In This Issue....From the Editor: The Fan Hitch... EnhancedF.I.D.O.: Andrew Maher and Julia Landry Fan Mail In the News Out on the Ice: Three Days with ISDs in North Greenland Two Friends, Fourteen Dogs…One Quest! The Nunavut Quest’s 10th Anniversary Run BAS Vignette: Lampwick Harnesses Sledge Dog Memorial Fund Update CAAT’s 2008 Northern Schedule The Chinook Project Returns to Kimmirut Product Review Update: Double Driver Sled IMHO: On Feral Cats and Inuit Sled Dogs Navigating This
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Here's a well worn example, sent to artist David Cemmick to help with the sculpture. Photo: Jones Lampwick Harnesses by Hwfa Jones We used to get the lampwick, about 1.75 inches (4.5 cm) wide, in big boxes ready to make into harnesses. All early reports seem to say that the double thickness (through being tubular) and slight stretch in the lampwick was by far the best material for harnesses. Single thickness was not suitable or comfortable for the dogs. It took about 12 feet (3.5 m) of lampwick per harness. Different lengths from the body part of the harness to the 2 inch (5 cm) wide 'D' ring. When a crevasse opened and a dog fell in, it was usually possible to haul the animal out by the length to the 'D' ring. Dogs usually did not fall out of their harnesses, so the harness was a good safety design. If dogs did fall and survive, it was possible to rope down to them in the crevasse if it was wide enough. The harness was then re-attached with another piece of lampwick added which was called a 'belly-go-round' for extra security when the dog was being hauled out. Incidentally, dogs would wee on the Fid below as they were pulled up! I think there was a different type of harness to support the dogs when they were lowered into the dog tunnel for winter quarters 30 feet (9 m) beneath the ice. This design would be known to the Doggy Men (Mike Warden and Graham Wright). |