We woke after another night "on the boards" of the cabin. There was a white-out with visibility only about 150 metres. Temperature minus 8 degrees. The dogs must have known that it was the last day as they were particularly excited this morning. The hitch up was even more frantic. Of course we are sitting on the sled while they are being hitched. One dog decided he liked the look of me and came and peed down my leg as it was hanging over the sides of the sled. Well that start it didn't it? A procession of dogs came to me and relieved themselves on my leg. Just as well I was wearing the supplied woolen overalls and not my own gear. Of course everyone thought it a hoot. Today's start was particularly hectic and possibly dangerous. As mentioned all starts have been down hill and it was tricky this morning as the down hill was on a slope with crevasses strategically placed. Off we went with Ogy 2 clambering to get on. Aaron and I wondered how far or fast the dogs would go if Ogy missed getting on! We could barely see where we were going, the dogs, full of energy pulling quite strongly and Ogy trying to avoid holes with his voice commands. Imagine the dogs pulling the sled and the sled sliding downhill - sideways!. To brake he used a circular piece of thick rope and positioned it under the sled. This did not work instantly but usually took some time - not something he could use in a real emergency. He would just have to rely on his voice commands, sometimes getting to a panic loader and higher voice situation. We nearly slid into a crevasse on 2 occasions. Aaron was again remarkable sitting side saddle, compared to me with my legs on either side. I could never have managed as it was more difficult for him to hang on. Actually he was really just balancing the whole way.
We made it on to the flat area and could see the mountains on either side of us as we tracked up the valley. It was going to be a steady climb for about one and a half hours. It was getting colder the higher we climbed and the snow cover was very thick in places. We finally had to get off and walk while the guides encouraged the dogs to the top of the pass. We had about 300 metres to walk up to the top and it was quite difficult for us in the soft snow; it was very steep. A rest at the top, again more for the dogs, was followed by periods of ups and downs, mostly ups. We remarked that it was going to be a very fast descent into Ittoqqortoomiit which was at the bottom of the valley on the other side. As we were still in whiteout conditions the guides used their GPSs to correct our track. We had to turn around and go up a different valley on one occasion. It was by now getting bitterly cold and the wind had picked up. Still no sight of the sky or sun. We had a break almost at the top of the pass and the guides again dug a hole and had the primis stoves on. It was minus 15 degrees with a wind blowing (about minus 20 degrees) and we were all cold. Ice had been forming on our balaclavas , neck warmers, beanies and on the overalls, it was that cold. I was beginning to shake and shiver again and my fingers and toes were starting to tingle with a little pain.
Over the top and the descent began ... and we burst into sunshine and clear skies with Ittoqqortoomiit far below us at the bottom of valley. Well it's like being on a steep role roaster for 25 minutes. It was fast, white knuckle stuff holding on and the scenery was superb, the dogs breaking into a gallop - a magnificent ride down hill. Aaron was the king of balance, still riding sideways and occasionally leaning over to get a better view. We came down into the settlement and other teams of dogs, tied up next to their houses, greeted us barking and pulling on their tethered chains. They wanted to be a part of the action.
It was all over too soon.
We had arrived back safely to Ittoqqortoomiit - pronounced
"eht dock a door Mayt" at 11.30 at the end of the most fantastic 4 days dog sledding with temperatures down to minus 30 degrees.
We were taken back to the guesthouse to pack our clothes and wait for our helicopter ride. Again, Aaron and I had the last and also again we were with cargo; this time bags of mail piled around me in the back and Aaron the "co-pilot" in the front. The weather had by now begun to close in so the flight to Constable Point was through the valleys, which was also special. We met the others and discovered that the flight to Reykjavik for Aaron and I had been cancelled and we were on the earlier one with the others.
An un eventful flight and we were soon back at the Radison Blue Saga hotel in Reykjavik.
Photo today is Aaron at minus 12 degrees half way through our return journey to Ittoqqortoomiit. Notice the ice on is clothing.