In a previous life I had one of the earliest english language web pages on skijoring (nordic skiing with your dog). In today's life Kateva prefers running to pulling, and sometimes my kids need a bit of a boost miles from the trailhead.
So now I'm the dog. Call it Skidadding - nordic skiing with your Dad.
I don't need a pulk, I want the kids to stay on their skis. I need a lead and I need a skijoring harness they can wear. That leaves my harness to develop.
I thought of anchoring to my shoulders, but they move too much and that places too much strain on my back. A friend's friend is co-leader of Minnesota's Wilderness Classroom, she suggested adapting a pulk harness.
Ready made pulk harnesses are hard to find in the US, but another Minnesotan, Ed Bouffard, has a web site on building your own ski pulk or mountaineering sled or gear sled. He sells parts for pulks, and provides a free PDF on pulk construction.
Mr. Bouffard advises building a harness using either a Camp Trails replacement backpack belt (alas, I don't think these are sold any more!) or a heavy duty lumbar (fanny) pack with built in shoulder straps. A canvas repair shop can sew on loops made of 3/4" nylon webbing. Carabiners can then be attached just behind the lateral hips loops.
I can then use a nylon loop from the binners to a skijoring lead attached a skijoring harness on a child.
Seems simple enough -- a fun project for the fall. I'll update this post with what I end up doing.
Update 11/8/10: Some products I probably won't buy due to cost, I think I can make something sufficient for my needs.
- Skijor Now belt for Skijoring or "Canicross": $130
- Ultrapaws Skijor hip belt: $70 (I like this one).