History
The following is a tried and true recipe for a successful sled dog MAIL RUN. (by Elsie Chadwick, founder of the Mail Run)
a winter frolic
a dedicated Committee, supported by the community
Canada Post mail bags to carry mail on dog sleds
a ploughed parking lot
mushers, sleds, and over 40 Siberian Huskies
dignitaries to present mail to mushers
SNOW
MIXING PROCEDURE - THE BEGINNING,
1985:
Get two highly motivated individuals gabbing on the telephone
with a small spark of an idea then watch it grow into a full blown sled
dog mail run from the town of Humphrey to the town of Rosseau, Ontario,
in the heart of Ontario's beautiful resort area.
You will find the excitement will spread like wildfire. The Muskoka Trailriders Club groomed the 13 1/2 miles of winding trail through the winter wonderland. The Humphrey fire Department was not to be outdone for they put all their equipment at our disposal for safety at points where the trail comes close to the highway,or, crosses lesser roads. Someone has the parking lot ploughed and it is used exclusively for the marshalling yard. All the mushers have room to service their teams while excited people and children come and chat with the drivers, renew acquaintences, and, of course, pat the dogs.
To the first ingredients, which have been stirred to the right consistency, you add a special envelope which graces a Siberian, the envelope is stamped CARRIED BY DOG TEAM and, when possible, a special postage stamp is applied. These envelopes are unique and have become collectors item. Less than 1,000 are sold each year and they go all over the world. The Siberian whose picture is on the envelope was present at the first mail run in 1985 but died one month later at age 17 years. She is buried in Humphrey where she belongs.
1985 mushers & their handlers
Set above mixture aside to ripen
and prepare a list of mushers who would like to take part. The drivers
and teams come from the Siberian Husky Club and they are delighted to be
included. Add their names to the prepared mixture and allow to rise
then...SNOW is added slowly over the winter until the trails and the
trees are laden to make a veritable fairyland. Sprinkle with happy,
smiling faces of children (no age limit) and promise of butter tarts at
the end of the trail.
AND SO IT CONTINUES..
The 8-9 drivers, along with their handlers and dogs, start to arrive the night before the run and are well taken care of by the local motel. At 9:30 the next morning (Saturday) the trucks, with sleds on their rooftops, roll into the Humphrey Community Centre parking lot. As the drivers prepare their equipment and tend to their dogs, they cheerfully answer questions from onlookers and encourage the children to approach and hug a husky! An MP, Mayor or other official call out each driver by name and hand over the mail bags which are placed inside a bag which is strapped to the sled. The dogs begin to get excited and noisy ...anxious to get started.
At the start of the trail a snowmobile goes out first to lead the teams who follow at 3-5 minute intervals. Another snowmobile leaves right after the last musher, in case help is required along the way and no one gets lost. The actual trail time is from 1-2 hours. Most of the teams have been training, and running races over the winter so they gobble up the trail. This is not a race so if a musher wants to stop and count snowflakes along the way, that's alright, as long as the mail comes through safe and sound in a reasonable timeframe.
At the 8 mile point the teams stop for a rest and a drink of water. Crowds line their cars along the highway to stop and chat with the mushers, or help them to hold the dogs.
At Rosseau the dignitaries, fire department, OPP and especially the Post Mistress, are all on alert for the first team to arrive. The street is full of well-wishers and each driver (and their team) is greeted and welcomed. The mail has safely arrived on its first step to destinations everywhere in the world. By the end of the two hours all teams have delivered their mail bags right to the steps of the Rosseau Post Office. The dogs are rewarded for their efforts and are gradually taken to their warm, dry dog boxes for a quiet, well-deserved rest.
At the Post Office all envelopes are hand-cancelled by the Post Mistress and sent through Canada Post.
First
Sledvelope, 1985
Kamaluk,
17 yrs old
Who is the dog on the Seguin Mail Run envelopes? Kamaluk of Artic Pac was owned by Elsie and Allan Chadwick, founders of the Seguin Mail Run. The Siberian Husky spent many enjoyable seasons at their cottage on Sandy Plains Road near Humphrey, Ontario. She was the honoured mascot of the first Humphrey-Rosseau Mail Run in 1985. Although Kamaluk did not participate because of her age (17 yrs), she watched the six teams arrive at the Post Office in Rosseau. One month later Kamaluk passed over the Rainbow Bridge and found a sparkling silver harness awaiting. If you look outside you will see Kamaluk with an endless team of sleddogs pulling the Milky Way along the night sky. This precious dog is buried in Humphrey Township, near the trail where the teams begin their journey each year.
