(Courtney bundled against the Canadian cold)

He snaps his rope and his dogs pull his sled off down the hill toward the lake. When I try to snap my cord, my metal catch is frozen shut. I have to take off my glove, wrap my hand around the metal to melt the ice and try to tug it loose. Courtney is yelling "Go, Jay! We have to go! Go!" Finally it snaps! The sled lurches forward like it's being pulled by 8 mad and furious dogs (imagine that).