Again I come to you with feelings of utter amazement! Our run yesterday was 14 miles and about 5 or 6 miles was breaking open virgin trail. Our snow load isn't too heavy yet which makes the task much easier than it was last year when we were still stumbling about opening up these new paths with much deeper snow, but even though the snow is lower it is still very hard work for these puppies!Unfortunately I didn't get too many photos of our trip, with the rough terrain and the intense cold (it was -27 when we got back to the trail head) I was limited on how many times I could get my camera out. But thanks to my wonderful new dog fur lined overmits (made from naturally shed dog fur http://www.leaddoggraphics.com/Musher_Wear/index.html) that I made this summer my hands were nice and toasty! I will have to get a photo of those soon... they are pretty neat!
The beginning of our run was a little challenging. Nita's dog, Skinny P, kept slipping her harness and her collar. Fortunately Robert was there to help having just arrived to do his own run as we were ready to leave and he helped Nita get her team straight.
In my team Gaea also slipped her collar and I had to stop them way too early for my liking, not because of any impatience but because of safety. The trail we took had no trees close by so I had to rely on calm dogs and an overturned sled to stop them. Everyone did very well, though Thani needs to get another refresher course this year on what whoa means! :)
Trail breaking was tough but Hermes shined through once again, even after Juno quit. Its hard for her to maintain her position up front since she is so short but she did manage to get back to work once we were through the thickest patches. I only had to get off the sled a few times to show Hermes the right direction but as soon as we hit the tundra trail he reached back deep into his memory and followed the course perfectly!
I was in doubt much of the time since that trail is still so new to me but I decided to trust the dogs and keep quiet just to see what would happen. The result was amazing! Seeing him and Ichabod up there... Hermes acting as the brains, Ichabod the brawn... it was truly impressive!
We busted out two trails in one run that I normally would have done in two! That says a lot since I was busting out half of that trail last year with twice as many dogs! This time out they were divided into two eight dog teams and they were all smokin' the entire time! Though when I stopped to give them a breather Thani was more than willing to lay down and rest. He worked SOLID the ENTIRE time. I was so darn impressed and his big muscles really carried us through. Remus was the same and Hera was very consistent on this trip too! All the dogs are looking fantastic!!
And Nita is doing extremely well herself! I was so impressed when we pitched off the bank down onto the little slough portion of the trail. For hills like that I don't like to look and anticipate how the dogs and I will handle it, I would rather just go for it and hope for the best... that way I don't have time to get nervous!
We pitched over the side, dogs looking great, my brakes being pretty well useless but I managed to keep the sled up right and the dogs stopped at the bottom. Nita followed shortly after as I waited to make sure she was going to make it alright. Her dogs took to it perfectly and her sled came down just as it should but with her having only one leg on the runner, the other outstretched for balance and a cry of, "Whoo hoo!" as she came down. An amazing tackle for such a challenging trail and a great positive outlook in the face of such a challenge!
I headed out with a heavily loaded sled, carrying most of our gear, but ditched the firewood at a predetermined checkpoint so we could incorporate it into our tours later on (http://www.alaskaspiritwalk.com/Tours/index.html). That helped the dogs pull a slightly lighter sled home and they really picked it up on the groomed trail back! I was so impressed that they still had that much speed and power to take us home in such grand style!
Thani was looking for a little sympathy when we got back. He just stood in front of me with his head down, completely pooped, pushing his forehead into my legs and waiting for me to take his harness off. What a love he is! So gentle and all business when we need him the most. As a treat I let him ride in my Jeep on the way back instead of in the dog kennels of Nita's trailer that we have been using until my new dog truck is out of the shop.
And thanks to James we will finally have a new set of wheels and be able to tackle the trail in any temperature without risking damage to the dog truck!! We will also be using Nita's trailer that will soon be installed with more dog boxes but with our new truck we will have the option of busting out paths in her neck of the woods on Murphy Dome! That will be VERY exciting!!
So much adventure still ahead of us and already I am thinking of what beautiful pups Thani will bring to us! It is still a long ways off to start thinking of puppies but how can I not when I see how amazing that boy is? Hermes is also quite amazing but his lack of coat and slightly lighter build makes Thani top pick...
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