Adventure in Kirkenes

If you aren't the lead dog, this is the best view you're going to get

Ever since a visit to northern Minnesota in 2007, I promised myself to one day  ride a dog sled. You know, shades of 'Call of the Wild' and 'White Fang'.  For this trip, initially I signed up for 2 individual dog sled rides, scheduled in 2 different cities for the cruise. The first sled ride was canceled due to the lack of snow. So sad! The second dog sled ride was at the farthest northern stop off, in Kirkenes (pronounced 'Shirk-ee-nez') and there was snow so dog sledding was a 'go'! 

The site with the dog sled rides was also the venue for the Ice Hotel. I could  have visited the famed hotel, but I wasn't about to waste my energy getting there over a slippery surface of iced snow.

Pretty much as close as I got to the ice hotel

The ice hotel's interior is entirely just that - ice. Including the bar and the hotel rooms. 

Also included in the Kirkenes excursion was a close up view of reindeer. Everyone carefully walked up icy stair steps to a wooden walkway poised over the reindeer pen. From there, several of Santa's best walked over to stare at us in return. 

You can see all the tourists on the right on the walkway

I am always surprised to see that reindeer are much smaller than moose
I suppose that has something to do with 8 of them pulling a massive, toy filled sleigh

Reindeer have the best hooves, all toe holds for not slipping on snow & ice

Balaclava

Done playing with reindeer games, we headed over to a shed where we could take advantage of cold weather gear, free to use for anyone hoping to not freeze to death on the sled ride. Available, were heavy duty gloves, full body snow suits and balaclavas (woolen face masks). In my excitement I asked a clerk for a  'baklava' (a dessert), then in a further flurry I spurted, "I meant balalaika",  (a string instrument). I was joking of course (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). 

Great Tit (told ya!)

 Geared up in all the equipment listed above, I resembled a massive toddler in a snow suit. I stumped outside for a look around prior to our sled ride. Next to the gear shed was a pen full of playful Husky puppies. After a brief look at the pups, I waddled to a nearby group of pens where the local birdlife were gathered around some feeders. I took only crap photos, which I will blame on the gear I was wearing, not the photographer. There were the usual Hooded Crows, some Great Tits (get your mind out of the gutter, they are a type of tiny bird), European Magpies and the usual House Sparrows - I know you don't care but it's important to 'moi'.

Shortly before the ride began

In my imagination leading up to dog sledding, I was going to video the entire ride, however there is the matter of my massive snow suit. I'd put my cell phone -which frankly takes better pix and videos than my actual camera - into my jeans pocket and through two layers of outer clothing I could not access my jeans pocket to save my life. Ended up with sparse photos of the ride itself. Maybe next time, right? 

My only photo of the actual ride, over Ila's shoulder

Enough complaining... the ride was so fun! The dogs were amazing, easily pulling passengers and their lady musher. The lady driver was wonderous. She told us her life story, having recently emigrated from Hungary to Norway to improve her chances of making a decent living. So here she was now, at her dream job, working with happy Huskies for more cash than she could earn as a teacher in Hungary. 

I wasn't sure how far or how long the ride would last. I had imagined a route over hill and dale with us arriving in a different town. Nope. There is a route, a large loop that traverses perhaps a mile total, and we traveled over the trail twice. The air was frigid and at one point we rode past a frozen lake where Hooded Crows hopped around the shoreline. It was fun, and now I'm doubly disappointed the first dogsled ride in Trombo had to be canceled. 

The video below was quickly and expertly filmed by our lady dog musher. That's Ila in the front of the sled, and the giant tot in a snowsuit & Balaclava behind her is guess who? Scål!