The Yukon

I've recently returned from a trip to Canada's Yukon Territory. What will likely most interest readers of this blog is the amazing yarn I got. It's currently being used in a secret project, so I'll give you a photo of the amazing creatures whose fur was spun into the aforementioned amazing yarn.

May I present the muskox:

Photo courtesy of Oil on Ice, a website that discusses the complications posed by ANWR

But even more amazing than the muskox yarn was the sky.

And I've never been much of a dog person. In fact, I once moved out of a house because of a roommate's dog. He would just stare and stare at me so balefully, clearly wanting something. He was so persistent, and I never could figure out how to give him what he wanted. The resulting guilt I felt drove me batty. Oh, and he would just bark and bark and bark.

But the Yukon Territory is full of these amazingly intelligent and capable sled dogs. And it's called sledding, I learned. Only those not in the know call it "mushing." It's seemingly not uncommon to have over 100 dogs from which to breed to make the perfect winter sledding team. Their handlers know all their names and personalities. Being around for only a few days, I merely got to know a couple.

This is Hildogo, who ran beside us on a four day horse packing and camping ride:


And this is Hildogo's girlfriend and their brood:


I became so attached to these dogs that I was tempted to try and figure out how to get one back to Chicago. Of course, the poor thing would roast for half the year in our hot summers, and would go stir crazy living in an apartment regardless of daily walks. So I was practical and made due with an adorable stuffed toy sled dog (Maybe I'll make a knitting pattern for one!) and this gorgeous tea set: