In the beginning it was only an idea

This year, as many others, Stephan Junghaenel (40) from Niedersachsen has used the past weeks training himself and his siberian and alaska huskies in North-Sweden. He also participated in one of this years big race called Femund 500.

It was 14 years ago that Stephan Junghaenel received his first husky in Germany. It was then he decided that a part of his life would be dedicated to dogs, although it just started as an idea at the beginning.

Junghaenel says that eventually Germany became too small for them and his competition dreams as it became more frequent that Germany lacked enough snow to train the dogs. They found better conditions in Switzerland; a lot of snow, a farm they could stay at as guests with owners who were very fond of dogs. There, they also had the possibility to provide the dogs a place in the kennel, which the Junghaenel family had built up.

Switzerland to small

But the territory in Switzerland also became eventually too small for them to and they looked at Norway as the next ideal place for them. But, for now, it is in Sweden they have found the best training requirements for the dogs and themselves. Junghaenel is a rookie without much experience. As many others, he dreams of Alaska. But he still has a long way to go. He trains 6 to 7 months each year in North Sweden, where he runs several hundreds of kilometers, conditions both driver dogs are satisfied with. Each day, the dogs train from 120 km to 160 km, Junghanenel says, which means that his team runs about 4500 km each season.

-The most important thing is to live with the dogs

Stephan and his 37 dogs, including the old dog leader Benny, enjoy being so near the Polarcircel. Benny is now 13 years old and not so resilient anymore. But he still is "tough in his mind" and the other dogs still accept him as the leader of the team.

-My life with the dogs is what gives me the biggest challenge and experience I can imagine and I really look forward participating in Finnmarksløpet. I was supposed to participate in the open class race at the this year, but as I had to break off in the Femund 500 do to some injured dogs I decided this time to change from open class to the 500 km class. I really think it is going to be exciting, learnfull and of course a hard competition.

LAST INFO: Stephanes first husky, the old leader Benny unfortunately died just a few days ago. The cancer took his life 13 years old. Benny died in Stephanes daughters arms.

More at http://www.schlittenhunde.de/deutsch/teams/bennys/index_wir.htm