Akiak is a husky with a nose for adventure, and his owner, Henrik Vikse from Bergen, built a new working life around that. In 2015 the pair became an internet favourite thanks to a photo diary of camping trips, ski tours and summer hikes across Norway, posted on Instagram as Akiak the Husky.
Henrik Vikse and Akiak the husky
Vikse was 28 and had worked in construction for about ten years when he decided the fixed schedule was holding him back. "It was that 7-to-4 job with no flexibility that was the problem," he told reporters at the time. He quit, started his own business and became self-employed, which let him work intensively for a period and then head into the mountains with Akiak.
"I could never have an office job that keeps you sitting all day," he said, adding that his only regret was not making the change years earlier. The Local reported in October 2015 that his Instagram account, subtitled "A dog with a nose for adventures", had passed 10,000 followers.
Camping and ski touring across Norway
The diary follows the seasons. In winter Akiak pulls a small sled across open snow, and the tent glows under the Milky Way; in summer the pair sit above turquoise bays and green coastal slopes, or watch the sun go down over lakes and wet sand. Vikse described a shared dream of crossing most of Norway's national parks on cross-country skis.
Not every dog in the series is Akiak. Vikse also photographed dogs the two met on the road, which is why some frames show pairs of harnessed huskies together.
Tips for hiking and skiing with a dog in Norway
Norway's right to roam makes it easy to walk and camp in the outdoors, and dogs are welcome on most trails, but a few rules matter.
- Leash season: a nationwide leash requirement applies from 1 April to 20 August. Many municipalities with grazing sheep and goats extend it, so check the local rules for your route.
- Livestock: give grazing animals space and quiet, and keep your dog close when you pass them.
- Build up gradually: pulling a sled or wading through loose snow is hard work, so match distance and pace to the dog's fitness, and break in a new harness before a long trip.
- Protect paws and skin: carry paw socks and paw wax to stop snow balling between the toes, and watch ears, nose and tail for frostbite or sunburn on bright spring days.
- Feed more: dogs burn extra energy in cold weather, so pack additional food, water and a bowl, and keep chocolate out of reach.
Photographing your dog outdoors
Vikse's pictures work because the dog stays the anchor while the landscape changes. Get the camera down to the dog's eye level, mix close portraits with wide views, and include quiet moments at camp as well as action. A short, relaxed session with a familiar person nearby gives more natural results than calling for a pose over and over.
For another dog with a starring role, watch Ryder’s snowy wedding footage. For an unexpected animal encounter in the mountains, see Rafael Pease’s Chilean horse rescue.
Related reading
- Piano Around the World: Dotan Negrin’s Unusual Travelling Companion
- Christian’s Travel Photographs: A Personal Journey Through Unfamiliar Places
- Walter Chang’s Three-Year Journey: The Film Behind the Country Count
- Johnny Ward’s Travel Business: The Story Behind the Million-Dollar Headline
- Matt, Jessica and Georgie: The Early Years of a Sailing Life
- Tiny House Giant Journey: Guillaume Dutilh and Jenna Spesard’s Road Story
- Leaving Work to Travel: The Journey in the Gallery and Planning Your Own Break
- Alex Chacón’s 600-Day Travel Film: A Rotating View of the Journey
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