The Fan Hitch Volume 12, Number 1, December 2009

Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog
In This Issue....

From the Editor 

Fan Mail

In the News

Evolutionary Changes in Domesticated Dogs:
The Broken Covenant of the Wild, Part 4


An Examination of Traditional Knowledge:
The Case of the Inuit Sled Dog, Part 1

Greenland Dogs of the Eiger Glacier

Boss Dogs and Lead Dogs

Tip: Pack Your Parka

IMHO: Two "New" Dogs


Navigating This Site

Index of articles by subject

Index of back issues by volume number

Search The Fan Hitch


Articles to download and print

Ordering Ken MacRury's Thesis

Our comprehensive list of resources

Talk to The Fan Hitch

The Fan Hitch home page

ISDI home page


Editor's/Publisher's Statement
Editor: Sue Hamilton
Webmaster: Mark Hamilton
The Fan Hitch, Journal of the Inuit Sled Dog, is published four times a year. It is available at no cost online at: https://thefanhitch.org.

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This site is dedicated to the Inuit Dog as well as related Inuit culture and traditions. It is also home to
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Fan Mail....


Malc MacArthur and the Spartans on our summer 1972
journey on the Western side of King George IV Sound.
                                                                      Photo: D. Small
From: Drummond Small
Date: September 29, 2009

Dear Sue,
 
Thank you and all those connected with Inuit Sledge Dog International for your support of the British Antarctic Survey Sledge Dog Monument initiative.
 
From 1971 to 1973 the Huns were kind enough to put up with me as their driver, covering around 1800-2000 miles each year on field work out of Stonington Island on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Along with the Admirals, the Huns were the only remaining sledge dog teams when BAS finally withdrew the dogs from Antarctica in the 1990s.
 
In your [September, 2009] editorial you mention "...these brave men and their fine dogs...". Fine dogs is an understatement. They were magnificent, incredibly hard-working and at times unbelievably frustrating. Brave men? No, just lucky to have the chance to share a couple of years of our lives with such amazing animals and to get paid to do so. The memorial at BAS HQ in Cambridge is a tangible  'thank you' to our former companions for which Hwfa Jones and Graham (Genghis) Wright deserve our thanks in turn.
 
I now live within 200 metres of a neighbour who has a seven dog racing team. I regularly get a reminder of the 'glory days' when his dogs give a group howl. Not quite as impressive as 130+ dogs howling together on the spans behind Stonington, but more than enough to stir the memories.
 
Once again my thanks to you all for your support.
 
Kind regards.
 
Drummond Small
 
P.S. There are some photos of the Huns at the Cool Antarctica website.
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