The Good Life: Up the Yukon without a Paddle by Dorian Amos

Author:Dorian Amos [Amos, Dorian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eye Books
Published: 2004-08-14T22:00:00+00:00

March 2000

My dog running had become second nature, and I now understood the logic and beauty of this timeless form of travel. The dogs were always keen to run and eager to please even when they had to pull a sled heavy with supplies or camping equipment, and to be at one with them on a lonely trail was awesome. They are companions that can be trusted with your life, and with them leading it was almost certain you would get home. The worry of being stranded or lost diminished with every one of their steps.

I got to know each member of the team very quickly and could tell at a glance if they were tiring, hungry or just pleased to be on the trail. Billy was the main leader, a veteran of many long distant races across the north. She had the gentle, quiet way of an elderly scholar, filling in her twilight years by teaching school children about a subject she knew well and loved with a passion. Her partner in the line was Angus, also a veteran of many races, but who thinks he knows it all and would often lead the pack on his own chosen route. This made Billy glance round at me and howl in frustration.

Frazer and Bea were next in line, brother and sister with a loving close bond. They wagged their whole bodies enthusiastically when I approached, and to help my inexperienced hands put on their harnesses would lift their feet one at a time and duck their heads. I never had any trouble with these two. They were exceptional dogs with endless patience. Though it did concern me slightly that Frazer insisted on cocking his leg against Bea so she was always encrusted with frozen pee.

Dingo and Draco were next and continually fought, which was mainly down to the young, fearsome Dingo. She was so highly-strung and enthusiastic that if we stopped for a moment she raised hell in the ranks and wound Draco up into a frothing beast. He often came back from a run covered in blood because Dingo insisted on biting his ear as they ran.

The next two dogs were Albert and Batman. Albert was a very shy individual and shook nervously while he was hooked up. But once on the run he transformed into an amazing athlete. Batman ran like the wind and I often watched him on the hills, straining with all his might to pull the heavy sled over the rise.

Spook and Roxy were closest to the sled. Roxy was an old dog that often tried to get out of pulling. She loved to run fast and would save her energy on the hills, preferring the faster descent on the other side. I would call to her to ‘pick it up a bit’ and she would look around hoping I wasn’t talking to her. When she was certain I was she would pull a little way, only to revert to her easier pace a moment later.

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