Tromso, Nowray Day 3,

This morning we were back to Camp Tamok, this time to go Reindeer sledding.  After again getting kitted out in warm gear, we headed a little way away as the reindeer can't be kept near the dogs.  We started in a little heated Lavvu where we were told about the Sami culture and their way of life.  We learnt how they care for the reindeer and how they move herds of thousands from the winter grounds to the summer grounds and back each year.  We learnt how modern techology such as drones and satalite tagging is helping them.  We learned that the reindeers predators are protected therefore all they can do is scare them away, they can't shoot lynx or wolverines.

Eventually we headed out to meet the reindeer.  In pairs we were given a reindeer (ours still had his winter antlers which they lose after rutting season).  They were then tethered to the sleds in a chain and we sat back to back, as they headed out, led by the Sami guide and his wife.  Part way along, the flighty young deer attached to the sled behind us broke his harness.  A quick stop and the lady had rigged up a fix for it.  It was so peaceful to sit on the sled, surrounded by beautiful countryside, the only noise the crunching of snow under hooves and sleds and snow lightly falling.  Very medative.  We swapped round at half way so the one looking at a reindeer bottom got to look at a face instead.

Once back at the camp we were allowed to feed the reindeer.  The Sami people collect the moss in the autumn as the reindeer they keep in the winter grounds need some supplementary feeding.  This is especially important when the weather is like it has been, alternating cold and rain, which forms hard layers of ice that the reindeer can't easily dig through.

We then were back to the toasty Lavvus from last night for lunch, this time a fish soup and mroe of the tasty bread.

We had a quiet evening, packing for the next part of our adventure tomorrow.