The team and I are back on exploration duty! Yea!!We had so much fun and it was really nice to see everyone in perfect form and strength. The last time we broke trail both Reba and Juno gave sign that they didn't want the duty so I was wondering if they were out of the trail breaking business.
They were both loose but this time they went right to the front of the team, ran side by side, in stride and broke trail about four feet ahead of Hermes and Ichabod who were leading. It was one of those priceless moments I wish I could have gotten on camera!
But I'm getting ahead of myself, lets start at the beginning...
We changed our hook up point to the far end of the dyke to cut out some miles and hit the fresh trail they would need to work through early. The new take off spot did offer its challenges and it was really weird to have an audience so far out. A couple of walkers were taking advantage of the gorgeous day to walk along the top of the dyke and stayed long enough to see the team and I take off. If they wanted a show they weren't disappointed!
I pulled the snub line and off they flew while I rode my drag pad with both feet trying to slow them down! It was like snowboarding with a handle! They were going so fast and the accent down the ramp off the dyke helped increase their speed a bit more than I liked!
Once we got on the flat stretch it was time to think fast, our normal trails were coming up quickly. The dogs hit the turns and we were flying! Before long we hit the new trail that had only been broken out by us twice. They made short work of that and when we hit the fresh patch they did excellent, hardly missing a beat!
It was really fortunate that a moose, or a wolf (both tracks have been plentiful this year) had taken the exact trail we wanted to and it gave the leaders a place to follow. Once we passed up the game trail they were back on cue and only had trouble taking commands once we hit the field section where it was wide open. Juno did her best with only Ichabod being a bit challenged on where to go.
Below is a short video of the team after we hit the field. It was so beautiful out there, the sun was high, the mountains on the horizon... one of the best moments we've had all year...
(video clip may be a bit fuzzy, I didn't have it on the normal settings)
Once we past the field section I was able to confirm our location and realize that we had made another training loop for the team! Whoo hoo!!
But after we had gotten to the other side and back on the old trails I had worried I was taking them too far. I phoned up James just in time before he left work and he agreed to swing by and repark the truck in our usual parking spot. That saved us about five miles off our trip. It was a very good call since the team ran a full 20 miles yesterday! That's a big jump up from the ten they had done the run before. They all came in looking fantastic with only Olive and Salmon looking a bit worse for wear.
The sled was fully loaded and about midway I snacked them heavily with chicken which helped reduce the weight a bit. But that quickly changed as Olive was having trouble and showing signs of fatigue so I loaded her up in the sled and that brought back up any weight we lost from the snacks and then some!
Olive really didn't like riding in the bag so after a few miles I let her out to run again and put Salmon in her place. This may be Salmon's last run with us this season... shes showing signs of fatigue and, as some sled dogs too, decide they would rather enjoy couch life than hard work for the rest of their days.
Other dogs will work up until the day they die and never want anything else but after I saw Salmon all snugged up in the sled bag completely content I think she may want to stay home. Next season may be different but only time will tell...
All the dogs came in looking far better than I expected. Every one of them had wonderfully high spirits, great appetites and shot out of their boxes after we got home. Even Olive still had energy to spare even though she couldn't keep her tug tight the entire time on the trail. I have a feeling she may be like Ichabod, never knowing when to quit and wanting to run up until the day shes done with this life. Shes hard working, loving and I cant wait to see how she exceeds up with the team as we extend our runs even farther. Shes going to make some musher very, very happy...
Miles: 19.8
Max Speed: 18.7
Moving Average: 6.6
But after we had gotten to the other side and back on the old trails I had worried I was taking them too far. I phoned up James just in time before he left work and he agreed to swing by and repark the truck in our usual parking spot. That saved us about five miles off our trip. It was a very good call since the team ran a full 20 miles yesterday! That's a big jump up from the ten they had done the run before. They all came in looking fantastic with only Olive and Salmon looking a bit worse for wear.
Olive really didn't like riding in the bag so after a few miles I let her out to run again and put Salmon in her place. This may be Salmon's last run with us this season... shes showing signs of fatigue and, as some sled dogs too, decide they would rather enjoy couch life than hard work for the rest of their days.
Other dogs will work up until the day they die and never want anything else but after I saw Salmon all snugged up in the sled bag completely content I think she may want to stay home. Next season may be different but only time will tell...
All the dogs came in looking far better than I expected. Every one of them had wonderfully high spirits, great appetites and shot out of their boxes after we got home. Even Olive still had energy to spare even though she couldn't keep her tug tight the entire time on the trail. I have a feeling she may be like Ichabod, never knowing when to quit and wanting to run up until the day shes done with this life. Shes hard working, loving and I cant wait to see how she exceeds up with the team as we extend our runs even farther. Shes going to make some musher very, very happy...
Miles: 19.8
Max Speed: 18.7
Moving Average: 6.6
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