Emma Cowell’s adventure into the snow and ice of northern Norway, came to a stormy end in the remote countryside, just 114km from the finish line of the Finnmarksløpet 500km dog sled race.
She arrived in Levajok with eight healthy and happy dogs all eating well and free from injury, but due to storm conditions, high winds and 50cm of fresh, wet snow on the toughest mountain stage between Levajok and Skogavarre, it was decided in the best interests of both dogs and her own safety to retire.
Emma was more than happy to continue, but felt the yearlings on the team needed more time before heading out to face such extreme conditions.
“My decision to scratch was an easy one when I arrived at Levajok checkpoint,” said Emma.
“The couple of teams ahead were waiting for us, so we could head out together at 5am the next day as this was our only opportunity during a break in the storm to climb the toughest leg of the race over the mountain to Skoganvarre as safely as possible.
“It was not meant to be. The local trail breakers on snow scooters had just got back from checking on a musher stuck at the top who was an experienced Bear Grylls type. He took 16 hours to complete the leg and another team had returned defeated by the conditions.
“They reported the trail markers had been blown away in 20 metres-a-second wind (60 mph) and half-a-metre of snow had fallen covering the trail and rain had started making it very soft - a bit like a sandy beach but we call it sugary snow.
“This was not going to be a positive experience for the dogs mentally, let alone the risk of us being blown off our feet. The other teams decided to scratch and I felt there was always another day to conquer this mountain in more relatively safe conditions.”
As a rookie of the race she started with a mix of excitement and nervous energy.
“I was nervous in case I couldn't live up to my dogs’ expectations of communication and care.
“As we got further into the race, I was on a steep learning curve, which I haven’t begun to start to process until now when I look back at my fantastic experience.
“The arctic landscape was amazing. Sledding by moonlight with a Northern Lights show all around me, I realised we were being tracked by a wolf, which was slightly un-nerving as it was only then, the realisation hit that we were, indeed, all alone in this vast space.”

In the safety and comfort of her home, Emma looked back on her efforts and experiences in the Arctic wilderness.
“After the race, my initial reflection was positive and mainly concentrated on what impact the chronic conditions had on me and how I can better prepare to manage my physical and cognitive flaws in the future.”
Emma’s trek is made more amazing by the fact that she suffers Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Emma was diagnosed with the condition after she had entered for the race, but decided to carry it through after taking part in an unassisted qualifying event of 220km to prove to herself she was able to complete the race in one piece.
“With the support of my business sponsors, friends and family, all my equipment was specially adapted and race plans were adjusted to help me take part.”
In recognition if her condition she has taken the opportunity to raise funds for the for the Fibromyalgia Association UK, a charity which strives to improve the treatment options for sufferers. She has so far raised £127.50, including Gift Aid.
If you would like to donate you can still do so by going to her fundraising page at http://tinyurl.com/184ntag

While most of us will be looking out of the window this morning hoping for a little sunshine to brighten the day, Emma Cowell will be also have an eye on the weather forecast as she prepares for a 500km race across the snow and ice of Western Finnmark in Norway.
The London-based 40 year old, from Hertfordshire, will be setting off from Alta with her team of eight Siberian huskies this morning and will expect to finish sometime on Tuesday morning if all goes well.
She will be England’s only entrant in a field of 62 in the Finnmarksløpet FL-500 and takes part in the race for the first time.
The winning musher will be the one who crosses the line in the faster time with their team intact and healthy. Emma fell in love with dog sledding while studying in Alta and has been keen to take part in the race for years.
She usually takes part in races in Britain under the auspices of the British Siberian Husky Racing Association. These are in forests over tracks instead of snow and being pulled in a sled with wheels attached instead of runners.
The first Finnmarksløpet was in 1981 with just three mushers participating, but the race and the sport has been such a massive success, now around 130 entrants cross the start line each year. It has led to the sport becoming the biggest sporting and cultural event in the region and a symbol of Finnmark itself.
On top of that, since 2009 NRK (Norwegian broadcasting Corporation) has screened the race daily, with a massive ratings across the country.
The company Finnmarksløpet AS, which organises the race, has seen worldwide interest towards Norway and Finnmark during the race. The ratings on NRK TV and its own Digital media on the firm’s website amazing increase every year.
The start is from downtown Alta, across western Finnmark to return back to the city centre by Tuesday morning if the weather conditions and tracks are fairly good.
To follow Emma's progress in the race go to www.finnmarkslopet.no