Date: Tue., 3 Jan 2006 

I was reading The Fan Hitch and caught a couple of things you may find interesting.  First the article on the differences between Greenland and Canadian mushing… the U. S. army dog whip appears to be a combination of both styles of whips. It has a long 18" (46 cm) handle (actually a chunk of ski pole) like the Greenland model, but is heavier braided leather similar to the Canadian version.  Like most everything the army did concerning sled dogs during W.W.II, they took a little of this and a little of that for the program.  I will dig a picture out of the old army manual and forward it to you.

More of interest is the Mawson Station sled dogs. Is this what might have happened to Clark's dogs from Scotland as well as maybe those that went to Spitsbergen? I have still uncovered nothing about what happened to these dogs. The article stated that the ISDs were given to the French in 1947 by the British and then to the Aussies. The timing would certainly be right.  It would certainly be of interest to check with those that have a good knowledge of the entire history of those dogs. Who knows?  It makes a good story anyway

Chuck  Dean
Colorado, USA

Ed. Note: Chuck Dean is the author of Soldiers and Sled Dogs, A History of Military Mushing. He is still on the hunt for more details on the subject, especially the use of sled dogs in Europe during World War II. The Fan Hitch readers who have any information to share, please contact me (see contact information in The Fan Hitch masthead) and I will pass along the details to him. 

Date: Fri., 6 Jan 2006

I'm from Czech Republic and I have (and use) Greenland Dogs. I very like to read your newsletter on internet! I am very interested about expeditions with Greenland Dogs! I have a question to you. I'd like to find the film "Expedition Sirius 2000" on internet (free version-download). Do you know the internet page? Thank you very much for answer!

Good mush!

Daniel Brych 

email: Daniel.Brych@seznam.cz

Ed. Note: Honoring the 50th anniversary of the Sirius Patrol, four former patrol members, a photographer and  Crown Prince Frederik, heir to the Danish throne, set out by dog sledge from Qaanaaq in February, 2000, ending up at Sirius Patrol headquarters in Daneborg in May. A film of the commemorative expedition was produced for TV 2  (Denmark) and broadcast as multi-part documentary. The Fan Hitch readers who can help Daniel may contact him directly.

Date: Fri., 6 Jan 2006 

I am reading the British Antarctic Survey dog book and thoroughly enjoying it, so I thought I would take another step and read some more about the ISD. Sleddog central lists you as the contact to obtain Ken MacRury's book. I'm happy to mail you a check. I'll get Geneviève Montcombroux' s book and pore through it. I also ordered a copy of Mikkelsen's 1000 Days book.

I found ISDI website and the newsletters when my curiosity got the better of me. I've lived in Alaska for nearly 30 years and had malamutes almost the entire time.  I don't know why it took me so long to look beyond the border at a neighbor.

Thanks for everything you're doing to keep the last real dog around.

Bob S.
Alaska

Date: Tue., 7 Feb. 2006

Thank you for informing readers and public about this noble breed. I have been doing a bit of reading about sled dogs in general, and Inuit Sled Dogs in particular; and find your back issues not only educational but also entertaining

Keep up the good work.
Thanks again.
Sincerely,
A. T. M., Jr.
New York

Date: Mon., 20 Feb. 2006 

A friend just gave me a print out from her internet The Fan Hitch Volume 8, Number 1, December, 2005. I have placed an order with Whippoorwill Press for The Fan Hitch.  I would like to purchase a copy of One Thousand Days With Sirius.  Reason for my interest. I was in Greenland for 3+ years during WW II as a weatherman and sled dog driver with the first arctic search and rescue squad, commanding officer Col. Norman Vaughn. He just died at 100 years.  I have enclosed a copy of one of the teams. THIS TEAM SAVED MY LIFE!

I love Greenland Inuit Dogs - ALL DOG!

A. Cecil Houghton