The Fan Hitch Volume 3, Number 3, June 2001

Newsletter of the Inuit Sled Dog

Table of Contents

From the Editor
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Featured Inuit Dog Owner: Brian and Linda Fredericksen
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Lake Nipigon - Solo
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Inuit Dogs in New Hampshire, Part II
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The Inuit Dogs of Svalbard
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Update: Uummannaq Children's Expedition
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Update: Iqaluit Dog Team By-Law is Official
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Poem: Instinct
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The Homecoming: Epilogue
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Product Review: Sock Sense
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Tip for the Trail: Wet Equals Cold
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Janice Howls: More Than Meets the Eye
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Page from a Behaviour Notebook: Hunting


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Editor's/Publisher's Statement
              Editor: Sue Hamilton
              Webmaster: Mark Hamilton
The Fan Hitch Website and Publications of the Inuit Sled Dog– the quarterly Journal (retired in 2018) and PostScript – are dedicated to the aboriginal landrace traditional Inuit Sled Dog as well as related Inuit culture and traditions. 

PostScript is published intermittently as material becomes available. Online access is free at: https://thefanhitch.org  PostScript welcomes your letters, stories, comments and The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions used for publication.

Contents of The Fan Hitch Website and its publications  are protected by international copyright laws. No photo, drawing or text may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Webmasters please note: written consent is necessary before linking this site to yours! Please forward requests to Sue Hamilton, 55 Town Line Rd., Harwinton, Connecticut  06791, USA or mail@thefanhitch.org

Tip for the Trail: Wet Equals Cold

by Mark Hamilton

The title of this article states something we've all come to understand: in the cold, being wet is a disaster. The insulating efficiency of our clothing is compromised by moisture. Wool loses about 70% of it's insulating value when wet, yet it's universally considered a good insulator because it retains much more of its insulating value wet when compared to the performance of most modern, synthetic materials. If you're wet you need to get into dry clothing or a sleeping bag, quickly, and find a way to dry what you were wearing (powder snow is a excellent desiccant). 

Of course it's best to find ways to avoid getting wet in the first place. Try this: spray your feet daily with anti-perspirant for a week to ten days before going out in the cold. Not only will your feet stay dry and warmer during the day, you'll spend less time at night drying your boot liners.

To keep your hands dry, treat them every eight to twelve hours with a product called "Hand Sense". It's a barrier cream; surgeons often use it before putting on their latex gloves. A side benefit is that it prevents perspiration. Take a small bottle with you on the trail and keep it inside your parka so that it doesn't freeze.

If you don't have a source for Hand Sense, call 1-800-589-6536.
 

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