Race to the Sky 2016: Part 3

   The trip to Owl Creek is always long - mainly because the trail goes in and out of the mountain so much. You can see the trail but think, "No way, we must not go all the way out there..." And then you do!
    There was a bit of trail breaking - although some snowmobiles had been out. As I came down the hill where we once were stopped, I could see an avalanche area across on the other mountainside. Neat and scary at the same time...but that mountain was a bit steeper than our side. I was also impressed and surprised to see Brett huffing up the mountain - with his usual smile. I'd hoped we'd be closer to him than that!


   I love coming into Owl Creek - Randy, who runs the checkpoint, makes everything musher friendly and I had a time of it, wrangling my compressed straw bale to my campsite. The dogs were eating slightly better now and I started my cooker for the next wet cooler, then settled in for a nap - after doing foot ointment and wraps. A few were sore, but I figured I'd work on them and then see how they looked.


    About an hour later I got up and walked each of the dogs. The sore ones looked better, but I had the vet crew come out and look just to double check. They gave me to ok for all of them and I felt better as those who hadn't eaten milled around, ate and drank.


    Then it began to rain...


    I debated about cutting my rest short, after I got everything packed up to keep out the rain...and decided to do it. I think I stayed 3 and 1/2 hours, rather than my intended 4. But I figured the dogs and I would rather not sit and get soaked...We left quite well, with all 11 happy dogs!


    This is something I've been thrilled with the last two years - the dogs never balk at leaving the checkpoint. Perhaps it's a bond of trust we've forged, perhaps it's just their attitude at the time, but whatever it is: I love it! To have them barking and pulling out is awesome. All season I've told myself not to judge them in the first 30 minutes after we leave the checkpoint, as they warm up, but they have seemed just as strong the first 30 minutes as they are later - at least, that's what I've seen this year.