ÿþ <html> <head> <title>Lapland Malamutes </title> <meta http-equiv="imagetoolbar" content="no"> <style type=text/css> <!-- .special {Text-decoration:underline; color:#0066CC } A:link {COLOR: #FFFFFF; TEXT-DECORATION: none} A:active {COLOR: #FFFFFF; TEXT-DECORATION: none} A:visited {COLOR: #FFFFFF; TEXT-DECORATION: none} A:hover {COLOR: #FFFFFF; TEXT-DECORATION: none} BODY { FONT-SIZE: 9pt } FONT { FONT-SIZE: 9pt } --> { } .thumbnail { POSITION: relative } .thumbnail:hover { Z-INDEX: 50; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-COLOR: white } .thumbnail SPAN { BORDER-RIGHT: 1px; PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; BORDER-TOP: 1px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; LEFT: 10px; VISIBILITY: hidden; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: 1px; COLOR: #476ca0; PADDING-TOP: 5px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px; POSITION: absolute; BACKGROUND-COLOR: lightblue; TEXT-DECORATION: none; A:link {COLOR: #FFFFFF; TEXT-DECORATION: none} A:active {COLOR: #FFFFFF; TEXT-DECORATION: none} A:visited {COLOR: #FFFFFF; TEXT-DECORATION: none} A:hover {COLOR: #FFFFFF; TEXT-DECORATION: none} } .thumbnail SPAN IMG { BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 2px; PADDING-LEFT: 2px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; PADDING-TOP: 2px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px } .thumbnail:hover SPAN { LEFT: -200px; VISIBILITY: visible; TOP: -500px } </STYLE> </STYLE> <SCRIPT language=JavaScript> function right(e) { if (navigator.appName == 'Netscape' && (e.which == 3 || e.which == 2)) return false; else if (navigator.appName == 'Microsoft Internet Explorer' && (event.button == 2 || event.button == 3)) { alert(" Copyright Lapland Malamutes "); return false; } return true; } document.onmousedown=right; document.onmouseup=right; if (document.layers) window.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN); if (document.layers) window.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEUP); window.onmousedown=right; window.onmouseup=right; </SCRIPT> </head> <body bgcolor=#00000 topmargin="20"><div align=center><table align=center width="750" border="0" bordercolor=#FFFFFF bgcolor=#FFFFFF cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0> <tr><td align=center colspan=7><img src=ourlogo.jpg WIDTH="750" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td></tr> <tr><td height="40" width="125" align=center bgcolor=#777777 align=center><font color=#FFFFFF><font face="arial,garamond, verdana,arial,helvetica"><a href=index.html><b>Home</a></b> </td> <td height="40" width="125" align=center bgcolor=#777777 align=center><font color=#FFFFFF><font face="arial,garamond, verdana,arial,helvetica"><a href=females.html><b>Our Dogs</a></b></td> <td height="40" width="125" align=center bgcolor=#777777 align=center><font color=#FFFFFF><font face="arial,garamond, verdana,arial,helvetica"><a href=philosophy.html><b>Philosophy</a></b></td> <td height="40" width="125" align=center bgcolor=#777777 align=center><font color=#FFFFFF><font face="arial,garamond, verdana,arial,helvetica"><a href=kennel.html><b>Location</a></b></td> <td height="40" width="125" align=center bgcolor=#777777 align=center><font face="arial, garamond,verdana,arial,helvetica"><a href=activities.html><b> Activities</b></a></td> <td height="40" width="125" align=center bgcolor=#777777 align=center><font color=#FFFFFF><font face="arial,garamond,verdana,arial,helvetica"><a href=breeding.html><b>Puppies</a></b></td> <td height="40" width="125" align=center bgcolor=#777777 align=center><font face="arial, garamond,verdana,arial,helvetica"><a href=links.html><b> Links</b></a></td></tr> </table> <table align=center width="750" frame=void border=0 bgcolor=#FFFFFF bordercolor=#FFFFFF cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0> <tr><td width="750" height="100" align=center valign=bottom colspan=2><br><img src=wh.jpg border="0"></DL></td></tr> <tr><td width="750" align=center valign=top><font color=#000000><font face="arial,garamond, verdana,arial,helvetica"><br> <img src=signs.jpg border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=f0.jpg border="1"><br><i>During the last week of October we hiked from Riksgränsen to Abisko in Swedish Lapland together with <br> Thunder (4.5 years old) and Tuisku (3.5 years old). <br> </i> <br><br> <img src=karta.gif border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=scape.jpg border="1"><br><i>We studied the weather report carefully before departing, making sure no major storm was on the horizon. <br>Mountain weather can be unpredictable, but we were fortunate to have clear skies and nearly no wind for most <br> of our journey. As a security measure we had brought along a bivi bag and snow shovels, enabling us <br> to build and spend the night inside a bivouac if necessary.</i> <br><br><br> <img src=climb.jpg border="1"><br><i>The first half of our hike was mainly uphill.</i><br><br><br> <img src=f20.jpg border="1"><br><i>Winter hiking offer many advantages; smaller brooks are often frozen and easy to cross and the iridescent northern <br> lights are fantastic to watch against the dark winter sky. Also, outside peak hiking season you have the scenery and <br> trail all to yourself. It's worth noting that the major mountain stations in the northern fell areas of Sweden are closed <br> by October but there is usually a so-called &quot;emergency room&quot; that is open during all seasons. Bringing a tent or bivi <br> bag is crucial, but during a really chilly night it is nice to also be able to use the basic indoor facilities available. </i><br><br><br> <img src=biggie.jpg border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=macka.jpg border="1"><br><i>We stopped for lunch at Stuor-Kärpel wind shelter which is situated in a rugged terrain. During part of <br> our hike we followed reindeer tracks rather than the waymarked trail, as reindeer are experts at finding <br> safe and easy traveled paths in the mountains. Luckily, they were heading in the same direction as we. </i> <br><br><br> <img src=moment.jpg border="1"><br><i>Tête a tête </i><br><br><br> <img src=jarv.jpg border="1"><br><i>On a mountain ridge near Láire orru, 1000m above the ocean, we came across fresh wolverine tracks. </i><br><br><br> <img src=wolve.jpg border="1"><br><i>Unfortunately we did not manage to catch a glimpse of this elusive predator. I had a feeling, though, <br> he was watching us...</i><br><br><br> <img src=kvanne.jpg border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=glad.jpg border="1"><br><i>Tuisku is an excellent pathfinder who prefers to lead.</i><br><br><br> <img src=happyhike.jpg border="1"><br><i>See that spark in Thunder's eye? Hard work makes a Malamute happy.</i><br><br><br> <img src=f66.jpg border="1"><br><i>Johann and Tuisku fetching drinking water from an open creek. After drinking melted snow for most of our hike, <br> it was very refreshing to finally drink some real water. Melting snow takes time (especially when you're also <br> providing water for two dogs) and while it tastes similarly, snow does not offer the same hydration as real water. </i><br><br><br> <img src=highlake.jpg border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=redbag.jpg border="1"><br><i>One of many advantages of bringing pack dogs along on your hike is that you are able to bring some extra gear. <br> We both packed an extra pair of boots in Tuisku's and Thunder's backpacks and after getting my feet wet <br> when crossing the Valfojåkka river, I was sure glad to be able to change into warm, dry boots afterwards! </i> <br><br><br> <img src=field.jpg border="1"><br><i>Ideally, we would have liked to take it slower and have more time to take in the scenery, but since daylight is <br>limited in late October we had to focus on reaching our overnight camps before dusk. </i><br><br><br> <img src=whike1.jpg border="1"><br><i>We spent one night in Valfojåkka Mountain Shelter, situated high above the Valfojåkka river and waterfall. <br> It took many hours to heat up this frozen cabin and we were glad we had brought down sleeping bags to keep <br> us warm in subzero temperatures. Since we were alone on the trail we were able to bring the dogs inside at night. <br> The boys would perhaps have been happier sleeping outdoors but, as we found lots of different animal tracks <br> in the snow surrounding the cabin, we preferred to keep an eye on our buddies at night. </i> <br><br><br> <img src=alt.jpg border="1"><br><i>Between Valfojåkka and Unna Allakas we hiked through waist-deep snow for a couple <br> of kilometers. This was far easier for Thunder and Tuisku than it was for us. October is <br> usually the last month of the year that you're able to hike in the mountains without <br> snowshoes or skis. But since every winter is different, checking the current snow report <br>before departure is crucial when planning a safe and enjoyable trip. </i><br><br><br> <img src=bridge.jpg border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=f24.jpg border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=rays.jpg border="1"><br><i>Heading down towards Sjangeli, a former copper mine in the middle of the mountains. </i><br><br><br> <img src=down.jpg border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=last.jpg border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=f45.jpg border="1"><br><i>After spending two nights in Unna Allakas we walked for two days along Kungsleden, towards Abisko.</i><br><br><br> <img src=f16.jpg border="1"><br><br><br> <img src=crossing.jpg border="1"><br><i>In this photo it looks like Thunder is crossing the brook in front of me. In reality, Johann and I always crossed the <br> waterpaths with each dog behind us, checking the depth of water and safety of the ice before allowing them to cross. <br> The dogs got their feet and legs wet a couple of times but kept their bodies dry at all times which is important when <br> hiking in cold weather. Crossing rivers was probably the most time-consuming element of our hike as we often had<br>to walk long distances up and down the river, searching for the best place to go across. <br><br><br> <img src=f1.jpg border="1"><br><i>Studying the map on the way to Abisko. The heavy snowfall during our fourth day quickly covered up our path. </i> <br><br><br> <img src=trask.jpg border="1"><br>In the early evening of the fifth day we reached the goal of our hike - <br> the village of Abisko, situated by the large lake of Torneträsk. </i><br><br><br> <img src=sleepy.jpg border="1"> &nbsp; <img src=tireddog.jpg border="1"><br><i>We were ALL pretty exhausted after the trip !</i> <br><br><br> <br><a href=news.html><font color=#000000><FONT CLASS=special><b>Return</font></b></a><br><br><br><br></td></tr></table></div> <div align=center> <table align=center width="750" border="0" bordercolor=#777777 bgcolor=#777777 cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"> <tr><td width="250" cellpadding="0" align=left><font face="arial, verdana,helvetica"><font color=#FFFFFF> marit@skyfyre.se</font></td><td width="250" cellpadding="0" align=center>&nbsp;</td><td width="250" cellpadding="0" align=right> <font color=#FFFFFF><font face="arial,verdana, helvetica"><i> A SkyFyre Publication</font></i></td></tr> </table></div> </body></html>