Dog-sled boom is turning mush into gold

JUKKASJARVI, Sweden Sixty Alaskan Huskies yipped and yelped and howled on a frozen river 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle, itching to run.

The dogs, five teams of 12, tugged impatiently at harnesses tethering them to wooden sleds, where 20 tourists from Britain, Portugal, Denmark and the United States sat in insulated snowsuits, bracing themselves against subzero temperatures and wind. The sled drivers then shouted, "Hike! Hike!" and the dogs started pulling and fell silent.

"They are happy when they run," said Kalle Leissner, a bearded Swedish musher whose dog teams are part of a global boom in sled-dog racing and tourism that stretches from the snowy woods of Alaska to the sandy Outback of Australia.

Tens of thousands of people in dozens of countries compete in dog-sled racing on snow and, farther south, in proliferating events known as "dry land" races, in which dogs pull bikes or scooters or even runners, according to the International Federation of Sleddog Sports.

Warming climates, thinning out the snow, have helped drive interest in dry-land competitions in places not normally associated with dogs and sleds, such as Argentina, New Zealand and Mongolia.

Tens of thousands more people, meanwhile, are traveling as tourists to the world's far north including Alaska, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Finland to spend a few hours or days being towed by teams of dogs.

Dog breeders and tour operators said the rising interest comes in part from the bull market for environmentally friendly vacations.

"There is a kind of beauty in it it's environmental, and the down-to-earth part of it attracts people," said Kenth Fjellborg, Leissner's boss, a local dog breeder who said he takes at least 5,000 people on dog-sled tours a year, up from 200 people in the early 1990s.

Fjellborg said his clients have ranged from honeymooners to children to royalty in 2006, he led Prince Albert II of Monaco on a dog-sled expedition to the North Pole.

Prices for dog-sled tours vary by region. A four-hour trip in Canada can cost $100; four hours in Sweden costs more than twice that much.

Alaska's famed Iditarod, a 1,150-mile race widely considered one of the world's greatest endurance tests, this year has drawn a record 111 mushers who will compete for nearly $1 million in prize money, race spokesman Chas St. George said.

Globally, 40,000 people competed in races in 2003, the most recent estimate, said Sally O'Sullivan Bair, an official with the International Federation of Sleddog Sports, a rise from 25,000 in 1997.

Norway and Sweden traditionally have been Europe's most active dog-sledding nations, followed by France and Germany, said Lars Svanfeldt, president of the European Sled Dog Racing Association, which has clubs in 19 countries.

But changing climate conditions bedevil the sport. Poor snow conditions have forced the Iditarod's organizers to modify the race course in seven of the past 10 years, St. George said. Unreliable snow cover has forced cancellation of up to 40 percent of the International Sled Dog Association's competitions in recent years.

While the growing emphasis on dry-land events is largely because of climate change, other people respond by moving farther north, to places where snow and ice are more reliable.

One such place is this town, famous for its canine majority 630 people, 700 dogs.

Jukkasjarvi is one of the northernmost villages in Sweden. Elderly people push sleds loaded with groceries and walk with ski poles. It is surrounded by dog-sled trails crisscrossing frozen lakes and forests filled with pine and birch trees.

Leissner, an experienced musher in Jukkasjarvi, stood at the back of his sled one recent day and guided his huskies down narrow trails as gusting winds drove the chill deep.

Even at midday, the Arctic winter sun cast a weak, bluish-gray light; by about 3 p.m., it would be fully dark again.

The dogs pulled the sled at about 20 mph, with no sound save for the sled's skis gliding over crusty snow.

Leissner, 26, had no reins and steered simply with his voice using "haw" for left and "gee" for right, directing the dog team with the traditional Alaska commands.

Cutting through the vast forest, where elk tracks occasionally crossed the trail, Leissner said people are sometimes surprised by the look of his dogs. They expect them to be Siberian Huskies, which have the blue eyes most commonly associated with the breed.

Alaska Huskies come in brown, black and yellow and white, and are smaller and faster than Siberians, he said. Animal-rights activists occasionally have targeted the sled-dog business as cruel. But people in the industry say dogs are treated with care and respect and they insist that the dogs enjoy the sport.

"The dogs love their job, and that's why I love my job," Leissner said. "In the morning when I harness the team, all the dogs are jumping, like, 'Take me! Take me!' "

Without breaking stride, the dogs dragged their open mouths through snowbanks along the trail, cooling themselves with their tongues. For many delighted children riding the sleds, the highlight was the dogs pooping as they ran.

January 5, 2008

Only examinations! If there is energy to the other point, it is sleep. Absolutely can dispel this idea, as do more than one hour or less from the book, not a small gap, a semester on the content of the night.

Is commendable explosive? Caonie.

January 8, 2008

Ha Ha Ha Hey, the more excited the test, that Juanyi he is not immersed in the pleasure of self-transcendence, of course, there are up to six weeks of the winter vacation of Imagine. Near a short distance, near the cave. .....( applause)

This is in the phone notes at any time thought the record more so. Half a month, the center of the world is not to shake examination, a glance, the last one tomorrow morning 8:00, the last one does not mean the beginning of the arrival of Mian night, and more calls not sleep nights.n

The first test at the door, and financial accounting. Until last night I started literature, it needs to know the original master of this class is thinking specifically address the fundamental business is very simple. Let me nervous a semester, the original hey. Although the final score can not be fully discussed, but finally settled.

Nine courses this semester, so the end of the misery. March 4 points is the last day to sleep, and it has not deliberately to endure is sleepless. Using a mobile phone by the photo shoot, how was that very haggard? I do not know, because it is in good spirits, ah.

There are eight, abnormal examination arrangements.

Fortunately, on the morning of the 10th Whether it can be a holiday, consider also fun.

Tu, 08, and not any plans to continue to love my love, I want to see the filmn

Log on New Year s Day this year, a while Juexiao. Had such a past? Completely forgotten. At the end of the beginning, 07, is also summarized. Ok, start from the keywords.

17,133

Beginning last year, have seen the film to remember names, so have these figures.

For a total of 133 movies to see, access to the cinema 17. Looks into films in cinemas in extremely like Sejie dumbfounding The Gate , very cheap ninja ghosts, laughed the most Invisible Target, was asleep Transformers imax . This year is definitely recommend History of the boys, the lives of others, Sunshine on the Beauty ; has great expectations for great disappointment love holidays, Goya s Hope, The True Story of the old Hong Kong. There are many films produced before, like do not like, not listed here.

Winter stall Europe and the United States have many films, such as winter vacation Be seen

Part-time job

This year it amounts to a third of part-time experience, but people do not grow smoothly, a number of sentiment. The first time, too simple, how boring things; second, never thought what indisputable, so please do not take my opponents when not trying to catch me out; third, doing things not trouble Buyaoji only choice to the future cautious because of the determination to adhere to in the end.

As to how much money earned, negligible, and wages are not received in cash from card accounts had spent finished. Not deliberately plan, the future will definitely be earned to support themselves, so what is good.

CET-4, 6

Study of 46 this year, so that the universities must be completed during the English examinations are concluded. To test other English certification to be considered, at least basic task is completed. Exposure to the English language a long 10 years, most of the time spent in the attack and that, really is a puzzling thing to me, totally English and I do not understand what is. Nor do not like to see this semester teaching English, it s not the expression of Chinese Raokou, very clear; English accent film that rhetoric is cordial. Just feel that if the time was spent on other things, it is not broke harvest than the certificate.

Ride, swim

This year s surprise, riding a bike, swimming, Hey, Juexiaon

Previously listed the many so-called modern people will learn the basic skills, to learn their own on January 1. Can now be designated in the list to the two. Ok, and the rest are, for example, K song? OMG, the objective, this is a small thing, but to me, very great, that is the exact K songs will be in my mind very tall. Lele a public project, and I Zende so too inappropriate?

For instance cooking, art in the arts, people who love life should be good at. But since this is a mystery to me what with unlimited temptation. When the door opened Basilica Let me get?

Dream

The early Ee want to live with drowsiness, until really asleep, so did a fantastic dream.

Choose the side of this is, there are many other things. For example, the increase or decrease in body weight, there is no need for that; Is writing a message warning future generations, called a person is how Huojianhuofei? Ha ha.

Last year, this year is still wearing the clothes, but last year the heads of the things that came up this year and the same? Ideological change is the real growth, but on water as the fable, not say so.n

Jin Yi yesterday to see the Blueberry A Night at the human superoxide, buying a row on a 15-minute team. We bought more than two hours ahead of schedule, with results feeding miss opening. Fortunately, Wong Kar-wai films not need too much drama. Hi bought eight cans of blueberry ice cream while slowly melting, while watching this film, it is out. Department of the people really happy watching movies, than all of Wong Kar-wai have moderate sweetness.

Colorful candies, singing cards.


Not going to have Christmas, it seems that bad memories can not always forgotten. But teachers were not in class, so they decided to return home to jump Ganta yesterday for the clothes. Results inexplicably on the school and Jane meet Menglong, hey, they have to bring me Christmas, three appointments, and the inertia used to.




Finally he has made with a 2 ps and the desire Hey, enough metamorphosis. Must be achieved 1,10n

She come back to have a look in their eyes from the slap in the face from two places, saw the two Lengrebingshuang eyes, a pale face, two because of shyness and Yaojin the lips, told a mass at the day in sight the first time he and her close proximity of the same, only different from the passionate love into their dissatisfaction with the Lingjun. A twinkling of an eye, she has found himself on a big when, in the heart surprised to ask ourselves, how might such a ruthless devil all year long and occupy their own home. She just enough time to think: My God yo, really is a pitiful worm! Elisa barely smile, open to Shuidianshenma, to go along with her, but she stopped them, from his own life to erase: there is no need, she said, Forget it.

Love the Time of Cholera to see such a.n

This afternoon read vote with a 120 minutes.

Film coverage of the stiffness of the net is not washed yellow sand, under a cold rain endless cotton, there were corpses everywhere filthy muddy streets. Vote on the challenge bloody dirty war scenes can bear the bottom line. Out of the studio, the weather has been dark, still feeling the tone of the film, stomach a bit tossed.n

This is guitar-term. Videos Through a period of livelihood three brothers to kill each other stories about the justice and intelligence, hygiene will be different with the death.

Big Brother Pang Qing-yun, and ruthless.

The court generals who was born in a battle in 1600 died under battlefield, and his own Zhuangsitousheng. Pang Qing-yun that this is played on his selfish and unjust, and the future met Yang Erhu, ginger afternoon with the guitar-and-relying on the court, their ambition is to stage a comeback Ruo open plain. Later, he said he does not believe a vote-that he believes that the duo is Yang Jiang, said bluntly, is the belief that they are themselves into big industry will be able to help people.

The person s ruthless and relentless in the words, under the public to listen to.

The enemy to block Qiangyan brothers, himself rushed at the appropriate time, that is, he declared that the so-called the overall situation,

Brothers, according to Yang Erhu Naizhu action, to tell him what is a military camp there is only one head;

In cities, while the women were raped, this is the tree for military discipline, son

Killing prisoners of war, I Sang Sang hundreds of lives, was shot dead Luanjian, just to save food in the former scored a rival Nanjing.

He relentless, and relentlessly the expense of others all desire for their own rights, but his relentless bottom are not, can not stand high-suited officialdom, racy too exposed people, and the total from behind a bullet shot to his life, is his life.

Yu, Yang Erhu, the tears when the gang illiterate people only to eat all I can add is the court for this purpose. His idea is very simple, kick down the battle to find happiness and the local woman he lived. He did not have the right ambition, but human atmosphere, opponents of love, loyalty to the brothers.

Sagacity such a big man, no tears several times.

First, the dark of night into the Suzhou City General Huang killed when his sword through the yellow belly, he shed tears, because Huang s remarks open gates and take home brothers farmers farming, and enable the public to live and work, which is also his ideals of his sorrow.

Second, he baled Pang Qing-yun, killing prisoners of war, he also tears. For the death of innocent persons, as they ran their own her own live the promise for the grief he puzzled: Why war Why kill? .

Third, the post-war, restaurants, the stage show of his brothers and three of them were satisfied with guitar justice for the story, he has tears in his eyes, that moment, his mood complex, brother? But industry is looking for a person become a pretext. Spirited? Only in his heart had.

He cried his Xinruan, he spirited important than our lives. Pang Qing-yun afraid he would pose a threat to their own, spider kill him, is looking for an excuse for their own trapped, Yang Erhu Touyebuhui to save the brothers, trapping Fenshen jumps on to a word meaning, this is his life.

Sandi, ginger-afternoon, the letter with his teenage Yang Erhu done on the Hill gang, no thinking, a pair of Junxue he will be able to satisfy music. Guitar-three, he has a two eldest brother, it is necessary to listen to whom, from a two options. No matter how the election, he is the most firm.

In Pang s instigation, he was convinced that it was necessary to make a major sacrifice in order releasing prisoners killed, he said, I find it very difficult, but I do not regret it.

He found Ersao and brothern

Big Brother is the reason to kill Yu, sister-in-law was a homicide, because outsiders chaos my brother, the infamous.

When he saw the second oldest brother was Luanjian in the body, he cried, Naqidao, the selfless Kanxiang brother, even if the disparity between the strength, because he only knows brothers chaos my brother, the infamous.

This person, no less ruthless brother, nor Yu Xin Ruan then, only a little a bit stupid, in order to pay their beliefs and special operations force. He did not give the final outcome, fall down next to the body of his second oldest brother, but also what way? Would bring about the collapse of belief in the meaning of life and the loss of his life so.

Three men, three fate is doomed.

Finally Ersao that can be understood, from being sold to prostitution, the 15-year-old man of the concubines, Yang Erhu results were rescued by the woman he done; then she has changed, fundamentally failed to meet the Er-Hu Yang She material on the passion and desire. She then left again and again, come back, perhaps not much time outside. Pang Qing-yunn

I believe, she did the men must face after more than a huge, but again, such an opportunity before them and create a so-called feelings.

Seeing Xujingleianhuang the colour, face no vitality, no interest can not fully to understand this woman. If no feelings for her husband, why should we hold sub? At the same time, and two people together, mentally endure? Never mind those who have not been set, why should so many greedy?

So Jiang Wu-yang help her choice, her death is no more choice.

Overn

Chan s films? Let the Twins story, sweet honey, If Love from the shallow better dissemination seems sad fishes helpless Chan? That the love of a few incisive interpretation Let me mad nodded admire the tremendous Chan?

No matter how it is.

PS: when the studios do Christmas activities, movie tickets Mantissa 18 viewers sent a New Year desk calendar, it is me, alive, I really busy to die. But Gosh, even original 70 yuan, and prices ah now. Next Thursday the assembly is 70 yuan.

TU save money of the film! On the 22nd also Blueberry Nightn

At the University of just full of enthusiasm to see the field , and extremely disappointed. The first day of release is , the summer saw it actually had first put into End point, only the very poor rear seats. Worse still, a small central screen, audio is also very noisy. Since then, adamantly refused to go. Until after the renovation when the nostalgia craze I, it was only yesterday to the second. Fang is , Hey, is an interesting animation, cooked millet for the French soup-to really watchn

Pixar technology worth praising! Everyone can cook, it s nice theme, right Yes, I will ah!

We go to the back of the front of the class seated. Gosh, better than I expected much better film quality firms (although still hope that meteor field can be seen flying over the old movies, Mopanmopan!), In addition to screening members of the technical people dissatisfied with the focus, everything okay , the fare for five yuan, can be cost-effective.

Viewing out very happy, though not cold legs. Aha, there, we have to find Maipiao boys to genuine Huge posters and five with a set of the publicity Pictorial Offset paper, too Value! Rare to have such a good thing, Xiaxia Yes, I was lucky.

Tu, linked to the home, and chocolate ice cream shiny Illustrated, will be watching the happy laughter!n

Nostalgia, not the curb.

Want to open the film is very old very old film released, eyeful white spots meteor shower the kind of effect and then I moved a small wooden bench, hold a large bag of snacks to sit down; tunnel warfare is put special blood type films, re - Wen familiar with the plot, and even the role of the film than the earlier one said the lines ``````

But it seems that is not materialize, the whirring cold days certainly has not.

Therefore wanted to go to the theater very ancient, modern standards of the sound, sound noisy audience, perhaps because members have shown Tianling cold and cough sound `````` come.

This sub-optimal choice or can be achieved, the school Nanhu halls, every weekend will rent film screenings. There is no Heating, get three hours Fed died, Hey, What is the relationship? Duoduojiachaichaishou, exhaled gas white, warmn

As you take what is not important and can be read any very high.

Nostalgia, the theme of December.

Walking to the farm last night in the vicinity speak only found in early studies Tanqiu secondary schools has now become a memorial. Eight years ago in the winter, how have? It seems the winter cold, frostbite hands of the powerful, jane gave me rub ointment; there are four of us together for the New Year s Day event every night Renowned Gigi Leung of

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