This weekend we ran in the Aurora 50/50. That is, 50 miles on Saturday and 50 on Sunday (actually it was closer to 37 miles, but still a decent run). The dogs ran really well and I would have been happy with them regardless, but it was especially nice because we came in 3rd place. We won $200, which just about covers the entry fee, gas to and from the race, and booties that we used!

We were right behind Cim Smyth and Dee Dee Jonrowe, right ahead of Ray Redington, Mike Jonrowe, and another Redington team. Erin Redington and I were competing  for third, but she quit the race to assist a junior musher whose team was struck by a snow machine. We are all very thankful that Erin was there and able to help out.

Next weekend is the Knik 200. The forecast is for very cold. I am trying to convince myself I am tough and can handle it....

Last weekend there was a race at Sheep Mountain, 150 miles of seriously steep hills. We did not run that race, but this weekend we took advantage of the marked trail to run somewhere new and challenging for the dogs.

We ran the first 50 mile leg, up over Gunsight Pass (steep and long), then over Belanger Pass (steep and longer), and then winding up and down through the valleys and ridges over to Eureka.

In the week since the race, portions of the trail had seriously deteriorated. There were numerous patches of glaciation, where water wells up over ice and freezes on top. The ice had grown during the week, obliterating the race trail. To the left, the side hill ice offered no traction, sending dogs and sleds sliding off the abrupt edge. To the right were tall willow bushes that grabbed and held the sled. In the middle was a narrow strip of thigh deep, unsolidified snow which sucked onto the sled and held it. I must have fallen 20 times on the ice trying to heave the sled up out of the heavy snow, and gotten stuck in the bushes a dozen times trying from the other side. The dogs did a great job working together to heave the sled forward and find the best trail, even as they struggled to keep their footing.  Patches of glaciation continued for miles, including one memorable quarter mile section that I completed on my hands and knees, shoving and yanking on the sled. Of course we got a late start, so we did all but the first hour or so in the dark.

After a great run, with some pauses to struggle, we stopped in Eureka to rest for a few hours. We decided not to go back the same way, but ran down the easy trail on the powerline and then plugged up over Gunsight Pass again and back to the truck.

Last Thursday we each took a team to Eklutna Lake for a night run under the full moon. It was a beautiful night - tall snow covered peaks, glowing moonlight, a beautiful trail. But....but.

In the dark before the moon rose, we didn't see where the trail (the real trail, the trail with snow) turned off. We went careening down a hard-packed plowed road until it dead-ended at a building and the dogs piled up in one screaming ball. Twenty stressful, sweaty minutes later we had both teams turned around, untangled and roaring off down the road back to the truck. In the struggle and clamor of untangling and turning, two little girls managed to get loose. Instead of staying with their pack as the dogs usually do, they swooped off in tandem, disappearing around the bend.

After an hour and a half of searching by truck and by team, just as we were giving up the hunt, back they came, full of the excitement of running free in moonlight. Once more we tied off the sleds, hooked up all 20 dogs, and took off down the trail. This time the turn from the icy road was a success and we got a chance to run down the wide, rolling trail for a much shorter run than we had planned.

There is no end to the surprises, stress, and accidents looming around the corner when running dogs. That is part of the game, and being able to handle the problems and still enjoy the run is something to learn.

I spent all of last weekend attending the mandatory Iditarod Rookie Meeting. It was a long couple of days filled with lectures, presentations, and lots of good information. I felt pretty confident because most of the information presented, such as a review of the trail, vet information, packing lists, etc. was review for me. I definitely picked up some good ideas and pointers, but I am relieved that my preparations to date are pretty much in alignment with all the recommendations.

Getting ready for Iditarod takes months. Of course there is training and conditioning that takes all season. But the planning and logistics take nearly as much time. We are already working on cutting up snacks. Each 50 pound block of meat is cut into small 1/4 pound chunks. For each 20 miles, I need a chunk for each dog.  1,150 miles divided by 20, times 16 = close to 1,000 snacks. For each 50 miles of race, I need four booties for each dog. 1,150 miles divided by 50, times 16 X 4 = close to 1,500 booties.

How much food, booties, batteries, and other equipment should I send to each checkpoint? Well, that depends on how long I will be at the checkpoint and if I need to camp between checkpoints. How long will I be at a checkpoint? Well that depends on how long it took me to get there. How long will it take me on each leg? Well, that depends on the condition of my dogs, the trail, the distance, the weather, and many other factors which I may not know until I am out there. There is a lot of guestimating and sending out extra to ensure there is enough.

So I am making a list and checking it twice (actually several lists, and I'm checking and rechecking on a daily basis). It is starting to feel pretty real...

This actually happened last week, but I was just trading stories with a friend and thought I ought to share with all of you. Last week I was running 20 dogs. I missed a turn and stopped to see what my options were. As I walked up to the front of the team, they jerked forward and the four wheeler slid into a tree, so going forward was no longer an option. My starter doesn't work in the cold (again), and so I need the team to pull start it (or try to juggle using the pull cord and then getting the seat back on while the team takes off). Plus I'm pretty sure I couldn't jerk the team backward off the tree anyway. So I had to turn the team around in place on a narrow trail with a long string. This is a recipe for disaster, or at least a major tangle. It went better than I could expect with only one dog having a minor tangle (of course it was Fly...) Now the team is going north, the four wheeler is kissing the tree going south, and everyone is going nuts. Because the tree is jammed into the fender, I can't turn the front end at all. My only option is to put it in neutral, release the brake and let the team jerk it around and hope the gangline doesn't wrap around the axle, since it is now jammed under the front wheel. Again, things go amazingly well. As soon as the fourwheeler can move, the team flings it around to point the same direction as them in no time. Now it is in neutral with no brake, and I have a death grip on the handlebar as I drag down the trail trying to keep from getting run over by the back wheel. My dragging body manages to steer the vehicle into the softer snow on the side, slowing it just enough for me to get my legs under me, jump on, and slam it into gear. And off we went to finish the run.
 

Happy Thanksgiving! Our first sled run of the season went great. We churned out 35 miles and were done in time for turkey and pie. A little sketchy and not enough snow to set a hook (this means you basically can't stop the team). We will probably wait for more snow before we try it again, but it sure felt good to be on the runners!

Other good news - we have a new dog for the season. WSU (Wazoo) is on loan from Bryan Bearss. She is super friendly and LOVES attention. She hasn't run yet this year, so it will take some time to get her miled up. You can see more about her on the dog page.

Great news!! Irene is our new 'house guest' and will be helping with the dogs. She's been here just a few days, and is already making an impact. Thursday instead of rushing around after work to cut meat, tie more tuglines, and finish up the millions of little tasks that make my 'to do' list grow longer each day, well Thursday I actually relaxed a bit, made dinner, and went to bed early.

Last weekend we ran out by Eklutna Lake. What a beautiful trail! A flat, wide road contours around a turquoise glacial lake with tall, snow covered peaks towering above. Of course I forgot a camera. By the time I've loaded 20 dogs, four-wheeler, gangline, harnesses, pans, water, extra clothes, spare gear, and all the other stuff we take with us every run, I just don't remember the non-essentials like cameras. Here's a summer picture I borrowed from someone’s blog - just imagine it all frosty and white and silver. Now imagine you have 20 deliriously happy dogs loping up the trail in front of you, with clouds of steam from their breath floating along as you go. We won't be able to run here much, as the trail ends after 10 miles and we need to go farther.

It's been a tough couple of weeks. Sick four wheeler, sick puppy, sick humans. But we are all on the mend now. And training continued throughout.

The biggest concern was Chisel, one of the 4 month old pups. He has been very sick with no appetite and horrible diarrhea.  Surgery did not show any blockages or twisted intestines, just lots of inflammation and irritation. Last week the vet gave him a 50/50 chance at survival. But the medication he gave us is working wonders and Chisel is putting on weight and looking good. Bob Sept (our vet) is really a miracle worker! Chisel will be inside until his stitches come out. He still insists someone must be touching him or he is miserable and screaming. Makes it hard to get a good night's sleep...

Dogs (particularly my dogs ) are incredibly smart. People are always so surprised when I say that my dogs know their left from right. But watch any good leader, and they instantly turn the team gee (right) or haw (left) when commanded. With a group of  experienced dogs, the entire team will swoop in the direction called - it is a really beautiful sight to see them all respond in unison.

Some dogs (like Maggot), seem to take delight in catching their leaders in a mistake. I often run Maggot in swing position, just behind my leaders. If the leaders aren't paying attention and take the wrong path, Maggot slams towards the correct direction, dragging the leaders sideways until they get it straight.

Sometimes my dogs know their directions better than I do. Every so often my tongue will get tangled and I will call the wrong command. If the dog knows where we are really supposed to be going, more often than not they will shoot me an odd look as if to say, are you sure you know what you are talking about?

Dogs also learn the rules of the road. Just like cars on a highway, when another team approaches going the opposite direction, we are supposed to stay on the right-hand side of the road (trail). But if we catch up to a slower team, we need to pass them on the left, just like passing a slower car. The amazing thing is, I never have to tell my dogs which side to go on. They know. They are able to recognize the difference between passing an approaching team and passing a team going the same direction, and they automatically choose the correct side to pass on. They are probably better drivers than most teens on the road. Our dogs get plenty of practice passing on our crowded trails, and it is really fun to watch a long string of dogs all file over and make room for the other team.

Yesterday Scooby was trotting along in lead, obviously zoning out. He didn't hear me call haw, and the first several pairs had already passed the fork in the trail before I got them stopped. The correct trail was just a few feet to the left, but there were a couple of small trees in between, and the team would have really wrapped up around those trees. Instead of cutting over to the correct trail and getting everybody tangled, Scooby threaded back the way he had come before he turned onto the correct trail. This shows that he has at least some understanding of the gangline, can recognize obstacles that would cause tangles, and can figure out how to avoid causing those tangles. I have seen this behavior many times with good leaders, but it never fails to impress me.

Dogs have lots of instinctual skills, like how to find a trail, or how to curl up under the snow to stay warm. But their willingness to learn artificial things like left and right, or rules of the road are what make them such incredible partners to humans.

The Good Morning America story was pretty good. If you missed it you can check it out here.

Everyone was horrified last week to hear of a terrible accident down in the Kenai Peninsula. Jon Little's team was struck by a car, killing several dogs and injuring others. One dog, Wolf, has recently had extensive surgery to save his leg. He is currently residing in our basement, as we are much closer to the surgical clinic where he is being treated than Jon is. Wolf is a very cooperative patient, and we are glad to do whatever we can to help. It is always hard to lose a family member and team mate. I can't imagine how terrible it must be to lose several in such an accident.

Training continues. We had a few inches of snow, but the trails are still incredibly muddy.