Challenge 7 - DOG SLEDDING

Or should I say 'mushing', which makes me a 'musher', albeit an L-plated one.

There would appear to be only one skill required of a musher - not driving, not steering, not balancing, not cajoling, but quite simply braking. The huskies need no coaxing to run off into the wilderness at break-neck speed - they love it and live for it -, nor indeed any steering as they quite simply follow the dogs in front whether you want them to or not. You do however need them to stop sometime before they reach Russia, and also to reduce their speed as you hurtle down mountains, otherwise you and the sled will go flying over the top of the dogs. Not a good plan. Braking involves standing on a bar at the back of the sled which in theory drives a wedge into the snow. Fine, if you weigh more than 14 stone, or if you are not on ice!

We had a truly exhilarating ride, led through the snowy wilderness by five beautiful, powerful, clever dogs (apart from Dennis obviously resented being given a silly name). It was pitch black (probably best as you didn't see the holes in the ice over the rivers) and eerily quiet until all the pack decided to howl in unison. The respect shown by the local mushers towards the dogs is inspiring, and well deserved - They work perfectly as a team, they can detect cracks in ice and oncoming blizzards, and they have a wonderful placid temperament (much like the local Norwegians). I am a big husky fan.

One down side - husky poo stinks - they 'perform' as they run, then the sled runs through it splattering the musher. Detracts a little from the romance of the experience, but adds a dose of authenticity.

All in all, a fabulous challenge. Mush, mush!