Husky News

THEY are bred to withstand Siberian conditions, heavy snow and temperatures as severe as -40C, but for those animals competing in the Aviemore Sled Dog Rally, the weather more often than not fails to keep the appointment.

This weekend sees the 25th anniversary of an event which has become part of the Scottish winter calendar and one of the biggest in Europe.

Organised by the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain and sponsored by the dog-food manufacturer Arden Grange, it attracts more than 3,000 spectators to watch 1,000 sled dogs and more than 200 “mushers” tackle courses around Loch Morlich at the foot of the Cairngorms.

The one thing missing is snow – as it has been since 1995 and many of the years before that. Yesterday, while fresh snow was filling the ski runs on the mountain, it was merely raining lower down and the dogs are once again set to use their webbed feet to cope with water rather than ice, while sleds with skis will be abandoned for those on wheels.

Sarah Robinson, the club treasurer, said: “We come to Aviemore because it has the best chance of snow. But are we experienced on snow? Not at all.”

Judy Wakker, spokeswoman for the club, said: “We almost got there last year. We trained on snow on the Thursday, but then it thawed by the Saturday. Then it snowed on the Monday again.

“The dogs would adapt, no problem, but a lot of the mushers have never run on snow and a few would not have a (snow] sled.”

The Aviemore event was conceived in 1983 after two members were asked to train sled dogs for a publicity shot with a Blue Peter presenter. Race trails were identified but, later, the lack of snow saw the event moved to Forest Enterprise land at Loch Morlich.

According to the Met Office, 1989 was the only year between 1983 and now when snow has not fallen in Aviemore during January, but it has not coincided with the rally.

Ms Wakker said: “There have been a couple of years when competitors have been stuck at the snow gates at Blair Atholl. Then once they did get here, there was no snow.”

She added: “Lots of people take sleds up in the hope of getting snow, but what you get are lot of sleds left in the car park.

“However, we make the best of the conditions we get. We run shorter distances because running on hard, packed forest trails is harder on the dogs’ joints and body than on snow. And we use wheeled rigs instead of sleds.

“But the dogs are absolutely suited for snow. Even their eyes are at angles to stop snow blowing into them.

“The event has become such an institution and it brings a lot of money into the area. We’d like to stay here. I don’t think there is anywhere we could go to find snow. If Aviemore doesn’t get the snow then where does?

“It’s not something we can say is down to global warming as it does snow here, just not at the right time. I’m sure if we changed the date, the snow would come this weekend.”

The event will be held tomorrow and Sunday, featuring teams of between two and eight dogs pulling sleds at up to 20mph over a four-mile track.

As well as Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes and Samoyeds take part and most of the UK’s 350-400 “mushers” will be there, among them nurses, policemen, business executives, company directors, aircraft engineers, vehicle technicians, secretaries and sales assistants.

Source: The Scotsman