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.

Well-worn skis and snowshoes, and Yap's harness, Number One Team leader
                                                                                 Montcombroux photo

Meeting with Kevin Walton and Ken Pawson
by Geneviève Montcombroux

It was a rare treat for me to be able to meet authors Kevin Walton of England and Ken Pawson of Canada during a recent visit to Calgary in Alberta, Canada.  They have much to tell about their tours of duty in Antarctica and many stories about the Canadian Inuit Dog, which in those days they called huskies. Both men talked fondly of their dog teams, and as you have read in the Fan Hitch Vol. #2, N’s 2 and 3, Ken Pawson has written poems about the dogs, among other themes. 

Both Ken and Kevin are still very active, hiking and mountain climbing. Ken has written a book about his personal experience in Antarctica, to be be published by Whippoorwill Press, in early 2001, under the title Antarctica: A Lonely Land. For many years, he was part of a Search and Rescue team in the Rocky Mountains close to Calgary.  Kevin received the much coveted Polar Medal. He also received the George Cross (Albert Medal) D.S.C., for an act of bravery in rescuing a fellow team member from a 100-foot crevasse. 

Nowadays, life  for Kevin and Ken is concentrated around the bustle of big cities. Antarctica and the Canadian Arctic rarely get mentioned in news and other coverage, despite their immense scientific importance. We ought not to forget the work that the various surveys have done over the years or their contribution to geographical knowledge.