Definitions

Why do we call it Minitarod?
Iditarod has run in Alaska for the last 34 years. It is often called the last great
race on earth. In 1973 it started as the memorial race of what was called the
serum race in 1925 when a relay of dog teams brought serum to save the
people of diphtheria stricken Nome, Alaska.

We will be out in the wilderness having our own challenge:
the Minitarod at the same time as the big guys are cruising the course from
Anchorage to Nome, 1100 miles/1800 kilometers. We expect to cross the
finish line in Munkflohögen at the same time as the Iditarod mushers pass
under the burled arch in Nome. For further information browse the web,
there are pages like http://www.ultimateiditarod.com/dummies.htm 
or the official site www.Iditarod.com .

Fitness? Lets first of all establish how fit one ought to be?
You need to be in a shape good enough to ride a mountain bike in rugged
terrain. Balance is essential for all dog driving. With the kind of loads we
carry in the sleds, you will have to help the dogs up hills by kicking and running.
The days are often 4 hours dog driving-8 hours’ camp work. But it is not all
about fitness, as well as age being no issue. Stamina is as much in the mind
as in the body. Up to it? Good.

What does he mean with relevant experience? What is relevant?
Previous Dogsledding experience helps, but is not a necessity. Knowledge
of dogs is an advantage. You are responsible for these fantastic living
creatures and you really need to feel mighty positive about all aspects of dog
handling. A fair bit of knowledge about the outdoors in the cold and the snow
is not to be sneezed at when you are out on Minitarod. Nor shall you let
yourself in for a 10 day dogsled trip without knowing something about
how to tackle the cold and how you react to freezing. You will have your
(un)fair share of cold feet, wet and cold this and that and even feel sorry
for yourself. You will suffer a bit and you will also feel that you really live.
And you will learn a hell of a lot, but some basic knowledge about what’s
ahead of you is necessary. For this exact tour March is the best time
of the winter. Days are long and often sunny. Nights can be chilly with temperatures down to -20 C.
Together we shall make sure that you have the right clothing for the trip.

Tour description
To begin with it feels great to be out on the dogsled, but somehow confusing
until routines are established. Then comes a period when one can feel tired,
the cold and struggle gets you down a bit. But then comes what carries you
all the way through the trip: The harmony, you start feeling one with your
husky team. The remoteness, vast expanses, even though we can follow
snowmobile trails, never fails to make one humble and the deepest respect
for the environment grows forth.

Issues such as seeing wildlife, northern lights and scenery
are initially leading some of you to take up this challenge, on the course it’s
actually no longer the most important. One with your team. That’s it.
The dogs are what make this possible. Your relation with the dogs is essential.
As the one in charge of your team you are the best judge of their health,
and I shall to a great extent have to rely on your judgment about the dogs
well being. What that means in practice? Report back to me about
anything you consider relevant, especially until you have got the hang of things.
Learning to judge which dogs need booties and when is part of the caring
for your team. These are not complicated issues; it’s more a question of me
trying to make clear that it’s no use trying to do this without a feel for the
nature of the dogs. Nor does it work if you choose to go with because
someone talked you into coming along-the desire to do the expedition has
to come from inside you.

What is it like to make camp en route with a team of huskies?
Details are as follows: When we  spot a place by a stream, river or a lake,
where it is possible to park the dogs for the night, where we find flat plots
for our tents, and preferably where there are trees, we then stop and hook up
our teams. Wire lines, called stake outs, gets put out, preferably fastened
in trees. We unharness the dogs and hook them along fix points on the
chains/lines. Next task is putting on coats or dog jackets on some of the dogs.
We will normally snack the dogs with a chunk of meat or fish before we can
say we are free to attend to our needs. We pitch a Tipi for our common use.
A little wood stove brought along gets fitted in the Tipi, and fire wood needs
to be collected in the woods nearby. We are some times able to break pine
tree branches to use as bed for the dogs and ourselves. Some volunteer(s)
drills a hole in the ice on the lake, and fetches water. The hole can later be
used for ice fishing. We bring red spirit for a mobile fodder cooker where
we heat up water to melt the meat for the dogs. Pitch your tent before dark.
Dogs and people to be fed. We have some good and nourishing stews for
dinner, oat meal porridge for breakfast. A packed sandwich lunch and a
thermos of tea to stay hydrated. We transport food in insulated boxes.
Sleeping in tents is an art that I don’t master that entirely well, but I don’t
worry too much about my lack of sleep, just that the nights can feel a bit
long and uncomfortable. Hope you fix it better? The snow is not a soft and
even surface for bedding. Maybe you brought your Therma rest for better
sleep? Morning is like everything in reverse. Who does what?
Volunteers to be appointed, my specialty. Coffee! Porridge.
Dogs to be fed again. We are, generally speaking, free to camp anywhere in
Sweden. One good contribution towards sustainable tourism is our maticulate
clearing up removing most marks after us and we head for the trail again.
After the initial couple of chaotic days we get into the routines
of the tasks to be done.

Route plan
We have to have a route plan, don’t you think? To have some idea where
we are going? If for nothing else you probably have some schedule to attend
to after 10 days on the trail.
The 2007 Minitarod did have to deviate from the route plan.
It was simply not possible to drive across certain lakes/rivers since the ice
was not considered safe. This-together with a couple of other factors
influencing our choices- made us reschedule as we went along.



But the route plan for Minitarod 08 will be the same as the original route for
this years tour was meant to be. We follow a well marked network of
snowmobile trails north west of Munkflohögen. Its safe and it is a realistic way
of being able to cover good mileage every day. We have an outline of the trip
on the map below. Load down your own snowmobile trail-map for the region
from http://www.akersjonssk.se/media/ledkarta.pdf, if you like?
We bring GPS, but I prefer map and a compass. For good measure
we have satellite phone for emergency needs. Hope we don’t need it.

Start preparing for the tour of a lifetime.
I certainly will. Wouldn’t harm to loose some of all that bacon we have enjoyed
throughout the winter. Would make life easier for the dogs. A good target
would be to be as fit as I can possibly get in the time to go before the Minitarod,
and to use my knowledge of the environment in planning the trip to ensure we
all have the most outstanding time of our lives.

My guests have shown great dedication to the dogs.
We are in it together, and we will all help each other to make it safely through
rugged wilderness, not so much windswept tundra but huge Swedish pine
forests, deep snow, harsh cold and we will share the experience of beautiful
sunrise and picturesque scenery. We will be taking thousands of photos and
filming kilometres. We come back to the mod cons in a comfort zone that no
longer seem so important - for the dogs its back to their huts, loads of food
and a well earned rest. The tour has toughened the huskies as well.

With new skills and a profound knowledge of the wild
we can be proud of ourselves.

Welcome to Husky Holidays Minitarod 2008.