Busy Week

When is it not busy around here?!

Anyway, I'm a bit late with updates so I thought I would catch up before I hit the trail handling for Scott Chesney during the Yukon Quest 300. Going to be an interesting trip and I'm sure by the end of it I will be very glad hes not doing the full race!

Handling for a team can be rewarding and challenging at the same time and I'm up for the adventure but its always hard to break away from James and the pups even if its only for a few days.

Our very latest news is that this winter may not be so bad after all! The weather has been very mild and this morning it is only a few degrees above zero. No new snow but it sure is nice not to have to pile all the pups inside at -50. So far only a few have had to come in (aside from their usual office time) though I think Griffin may have graduated to a permanent house dog along with Mercury. James is such a softy and hes not helping me follow the 'rules' very well.

Ironically these were rules put down by James many, many years ago but it appears things have changed quite a bit since then. He is now leaning towards letting Chronos stay inside now too! I do have to put my foot down to that just a little bit though... I want to be absolutely positive that James is okay with everything 100%. He has given far too much to me and the dogs for any of us to take his hospitality for granted. We are all incredibly grateful for what he has allowed our lives to be today.

The other HUGE news is that we got our brand new sled from Dave Klumb (Laughing Husky) a few days ago. I seriously need to get out there and take some photos of this wonderful HUGE sled! Its a beautiful beast and Dave made everything perfectly to our specs!

The runners curve so high in the front that it looks almost like the old sleds they used way back in history with the curved front ends. Dave brought everything together in that curve based on the height of our dogs so they will be pulling from a straight angle without the added, unwanted pressure on their hips.

I cant wait to get it out to try but it will have to wait just a bit until I can get back home, get a few clients out for rides on our old sled before I can get back to our regular training schedule where I can get used to driving this new one. This is the time of year when tourists really start to show up so we may continue to be busier than usual with rides. We shall see...

But, I did want to quickly get caught up on our past White Mountains trip before I head out for the Quest trail...

The trailer was about half done when we set out but were able to get all my guys in with a few of Nita's up in the cab of the truck. Two sleds fit nicely down the aisle and we still had room for two more kennels up front for the two extra dogs who didn't have room for in the boxes that were complete.

The trip into Moose Creek cabin was a delight. We barely saw anyone, just a few skiers and the dogs did some really nice passes by even if the person had a dog with them.

We traveled on into the night and watched the full moon rise as we mushed on in, lighting our way. The hills were challenging but we all made it through even with our sleds heavily loaded with gear.

It was tough going though since we only had a team and a half to divide up between three people. All the mushers had to help a lot on the hills and at one point one team only had four dogs while I tried to keep the main core up with me since we were carrying most of the weight. It would have been far tougher if we had little dogs in our team but with all these big boys we made some really good time.

Hera impressed me especially. I was really thrilled to see her come into her own that trip. She worked hard and I was so impressed by her ease taking to the trail. She is probably the most sensitive dog I have in the yard but even with the ride in a foreign dog box, staying overnight out in the woods and traveling with strangers, she did fantastic!

But the way in wasn't flawless. I had only been to the Whites a handful of times but even then its extremely hard to get lost out there. Once we passed by a turn that wasn't marked we checked the map and continued on straight. Once we crested a few more hills we began to wonder if we had taken the right way. After a quick assessment of the trail, mushers and dogs we decided to head back up the hills and try the passed turn.

Back we went, as tired as we all were, down the turn, only to find that it was a radio tower of some sort. No cabin anywhere... after another assessment we decided to head back the way we came, trusting the trails, hoping we didn't miss a signpost, and head into Moose Creek cabin or what ever cabin beyond it. It was either that or head for the truck and none of us were ready to tackle those hills without a decent rest.

On we went, slowly getting mentally spent, while I tried my best to keep my thoughts purely positive. The dogs can sense EVERYTHING and if I remained positive, so did they...

Once we were up on another crest the wind whipped through and all I wanted to do was get back into the tree line. Camping in the wind was not an option for any of us... but if it were daylight I would have been able to see the cabin on the trail straight ahead of us. It wasn't until we were nearly on top of it that I was able to see and give the command to Juno to head straight in.

Who ever had been there before us was so considerate to leave dry wood and tinder ready for a quick fire in the wood stove, and I have to tell you, that fire never felt so good!

While all the pups were outside running around we secured the ones who couldn't be loose and set about the business of getting the sleds unpacked and our bodies slowed down to rest.

As I looked around it dawned on me that this had been the same cabin I had been to with a group of friends as Tim and I came up the rear with our slower teams. The memories of that place came flooding back and as I set up the drop lines in the sheltered area for the dogs the ghosts of those passed came into mind...

I could see Aquila there resting, so content and so quiet, regal like the queen she always was... I could see Iris there sharing a bed next to Sue and Ursa off in her own nest completely comfortable to curl up by herself. I could see Canis at the end of the line still ready to go, his old face reminding me that his memories hadn't faded a bit.

And I could see all the dogs in Tim's team... Wolf resting so quietly, Berries curled up, Ras always asking for attention. Toby and Mojo wild and crazy as ever so full of life and love, as the sun set and cast a halo around Toby's dark fur.

Most of those dogs are gone now, though the memories remain and I still have wonderful photos that are so fresh in my mind. I barely need to take them out to remember what each of them looks like and how special that trip was...

This song and painting really touches on the same feelings of that moment...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUezYWE5tj8

Hera and Remus were the only ones who needed to stay outside on the drop line. Hera does not like being indoors (she barely tolerates her dog house at home) and since her and Remus are such good friends it was best for him to stay out there with her for company. For hours I could hear those two restlessly moving about before they finally settled into their straw and slept.

The others all piled into the cabin with most of my guys jockeying for bed space next to me. Oh, what I would have done to have those puppy days back again, if not for their sweet breath at least we could have all fit on the bed together! We just barely managed with Hermes and Boreas taking to the floor under my bunk.

There is nothing better than being part of the pack on the trail and off. I often refer to these guys as being part of my life with no end or beginning... that really is no exaggeration...

Thanks to the wood we hauled in we didn't need to make another trip to cut firewood and we could all rest and sleep. I was envious of Calypso who laid at my head practically snoring. She was clearly getting a great nights rest along with the others. I tossed and turned a bit but did manage to dream of James a few times to be with him while he was also restless back at home.

When the dawn slowly came to our window I rose and started the fire again, sat on the table and watched the light flood onto the land.

The fog continued to roll in on the distant hills like a slow meditation as my pups settled in again at my feet for another nap. Sitting there in my sleeping bag while everyone else slept, watching the land that I love wake from its sleep... well, there is nothing quite as heavenly as that. It is a feeling that I am reluctant to put into words and perhaps there truly are no words for it...

The way out was tough. The dogs were looking great, we had fed most of the food we brought to them and ate some ourselves. That really helped lessen our loads but those hills still remained. On and on we climbed into the fog never knowing when we would reach the top of each hill but so grateful when we did.

The dogs started struggling so we put a few extras in my team and hooked Nita with the little sled back to mine while Josh continued on with his small team.

Running a tandem sled really helped the guys on the hills but it was still a struggle... and its funny but I greatly enjoyed being able to help again. Ever since this last litter there has been little for me to do. I welcomed the bruises and sore muscles it gave me afterwards.

We passed quite a few large teams on the way out and I found a few dogs who need a bit more correction with passing. I made a few mental notes to focus on them for future training runs and headed on.

For the last few miles the sun came out brightly and burned off all the fog opening the landscape and frosted trees to our weary eyes. It was a welcome sight all around and seeing the sunlight dance halos on all the dogs, especially Griffin who ran ahead, it was nothing short of angelic.

More photos can be seen on our Facebook page... follow the link on the right hand side of the screen...