The Fan Hitch, the official publication of the Inuit Sled Dog International, is published 4 times a year.  It is available to those who do not have access to the world wide web by subscription for $4.50 USD/$8.00 CAD to cover the cost of printing and mailing.  U.S. subscription requests should be sent to Sue Hamilton, Editor, The Fan Hitch, 55 Town Line Road, Harwinton, CT  06791, USA.  Send Canadian and international requests to Geneviève Montcombroux, P.O. Box 206, Inwood, Manitoba, ROC 1PO, Canada. * Contents of The Fan Hitch are protected by international copyright laws.  Neither photos, drawings nor text may be reproduced in any form without written consent.  Please forward these requests to the Editor at qimmiq@snet.net * The Fan Hitch welcomes for publication your letters, stories, comments and suggestions.

Portrait of Antarctica

by Kevin Walton 

reviewed by Geneviève Montcombroux

Antarctica is a distant continent, shrouded in mystery, a continent that was conquered by the Inuit Sled Dog. For many years, this breed moved men and materials for the on-going survey of this vast land. Little of this is known by the general public, though the dogs enjoyed a brief moment in the spotlight when the last teams left Antarctica in compliance with the International Treaty.

"Portrait of Antarctica" is a unique book with great photos representing half a century of life in this land of ice and snow. Technology has changed since the early days, when the Inuit Sled Dogs were the only means of transport, but Antarctica breathtaking beauty has not. Five authors - Jim Bishop, Launcelot Fleming, Paul Goodall-Copestake, Jonathan Walton and Kevin Walton, bring their collective experience and wry sense of humor to this work. They speak of a sometimes hostile land but also a land of peace. It offered a challenge to the men who worked to map, survey, study this uninhabited place.

Glaciers flow into the sea to break into huge icebergs. Temperatures can plunge to minus 80°C. The sea freezes to form a shelf a hundred meters thick in places. Nothing is quite like what we know in the northern hemisphere. All this pictured in black and white as well as color photos. Photographer Paul Goodall-Copestake reveals his great skill and sense of humor as he captures lovely scenes and expressions.

And there are the dogs. I am always amazed when looking at the pictures to see the same coat color patterns, the same appearance as the CISD of today.

If you have dreamt of escaping to distant places, "Portrait of Antarctica" is the book to take you where even today access remains difficult. 

Presently, "Portrait of Antarctica" is distributed by Whippoorwill Press. See BOOK ORDERS on the ISDI web site or order from Toadhall Trading Company, Box 206, Inwood, Manitoba R0C 1P0 Canada. All inclusive prices are as follows: $32 Canada, US $28 USA, Cdn $35 elsewhere.