<\/p>\n
Hundekj\u00f8ring<\/strong> is definitely on my list of things to do before I die. \u00a0Imagine leading a team of beautiful, strong, and determined dogs through the white, brisk, Norwegian landscape and hear nothing but the sound of the sled moving across the snow and the noise of the dogs working as a team under your coordination. \u00a0I can\u00b4t imagine too many more exciting things.<\/p>\n Both in the same `league\u00b4as the Iditarod in Alaska, Norway is home to two dogsled races: Femundl\u00f8pet <\/strong>and Finnmarksl\u00f8pet<\/strong>. \u00a0Femundl\u00f8pet<\/strong> takes place in the R\u00f8ros<\/strong> area of Norway. \u00a0The race was established in 1990 and has grown steadily in popularity ever since. \u00a0This year the race took place in the beginning of February, so unfortunately you cannot follow the results this year. \u00a0However, the other big hundekj\u00f8ring <\/strong>race in Norway, Finnmarksl\u00f8pet<\/strong>, has yet to take place!<\/p>\n Finnmarksl\u00f8pet<\/strong> celebrates it\u00b4s 30th anniversary this year as the world\u00b4s northernmost sled dog race. \u00a0The race is run by the Alta Sled Dog Club and actually consists of two races-one that is 500km long, which allows up to 8 dogs and one that is 1000km long, which allows up to 14 dogs. \u00a0The races start in Finnmark County\u00b4s largest city, Alta, and heads east essentially along the Finnish border all the way to Kirkenes and back again to Alta, on almost the same route.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The massive team of volunteers does their best to mark the trails with birch branches one to two meters high so the mushers are reassured they are on the right trail. \u00a0However, the following is a warning on the Finnmarksl\u00f8pet<\/strong> website:<\/p>\n – -Thus being a skilled navigator in rough terrain, experienced in the use of a map and a compass is an absolutely necessary condition for taking part in the Finnmarksl\u00f8pet. It might be a matter of life or death for every single musher as well as to be able to take care of him\/ herself and the dogs for some 3-4 days in a genuine blizzard, with gales the force of a hurricane.–<\/p>\n Freaky. \u00a0I can\u00b4t even imagine how scary that race would be in bad weather with poor visibility and gale force winds, not to mention part of the trail is on mountains.<\/p>\n Check out