It’s snowing again

Tuesday 4^th November 

Fingers crossed this is the start…..

500 words for “Snow”

Monday 3^rd November

They say that the Sami people – the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia have 500 words that describe snow. I now understand that this is very important. In the past 2 weeks I have learnt a few variations of the word snow – I have found myself asking what type of snow has fallen?! What snow is falling now?

After the small snow fall 2 weeks ago the weather has been deteriorating.

Considering my home country,  I believe that one would assume that the weather would of got colder. But oh no, the deterioration that I am talking about is the weather actually getting warmer.

Lights and Ice

Northern Lights

Saturday 25^th October

But not all is negative – we have been blessed with some fantastic displays of the northern lights…. I wonder if I will ever get bored of this natural phenomenon that draws people in there thousands from all over the world. I don’t think I will. It changes so quickly – from a faint almost non existent glow to a dramatic display that stretches all across the sky. I spent an hour head tilted backwards with a guest whom I met at 3am in the morning whilst on my “restocking the fire” shift. It was a magical experience.

 

Ice

Wednesday 29^th October

So we may not have the snow – but as mentioned we have ice. The ice on the ground is hazardous – but the ice forming like stalactites from the water cascading down steep rock formations are spectacular. Creating “Aero Bar” shaped bubbles at the base – it’s a photographers dream

Alternative Plans

Site shifting

Tuesday 21^st October  

Setting out on a new training track we where optimistic that our track issues where behind us. But after two runs we where back to square one. During the wet autumn the track has been used by quad bikes tearing up the once relative flat base, now frozen in hard chocolate ridges. So it was no longer a slippery ice issue it was a track that was badly corrugated to the extent that we could not get a consistent running speed in order to train 

 

Plan C

Friday 23^rd October  

The third option was to return to the Autumn training camp – where we knew that the track would be in better condition. Thankfully, we where right. The down side to this is despite the autumn training camp being just over the mountain – it was an hours drive. An hour there, 1.5 hours to train and then an hour return journey is making the extra long and tiring. On top of that is the loading and unloading of the dogs needs to be taken into account.

Bambi Legs

Monday 20^th October

The last few days have been very trying. The minimal snow fall at first was a promising sign of good things to come. But alas the tracks are now playing field for cart drifting and fishtailing. With the temperature increasing the lying snow has melted somewhat to refreeze in the early hours of the morning– creating a thin layer of pure ice. There is very little traction and although the drifting is good practice and honestly a little bit fun. It’s only a matter of time before a dog is injured. With a cute title of  “Bambi Legs”. Dogs  legs are slipping on the ice patches, swinging wildly to the side. It was blatantly obvious that we could no longer train on this track.

Marshmallow anyone ?

Tuesday 15^th October 0.4 degrees 

Everything has been coated with a wonderful sprinkling of icing sugar loveliness. Yesterday the woods which have now been striped of their autumn leaves, stood bleak, naked against a black steel horizon. But today well it’s all brand new

The path is slightly padded with the snow. It is also somewhat slippery in places. With cart wheels locking and skidding, the small downhill become a process of lock and release. Lock and release. Not that dissimilar to try to do skids on a BMX.  

The hay bales standing in the field, which have been sealed in a white plastic look like giant marshmallows, with the overnight snow softening the edges.

Commitment Day – 102 Sleeps

Monday 14^th October     minus 8.4 degrees ! 

I have registered for my first competition. 60km therefore 4 – 5 hours of sledding – weather depending of course. It’s a big event which goes over Australia Day Weekend. Perhaps it’s a bit early in my learning curve – but I at least have something to aim for. Just for the recorded – I am not interested in breaking any records. For me – it’s about working with the dogs and enjoying the experience. First and foremost the dogs health and well being is paramount. If I can finish with fit and healthy dogs – then we are all winners. Only 102 more sleeps.

Training cancelled today.

It has been quite cold during the last few nights which has frozen the ground. On one hand this is good but on the other this is bad, Good because the frozen ground provides a seal. So when the snow comes – it gathers on the top and therefore starts the first layer instead of seeping into the ground, making it wet and mushy. The bad side. The dogs paws, tendons and muscles can be injured when the ground is so hard.

 Come 7pm the snow starts to fall. 

Day Off – Humans and dogs rest

Sunday 12^th October Day 

I found my thermometer!!

Training has been continuing for the past few days as normal.

At this time of the season we go out with 3 teams. A team of 12 which runs in front of a quad bike and the rest of the teams, are trained with the carts. On the carts one can have a maximum of 8 dogs. Any more and it is impossible to stop them (well at least in my case anyway)

The new track is dirt road with a top layer of stones. The rest of the path goes though a quaint wooded area, where I am sure I could spot Hansel and Gretel’s ginger bread trail. There is a small creek crossing with is a great place to stop for the dogs to get a drink. The turning point mid way into the training is an open field. This sometimes can be difficult because the following teams (they are the teams which follow the quad bike team) like to cut corners and start turning when they see the leading team turn.

An extra person ie someone not driving – becomes a must have. They are free to help out when turning or when other issues arise.

Just like people – the dogs have different levels of fitness. So it is important to group the dogs together that are about the same. There are many reasons for this variation. Older dogs, dogs returning from injury, also bigger dogs generally have to work harder as they carry more weight. There are other factors when putting a team together – but I will save this for another time.

Stepping back in time

Wednesday 8^th October

We headed back to the autumn training cabin today to clean… it was so quiet without the dogs there…. I took a moment to record some 1940’s Norwegian Summer House décor. Which I personally think makes all the difference to this unique place.  Enjoy…

The worlds smallest ceiling fan (note the tea bag for size reference). Just perfect for the hot Norwegian summers.

And a brief goodbye visit to the "Tree of Wisdom"

Time Moves so Fast

Tuesday 7^th October

With the autumn season so brief but brilliant, I would like to share the last of the Autumn moments. 

Where has the week gone? So much has happened and I have had no time for myself.

We have left the Autumn Training camp and moved up to the winter camp. All 52 dogs are settling into their new home for the next six and a half months. It has been a very busy week. Preparing the new dog boxes and cages for the new arrivals. Moving all my belongings into our new cabin – which we have rightly called the “Hillton”. But more on the new cabin later. We have welcomed our first guests, which ended in an invite to Cape Town…. If this holds up I should be a right jet setter in the summer……Training with the carts continues – so new routes and river crossings to master !!

Autumn Images

Thursday 2nd October

Time for some Autumn Images

Moose/Elk Hunting Season

Tuesday 30th September

The woods are full of hunters. Strangely dressed people walking out of the woods with guns. Moose/Elk hunting season started 25^th of September and continues for a month or until the quota is achieved. Each region is dissected and a moose/elk count is completed by various government agencies. From which a quota or kill count is determined. Tepee tents with groups of hunters pop up in idyllic landscapes. But a moose/elk hunter is not a hunter without Elghund (Elk Hound) An ancient Northern Spitz-type breed which in the National dog of Norway. A stocky, strong willed herder and guardian.

The fashions’ of the hunter is an oddball mix of camouflage and fluro fabric with serves as both a disappearing and reappearing act. Camouflage to hide from the prey and fluro to avoid being shot by your fellow hunters.

Now, I don’t have an opinion on the ethical treatment, either for the for’s or against. I am just reporting the goings on of my local environment….    

The First Sickness

Saturday 27^th (afternoon) ….

Upset stomach episode… Well I suppose it was to happen at some point. Mind you last season I did not get sick until February which is 6 months into the season. This year it has struck early, 4 weeks in to be exact. It’s a combination of lack of hygiene, the weather, poor diet and seer exhaustion. I can explain all three.

Lack of hygiene: I do have gloves for feeding and separate ones for picking poo and all the yucky jobs. Then disposable gloves for delicate jobs as separating dog meat and applying medicines and lotions. Hand sanitizer in the toilet and hand soap in the cabin. That is clear. But it’s the time between switching gloves and the gloves off gloves on that is the issue. I have to learn early – that it is important to not touch your face, not swip your dry lips;

not to rub your eyes. The hands and the face should not be friends during these times

Weather : Due to the constant rain fall – there is mud everywhere, sticking to everything and getting everywhere. Any dry day helps but at the end of the day the mud does not help when trying not to spread gems

Poor Diet: Oh I eat – that is for sure – but I need to go for the healthier options of multi grain bread instead of my favorite “Polar Bread” which I am sure is a mixer of SUGAR and flour – and that is just the start

Seer exhaustion: Don’t get me wrong when I work I work hard. However I am facing so many new situations in this job. Firstly I had a pretty lazy 3 months off before I arrived here. So physically I am not at my peak. Meeting new people. Learning to switch off when hearing ongoing Norwegian : ) Meeting and getting to know all the dogs. Learning new routines, new ways to work with the dogs. Learning to drive the dogs on a daily basis compared to once every 10 days (as per last season) Driving cars on the other side of the road. The colder weather – as I have come from a tropical north Queensland winter – which average I think about 24 degrees. In fact the over exposure to all these new things although exciting, has 

an unpleasant side effect. You are so focused on absorbing everything that you forget the most basic functions; and that in itself is frustrating.. 

Shower Day

Saturday 27^th September –  3.3 degrees

SHOWER DAY !! 

Just to set the record straight.. shower day does vary. But I don’t get a shower every day. Sometimes it’s one every two day. One every three days. This time around it will be 5 days without a shower. The training cabin has a shower of sorts however one needs to light a fire in order to warm the water that comes from the stream. And to be honest – although it sounds appealing, I don’t have the inclination or time to fiddle about with such fuss. So I go dirty. The autumn training cabin is somewhat remote, it’s 20km to the nearest crossroad and therefore the nearest petrol station / shop. About 1 hours drive to the bosses house, which has the best hot shower north of the Arctic Circle (well I think so at the moment). As the crow flies – it’s not that far. But the fjords need crossing and the only way is to go around. Not that I am complaining, it is spectacular.

Brake malfunction

Friday 26^th Septemeber – 3.8 degrees

Tomorrow is Shower Day !

The training route has had to be altered due to the slippery conditions. So the 10km route is half snowmobile track half road. The dogs ran well – but my hand brake snapped on the 100kg training cart. The remaining front brake is not the most pleasant to use. It’s lock and skids. And a locked and skidding front tyre, gives you little control. Added to this the “alternative” rope knot that I use to hold the cart while I load the dogs on the line; well what can I say…. Did not come loose, so out came the knife to cut me free and get me on my way. Arrraghhhh hump !!

After training I realized that I was still suffering from tiredness….. I am just to do the bare minimum today and hopefully get a couple of hours sleep in the middle of the day….

It’s still raining….

The days are long

Thursday 25^th – 4.08 degrees

Feel very heavy this morning. The teaspoon is heaped with coffee and my soon to be favorite “Viking

(powered) melk” at the ready ! Yesterday was a long cold wet day – up at 6am and sat down for dinner at 10.30pm. Spending most of the time in the tourist camp – making preparation for the upcoming tourist season. Digging trenches for cables and discussing the lay out for the new handlers cabin – but more on that later….

But the upside is more snow has fallen and the mountains surrounding the training cabin have been sprinkled with an icing sugar coating. It’s progressing southwards centimeter by centimeter. The forecast for the weather suggests that rain is on way and on Saturday it will be partially heavy.  

4 teams to train today – puppy walking – yard cleaning etc.

Later in the day ….

It’s been a long day and the least productive since I have started….Our chores to complete is never ending and when you try and fit in irregular tasks in to the already time consuming daily routine, the sheer thought of fitting it all in becomes exhausting. Awake at 6am and to bed at 12.06am with hardly anything to show for it is frustrating.  I am tired. And it shows. 25 days in, with little varation in wake up time and going to bed time. I am slow. Non Productive. Slightly irritable. Clumsy. The rain has been ever present. The yards muddy and I am wet and cold.

6 hours till I need to get up again….

Just like the "ye olde" days

Wednesday 24^th September – 3.3 degrees

I am very aware that with a few more days of minus degrees that the pipes that provide our water from the stream that runs from a mini but glorious waterfall out the back, will freeze. No longer with the outhouse flushing toilet work. The one tap that provides our water for cooking, cleaning and dog food preparation will also be made redundant. When the time comes it will mean a change that will affect me for the next 6 months. It will be the long drop toilet and daily task of collecting water from steams and frozen lakes will become the norm.

Dropping below Zero

Tuesday 23^rd of September – minus 1.4 degrees 

I have thought for many days the best way to start my blog. For many days and oh so many ways…

But when I awoke this morning at 6am to start another training day, and the mercury read minus 1.4 degrees, and snow has started to fall -  I knew that today was the day. 

My Life Subzero begins. 

I have been working since the 1^st of September and the weather has fluctuated dramatically, from minus 1.4 to 17 degrees. Very much affecting when and how we train the dogs. I am in the autumn training camp, where I work 7 days a week to train 45 sled dogs. The days are long. The work physical. But there is no other place I would rather be.