The other guests at Les Bastides had booked for the weekend to learn dog-handling (an essential skill for Airbus Industrie engineers?), so next day before we continued our travels, we joined them in the Mt Mézenc area and watched them begin their first training run of the weekend.
The huskies were more purebred than the working dogs we had in the Antarctic, which had a very mixed heritage! These were either Alaskan Malamutes (the large shaggy ones) or Siberian Huskies (shorter haired and usually darker). It was interesting to see the different temperaments of the two types, the Alaskans being playful while the Siberians were much more aloof. Before they started off was a scene of pure chaos, as the Alaskans would ‘stir’ the Siberians just when the teams and sleds were being sorted, then try to look innocent! When peace finally descended, they would do it again.
Finally they were away: I’m not sure who was enjoying it most, the dogs or the drivers! What a feeling of pure nostalgia to watch them all heading off into the Domaine Mt Mézenc.
Main photo: The dogs are keen to go – they’ll slow later!
Second photo: Putting the dogs on the traces
Third photo: Waiting – can we go now?
Fourth photo: Starting off
Fifth photo: Finally they’re all away.
Just wear warm gear - the dogs and sleds are supplied!
