With gas prices in Montana hitting a whopping $3.48 a gallon my guzzling little truck is parked. Living just a tad too far out of the center of town makes walking, my favorite means of transportation, an activity for days when time is excessive (a rarity). So, I bike. To and fro work, the grocery, to visit friends, you name it. And I do much of it with my two dogs running alongside on leash.

Originating in Scandinavia, and literally meaning “ski-driving,” skijoring combines cross-country skiing with dog mushing. As a seasoned veteran of the sport, my involvement has evolved from casual to slightly obsessed.

It’s that time of year. Days are short, nights are long. Its daunting to get up and get out in the morning darkness and then turn around and do it again in the evening. Even still, it’s been my routine for the last ten years and I’ve always done it with dogs.