Life is Great on the Chinook Trail!

At Walden's request, Route 113A from Tamworth to Wonalancet, New Hampshire, now bears the name "Chinook Trail" to honor his famous lead dog.

Intervale Crystal, Katherine, Honey and Kali on watch at the Chinook Trail, Wonalancet, New Hampshire.

Chinook sisters Intervale Crystal, Katherine and Honey with their mom, Mountain Laurel Kali

Arthur and Kate Sleeper Walden's farm is located on Route 113A, now called The Chinook Trail, which runs through the heart of the Intervale.   Along this road lived Julia Lombard of Wonalancet Hubbard Kennels.   Julia took on the breeding of Chinook dogs from Arthur Walden, and sold Chinook stock to Perry Greene, who started his own special chapter on the history of the Chinook.  

Historic Chinook Breeder Julia Lombard playing with the Chinook pups.

Julia Lombard

Wonalancet Hubbard Kennels with Chinook Dogs and Arthur Walden exhibiting at a sportsman's show.

Sportsman Show with Chinooks and Julia Lombard, Arthur Walden and Ed Moody, sponsored by Old Mother Hubbard dog foods, still in existence today.

Boston Sportsman Show advertisement with Chinook Dogs who resemble today's Chinooks!

These young Chinooks resemble Chinooks of today, including an uncanny resemblance to Intervale Ursa! (Front-right dog)

Chinook Kennels

Milton and Eva "Short" Seeley's famous Chinook Kennels produced sled dogs for racing, showing, and exploration.   Chinook Kennels exerted a profound influence on the development of the Siberian and the Malamute breeds, and the Seeleys advanced the concept of the duel purpose sled dog -a dog capable of winning in conformation rings as well as in sled dog races.

Early Husky Puppies at Eva Seeley's Chinook Kennels, Wonalancet NH

Mushers in History

In addition to Arthur Walden, Julia Lombard, and Milton and Short Seeley, sledding icons Leonard Seppala, Lorna Demodorf, Dick Moulton, Jean Briar, Ed Moody, Doc Lombard, and Norman Vaughn, are just a few of the great mushers who trained, raced, or visited the Intervale. 

Sled dog driver Ed Moody advertisement of Chinooks at Julia Lombard's Wonalancet Kennel, New Hampshire.

More from Authur Walden and Birch Intervale:

  • “The Tamworth Narrative,” by Marjory Gane Harkness, c 1958, Silver Mountain Press, Washington Depot, CT. Available from the Tamworth NH Library.
  • “A Dog-Puncher on the Yukon,” by Arthur Treadwell Walden, c 1928, Houghton Mifflin Company, Riverside Press, Cambridge, MA.
  • “Leading a Dog’s Life,” by Arthur Treadwell Walden, c.1931, Houghton Mifflin Company.
  • “Chinook and his Family, True Dog Stories” by Eva Brunell Seeley and Martha A. L. Lane, c. 1930, Ginn and Company
VISIT THE PAGES AND PHOTOS at INTERVALE CHINOOKS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS REMARKABLE, RARE, AMERICAN WORKING DOG BREED: THE CHINOOK DOG!