In This Issue....
From the Editor: The Fan Hitch... EnhancedF.I.D.O.: Andrew Maher and Julia Landry
Fan Mail
In the News
Out on the Ice: Three Days with ISDs in North Greenland
Two Friends, Fourteen Dogs…One Quest!
The Nunavut Quest’s 10th Anniversary Run
BAS Vignette: Lampwick Harnesses
Sledge Dog Memorial Fund Update
CAAT’s 2008 Northern Schedule
The Chinook Project Returns to Kimmirut
Product Review Update: Double Driver Sled
IMHO: On Feral Cats and Inuit Sled Dogs
Links
The Fan Hitch Home Page
The Inuit Sled Dog International (ISDI) is a consortium of enthusiasts whose goal is the preservation of this ancient arctic breed in its purest form as a working dog. The ISDI's efforts are concentrated on restoring the pure Inuit Dog to its native habitat. The ISDI's coordinators welcome to your comments and questions.
ISDI Coordinator Canada:
Geneviève Montcombroux, Box 206, Inwood, MB R0C 1P0; toadhall@mts.net
ISDI Coordinator USA:
Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Road, Harwinton, CT 06791, qimmiq@snet.net
Editor's/Publisher's Statement
Editor-in-Chief: Sue HamiltonThe Fan Hitch, journal of the Inuit Sled Dog International, is published four times a year. It is available at no cost online at: http://homepage.mac.com/puggiq. Print subscription: in Canada $18.00 CAD, in USA $16.00 USD, elsewhere $22.00 CAD per year, postage included. Send checks payable to "ISDI-Geneviève Montcombroux", to Geneviève Montcombroux, Box 206, Inwood, MB R0C 1P0. Back issues are also available.Webmaster: Mark Hamilton
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Here's a well worn example, sent to artist David Cemmick
to help with the sculpture. Photo: Jones
Lampwick Harnesses
by Hwfa Jones
We used to get the lampwick, about 1.75 inches (4.5 cm) wide, in big boxes ready to make into harnesses. All early reports seem to say that the double thickness (through being tubular) and slight stretch in the lampwick was by far the best material for harnesses. Single thickness was not suitable or comfortable for the dogs. It took about 12 feet (3.5 m) of lampwick per harness. Different lengths from the body part of the harness to the 2 inch (5 cm) wide 'D' ring.
When a crevasse opened and a dog fell in, it was usually possible to haul the animal out by the length to the 'D' ring. Dogs usually did not fall out of their harnesses, so the harness was a good safety design.
If dogs did fall and survive, it was possible to rope down to them in the crevasse if it was wide enough. The harness was then re-attached with another piece of lampwick added which was called a 'belly-go-round' for extra security when the dog was being hauled out. Incidentally, dogs would wee on the Fid below as they were pulled up!
I think there was a different type of harness to support the dogs when they were lowered into the dog tunnel for winter quarters 30 feet (9 m) beneath the ice. This design would be known to the Doggy Men (Mike Warden and Graham Wright).