... of broken snaps, chewed lines and lost team

Our run yesterday was filled with more adventure, most of the time good but at the end not so much...

We broke out more trail, actually more than I thought they were capable of, but they came in looking so fresh that I think I need to adjust my views on how much they are ready for. Its just so incredible how strong these guys are and its been a bit of a disservice to them to cut them so short. There is a large part of me that doesn't want to hurt them or put them in a position that they cant get out of. That would be a fine place to be if I was getting close to their abilities but from the looks of things right now Ive only just started tapping into that wellspring.

Sorry about the lack of photos... the run was so hard most of the time that I barely had a chance to get out the camera. The first few miles were on broken well used trail and in those first few miles we met two skijorers and a few dog walkers.

Fortunately we only had to pass by the skijorers and the team did very well considering how close they were. Only Juno had a bit of trouble but I held off from correcting her until we were just a few feet from them. I said her name in my 'behave yourself' voice and she popped right over on our own trail. The others barely pulled over to investigate which was a great sign.

Even Hermes, who was up leading with Juno, barely batted an eye. He wants nothing to do with strange people or strange dogs. My confidence in his leadership is skyrocketing... hes accomplished so much for one so young. Hard to believe that last year I was doubting if he even wanted to be a sled dog!

Once we hit the unbroken trail they were still charging and did excellent if the path through the trees was obvious. When it wasn't I had to break out my snowshoes, drop the team down to four and break it out myself. We spent a long time doing that... up and back, up and back, while the other dogs who I can trust loose romped and played in the deep snow as if they were on spring break!

They all have been getting much better about not tromping on my snowshoes. That has been a HUGE help but since the temps were above zero my pants were getting soaked from the snow and it was too hot to keep anything over them to keep dry. It wasn't as much of a discomfort as I thought it would be and I didn't freeze any body parts... that's always a bonus.

Its been tough finding the trails back there but we are making a lot of head way. Ive found that we need to break new trail out for a mile if its deep, or hard to find, or at least five miles if the dogs know where we are going. After that I have to direct them to existing trails quickly to get even more miles in (at least 15 more) before it gets too dark or we run out of trail time. Even then when we are headed back to the truck they are still asking for more.

We did manage to break out an old trail that we broke out weeks back. That was much easier than I thought it would be and every one made short work of it. It is still rough in there though... we broke a few snaps and a tug line got chewed somewhere along the way.

Once we hit the packed trail they were flying again... so much so I couldn't believe my eyes. I had both fosters, Olive and Laya, in the team and they were helping keep up the pace and working very hard. They both were great when we were breaking trail. When we stopped they were both calm and when we got back to work they pulled wonderfully.

We spotted a few snowshoe hares after dark which got them going even more but I was so tired after all the breaking trail and stopping to work out various trail issues (sled getting stuck, fixing chewed or broken lines, untangling dogs) that I didn't notice a bump at the base of a hill, lost my footing and fell face first on the trail at an odd angle.

The crack I heard in my back really scared me and I couldn't say anything to the dogs for at least five seconds. When I looked up they didn't realize I was gone and were traveling so fast that they were out of sight in seconds. I didn't have any chance to call whoa to them before they were around the bend and any of the dogs who were ready to stop where encouraged on by those who weren't. Olive and Laya have gotten so strong doing runs with us that I bet those two were helping to keep the team well on their way.

After a few minutes of walking and not finding them I called James at the house and had him make the ten minute drive to the parking lot. He got there well before the team did and Juno brought the whole team right up to him. James was able to get most of the dogs in the truck and safe while he tied off the three who he couldn't manage and walked down the trail with Spock to find me.

It was pretty lonely walking the 2 1/2 miles back but when Spock was close enough to hear me call he shot away from James and came to my rescue. That moment is one I will never forget... my loyal boy, such a welcome sight for my very tired eyes...

I learned a lot of things that day... that Ive gotten too lax about loosing my team and that I need to be more vigilant. There were at least three times I could have lost them that day due to my carelessness. In the 12+ years Ive been mushing Ive never had to walk so far to recover them... it was a good lesson though and everyone was safe at the end with only one more chewed line to add to the damage of the day.

On that trip I found a peace within myself that I never knew existed and I also realized how much I didn't want to have to depend on James, or anyone for that matter. Its been the story of my life... ever since I was little I was taught that no one can be depended on for anything. Its been a positive lesson in that its made me fiercely independent but it appears that this time of my life is about being humble and accepting help from someone who has proven over and over to be my most dependable dearest friend. I am extremely lucky that he also happens to be my husband! : )

There have been so many times this season that Ive been on the sled reflecting back on my life, on all the many changes and realizing that I am entering into a different time, that I am a different person, a different wife, a different musher... its exciting to look to the future and see the possibilities, very, very exciting...

James and I are planning a few big changes in our lives that are so very exciting but I dont want to speak of it now until its more concrete. When it happens it will be amazing and my goal of offering an even more rewarding and enriching life for the dogs and us can continue beyond my wildest dreams!

Total miles: 18