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a ant
Page Eight

THE DOGS THAT FLY...

The Mounties hold many records in
the Arctic. This one has never
been equalled.

By JIM MCKEACHIE

N these days when law enforce-
I ment personnel move from place

to place at a rapid pace by auto-
mobile, high-speed launch or aircraft,
records for covering distances mean
little.

But there is one which still stands
in Canada’s vast Arctic and which is
unmatched in the annals of the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police.

No roaring automobile, launch or
aircraft was involved, however—only
the intense quiet of the snow-covered
tundra, pierced now and then by the
cry of “mush” and the yowling of a
team of huskies which was one of the
best ever known in the Mackenzie
Delta region.

“The Dogs That Fly” was the name
given the team by Eskimos and
Indians around Aklavik even before
the record-making journey which
served to spread its fame further still.

When Const. Scott Alexander
arrived at Aklavik from the detach-
ment at Cambridge Bay in September,
1940, he found he had “inherited”
from his predecessor the finest dog
team he had ever seen.

In April, 1941, he was assigned to
take a released prisoner to Arctic Red
River, a small settlement at a big
bend on the mighty Mackenzie, just
up-river from point where it branches
out into its many delta channels.

Journeying under rare, ideal condi-
tions for toboggan travel, Const.
Alexander and the other man covered
the 90 miles between the two points
in approximately 17 hours, or at a
rate of a little better than 5 miles per
hour over snow-covered portages,
lakes and rivers.

This was an excellent pace, especi-
ally when stops for food are taken in
consideration.

Leaving the released man at Arctic
Red River, after a one-day layover,
during which time residents answered
mail he had brought from Aklavik,
the constable set out at 4 in the morn-
ing to retrace his route.

Again he encountered the same
ideal conditions on the trail and
arrived at Aklavik the same day in
time for supper. é

He made even better time on the
return journey, since he was alone,
and therefore traveling lighter, and
because he made only one stop.

Even though he brought back
answers to the letters he had taken
out two days previously, many a
dubious head was shaken around
Aklavik when Const. Alexander told
of his speedy trip.

Scott Alexander

It was not until the summer when
an official enquiry was made into the
whole matter that the astonishing
accomplishment of the husky blonde
policeman was verified through con-
firmation from various trappers,
Indians and residents of Arctic Red
River.

As is often the same with unusual
feats, the trip did not start out as an
attempt to set a record. Const. Alex-
ander had intended stopping over-
night at Big Rock, roughly half way
between Aklavik and “Arctic Red” as
his destination is usually abbreviated
on the river.

It was only when he encountered
the ideal conditions of temperature,
wind, snow and trail, plus what he
considers the major factor—the ex-
cellent shape the dogs were in—that
the Mountie decided to go the full
distance in one day.

An important point which con-
tributed to the achievement was that
they worked well together as a team,
being brothers or half brothers (they
were all males), with the exception
of the leader, a fine animal named
Blackie.

Unrelated husky dogs are more apt
to fight and usually are not as evenly
paced—one taking shorter strides
than the other.

It is interesting to note that, con-
trary to the general practice in dog-
driving, Const. Alexander never used
a whip at any time on the speedy
round trip.

Now an R.C.A.F. officer who speci-
alizes in Arctic work, the former
Mountie does plenty of flying in the
north—in service aircraft. But as he
wings over the Mackenzie Delta in a
matter of minutes, he must often
recall when he made the journey
with “The Dogs That Fly.”

THE SHOULDER

STRAP