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Predictably, we both slept really well and awoke refreshed and ready for breakfast. Once again we donned the layers including waterproof trousers and boots, hats and gloves before meeting up with our guides to go dog-sledding. We were taken in a distinctly doggy-smelling minibus to a hut where we were provided with a snowsuit to wear over everything we were already wearing. A short drive later we found ourselves at the lakeside and Michael and Bob began harnessing the dogs and attaching them to the sled. Those of you who know me will appreciate that I am not a tall person, this has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage was that I got to sit at the front of the other 3 passengers on the sled. And? Well, that's about it really. The disadvantages were that the dogs kicked up powdery snow as they ran and I was quickly covered, I was also at eye level with the dogs' bottoms - I'll say no more. I am told I made an excellent human shield against the biting Arctic wind! What an incredible trip across the frozen Lake Torneträsk, passing mountains and glaciers. It was -8 degrees, -15 with the chill factor. The track was reasonably smooth with the occasional lump and bump and some fairly steep hills. The journey out was pleasant enough, it wasn't until we turned round to come back that we experienced the full frontal assault of the Arctic breeze. We stopped half-way to stretch our legs and take some photos of some ice formations. Part-way back we met a steep slope which the dogs simply refused to pull us up, something to do with the warm temperatures! Despite several valiant attempts by Michael to persuade them otherwise, they just looked at him as if to say 'are you serious?' I just thought of another disadvantage of being at the front, you're the first one off when the dogs refuse to budge! Now getting off a sledge which is steeply angled and you are wearing a restricting snowsuit is no mean feat! Not only that but Steve and I then had to climb up the hill in deep snow to resume our seats for the remainder of the ride. We travelled 11 km over the metre thick ice of the lake on a wooden sled held together with nylon string. If that's not an adventure I don't know what is! We had a late and greasy lunch in the hotel gazing out at the sun reflecting off the snow on the lake and mountains. After that we felt some exercise was in order so we set off down the hill towards the lake. We soon realised how much effort was required to walk on soft snow even going downhill. On the way back we noticed someone walking up the mountainside towards our hotel. Figuring that shorter and steeper was the way to go, we set off in the same direction. It soon became clear that this was a route taken by skiers on their way down and not walkers on their way up! It was definitely the shorter route but I doubt that it was quicker. We were almost stripped down to our mid-layer by the time we made it to the top. Speaking to Liz and Neil, they had no luck on their aurora photo tour last night. The skies look very clear tonight so I am wondering whether the aurora might come out to play? We were well chilled after dinner, a couple of glasses of wine and a few rounds of Othello and decided to call it a night. When we got back to our room, I noticed a text from Jonny telling us there was aurora in the sky. However, it was from two hours ago! We grabbed all our stuff and dashed outside not really knowing what to look for but Jonny had given us a general direction. We were just about giving up when we saw it across the sky, quite wispy in the strong artificial light but we stood and watched it brighten and dim for about 10 minutes. What a thrill! Let's hope it makes a stronger appearance tomorrow night when we will be away from artificial light on our photography tour. Fingers crossed!
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