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The banquet on Thursday was a blast. Ted Griffith insisted we have plenty of wine, and the night went by with lots of laughter. I drew bib #23, which is a fine place to start. We had a party in Anchorage Friday night - again, plenty of wine and fun. Staying in Anchorage overnight made for an easy morning on Saturday for the Ceremonial Start. Then it was back to our home north of Willow for my last night at home. Later this morning we will load up the dogs one more time and head to Willow to start the Last Great Race! I'll try to post pictures after I return.
Have I mentioned how absolutely wonderful it is to have a good handler? Nick takes care of everything, fixes things before I ask, and always takes great care of the dogs. It really takes a lot of pressure off!
Team update: It's coming down to the wire, and I still don't know for sure who will be on the team. This is actually a good thing, because it means I have a few more dogs than places on the team, and I have some choices to make. But there are a some really key players out, which makes me a little bit nervous. Here's a run down, in alphabetic order (just to be fair):
So let me see - that's 14 definitely in, 7 definitely not in, and 3 maybes. Actually, putting this list together helped me sort out a few things! And then there's me, the weakest link of them all, with a damaged collarbone. The tendons and ligaments aren't healing well, and it's been only 5 weeks since I broke it. Even if I don’t have a major crash, I will tip the sled over dozens and dozens of times during the race. The chances of doing that and never landing on my right shoulder are non-existent, the chances of re-injuring the collarbone are almost 100%. It remains to be seen if I will be able to hang on and take care of the dogs once that happens. And so on that gloomy note...wish me luck!
And the winner of the Iditarod quilt is Sandy Bailey from Mt Baldy. Congratulations Sandy! A HUGE thank you to Shari and Andy Megaw, who made the quilt and donated it. The raffle raised $510 dollars towards Iditarod!
It's catching... All my main girls were overdue for their heat cycles. I was dreading the idea of them all coming into season during Iditarod. Having a bunch of hot, distracted girls, and a bunch of crazy, distracted boys in a giant, breeding knot is not my idea of fun. So when Mercedes finally started showing signs, we bundled all the girls in a pen together and waited to see what happened. Sure enough, one by one they all came into heat. Now I have 5 girls in heat, driving the boys mad. Luckily we can run boys and girls separately during training. You put your body through such extreme stress during Iditarod that you are almost guaranteed to catch whatever bug is out there and spend at least part of your race fighting a cold or flu. Varan recently caught a miserable cold, so I was truly delighted when I came down with sniffles a few days later. Better to get it out of the way now! And also, Iditarod fever - seems like everyone is coming down with it lately. Just a couple of weeks to go! We sent out our food drop last Tuesday. Only 1,700 lbs, quite a bit less than last year, which had me scrambling to look at my spreadsheets and figure out what I left behind. So far I have no idea why so low...
Unloading our trailer and all the bags from all the mushers - weighed, sorted, and ready to be flown out to the checkpoints.
Quick note - Last day to buy a raffle ticket for the Iditarod quilt is February 26! Go to the store for more information!
Varan continues to take time off work to run the dogs. The dogs are looking very strong. Angel appears to have recovered from her shoulder injury, but Luna is still sore and limping. I am getting impatient to get back on the runners. Northstar Chiropractic has been helping me out with daily ultrasound and laser therapy and I'm feeling pretty good, but don't want to risk re-injury just yet. So it will be another bit before I run a team. Nick's been out running a small team. We are preparing to send out Iditarod food drop next Tuesday. Barley (the pet dog) escaped and chased down the team yesterday. With nowhere to turn the team around, and Barley refusing to ride in the sled basket, he had to complete the 20 mile training run with the team. That was one tired pup! But today he is back to racing around and bouncing. He desperately wishes he could be a sled dog too! And that's all the news for now.
Varan finished the race in 3rd place! He was just behind Judy Currier and Matt Hyashida, two very competitive mushers. After their mandatory 8 hour break at the halfway point, they ran all the way back, 105 miles, with only a 1 hour break in the middle. He reports that the highlight of the race was the fact that the dogs were just as strong at the finish as they were when they started, barking and screaming to go. Varan was sure proud of them! On the way up to the Joe May's cabin (the halfway point), Varan camped the dogs for 2 hours to water them, change their booties, and give them a break. The scariest part of the race was trying to control the team as he prepared to take off after that short break - the dogs were crazy to go and ripped the hooks from the snow before he was ready. He said that take-off was 'pretty wild and chaotic'. The standout dog this race was Aberdeen. Varan tried a few different dogs in lead on the way back, but once he put Deen up, everything smoothed out and started working like clockwork. Aberdeen is typically very shy of strangers, which can make passing other teams impossible, but on this race they passed 2 teams on the way home "like they were standing still". The trail was soft and punchy on the way up, and Angel came home early with a pulled shoulder. She's been spending time inside on the couch, and we are hoping she will recover well and soon - we really need her! All the dogs looked great at the finish, although Trouble and Luna had sore wrists and got to spend the night inside lounging around too.
I tried to get a picture of Nick, and this is the best I could do so far - he and Varan hooking up a team.
While I sitting at home letting my collar bone mend, Varan is out on the trail running the Don Bowers. It is hard to watch your dogs take off on a race without you, then go home and watch for updates and hope everything is going well. Particularly if you see this kind of update on the race website, as posted last night:
On the one hand, it sounds like the team is doing great! On the other hand, too much power can be a very scary and dangerous thing out on the trail. Nick, our new handler, decided to stay out at the halfway checkpoint and help, plus let me know when Varan arrived. So I got to talk to Varan soon after he arrived, and then slept in until just before he was to take off again. The dogs all looked amazing, Varan is doing a great job taking care of them, and they are all having fun. I expect them to slow down a bit for the next leg, run in the heat of the day. I'll be waiting at the finish line for them, sometime between 10 and 2 tonight (guessing). Meanwhile, Nick is making life easy. Food drop is essentially done (ahead of schedule), and life has just been so much easier with him around to take care of everything. He's even going to start running a small team - the dogs that had injuries and aren't in shape for the main team, but still want to get out and run. Race update later!
It seems that this year is determined to be difficult! For every two steps forward we take one back - or more like one and a half back. Yet we are slowly making progress. I think. Examples: One handler walked out, leaving us desperately behind in preparation for Iditarod food drop and seriously shorthanded. Posting an ad and screening applicants took time that I didn't really have, and the added stress was unpleasant to say the least. Yet within 2 days Nick stepped in, and he’s doing a fabulous job getting us caught up and taking care of the dogs. So...progress. We contacted the local firewood guy and arranged for delivery of 2 1/2 cords of dry seasoned birch to see us through the winter. But the wood that was delivered (at a premium price) was unseasoned, waterlogged, then frozen solid. Even wood that sat inside to dry overnight wouldn't catch. It will be great for next year, but this year - right now - we need wood! We found a source for spruce, guaranteed to be dry and ready to burn - but no delivery out to our location. So first, before we could go get the wood, we had to go to the dump to unload 6 weeks worth of garbage from the trailer then build sturdy sides for the trailer to hold the wood, then go pick up the wood and haul it home at a snails pace in a groaning, over loaded trailer, praying we would all make it in one piece. Time I didn't have to waste , stress I didn't really need. But we now have wood, and it is light and dry and burns well. So...progress. Before Christmas during a terrific ice storm, our car met up - very gently - with a parking lot pole. The repair shop somehow forgot to order the replacement door, and six weeks later the car is still in the shop. Then Thursday (yes, the day I was trying to pick up firewood after work) the truck started lurching and jerking whenever I stepped on the gas. I worried over bad transmissions, pondered getting a rental car, and tried to juggle work at the same time. But the local shop was able to quickly fix the problem (just a bad coil) and get me back on the road. Time I didn't have to waste, stress I didn't really need. But we still have one functioning vehicle. So...progress. Or at least not any worse off. This Saturday, on a routine training run, I managed to flip my sled on a sharp corner. No particular reason, just not paying enough attention to a corner I knew was tricky. I slammed onto my shoulder, then smacked my head into the ice. As I crashed over, all I could hear was popping and cracking in my neck, my sternum, my ribs. I crawled on top of my overturned sled to hold it and waited for the feeling to come back into my arm and for my head to clear. The dogs, for once, waited for me to get it together. I finished up the next forty miles with one functional arm but very little pain, and I was hoping for the best. Sunday I stayed at home to recuperate and work through the pain, which decided to make an appearance. Now it appears that I have broken my collarbone and probably won't be on the runners for a good long while. This means all the training must be done by Varan. Who is very capable, but it is less than ideal not to train your team in the weeks coming up to Iditarod. Plus I won't be running the Don Bowers race this weekend, which was to be a final test of some of the younger dogs, and a good way to see how the unknowns respond to pressure. It also means that Varan will be running dogs full time, with no time to work. This creates a rather large financial problem for us. But, short of withdrawing from Iditarod, we have little option. Time I didn't have to take off from running, stress I didn't really need. But at least I have more time to deal with food drop now (with one hand)! So, as long as the dogs are getting run...progress. After the string of challenges we have faced in the last 6 months, it would be easy to get overwhelmed. But along with the bad, the difficult, and the disappointing, there have been so many positive, good things in our lives. Our wonderful new home, great friends, family, and sponsors, our amazing dogs, and each other, just for starters. And the sure feeling that it will get easier eventually - it always does.
I hate it when people refer to their dogs as their kids, their babies, their children, or (ugghhh) their fur-kids. This robs them of the dignity and independence that makes them who they are. My dogs are not babies, helpless and needing constant tending and coddling. They are not children, reliant on a parent figure to guide their every move. My dogs are independent, self-driven, intelligent beings. They are my friends, my partners, my team-mates. They have dignity and self-determination. They make their own choices and sometimes go to great lengths to make those choices clear to me. There is nothing child-like about these dogs Unless you have spent hours and days traveling together, working as a team to overcome challenges, and living side-by-side with your dogs, you cannot understand the depth of the bond and love that I share with my dogs. I may be the leader, but this partnership relies on each dog knowing their job, and having the desire and ability to do it without prodding from me or anyone else. Don't infantilize these dogs. They have more drive, make better decisions, and are more self directed than most human adults. They are dogs, with different needs, wants, and desires from humans. They are not mini-humans. They are not children. They are my dogs.
Last weekend we ran the Knik 200. Varan and I both took a small team. We had a fun time, and the dogs looked great. We got some really nice comments from other mushers on how strong they looked at the finish. We weren't super fast, but the team was ready to go again after just a few hours' break.
Getting there was a bit of a challenge. With no handler (Louise still on vacation), we had to have a house sitter for the dogs who didn't race, and to keep the woodstove stoked. At the last minute, our friends who were going to stay were called out of state. Luckily Bryan (WSU's dad) was available. Then the trailer wiring had problems at the last minute. No lights and no brakes on a very dark road is not do-able. Varan stayed up late trying fixing the problem in -20 temperatures. So we didn't get much sleep the night before the race (and none during the race). But we did make it to the starting line on time.
In my team, Chisel (one of the yearlings in his first race) took a bad step on one of the steep, short hills near the beginning of the race. I started seeing a little head-bob early on, and I knew it was a bad sign. But there was no way he was going to quit running until he burned off a little energy. I had to wait and let him keep going until he tired out enough to accept a lift. I bagged him (made him ride in the sled bag) and he rode the last 45 miles or so. This slowed the rest of the team down a bit (Chisel is a big boy!), but we still pulled into the halfway point at Skwentna with plenty of steam and made decent time.
I dropped Chisel in Skwentna so he could fly home, and after a 6 hour mandatory break we ran all the way back in to claim 7th place. It was a smaller field this year - only 19 teams, but I was happy with our finish and really proud of how good the dogs looked at the finish line. Fly, Voodoo, Chase, and several others were spinning and rolling and barking at the finish line. They were just full of energy and acting goofy. Cutter, one of our other yearlings, was tired but pulled strong all the way in and learned a whole bunch about pacing himself.
This was Varan's first real distance race, and he did a fantastic job! He took good care of his dogs, and made some good choices out on the trail. He was only an hour or so behind me in Skwentna, so I was able to talk him through his checkpoint routine when he arrived. He really didn't need any help, but it was nice to be racing together!
Since our teams were parked near each other, his team thought they were supposed to leave when I did. They were apparently a little hard to handle as his mandatory rest was ticking down. He also noticed that Razor, another yearling, was very stiff after resting, and decided to drop him right before he left. So his departure was not as smooth as it could have been, but he made it out on the trail only a few minutes later than planned.
Varan had a good run down the river, but some of his younger, less experienced dogs started to falter as the miles wore on. Rainy (borrowed from Ryan) decided she was done running, and Varan had to haul her for about 20 miles. He put her back in the team for the last 5 miles or so and she finished the race with plenty of energy, so apparently she wasn't as tired as she thought she was. Spartan (also borrowed from Ryan) started to look really tired in the last 10 miles, and Varan was really worried he would have to haul him, too. Spartan is a VERY big dog, and Varan was very proud of him when he kept working with a little encouragement. In their first few races the young dogs really learn what they are capable of, and also learn to trust their mushers. Varan did a great job with his young dogs, asking them for a little more without asking more than they could do. Varan finished the race in 10th place, with a few tired dogs, and few dogs still barking to go.
Varan had Azure, a two year old, up in lead for most of the race. When older, more experienced dogs didn't want to lead, she was willing. She ended up with really sore wrists, and still kept wanting to lead. Varan was so very proud of her, and just amazed by her drive. She has really proved herself as a go-to leader in recent weeks. She got to sleep on the couch the first few nights back and is as good as new, if a little more spoiled now!
We did see several sore wrists - the trail was really hard and fast. But everyone looks just fine after a day's rest, and they are all raring to go. The one exception is Chisel - his shoulder is still very sore, so he will probably take several weeks off to heal up.
Racing always deepens and strengthens my bonds with the dogs. There is something about really pushing yourselves and working as a team on races that just doesn't happen during training. I always find myself a bit choked up with gratitude, pride, and overwhelming awe at how tough these dogs are, how hard they work, and how much they give of themselves. It makes me very tender and protective, wanting to do everything I can to help my dogs along. It is hard to describe, and maybe you have to experience it to really understand, but I think Varan experienced some of that this race. I know he was profoundly affected by his time out on the race, and I think he will want to get back out there on another race this season.
I am definitely not keeping up on my vow to do at least weekly updates. I know there are lots of folks out there who check regularly to see the news. I apologize, but I can't make a realistic promise that I will do any better.
Since last time I posted, we've been very busy. Still. Again. I guess that's nothing new! In addition to getting moved into our wonderful new house (and the odd errands and chores that always come with that), I've been training dogs 4-5 days per week, working full time, and trying to pull Christmas together. I don't think I've ever been this tired, even after finishing Iditarod! Louise decided to take a few weeks off for Christmas, and we are really shorthanded. So for now, I am trying to focus on doing only that which is absolutely essential. It would surprise most normal people what ultimately becomes essential, and what is not so essential. Running dogs, cutting meat, work; essential. Laundry, groceries, sleeping; you can put those off almost indefinitely...
We are still in the process of getting unpacked. The new house is truly a haven, but moving is a pain no matter what! It might be summer before we get all the way unpacked, but at least I found my shoes (missing for several weeks), the dog equipment is organized, and we now have furniture to sit on!
Training has continued and we are gradually figuring out our new trails - although not without a few wrong turns! The dogs are looking very strong. We may not be fast, but just try getting them to stop for more than a few minutes! We've had our share of minor injuries, most resolved with a few days off, massage, and maybe even some time sprawled on the couch.
On December 19 and 20, Varan and I each ran a team in a 50/50 race. That is, 50 miles on Saturday, and 50 miles on Sunday (no camping). Ryan Redington organized this new race, and put on a really good show. He raised a large purse, so there was some pretty serious competition and a lot of teams! We kept to our normal training pace, near 10 miles an hour, and were not competitive. But it was a good experience for the young dogs, a good trail to run on, and fun to see everyone.
Christmas Eve I worked, then we took the dogs on a quick 20 mile run, made dinner, and didn't even open presents until late that evening before I finally fell into bed, exhausted. I actually took Christmas Day off; no work, no running dogs. I did have to track down and organize all of our racing/camping equipment, but that only took a few hours. I slept 12 hours, ate, then slept some more, got up to do my packing, then had a nap, ate, and went to bed early. I was still tired the next day, but felt energetic enough to head out on our fist camping trip of the year.
It's always best to do a shakedown run before the first race, which is coming up New Year's weekend this year. During the first camping trip of the year you always discover equipment that is missing or needs repair; young dogs learn that sometimes we stop and take a break out on the trial, and if they get a chance to rest they ought to take advantage of it; and mushers get a chance to brush up on camping and checkpoint routines and remember how to make everything work. The only time left for camping before the race was the Saturday after Christmas. With no handler at home, we couldn't just leave for the weekend; someone had to feed Hatchet and Suzy, who do not have the miles to run with the team due to injuries; feed the woodstove; and take care of Barley, the naked house pet. In the end we had to do a mock camping trip almost in our back yard, but it served its purpose.
Saturday, after running 6 hours, Varan camped in the swamps near home with all the greenhorns and goofballs. He reported that all the dogs ate pretty well and even laid down in the straw during their break, with exception of Sable (who should know better) and Razor (no big surprise), who spent their time rooting through the snow chasing phantom critters. Razor also found time to chew through the tug loop on his harness, but at least he didn't eat the harness itself - easily repaired on the trail.
I ran my team of veterans home to take care of things back there. Aaah - running experienced dogs can be so relaxing. I fed, they all ate; I gave them straw, they all laid down; I left them alone, they all just rested with no messing around. After a 4 hour break, I came back out. They never made a peep, just calmly let me booty them, then lay back down on the straw. Until I went back to my sled, when they exploded into a frenzied screaming, lunging mass of dogs excited to head off down the trail. Geez, they make me proud.
We headed back out for another 6 hour loop. Except for a few problems negotiating the new trails, everything went well and we were back home and in bed by 2 a.m.
Sunday I allowed myself one more day of rest and relaxation, not including the time to clean up after our camping trip, pack up drop bags for the Knik 200 next weekend, fixing the dripping bathroom faucet (or trying to - turns out I will need more than just a new washer), and finishing making a ruff for Varan's parka. Now it's back to work, running, errands, and prepping for Iditarod.
Still on the too-busy-to-even-breath track, but here's a quick post.
Last weekend I had Cutter, a yearling, lead a 60 mile run. He did a good job, keeping lines tight and following commands. He even lined out during breaks. But near the end he was starting to look around at me, and I could see that he was wondering if we were ever going to stop. I knew he could do it, so I kept him up front. When he finally recognized the turn 5 miles from home, he lit up and got so excited that he started barking and jumping on his neighbor. He found his second wind and we loped all the way home.
Watching dogs learn what they can do and make discoveries is one of the things I love best about running dogs. Cutter was starting to get discouraged, but I asked him to tough it out and he learned from that. You could see the moment when he realized that he wasn't really too tired. This is one smart puppy, and I bet you hear more about him in the future!
Also, check out the beautiful quilt that Shari Megaw made. Click here for more information on how to win this Iditarod quilt!
I realize I have not posted in a LONG time. Between work, moving, running dogs, and my new 1 hour (each way) commute, I have really been scrambling. The new place is fabulous. Everything is still in boxes, but we have been getting long runs on the dogs. Trails here are really great. We ran 60 miles last Saturday, and then another 60 on Sunday. The dogs came back in screaming and jumping. They look great! Our first race is next weekend - two 60 mile day races. There is some world class competition signed up and I expect we'll just go out and have a good time. But it is great experience for everyone and lots of fun. I will aim for a more detailed report soon, but no promises...
After running a couple of 30 mile runs this weekend (still a bit behind on miles, but it's coming along), we're taking a day off. This gives me time to run a few errands, do a website update, and maybe even read and relax for a short while before I have to get to bed.
Couple of funny things that happened recently -
The first funny thing - well funny to all of you who didn't endure it - is that Deja learned to ride on the four-wheeler instead of pull it. Due to a miscommunication last Saturday, we missed our connection with Louise. Louise was going to pick up Deja and take her home halfway through the run, as she is recuperating from an injury and is not ready to run the same miles as the rest of the gang.
After waiting 20 minutes, the dogs were going berserk. Snack time was over and they did not see any reason to stand around any longer. But we really didn't want to overdo it with little Miss Deja and risk a relapse. So I clipped her carefully on the back deck of the four wheeler, made sure she couldn't jump or fall off, and off we went for the next 15 miles.
She was furious! She screamed, she twisted, she shoved and kicked, she scratched and clawed. She bit my hair, my hat, my jacket, but (thank you very much for being a good girl) not me. She shrieked in my ear until they echoed. This went on for almost two solid hours. She made it very clear that she wanted to run with the team, not be forced to ride along. Tell that to all the animal rights folks who think we 'force' our dogs to run!
The second funny thing involves Scooby. So many of our funny stories do!
We were running alongside KGB road. Scooby and Hatchet, a yearling, were in lead. On the way out I had noticed a dead, frozen, completely flat rabbit in the trail. I'm not sure how this roadkill ended up 50 feet to one side and in the middle of our training trail, but there it was. I was surprised that none of the dogs seemed to notice - it was right in their way and they all trotted right over the top of it.
Obviously Scooby marked the spot in his mind, because on the way back he swooped over, snatched it up, and paraded down the trail with the stiff frozen legs sticking out each side of his mouth. He waved it proudly as he trotted along.
A lot of dogs seem to be amused by finding and then carrying trail-booty. Razor almost always finds something to grab and bring along. There is a particular Cheeto bag that he has carried, and then dropped off for later, every run for several weeks. You'd think it would blow away, but every run he finds it again. Last week he carried an empty beer can for almost 15 miles. Just as I started to worry that maybe it had frozen to his lips and he couldn't let go, he finally dropped it.
At any rate, as long as they a) don't eat it, and b) don't interfere with forward progress, I don't worry about their trash-toting habits. However, in the case of Scooby's rabbit, it proved to be too much for Hatchet to resist. He made desperate lunges for the rabbit, and Scooby teased him by jerking it away just before he got it. Clearly it was time for me to step in. Stopping the team gave Hatchet a chance to really make a try for the dead flat frozen rabbit, and I could see Scooby starting to get defensive. Just what I need - a fight over roadkill.
I stepped up and told Scooby to give me the rabbit before things got out of hand. Nuh-uh, no way. He turned his head and tried to dodge me. Hatchet made another grab, and Scooby spun away. With an authoritative crack in my voice I told them both to knock it off, grabbed to dead flat frozen rabbit legs, and gently pried Scooby's mouth open, all while blocking Hatchet's desperate attempts to get a piece of the action.
I flung the rabbit into the bushes, and Scooby, who KNOWS better, dove after it. Luckily he couldn't quite reach it, and when I told him to line out he got back to business and showed Hatchet how to behave. But that spot is firmly fixed in his memory now. And every time we pass it, I see him scan the bushes to see if he can locate his dead flat frozen rabbit.
I have a few stories rattling around in my head - one about Scooby and a rabbit, and another about ravens. But we are working under a serious lack of time right now. Other than work and running dogs, I'm having a hard time even finding time to get a shower before I fall asleep and get up and do it all over again. So for today, I have to limit it to just the important stuff:
Auntie Carol and Martha have put together a Blue on Black Kennels Calendar with dog bios and pictures. For more information on how to get one, visit our Store.
Well, we now have snow and chilly temperatures to run in. Nothing is quite as cold as running a four-wheeler when it is in the single digits - I'd rather be on a sled at 50 below. But we are getting the miles and the dogs are looking great.
Deja is out with a minor injury. We hope to bring her back on the team next week. Hatchet has a persistent little limp that hasn't gotten better with rest. Rather than endanger his very bright future, he is going to get a full month off. By that point he will be too far behind the other dogs to catch up on the miles, so he is basically out for the season. Let's hope we don't have any more problems, because we need a solid team in March!
We've had a few questions about how we name our dogs, so here goes. Every litter is named after a theme. Each name we choose has to fit the theme, fit the dog, and be easy to say with frozen lips (generally one or two syllables). We try to stay away from people names; dogs deserve their own unique names. We are always jotting down new ideas for litters. We have the following themes in our kennel right now.:
The bad news - it doesn't look like Gringo's foot is going to hold up to running. This is very sad news because he really loves being a sled dog. But he is well behaved, friendly, and very sweet, so we think he will make a great pet or running partner for someone. Anyone who is interested in a wonderful new companion, please give us a call.
Other not so great news - while temperatures are finally nice and cool for running, it's been a very long time since we've had any rain (and we can barely remember what snow looks like). Trails are so dry and dusty that it looks like a migration of the wildebeests across the Serengeti - huge clouds of choking dust billowing around all the moving figures. Several of the dogs have developed coughs, and we made the decision to stop all training until we get some relief from the dust bowl conditions. The dogs are NOT happy about this development, and really neither are we. But the weather has to give us a break some day...
The good news - we finally found a place of our own. We should be able to move in early December. Not the best time to try to move a team in training, but it will be so nice to move from the dungeon into our very own castle! And it really is a very special place. Much nicer than we ever thought we'd be able to find in our price range. Thanks to a location way the heck out almost to Talkeetna and a depressed real estate market, we are getting a beautiful house and barn with plenty of space, trail access, and room for all our gear plus visitors!
Other good news - Voodoo has decided he might be a leader after all. As a yearling he was a squirrely, spinning, crazy goofball. I doubtfully put him up in lead just to give him a chance. Disaster. He was so excited he ran right back down the middle of the team and created an enormous tangle. Twice. I swore I would never try him in front again.
As a two year old I put him up in lead once more, just to see. He was so interested in the dogs behind him that he almost ran headlong into a tree. Then he stopped to pee on a bush, turnaround to chat with the swing dogs, and generally did not do what a leader is supposed to do - namely, keep that line tight and head down the trail. I swore I would never bother with putting him up front again.
But he's been so good and is such a hard worker, always willing to go. And every one of his littermates is a pretty good leader. Wouldn't it be neat if he could put all that drive to work in lead? So last week I put him up one more time. And off he charged, head down, line tight, nailing the turns, right on by loose dogs. What a difference one more year can make. What a nice surprise from Voodoo.
Yesterday I brought home straw for the dog houses. It isn't really necessary until things cool off quite a bit, and during the rainy fall it just gets wet and horrible, so we usually wait until things are frozen up. But it is more comfortable for them, and since it looks like the end of the wet season (we hope), we decided to indulge. Straw is one of the best ways to make a sled dog happy. They love fresh straw!
I enter the dog lot with a bale, and the entire kennel erupts with movement. There is a chorus of squeals and whines, with a counterpoint of rattling chains. Each dog dances impatiently while I break up a flake of straw inside their house. As soon as I get out of the way, they dive happily into the new straw, rooting and circling, making their bed perfect. They dash back out in an excess of energy, and then fly right back inside to paw and nose some more.
Nearby dogs vibrate with excitement. Shotgun, Luna, and Skeeter tap dance on their houses. Scooby bounces in place with a wide grin. Most of the rest spin madly around and around their circles. Flip, a serious stoic dog, stands waiting - until I bring a flake his way, when he begins to execute a series of 180o leaps accompanied by deep woofs.
Hatchet decides he must help me shake straw into his house. He can't quite shove himself through the opening while I am working, so he grabs a great mouthful of straw from my arms, and tears around his circle shaking and flinging the straw.
While I straw his house, Aberdeen continues to sprint around his circle, jumping on his house top at each pass. I duck his chain several times as it whips above me, but on one pass he misjudges his leap and manages to drive his chin into the side of my head hard enough to knock me flat.
Angel can't wait for me to get the straw in her house, and pushes her way inside while I am working. I happily toss the straw on top of her while she wriggles around and bats her paws at me.
Finally it is done. I have stalks in my hair and down my shirt, straw splinters in my hands, and my nose tickles, but there is peace and a quiet happiness in the dog lot. Each dog is snug in their cozy nest, blissfully inhaling the golden sunny scent and enjoying the afternoon sun.
In weather news, it's been very WINDY. For days. And projected to continue being very windy for quite some time. Windy like trashcans blowing off into the woods, windy like trees blowing down. Not windy like it's hard to walk or the dogs are getting blown over ala Yukon River last March!
Actually the wind makes little difference to us, we are out there training regardless - and now with two running four-wheelers! Sometimes we have to clear blow-downs from the trail (never forget to take a saw on runs!). We have to be vigilant to always tie things down or put them away so they don't blow off. Also, feeding takes a bit longer because dog dishes all have to be collected from the far end of the kennel. Other than that, we just call it good training for the winds we'll see during races. Temperatures are at least cooler - hovering right near freezing, so that helps.
It's a good thing we got the new Honda 4-wheeler, because our old Suzuki has really been acting up lately - jealousy? At least we have ONE functional machine and can get the dogs out. We are up to 18-20 mile runs, and still battling warm temperatures. Some day it will be fall - probably right before winter shows up.
We still have 24 dogs in training, and they are all coming back from runs bouncy and happy. Tiny little Azure has been taking her turn at lead, and is getting very assertive up there. She even went right on by a loose dog the other day, which is a big distraction for many leaders. Azure still is not the best eater, and keeping weight on her is a challenge. It will probably get easier as she gets older.
Hopefully we will have some big news to post here soon - stay tuned.
Just a couple random quick notes.
We just picked up a Honda Foreman four-wheeler. I am so excited to be able to run two teams at once and get all the runs done in a reasonable time. It is older (1999), but in good shape. I imagine the dogs will beat it up in no time.
Irene, our handler from last year just stopped by to visit. She spent the summer working in Skagway, and is on her way back to the states, then off to other adventures. It was really nice to see her, and the dogs were very excited to visit, too. Well, most of them. A few acted like they'd never met before, but then again some shy ones (like Angel) acted like she'd never left. She and Louise (this year's handler) spent a long time outside together trading notes and telling Karin jokes (well, that's what I would do...)
Last night, in the silence after feeding, I raised my voice in a howl into the cool clear air. Not for any particular reason, just to see how the dogs would react. Usually they look at me like I've said something odd and carry on with their business. But this time Voodoo gave a little whine. Then Scooby and Skeeter picked up a tune, and pretty soon the entire lot was warbling and singing. Each dog has a distinctive voice, from Trouble's high pitched squeal, to Deja's sharp yip and howl, to Gringo with his deep hoarse moan. Some dogs hold the notes until they break, others issue a staccato, coyote yap. Some sound mournful, others shrill. Some change pitch, the notes getting higher and higher until they fade away. Others know just one note. And then there is Fly, who, like a puppy, can not howl. He barks along with the group, enthusiastic but not musical in the least.
Well here it is October already, and I'm sitting watching the thermometer hoping temps will go down enough to get a run in tonight. It's times like these when I am really jealous of those mushers (almost everyone else) who don't work a job during training season, and can take advantage of cooler morning hours. These crisp fall days are absolutely gorgeous if you aren't impatient for cold and snow.
Training has (sort of) begun! I know, I know - I said that before. But finally temperatures seem to be dropping, and we are seeing termination dust on the local peaks (that's the white stuff that tells the tourists it is time to go home). This afternoon we were able to run right after work. The new trail we are taking is a bit of an obstacle course; up to the end of the lot, U-turn on to the trail, don't miss the right turn or you'll go to Kelly's lot, around the pond, cross the path, past the crazy lady's house [and hope that a) her pitt bull is tied up, b) she hasn't dropped a tree across the trial, and c) she's not out shooting four-wheelers today], up the hill, back down to the powerline, avoid the deep ruts, cross the road, past the subdivision, dodge a few loose dogs, drop over the edge of the crossroad, make the sharp right turn onto the bike path, cross several paved roads - look out for traffic!, take another sharp right off the bike path onto a dirt trail, up the hill, through the alder tunnels, right in front of someone's front yard, dodge a few more dogs, back into the alder tunnel and then a REALLY sharp turn left, and you're back on the powerline for the return leg. So far so good - passing loose dogs is a great training exercise, as long as the loose dogs don't bite anyone!
We also got a really great donation of equipment from Bert Hanson and the rest of the Hanson clan. The entire family has been into sled dogs for years; Bert and daughter Kimarie both ran Iditarod in the past. They had plenty of nearly new equipment that they didn't need anymore, and they kindly donated it to us.
It's time for a yearling report:
Hatchet, Razor, and Cutter are incredibly smooth, powerful trotters. Although they are just getting the hang of things, they already have some of the best gaits in the lot. Chisel is a good strong worker, but not quite as fluid as his brothers. He is a bit bigger, though, so maybe it is just a matter of growing into his size. He is quite a thinker, is calmer, and more focused on what his mushers are asking than his energetic brothers. His closer connection and better ability to focus may be a result of the time he spent indoors with us as a youngster when he was very sick. Or maybe he is just a mellow guy - their personalities differ so much!
Razor is a sweet, friendly, happy goofball. I tried him up in lead last week but he was far too distracted by what the dogs behind him might be doing. Chase was dragging him backwards up the trail, which is hard work for Chase who is half his size. Maybe next year Razor's brain will catch up with him. Either way he can be a great team dog, as he has a beautiful smooth gait and very happy attitude.
Cutter has shown real talent in lead, and is one of the prettiest moving dogs we have. He has also recently discovered that he is a juvenile boy, and is pretty full of testosterone and attitude. He can't seem to control his scrapiness even when I am there to remind him, so for now he will run next to girls (he won't challenge a female) or Barley (who knows how to discipline a pup but is not essential to the team just in case Cutter gets a good lick in).
Hatchet is the other thinker of the litter. He picks up new behaviors easily because he is calm enough to focus, although not quite as focused as Chisel. When they were younger he was the first one to learn to sit, stand, and jump up on his house. He is easy to handle and works well with everyone. He has done a good job in lead, and should probably spend more time up there, now that I think about it.
It is always fun to watch these youngsters come along, learn their jobs, and focus their crazy energy on going down the trail.
Training has begun! Wait - I said that before. Temperatures have been much warmer than we like them this time of year. We've been getting out on weekends but after work hours mid-week are still too hot. Grumble grumble from all of us.
Still we're all enjoying the runs we get.
Chase looks like a vicious crazy dog here, but he's actually just screaming to go.
As some of you remember, Gringo did not get to run last year. After his spectacular yearling season, he injured a toe during a brief scuffle with another dog. The toe actually had to be removed, and it took lots of time before his foot and the webbing between the toes could withstand much pressure. We are happy to report that so far this year his foot is holding up fine (we bootie it every run as a precaution). He is back running in lead and doing an excellent job of it - strong, confident, responsive. We are crossing our fingers that he doesn't have any problems down the road because this is one dog that really wants to run!
Louise has been learning lots about dog care and driving a team. We are so excited to have her help this year! She's been posting detailed accounts of some of what she's been learning at her blog.
Training has begun! Well, as much as we can accomplish in the warm weather we've been having. But we ran in the cool early mornings last weekend and we'll run any afternoon that isn't too hot. If it isn't cooler next week, I will probably start getting up at 3:00 a.m. to run before work - not looking forward to that, but the needs of the team rule our lives! And the joy I see in the dog's goofy grins after a run is a pretty good payoff for the early hours.
The dogs are really having a blast learning new trails and exploring new places. They look incredibly focused and businesslike, even in these early runs. We now have a really solid team of experienced, tough dogs. Pretty much anyone can lead, at least at this stage of slow, easy miles. Even the yearlings are getting a chance up front, and you can hardly tell them from the experienced leaders. At least until they get distracted by a leaf or bird and forget where their feet are.
Barley is running with the team for now; he's a real powerhouse and a hard worker. He isn't built for distance (or cold), so once we start going over about 10 miles he will have to stay home. As Kelley Griffin said, "What the hell is that in your team???!"
WSU is also back with us for the winter, after spending the summer with her own family. She was very happy to greet all her friends and boss the pups around a bit. She has finished harvesting all the raspberries in our new dog lot, and selfishly did not share with the humans (or the rest of the dogs but they don't seem too put out.)
More pix of the dog lot, team, trails, or who knows what will come soon. Meanwhile, check out the new link to the 'store' in the menu. OK, not much of a store for now, but we do get lots of requests for our tees.
Things have been crazy this summer, but we're finally set to start training tomorrow!
What's been so crazy? Well, we spent all summer trying to move, and spent a good part of it seriously concerned that we would be homeless for the next training season.
Although the house in Chugiak was just about perfect, one particular neighbor has been making life very difficult. In fact the dogs and I had to move out and spent part of the summer basically camped out to avoid further problems. Since things are (supposed to be) cheaper in the valley, and since I am now working in Wasilla, we decided to move north. But the move has not gone smoothly.
First, we contracted with the buyer from hell, and the sale still isn't final. Second, the house we thought we were buying fell through, and we have not been able to find anything else that works. Houses with enough land, within commuting distance, and located on the trail system are not as common as you would think! Finding a place to rent that meets those qualifications is nearly unheard of. So for a while we weren't certain what was going to happen. All I knew was that I was definitely going to train dogs, and I needed to keep my job to support my habit.
Two weeks ago we found a miracle - a good dog lot, good trails, and some room in a basement that we could rent. Although it is a difficult adjustment and space is really limited, we can make it work. Although it is a nice, light, open basement, we've been calling it the dungeon just for dramatic effect. It sure beats the alternative (what alternative? I don't really know...) So all our stuff is in storage, all our dog equipment is crammed in the dungeon with us, and we are just waiting for temperatures to drop.
Other big news - my cousin Louise has come up to handle for the season. She'll be sharing the dungeon with us. She already has great plans to keep us organized and on the ball. She just reminded me to note that she is the best ever.
Quiz - Louise is: a) fending off a vicious attack b) practicing for a circus act in which she places her head in a lion's mouth c) waiting for her part of the duet d) torturing Barley and making him scream e) other _________________
E-mail me your guesses!
Last Saturday we signed up to ride the big roller coaster again. Iditarod 2010 kicks off on March 6, and we'll spend the next 8 months getting ready for it! A description of last year's race is here.
We're still actively working on finding sponsorship, so if anyone has any good ideas, please let us know! Here's some information on the stupendous costs of running the Iditarod.
If anyone is interested, there are still tee-shirts available. Contact my mom (Gwen Rodman) at grod3608@aol.com to get yours. They are really nice looking and only $15. Proceeds go to support our next race!
For previous posts from the 2008-2009 year, click here.
For previous posts from the 2007-2008 year, click here.
For previous posts from the 2006-2007 year, click here.
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Here's
Fly clowning around, trying to talk us into going for a run even though it is
too hot and sunny. One of his favorite tricks is to dance around and snap his
teeth together when he is excited and trying to get my attention. He is
definitely full of beans, that one. Which actually never changes, even in the
middle of a race when you'd think some of his liveliness would wear off. He's so
full of good-feeling energy and bounce that he has a hard time holding still,
and he just has to put his big nose in the middle of whatever I'm trying to work
on. While he has no bad habits like chewing on equipment, if he can twist it
'til it breaks, pee on it, knock it over, add to confusion, or keep his
neighbors from resting, he's your dog. He'd be annoying if he wasn't such a darn
good sled dog. The truth is, this dog ALWAYS wants to go, and we like that!
Fall
sunrise lighting up steaming dogs.
Dog lot
"Dungeon" 
