Dogsled
Object
2023.6.1
Dogsled, bent wood
Wooden dogsled with moose hide bag (tied on with rope), white plastic runners, black metal tow bar, reinforced wooden back.
Dennis Stitt dug it out of the Deep Creek dump and dropped it by Hidden Valley School. He gave it to Peter Harms, saying "this is what you need for your bison hunt." Peter Harms modified the sled and used it from 2005 through 2017. The moose hide bag came from Steve Cooper (Tutshi Tanning).
From Hassard (April 30, 2015), page 61-62:
"Hon. Mr. Graham: I also rise today on behalf of all members to acknowledge one of the remarkable education initiatives in Yukon, the annual school-based bison hunt. The first school-based bison hunt was the brainchild of teacher Peter Harms of Hidden Valley Elementary School. I can only say this about Peter: Yukon schools, and indeed Yukoners as a whole, owe a great debt of gratitude to Peter for beginning this hunt 15 years ago because it initially involved only a very limited number of students. I believe seven students were involved in the hunt and since then, it has expanded to truly being a Yukon-wide experience." ;From Peter Harms (March 27, 2023):
I was working at Hidden Valley School and Dennis phoned to tell me about his latest “score” at the dump. He frequently goes treasure hunting at the Deep Creek Dump. It would have been in the construction waste area that he saw just the tail of the toboggan sticking out. He saw it was in perfect shape, which is rare because the tail often wears thin first seeing as that is where the musher stands, so Dennis started digging. 10 feet down, which means hurling away a lot of garbage and drywall and plastic, he gets to the head of the toboggan. He was astonished that it too was in great shape; no cracks, wear, or splinters. It was still held fast by ropes and a weathered, torn, mouldy canvas bag and ropes. He cut it free and claimed his prize. The wood was weathered dark… but in great shape.
We modified it by putting a snowmobile hitch on it, and two Teflon tracking strips that would take the beating that sled travel entails. I do not know the previous owner.
I sent a letter home asking parents if their children could use power tools, sanders and spar varnish to rebuild this classic piece of history. 3-4 students were chosen and they did a great job. They used class time and recess. Steve Cooper, the owner of Tutshi Tanning, procured, tanned and helped attach the bag to the sled. Steve spent many years mushing in the NWT and was very helpful.
The toboggan was pulled by snow and generally had 2-3 kids in it. The kids in the bag sat on couch cushions, to save their tailbones, but the prime position was “riding handlebar”. They loved this… rather like giant snowboarding!
Every year, the school bison hunt had a 'play day'. The students would rotate through various stations (target shooting, tea boiling, intro to snowmobiles on Yamaha Bravos, snacks, and GTs being pulled by a snowmobile). The kids asked if they could hook up the big freight toboggan to the snowmobile, and the driver tried to buck them off. This became a favourite game with lots of screams, tips, and excitement.
It was so sad to see that toboggan sitting in my shed…kids gone, trips gone, no more frosty days and aurora nights. Like me, retirement spends some time on memories and adventures.
"Hon. Mr. Graham: I also rise today on behalf of all members to acknowledge one of the remarkable education initiatives in Yukon, the annual school-based bison hunt. The first school-based bison hunt was the brainchild of teacher Peter Harms of Hidden Valley Elementary School. I can only say this about Peter: Yukon schools, and indeed Yukoners as a whole, owe a great debt of gratitude to Peter for beginning this hunt 15 years ago because it initially involved only a very limited number of students. I believe seven students were involved in the hunt and since then, it has expanded to truly being a Yukon-wide experience." ;From Peter Harms (March 27, 2023):
I was working at Hidden Valley School and Dennis phoned to tell me about his latest “score” at the dump. He frequently goes treasure hunting at the Deep Creek Dump. It would have been in the construction waste area that he saw just the tail of the toboggan sticking out. He saw it was in perfect shape, which is rare because the tail often wears thin first seeing as that is where the musher stands, so Dennis started digging. 10 feet down, which means hurling away a lot of garbage and drywall and plastic, he gets to the head of the toboggan. He was astonished that it too was in great shape; no cracks, wear, or splinters. It was still held fast by ropes and a weathered, torn, mouldy canvas bag and ropes. He cut it free and claimed his prize. The wood was weathered dark… but in great shape.
We modified it by putting a snowmobile hitch on it, and two Teflon tracking strips that would take the beating that sled travel entails. I do not know the previous owner.
I sent a letter home asking parents if their children could use power tools, sanders and spar varnish to rebuild this classic piece of history. 3-4 students were chosen and they did a great job. They used class time and recess. Steve Cooper, the owner of Tutshi Tanning, procured, tanned and helped attach the bag to the sled. Steve spent many years mushing in the NWT and was very helpful.
The toboggan was pulled by snow and generally had 2-3 kids in it. The kids in the bag sat on couch cushions, to save their tailbones, but the prime position was “riding handlebar”. They loved this… rather like giant snowboarding!
Every year, the school bison hunt had a 'play day'. The students would rotate through various stations (target shooting, tea boiling, intro to snowmobiles on Yamaha Bravos, snacks, and GTs being pulled by a snowmobile). The kids asked if they could hook up the big freight toboggan to the snowmobile, and the driver tried to buck them off. This became a favourite game with lots of screams, tips, and excitement.
It was so sad to see that toboggan sitting in my shed…kids gone, trips gone, no more frosty days and aurora nights. Like me, retirement spends some time on memories and adventures.