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> Having Siberian Huskies I once tried to figure out if I could live off the back of a sled and have the huskies be my means of transport. The sled would have n

by shoo 5y ago

> Having Siberian Huskies I once tried to figure out if I could live off the back of a sled and have the huskies be my means of transport. The sled would have needed to be 5 meters long and about 2 tall so I abandoned the idea! perhaps you just needed a few more huskies. is there anything like a rocket equation for dogsledding? e.g. each husky requires some mass of supplies which must be hauled which implies additional huskies.

selfhoster11 5y ago
Sounds like an idea for Randall Munroe's next book.
iam-TJ 5y ago
Huskies aren't the cause of the ever-growing sled - it'd need permanent shelter and sleeping accommodation (at least 2m long) because conditions might preclude erecting a tent every night-fall. Then add space needed for storage of potable (drinking & cooking) water, food, cooking equipment, toilet disposal facilities (human & huskies), ropes, winches, and tools for getting out of trouble and making repairs (so also spares for harnesses, sled, etc.) ... Once you analyse what is required to be truly self-sufficient and self-reliant, even for short periods of time, the amount of equipment needed is quite surprising. In settled life many of those things are externalised costs or can be obtained on-demand. I'd still love to give it a go at some point - but would need to move to Alaska to do it (Only rain and mud in the UK!)
- CRConrad 5y ago
  I don't think it would necessarily have to be all that humongous: Have your tent permanently erected on the sled, on top of the supplies. Not necessarily fully erected; spread out and attached at the bottom (probably / preferably on a rigid floor above the supplies down on the bottom of the sled), but collapsed down on top of the floor or supplies. Perhaps with a solid(ish) "lid" for a roof and collapsible textile only for the walls. Keep your sleeping bag and hammock and other use-every-night stuff in the tent, above the floor or other supplies. If you go with a rigid floor you might sleep on that; if not, you'll have to go with a hammock (which is probably preferable anyway).

by shoo 5y ago

selfhoster11 5y ago

Sounds like an idea for Randall Munroe's next book.

iam-TJ 5y ago

Huskies aren't the cause of the ever-growing sled - it'd need permanent shelter and sleeping accommodation (at least 2m long) because conditions might preclude erecting a tent every night-fall. Then add space needed for storage of potable (drinking & cooking) water, food, cooking equipment, toilet disposal facilities (human & huskies), ropes, winches, and tools for getting out of trouble and making repairs (so also spares for harnesses, sled, etc.) ... Once you analyse what is required to be truly self-sufficient and self-reliant, even for short periods of time, the amount of equipment needed is quite surprising. In settled life many of those things are externalised costs or can be obtained on-demand. I'd still love to give it a go at some point - but would need to move to Alaska to do it (Only rain and mud in the UK!)

CRConrad 5y ago
I don't think it would necessarily have to be all that humongous: Have your tent permanently erected on the sled, on top of the supplies. Not necessarily fully erected; spread out and attached at the bottom (probably / preferably on a rigid floor above the supplies down on the bottom of the sled), but collapsed down on top of the floor or supplies. Perhaps with a solid(ish) "lid" for a roof and collapsible textile only for the walls. Keep your sleeping bag and hammock and other use-every-night stuff in the tent, above the floor or other supplies. If you go with a rigid floor you might sleep on that; if not, you'll have to go with a hammock (which is probably preferable anyway).