings in cosy mountains cabins on Finnmarksvidda (the Finnmark high plateau).
After almost drowning in snow in Alta the first day, the temperatures fell. The quick-silver in the thermometer were hiding in the bottom, and hardly dared to show itself. Officially the temperature was -29,8c, but the real temperature dropped to -34c at some nights. The chilliest we had during daytime was down to -32. But at least its clear. Very clear! And the sun is up, bathing the landscape in its arctic colors so special for this time of the year when the sun is still hanging low on the sky.
Running dogs in this cold is very special. You are so dressed up it almost feels like you are watching the world from inside your own cocoon. In a way you looses contact whit the world outside. Well, enough writing, I will let the pictures talk on its own.

ice

At last there is a post that is not about dogs. On Saturday I left the dogs at home and went to Tamokdalen to play a bit on some ice. For those who don't know Tamokkdalen its also known under the name Powder valley due to its good skiing, and often exelent skiing conditions. But on Saturday the avalanche risk was to big for skiing. But its other fun things to do. So together whit Tamoks own ski and climbing master Aadne, Mr Letto and the Lyngen squad I brought along my ice-axes to do some playing on ice. As a retired climber it was good that today's action was going to be on a small ice crag. I am no longer up too long and hard climbs. But who know what will happen in the future?