BETHLEHEM — The Forest Society and Muddy Paw Kennel of Jefferson, NH will present a free program on the history of dog sledding for recreation and entertainment at The Rocks Estate in Bethlehem on January 12 at 7 p.m.

The story of dog sledding as recreation and entertainment in Coos County is tied directly to the history of the mills, logging, and the forest industry during the first half of the 20th Century. Winter carnivals in Berlin had teams of sled dogs racing through downtown, and one intrepid woman took a team to the summit of Mount Washington.

Sally Manikian and Chase Tingle, mushers from Muddy Paw, will present this remarkable history of sled dogs in the North Country, with help from some of their furry four-legged friends, lots of pictures, and dog sledding gear.

Manikian and Tingle bring 5 years of dog sledding experience to the program, which will take the audience back in time before snow machines and ATVs ruled the winter woods.

Manikian has completed several seasons of backcountry work in the White Mountains. From trail work in the summer, to manning an unheated cabin

at the edge of the alpine zone in the winter, to serving on the Board of Directors for the Randolph Mountain Club, Manikian is a self confessed “history dork” who teaches European History as an adjunct professor at Plymouth State University.

Tingle, an archeologist by trade, is an outdoors enthusiast who enjoys backcountry skiing and hiking with his two dogs.

The Rocks Estate is owned and operated by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (http://www.forestsociety.org). The Forest Society is non-profit membership organization founded in 1901 to protect the state’s most important landscapes and promote wise use of its natural resources.

For more information about this program call 603-444-6228.

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