We wake up at 8:00 to feed the dogs, its still dark. Once this is done Alan, Casper and I volunteer to take the empty water barrrels down to the creek in a sled to refill them and search for the missing ones, since we're out of water. This proves far more difficult than previously thought. The distance is far greater on foot than by Alaskan Husky (there's a difference between them and regular huskies, I'll explain later).Alan`s back is in bad shape and Caspar pushed the sled, so I refill the three barrels, this is easy enough; then we have to push the sled back up the trail to the camp. It is a strenuous activity which takes a whole lot of vigour out of us, we all quickly regret volunteering at all, alternating between pushing the sled, and pulling either the harness`or brakeline. When we finally reach the camp, after far more turns than we remember, I waste no time in throwing off my layers, remaining only in pants, chest, hands and head naked to the elements. It felt great. Even Skadi couldn`t encourage me to put on a shirt at that moment, icy though her breath was.
Once the water was set to boil and we three had recovered our strength, Laird offered us snacks and gave the order to begin preparing our dogs for the day`s journey. I accepted a peanut bar which I never intended to eat.
Thus ended the first half of day 3. Stay tuned for the sled trip to Mud Lake, and my own valiant efforts not to lose my ears to frostbite, plus the astonishing conclusion to day 3.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Day two, Part two
Finally, we cross a small creek, still flowing in places, twice to reach the camp up a winding, sloping trail. Laird stops to get water...more on that later.
There are two wall tents. One has four beds, this one is reserved for the two couples, the Swiss-Germans Casper and Claudia, and the German pair Yergen and Yasmine. Me and Alan sleep in the Kitchen tent, which has a bed and space for a foldout, and Laird sleeps outside, wrapped in as many layers as he can find.
Evening approaches, Everyone else gets to know all about Sage as I have to shout his name every thirty seconds to stop him from barking us all into busted eardrums. Bedtime finally rolls around and, eager to see the celestial Auroras, I stay awake until the late hour, 10:30, (that's late when the sun sets five hours earlier) and gear up into my Parka, heavy gloves, my new binoculars (bought in Fiji) around my neck, my headlamp on my head, beanie and snow boots and several layers of thermals. I sit on the chopping block and wait patiently for an hour and a half, futily, for the northern lights. At midnight, despairing, I pack it in and succumb to sleep, heding back into the kitchen tent, restoking the wood stove to keep warm, and crawl into my sleeping bag.
There are two wall tents. One has four beds, this one is reserved for the two couples, the Swiss-Germans Casper and Claudia, and the German pair Yergen and Yasmine. Me and Alan sleep in the Kitchen tent, which has a bed and space for a foldout, and Laird sleeps outside, wrapped in as many layers as he can find.
Evening approaches, Everyone else gets to know all about Sage as I have to shout his name every thirty seconds to stop him from barking us all into busted eardrums. Bedtime finally rolls around and, eager to see the celestial Auroras, I stay awake until the late hour, 10:30, (that's late when the sun sets five hours earlier) and gear up into my Parka, heavy gloves, my new binoculars (bought in Fiji) around my neck, my headlamp on my head, beanie and snow boots and several layers of thermals. I sit on the chopping block and wait patiently for an hour and a half, futily, for the northern lights. At midnight, despairing, I pack it in and succumb to sleep, heding back into the kitchen tent, restoking the wood stove to keep warm, and crawl into my sleeping bag.
Day two
Well its 1:10am but for some reason I'm not very tired, so I'll add my next entry.
Porridge for breakfast...something in me simply can't swallow food that already looks digested, too lumpy and warm...I stuck with toast and nutella, and fresh fruit.
We harnessed the dogs about 11:00, Sage made himself a bother, wouldn't shut up, and I learned firsthand exactly how hard Big Harry can pull. We get thedogs to the dropchain (sorta like a waiting room) by lifting them onto their hindlegs by the collar and walking them. Harry and Mia are the biggest, but Sage is so wild he's almost as hard to control as Harry. Micki is calm and patient, but Ella is easiest. She bounces along like she was born on two legs, and she's so light.
Today our destination is the Wall Tents, where we will spend the next two nights. To get there, we spend an hour on the frozen Fish Lake, curling around the lower mountains and into a valley cut by the lake surrounded by breathtaking peaks, breaking out of the forests on their slopes to scrape the sky with their brilliant white crowns. We leave the lake to enter the bush, ducking and weaving to avoid branches laden with snow. On the off chance I do hit one, snowflakes find their way down my back, the freezing cold half hated, half desired to cool off after the effort of pushing the sled up hills the dogs can't quite drag me up.
Porridge for breakfast...something in me simply can't swallow food that already looks digested, too lumpy and warm...I stuck with toast and nutella, and fresh fruit.
We harnessed the dogs about 11:00, Sage made himself a bother, wouldn't shut up, and I learned firsthand exactly how hard Big Harry can pull. We get thedogs to the dropchain (sorta like a waiting room) by lifting them onto their hindlegs by the collar and walking them. Harry and Mia are the biggest, but Sage is so wild he's almost as hard to control as Harry. Micki is calm and patient, but Ella is easiest. She bounces along like she was born on two legs, and she's so light.
Today our destination is the Wall Tents, where we will spend the next two nights. To get there, we spend an hour on the frozen Fish Lake, curling around the lower mountains and into a valley cut by the lake surrounded by breathtaking peaks, breaking out of the forests on their slopes to scrape the sky with their brilliant white crowns. We leave the lake to enter the bush, ducking and weaving to avoid branches laden with snow. On the off chance I do hit one, snowflakes find their way down my back, the freezing cold half hated, half desired to cool off after the effort of pushing the sled up hills the dogs can't quite drag me up.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Just finished 8 Days in the hills around whitehorse
Day One
I was introduced to the Lodge and my Guide, Laird (Layered). There were five other people in our group, Alan, the Englishman, was picked up from the hotel with me as well as Maryanne, the dog handler, an Australian! When we got to the lodge Laird took us down to the dog yard and introduced us to our dogs. I got five Alaskan Huskies. Mickie, an experienced Leader, Ella, my bouncy, bubbly Swing; Harry, which I assume is Canadian for Tractor, and Mia, another experienced Wheel dog, though one who is completely and inarguably insane. Once these four were harnessed and ready (Mickie at least, the other three were all known to chew through their harnesses, Laird went and got Sage, my other Leader, who was taken out of the yard temporarily for some reason. Until we started, Sage never once stopped barking. All the dogs barked as they waited to go, but Sage was the worst, and Mickie the best, she just stood there quietly, waiting for the brake to be released.
Mushing is spectacular, the forest, trees laden with fresh snow, sparkled in the sunlight. The air was so fresh out here in the wild it easily rejuvinated me after arriving in Whitehorse at only 2:00 that morning.
After we returned we fed the dogs and returned to the lodge for dinner. I was kicked out of the room I had been put in (Double bed and single bunk) for a Swiss German couple and put instead in the room next to it with two bunk beds, it worked for me as I could be as messy with my gear as I wanted, leaving it strewn about the unused beds.
Well, I'm tired now after updating my facebook posts so I'm going back to my room to recharge before I hit the pubs. Cheers all
I was introduced to the Lodge and my Guide, Laird (Layered). There were five other people in our group, Alan, the Englishman, was picked up from the hotel with me as well as Maryanne, the dog handler, an Australian! When we got to the lodge Laird took us down to the dog yard and introduced us to our dogs. I got five Alaskan Huskies. Mickie, an experienced Leader, Ella, my bouncy, bubbly Swing; Harry, which I assume is Canadian for Tractor, and Mia, another experienced Wheel dog, though one who is completely and inarguably insane. Once these four were harnessed and ready (Mickie at least, the other three were all known to chew through their harnesses, Laird went and got Sage, my other Leader, who was taken out of the yard temporarily for some reason. Until we started, Sage never once stopped barking. All the dogs barked as they waited to go, but Sage was the worst, and Mickie the best, she just stood there quietly, waiting for the brake to be released.
Mushing is spectacular, the forest, trees laden with fresh snow, sparkled in the sunlight. The air was so fresh out here in the wild it easily rejuvinated me after arriving in Whitehorse at only 2:00 that morning.
After we returned we fed the dogs and returned to the lodge for dinner. I was kicked out of the room I had been put in (Double bed and single bunk) for a Swiss German couple and put instead in the room next to it with two bunk beds, it worked for me as I could be as messy with my gear as I wanted, leaving it strewn about the unused beds.
Well, I'm tired now after updating my facebook posts so I'm going back to my room to recharge before I hit the pubs. Cheers all
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Vancouver...ACTUAL day 1, not just evening one
Started the day by moving to my new room, a sixbed with only two other people in it. Went for a walk and, until 1.20pm, struggled to get a workinjg sim cardso i could contact people without using hostel's internet (1$half hour, pretty good). Sim card finally worked, then went Ice skating...Sorry Gen, but I thinki've found a sport I love as much as climbing...hell, just learning is as tough as a tough 20. I eventually got the hang of it (after i was told my skates were too loose) took some pics of the art galllery (Got a bird for you to identify for me ed)
After the rink closed down at 3.30 i went for a walk, finding myself down by the quay i bought a few useful souviners (if you get them, remember they were useful while i was roughing it in whitehorse...some form of honour to that) I caught a tremendously arctic breeze while i was down there, prompting me to take off my jacket to better enjoy it in t-shirt form (same way i figur5ed out how to skate right, only person on the rink in t-shirt i feel pride-bound to mention) visited a Jade shop and saw some interesting carvings, then just wandeered down into gastown to enjoy a prompted tourism spot (Gastown). I visited the souvineer shops along the way and, for the first time ever, found a personalised keyring with my name, exact spelling! othjer than that the next coolest thing i saw was a fake bears head to be mounted on a wall. I also visted a native american art shop, totem poles and talking stick types. the highest levels smelled like the art room (the place the carver did his work) and brought back happy memories for me. Once I got back to the Hostel, i met my roomates, Tony and Monet...or something....from germany, got changed into nicer clothes, went down stairs, and met several interesting people. The first was Bec, a girl who INSISTED on getting me drunk, an Aussie chick who is, as i write this, 'super tired' and 'sick of facebook emails'. No one else important, i got drunk to my disgrace : ) and metRachel, a girl who was very understanding and explained to me how to deal with a further important problem, one which i will not disclose here. I just met Bec again at the computer next to me, and I have nothing but good things to say about her, she rocks, and if youcatch any spelling or gramatical errors in this post its her fault, she and her shots.... All in all, it kicked absolute arse and I hope i get up in time for my flight tomrorow at 10.30.
This has been Damian, Vancouver, Peace out, Signing out
ps. I think I love hockey, and extremely early morning americanadian T.V
After the rink closed down at 3.30 i went for a walk, finding myself down by the quay i bought a few useful souviners (if you get them, remember they were useful while i was roughing it in whitehorse...some form of honour to that) I caught a tremendously arctic breeze while i was down there, prompting me to take off my jacket to better enjoy it in t-shirt form (same way i figur5ed out how to skate right, only person on the rink in t-shirt i feel pride-bound to mention) visited a Jade shop and saw some interesting carvings, then just wandeered down into gastown to enjoy a prompted tourism spot (Gastown). I visited the souvineer shops along the way and, for the first time ever, found a personalised keyring with my name, exact spelling! othjer than that the next coolest thing i saw was a fake bears head to be mounted on a wall. I also visted a native american art shop, totem poles and talking stick types. the highest levels smelled like the art room (the place the carver did his work) and brought back happy memories for me. Once I got back to the Hostel, i met my roomates, Tony and Monet...or something....from germany, got changed into nicer clothes, went down stairs, and met several interesting people. The first was Bec, a girl who INSISTED on getting me drunk, an Aussie chick who is, as i write this, 'super tired' and 'sick of facebook emails'. No one else important, i got drunk to my disgrace : ) and metRachel, a girl who was very understanding and explained to me how to deal with a further important problem, one which i will not disclose here. I just met Bec again at the computer next to me, and I have nothing but good things to say about her, she rocks, and if youcatch any spelling or gramatical errors in this post its her fault, she and her shots.... All in all, it kicked absolute arse and I hope i get up in time for my flight tomrorow at 10.30.
This has been Damian, Vancouver, Peace out, Signing out
ps. I think I love hockey, and extremely early morning americanadian T.V
Monday, January 11, 2010
Day 1...Vancouver
Day one in Vancouver...cold, but not cold enough, overcast and raining, reminds me of melbourne...depressing
Flight was ok, had a few beers in Fiji and spent hours in L.A trying to find someway to send an email to my sister over in Pittsburgh so I could get her number...one of the employees let me use the airport computers to do just that. I liked L.A, it was cool, but sunny, hugely refreshing after 13 hours on a plane and 5 in humid Fiji.
I left L.A at night, the city lights just keep going, the place is %$#(*&^ huge, it looks as though it stretches from horizon to horizon, an ocean of topaz stars Its only 10 degrees in vancouver, a huge letdown, again reminds me of melbourne
Flight was ok, had a few beers in Fiji and spent hours in L.A trying to find someway to send an email to my sister over in Pittsburgh so I could get her number...one of the employees let me use the airport computers to do just that. I liked L.A, it was cool, but sunny, hugely refreshing after 13 hours on a plane and 5 in humid Fiji.
I left L.A at night, the city lights just keep going, the place is %$#(*&^ huge, it looks as though it stretches from horizon to horizon, an ocean of topaz stars Its only 10 degrees in vancouver, a huge letdown, again reminds me of melbourne
Holidaying in Canada
The title says it all. I'm goin Vancouver, Whitehorse, Vancouver, Train, Toronto, Pittsburgh, Washington, New York
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