Lapland Husky Trail Challenge
April 14th 2007
Day 1
Depart UK and arrive at Tromso Airport, Norway. Transfer to Villmarkssenter and meet fellow team members (will this feel like arriving at Boot Camp I wonder ?) Here we will meet the 130 energetic Alaskan Huskies, some of whom will be with us for what we are told will be the next six arduous days of sledding. Time here will be spent in helping prepare the equipment for the expedition before ‘getting our heads down’ in a lavvo - a Sami tent with an open fire.
Day 2
An early 3 hour transfer (7.00 a.m.) to Helligskogen in the high mountains where our journey begins. The itinerary sales pitch reads … “Climb aboard your sled and experience the force of six spirited huskies as you manoeuvre them across ice and snow, over mountains 800 metres above sea level and through wintry forests – all the while with only the bracing air for company”. Somehow I don’t think it’s going to be quite as easy as “climb aboard” and hope its not too many crash landings before I get the hang of things. At the end of the day we will be camping in a forest, where we will be setting up the tents (no such luxury as log cabins) and feed the ravenous dogs and their ‘mushers’.
Day 3
Day 2
An early 3 hour transfer (7.00 a.m.) to Helligskogen in the high mountains where our journey begins. The itinerary sales pitch reads … “Climb aboard your sled and experience the force of six spirited huskies as you manoeuvre them across ice and snow, over mountains 800 metres above sea level and through wintry forests – all the while with only the bracing air for company”. Somehow I don’t think it’s going to be quite as easy as “climb aboard” and hope its not too many crash landings before I get the hang of things. At the end of the day we will be camping in a forest, where we will be setting up the tents (no such luxury as log cabins) and feed the ravenous dogs and their ‘mushers’.Day 3
Having given the huskies their breakfast and broken camp, remaining in Norway today we will experience Isdalen – an Ice Valley. This is a strenuous trail which they say will certainly keep the adrenaline flowing. This evening the camp will be close to a river.
Day 4
Day 4
Sledding across demanding mountains and wild landscapes, we enter Sweden and the homeland of the Sami, or reindeer people. Although the weather will be tough, with temperatures possibly below freezing and strong winds, we are told the sun doesn’t set until about 9.00 p.m. with amazing sunsets (I think we are told this to try and take our mind off how long we’re “on the go” today !)
Day 5
Remaining in Sweden, this is another testing day driving the sled through high mountains and forests, dodging the occasion reindeer!! The itinerary mentions that camp is set up again by a river and we can refresh our aching limbs around a blazing fire – they don’t mention aching limbs until now but I get the distinct feeling our limbs will ache long before this point !
Day 6
This is a shorter day to allow us to boost our energy for the final arduous push tomorrow. We travel from Vosko to Voulus traversing various lakes. Tonight’s camp is closer to civilisation than we have been for the past few days.
Day 7
Today we push on to Kiruna and finally are allowed a visit to the Icehotel in Jukkasjarvi where we will stop for about an hour before the 6 hour car journey back to Tromso.
This evening we get to have a shower !! We will all meet up for a Presentation Dinner and at the end of the night get to sleep in a real bed! Tomorrow return to the UK.
