The team took off without a hitch, a beautiful fly off the starting area with only Salmon getting dragged for a moment. She corrected herself and hopefully learned this time to face front instead of looking at me for the sign to go! I couldn't hook up her neck line cause Lucy will bite her or chew off both neck lines out of frustration. I slowed the team as much as I could and let Salmon get back on her feet. I can only stop them in certain areas cause our snow is still not reliable but slowing down helped a lot. She got on her feet, lined out as the team was running and we were all set. Smart girl!
I wanted to go straight but since we had taken a left so many times out in our recent training Reba took the turn. I objected but in the end I let her have it. It was too much to expect a correction without mishap. Again, the snow being what it is...
Juno ran in swing most of the time... was trying to run just Reba and Ichabod together for a while, give Juno a break. Juno did fine, was actually a bit less 'bitchy' to her partner than usual. Interesting to see that... I will see how switching her in and out over time helps mold the team more.
So off we head to our new training trails that Robert and I have carved out. Lots of trail breaking about 4 or 5 miles in. Robert had taken my loop so I took his old one this time. That way both trail systems got smoothed out again by dog team after our new snow. There has been almost no snowmachine traffic out there so any grooming has been up to us. Tough work...
That part of the run was nice, very beautiful and I should have taken more pictures... there weren't too many moments that I felt would be good to stop though and again, the snow... I wish it could be more dependable.
The dogs plowed on, flattening the trail as best we could... the temps were up in the 25-30 above range, way too hot! We kept going, more trail breaking and even when we weren't flat out breaking trail the snow machine tracks we did find ended up being punchy... not good... still the dogs plowed on.
They were looking really good and even though Griffin dropped completely out of the team early due to the heat and punchy footing, we were making good progress. Got the sled stuck on a tree sticking out from the trail then got my axe out to chop it off...
I felt so stupid with my stubby little snack beater (the one I used to break up frozen trail snacks) but it worked. Made a mental note to put a long handled axe on my birthday wish list...
Got the tree chopped, we continued on our way, more trail breaking, a bit more punchy trail... the dogs started to slow down, I started thinking about trail snacks. Didn't want to stop them then cause we were on a main trail but I suppose I could have, we hardly saw anyone out there. I ran them down a mile or so more to a quieter section and snacked them hoping it would liven them up.
"What, moose AGAIN? Who made this lunch box?" as I opened the 'mystery bag' of snacks. I was hoping for more hydrating salmon snacks... I don't think the dogs cared they seemed to think it tasted pretty good... all ate well and no one refused food so that was a good sign.
They took off well for a while then slowed down... I could see each dog physically switching off and on. I pushed them too hard which is weird cause they could have done this in their sleep no problem with all the training they have had, even with all the trail breaking, but I think it was the temps that really took their steam away. They were just plain pooped...
Not all runs are supposed to be perfect but I really, really wanted this one to be. Dang... still, a 14 or 15 mile run, 11 dogs on the line and lots of work put in is a good one... I think Ive gotten too spoiled from our other nicer trips.
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