Back on the 'horse'

I'm still having nightmares related from the trap experience but getting out on the trail yesterday was more than a blessing.

Its getting cold fast now and we look to be entering another deep freeze for a few days. It will be time to load up the dogs again and make sure all are happy, warm and well. No time on the trail until it warms up again but this last run was so beautiful that I'm content to wait for a little bit...

My friend and I found some new trails and possibly some new connections to some trails I had already been running on. Its very exciting exploring like this and having two teams doing the work and discovery instead of just one.

Yesterday we got off to a rocky start... I was a bit late to the trail head and had scrambled to get my team harnessed and on the line to intercept Robert as he ran his team an extra mile to buy me some time.

It worked but unfortunatly we ended up at the same turning point at the EXACT same time... what are the odds?

His team went by behind us beautifully but Reba and Juno were so confused that it took us a few attempts to get going the right way. I had taught them for so long NOT to follow a team so seeing Robert pass didn't encourage them either way... bummer.

Both Juno and Reba seemed to think that going right or straight ahead were the only options. It was kind of comical, I kept thinking of the movie Zoolander, "I cant turn left!". Which, if you've seen the movie, the dogs decided to use the 'Zoolander solution' and turned right so much that they were eventually going left... very comical if I wasnt worried about loosing the whole team!

I had to reset my hooks about three times and finally chanced getting off the sled. The dogs were in a ball so I used that to my advantage, set my hooks again and went up to untangle everyone.

It worked out well and I may use that technique again in the future. Having the dogs be all tangled up like that looks a mess on the outside but it didnt take long to get them straight. The alternative of risking them pulling the hook and taking off was not good... Id rather be in a mess than loose my team.

The snow levels are still not the greatest, its getting better but not by much... still, we are on sleds (have been for some time) and most of the time its good trail so I cant complain. Im still amazed and pleased that when I go to pull the hook there is little resistance. Often times I wonder how they stay stopped if there is nothing for the hooks to grab... its due from their training and excellent behavior. What a great team!

Salmon came out with us today for the first time since her surgeries. Shes been driving me nuts convincing me she can do it, she can go, no more bed rest! So I listened...

She did great but was off her tug for some of the run. I bagged her on the way back and we had some great moments. I couldnt focus on my team once she was comfortable in the sled bag. She kept throwing her head back and asking me to pet under her chin, remove the frost from her face and scratch her jaw (as best I could with mits on!).

Salmon has been a very shy girl ever since she came to live with us and its been great to see her blossom and grow to trust me.

The trails were beyond beautiful today, the sun setting magnificantly and with excellent company (both dog and human alike) ahead of my team it made for a truly wonderful day and an excellent ride back on the 'horse'.

Mush On!