A dog sledding expedition in the Central Otago high country is proving to be a stern test of human and husky.
Four "mushers'' and 10 huskies completed a four-day, 50km first traverse of the Garvie Mountains and Old Woman Range, from Mt Tennyson to Duffers Saddle, last week.
The expedition was originally planned as a 10-day journey that would extend along the Old Man Range, but illness and other setbacks forced it to be suspended last Tuesday.
Expedition leader Sarah Wilson, of Wellington, said it was decided to take a few days' break after she and three dogs came down with a stomach illness.
``We were hoping to do 10 continuous days, but it turned out it was going to be too tough on the dogs.
``We had some that weren't so well, so it was just a case of looking after them first and foremost.''
She and Kate Smith, a Franz Josef-based mountaineer and dog sled racer, resumed the trip from Duffers Saddle yesterday, with three dogs and less equipment.
The pair intended to spend another four days completing a round trip on the Old Man and Old Woman Ranges.
Wilson and Smith were accompanied on the first leg by Queenstown mountaineer Erik Bradshaw and dog sled racer Colin Whitley, of Foxton.
Wilson said the group experienced ``dog dramas'' that included two of her own huskies getting in a fight. That caused one to refuse to pull its pulk, or sled, which meant Bradshaw had to haul it for two days.
``So he got a good workout and it probably put him off Antarctic sledging forever.''
The expedition was a step towards their long-term goal of establishing a route for a 1000km dog sledding trail along the length of the South Island in winter.
It had been an excellent test of equipment and logistics, as well as dog-handling, she said.
``We did go quite a lot slower than we thought we would, but it's partly about managing the dog team. We were learning a hang of a lot as we went.''
They spent three nights in ``very cold'' tent camps, but were paid back by the beauty of the landscape.
``It was amazingly beautiful ... It's not that often visited, so it felt really special to be there.''
The expedition has financial backing from Sport NZ through a Hillary Expedition grant, as well as receiving commercial sponsorship.
