Sled Dog Tour (Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia)

Outside the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, there is a sled dog–raising facility where Siberian and Alaskan huskies are bred, raised, and trained.

That's an active volcano in the background. And the modified ex-military vehicle in the fore was our means of arrival.

Click to enlarge.

This is one of the breeders. She's a beefy, hardcore, no-nonsense Russian who braves meters and meters of snow each winter. That's why they raise these dogs, actually—there comes a point each winter when cars can no longer be used in the area, and sleds are the only means of transportation.



While the dogs were being rigged up for their daily practice run, we went on a short nature walk through the forest.


Rigged up and ready to go.


Extremely fast practice run.




We were treated to a local show given by native koryaks. They sang and danced and drummed, as you can see in the picture, but I wish the pictures could also convey the chirping and high-pitched chanting—almost shrieking, really. Very strange. I think their intention was to imitate birds.