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
Print Edition: Imaged and distributed by the IPL students of the Ulluriaq School, Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik
The Fan Hitch welcomes your letters, stories, comments and suggestions. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions used for publication.
Contents of The Fan Hitch are protected by international copyright laws. No photo, drawing or text may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Webmasters please note: written consent is necessary before linking this site to yours! Please forward requests to Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Rd., Harwinton, Connecticut 06791, USA or qimmiq@snet.net
Photo: Hamilton
by Mark Hamilton
Our MaineMade Double Driver has proven to be better than we reported in the original review. We have had no problems with this sled. It continues to track beautifully behind the dogs and carve smooth turns in the snow. The stopping and holding power of two bar brakes is massive. It's typical with us for Sue to take the command driver's (front) position and for me to be in the driver/trainer's (second) position. This works out well for us as I'm taller than Sue and that means we both get a good view down the trail. As trainer I spend the majority of my time watching the dogs and scanning the woods on both sides of the trail. Because I'm standing rather than sitting, scanning the woods an adequate distance out from the trail is a lot easier for me to do.
We've found that controlling the dogs on downhill runs is much easier than with either of our other sleds. Whether on snowy or icy trails, Sue typically uses the Double Driver's very effective drag pad, and I just add a touch of additional braking with the bar brake as needed. This same technique, on hard-packed, slippery or icy downhill turns produces the surest and most in-control turns you will ever experience. Control on any of the downhill trails we ran was never an issue this season.
Finally, nothing broke, warped, cracked or fell off the Double Driver. The sled has proved every bit as solidly built as we stated in our original review, probably even more so.