How hard can it be to sled across 130miles of Sweden with a pack of 7 huskies in the Arctic? Camping in temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees? Feeding the dogs, harnessing, sledding. Giving them encouragement and love, to show that we were a team. I needed them to like me, and I had to like them. This challenge was an unusual one compared to any I had done before. I’ve been up in the mountains in cold weather. I’ve been camping in the Himalayas, Nepal, and up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Was it any different? Oh my gosh, most definitely!
Meeting Jeanie and Kirsty at the hotel the night before, it was nice to put names to faces. Usually eases the apprehension of the challenge. Introducing myself to Jeanie, she then introduced me to “her Eddie”, she came as part of a couple, although Eddie was getting a free ride. He was in a tiny metal tube in her pocket all the way. Giving her confidence her Eddie would have been proud of. A petite Scottish lady who loves the cold, in fact the colder the better. This was certainly the trip for her! She ended up being my room and tent buddy. Then Kirsty, a fun all rounder, happy to give every part her best, even when she was being dragged into camp by her pack, following instructions not to let go of the sled even if you fall off! Kirsty also ended up being my 'wild weeing' buddy. Most of our 19 strong group had done another adventure before this one. The stories behind the charities they were fundraising for made me in awe of some. Everyone with a story to be told. These included Marie Curie, MJCC, Devon and Scottish hospices, MIND, and MND association.
Meeting all the others in the airport at 3.30am doesn’t make a good start as we’re all trying to be polite and feeling knackered. I was hyped up, adrenaline running overdrive. Only calmed down when I met our huskie companions later that day. As I’m rubbish at remembering human names, dogs names were even harder to remember. My lead dogs were Shakira, and Pansar. Shakira was my favourite. She gave such amazing hugs, looking intently into my eyes each morning when trying to put a harness on her. She knew I got upset as I found it so frustrating that for once I struggled to achieve immediately. It’s tough to harness the dogs when the snow was deep around them, including lumps of yellow snow and some poo dotted about to make it even harder. I have to say by the end of the week, I harnessed 3 dogs without fault! Give me another few weeks, and I may have got them all sorted. I found it hard that these dogs slept outside in such low temperatures, and were working dogs. They were such happy, healthy dogs and so well looked after for what their job was. The guides who trained the dogs certainly put them first before humans.
The first day we were shown how to use the brakes and steering on the sled, harness the dog, and introduced to the next generation, the puppies….extremely cute! Then we were let loose for a half day adventure on working out how to sled. Within possibly 5 seconds I fell off! Jumping back on, I got going again. Giving me another 5 seconds of standing straight, I was off again. That’s when I gave myself a talking to. “C’mon Beaver, bloody well do it and stop being ridiculous”. That did it. I stayed on for most of the rest of the trip. Only once falling over on day 4 into a pile of thigh high snow, whilst the dogs didn’t particularly want to wait. Good job Jeanie heard me shout and slammed on her brakes. Trying to scramble out of snow was a workout in itself.
The scenery was stunning and at times emotional. Beautiful sunsets, amazing Northern lights, and brightly shining stars at night. We were lucky with the weather, although temperatures dropped to minus 20. The day time was bright and clear. Our final day of sledding was constantly snowing, where to be able to see I had to take my sunglasses off. The dogs coped so well in these tough conditions. To help them uphill we had to scoot and push at the side of the sled or push whilst running next to it and jump on in time before the dogs ran off to freedom without us. Our lunch breaks were on iced over lakes. Soup that started off as broccoli, the next day leek and potato, then courgette. By the end a mix of everything in one bowl as there was nowhere to actually wash our equipment. Always with a side of flat bread. What bacteria can grow in minus temperatures anyway! Dinners in a wigwam tent, all sitting on reindeer skins, not the most comfortable but adding to the atmosphere of camp life.
Finishing the adventure at the Ice Hotel was a treat in itself. Yummy food, a little tipple, and a mini party in one of the rooms at the end made it all worthwhile! Oh and a medal to add to the collection.
There’s so many things I could write about this trip, but I reckon you need to experience it for yourself. The dog sledding was physically challenging, which is what I had trained for. It was more the temperatures, lack of protein, and the extra details of looking after the dogs that I struggled with. But as my saying goes “A Challenge isn’t a Challenge unless it’s Challenging!” The donations to both charities were phenomenal throughout the year, and I’m extremely grateful for all those who have supported these. I’m going to recharge my batteries, relax, get back to normality (whatever that may be), and then who knows what’s next!