Just got back from our run. It was fast on the newly groomed trail and the wind did not blow in the trail!3h10m for 33 miles. I had a bit of an issue with Ruger bullying Bananas in lead, and Bananas was afraid to take turns whenever he had to pull or push Ruger in the right direction, so I moved Maggot up and things went better.
There is a sort of "roundabout" with three trails coming into it at triangular corners that goes around a beaver house. I decided to go left, the long way around, rather than keeping straight on my trail, so that I'd be able to use commands - in the hope that the yearlings will begin to pick them up. Scott and I made sure the trail around the beaver house was good last night, grooming it in all directions, so I was hoping for smooth turns.
Alas, Maggot was too good at taking commands! I said "haw" and he went on the far side, but when we had to turn left again, to go around the roundabout, he turned a bit late and had to cut across some snow and over the trail. I gave the "gee" command, to get him back on the trail, but he overshot the trail again. I don't know if he couldn't see it or if my "gee, gee, gee" and then "haw, haw,haw" (given to guide him back to the trail) confused him. We ended up doing a figure eight on the little pond (where I couldn't hook down to go up and set him right) and went back to the first intersection, took a right (gee) and contiued on our way. I was laughing so hard, it was awesome to see such a responsive leader. Poor Maggot looked a bit confused, but we went all the way around on the way back without any issues - I made sure to give one command at a time this time!
Other than that, the run was uneventful. We saw a moose cow and calf, well off the trail, and several ptarmigan - which are very pretty white birds that look to be a bit like grouse (same size, including brain size!)
This morning Blayne (Buddy) Streeper, his wife Lena, daughter Ava(?) and handler John Stewart (from Scotland) stopped by. I didn't get to talk long, since I had a team to run and they were gone before I got back, but they were very nice. I hope I can get an opportunity to see some of their dogs in person at some point, the pictures in Mushing Magazine just aren't the same! I think that when I am tired of distance mushing, it would be a blast to do the Stage Stop. I used to think of the Streeper's as being sprint mushers, and sprint mushers going short distances, but they just won the Alaska Excursion's race (the same race Leila was running) and that was two days of 40 miles. It would be fun to have a team go fast for that distance!
Well, that's all for now. Hope everyone is looking forward to Christmas!
Monday, December 19, 2011
Snowmobiling the Trail
Yesterday Aaron and Scott groomd the trail. I followed close behind with a load of straw for the cabin (where we'll do our camping). It was a fifty mile trip, and I believe I've seen all the trail system I'll be using (at least for a while). Today I'll be doing my first 30 mile run with the yearlings, so we'll see how it goes.
On the ride we saw what I mistakenly thought was a wolf (it was so far away, it was hard to tell), but it was actually a fox. We got to watch it for a while, since it was in a big, open area and running away from us.
The Cabin is a little, one room cabin with a stove. It's on a lake, which is frozen over. There's plenty of room to camp all the teams and, since yesterday, there will be pleny of straw for us to use.
We were about three miles from the kennel when I had an unexpected adventure: I ran out of gas. It was dark and Scott andd Aaron were ahead of me. I remembered how to switch tanks, but forgot to prime the engine before starting it and, thus, couldn't get it started.
So there I was, guessing they'd go all the way back before realizing I wasn't with them. The only light I had with me was a little one on a carabiner that I'd gotten at a race an unknown number of years ago. It worked for me to switch tanks, but I couldn't get it back on after I'd turned it off.
I considered walking the three miles home, since I knew exactly where I was, but remembered you're not supposed to leave your machine.
I won't say I wasn't scared - after all, the Alaskan woods are big woods and I didn't have a faithful dog (or gun) with me. Plus, I'd seen the neighbor's cleaning lady a few days ago and she'd said there were some big wolves in the area at present. I know a wolf frequents the area I was stuck in about once a week - just a loner, who passes in and out judging by tracks. And though I thought it would be cool to see a wild wolf, alive in it's proper habitat, I didn't want to see anything that night! Moose I wasn't worried about, although they might have been a problem if I'd walked home since there's a few that frequent those last couple miles.
So, I did the sensible thing and laid down on the snowmobile and gazed up at the stars. It wasn't completely peaceful, the highway isn't terribly far away and I could hear a big truck every so often. Still, I was able to make out the Big Dipper and Little Dipper. I wish I knew more constellations, the stars were very bright and seemed so close that I could reach out and touch them. I saw a shooting star and my only wish was that the northern lights would make an appearance, but they did not.
And then I heard a snowmobile and Aaron arrived and helped me start up my machine. I felt kind of silly forgetting to prime it, since I'd done everything else correctly. Oh, well, lesson learned!
Made it home without any issues and the experience has only made me like running dogs better - you don't have to worry about running out of gas.
On the ride we saw what I mistakenly thought was a wolf (it was so far away, it was hard to tell), but it was actually a fox. We got to watch it for a while, since it was in a big, open area and running away from us.
The Cabin is a little, one room cabin with a stove. It's on a lake, which is frozen over. There's plenty of room to camp all the teams and, since yesterday, there will be pleny of straw for us to use.
We were about three miles from the kennel when I had an unexpected adventure: I ran out of gas. It was dark and Scott andd Aaron were ahead of me. I remembered how to switch tanks, but forgot to prime the engine before starting it and, thus, couldn't get it started.
So there I was, guessing they'd go all the way back before realizing I wasn't with them. The only light I had with me was a little one on a carabiner that I'd gotten at a race an unknown number of years ago. It worked for me to switch tanks, but I couldn't get it back on after I'd turned it off.
I considered walking the three miles home, since I knew exactly where I was, but remembered you're not supposed to leave your machine.
I won't say I wasn't scared - after all, the Alaskan woods are big woods and I didn't have a faithful dog (or gun) with me. Plus, I'd seen the neighbor's cleaning lady a few days ago and she'd said there were some big wolves in the area at present. I know a wolf frequents the area I was stuck in about once a week - just a loner, who passes in and out judging by tracks. And though I thought it would be cool to see a wild wolf, alive in it's proper habitat, I didn't want to see anything that night! Moose I wasn't worried about, although they might have been a problem if I'd walked home since there's a few that frequent those last couple miles.
So, I did the sensible thing and laid down on the snowmobile and gazed up at the stars. It wasn't completely peaceful, the highway isn't terribly far away and I could hear a big truck every so often. Still, I was able to make out the Big Dipper and Little Dipper. I wish I knew more constellations, the stars were very bright and seemed so close that I could reach out and touch them. I saw a shooting star and my only wish was that the northern lights would make an appearance, but they did not.
And then I heard a snowmobile and Aaron arrived and helped me start up my machine. I felt kind of silly forgetting to prime it, since I'd done everything else correctly. Oh, well, lesson learned!
Made it home without any issues and the experience has only made me like running dogs better - you don't have to worry about running out of gas.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Another Week Passes...
Well, tomorrow is the weekend! I'm actually not running Saturday so I'll get a day off...haha! Actually, we may do some trail work. I'll need to be moving up to some 30's and 40's with the yearlings so the best way to learn the trail is by snowmobile (so I know what to expect). After the 40's I'll get to do some camping...finally.
For the race team they'll get their long (180 mile) camping trip/run in this week before Christmas.
This week was filled with long days, Aaron was out of town and Scott ran one of the two race teams daily on runs that were 8-9 hours long - ending with a 75 mile run for each team. The dogs look great, but there were a few injuries that will have the weekend to heal up.
My runs were 3 hours (at least) for 25 miles. The wind blew in the trail daily, so poor Scott often had to break it out on the way out and the way in - while we had his trail to follow (usually) on the way out. It's good for the dogs, though, because you might see these tough conditions in a race.
Speaking of races...the racing season has officially begun up here! The Alaskan Excursion race, put on by Ryan Redington, is this weekend and it will be Leila's first race. I wish her well!
Down in the lower 48 is the West Yellowstone race, I'm missing it this year - last year was my first year there and I had a blast. I hope it is a success for everyone.
With Leila and Bill gone, I volunteered to take care of the 30+ dogs they left behind. So, tonight I fed over 80 dogs - all our dogs (Scott went Christmas shopping in town this evening) and Bill's. I think it took me an hour to do them all...
Due to truck issues on the way to the Alaskan Excursion, Buddy Streeper, his wife, child and handler stopped by - but it was only for a quick meal and I was out feeding the dogs while they were here so only got to say a quick hi before they took off. It sounds like they'll be back here on Monday, so that should be interesting. (For those non-mushers, the Streeper's are a sprint and stage stop team that is ranked #1 in the world! One of Aaron's dogs, Java, is from them.)
In other news, I'm going to be published (again) in the CKC magazine. It's always a pleasure to write for CKC, who has been such an awesome sponsor these past years. I can't wait to see the article - it's on Alaskan Huskys.
Oh, and today my team passed a test: Aaron ran them. As I hooked up and watched them leave the yard it was rather hard. I mean, I know how they each run and their preferences and this was Aaron's first time with them - I couldn't help being a little worried! He said they looked good, which was exactly what I'd hoped for.
I've also been reading a great book by C.S. Lewis (of course, aren't all his books awesome?): That Hideous Strength. Not my typical genre (kind of modern sci-fi, but with a British twist), but it has been a lot of fun...can't wait to finish it!
The book I read before THS was Economics in One Lesson by Henry Haszlit. A great, practical book. I discovered that economics is just plain common sense...or you could say that the economics principles that work could be summed up by saying: "Capitalism with compassion."
But I won't bore you with one economics lesson...for now! Next post I'll have another story for you...
For the race team they'll get their long (180 mile) camping trip/run in this week before Christmas.
This week was filled with long days, Aaron was out of town and Scott ran one of the two race teams daily on runs that were 8-9 hours long - ending with a 75 mile run for each team. The dogs look great, but there were a few injuries that will have the weekend to heal up.
My runs were 3 hours (at least) for 25 miles. The wind blew in the trail daily, so poor Scott often had to break it out on the way out and the way in - while we had his trail to follow (usually) on the way out. It's good for the dogs, though, because you might see these tough conditions in a race.
Speaking of races...the racing season has officially begun up here! The Alaskan Excursion race, put on by Ryan Redington, is this weekend and it will be Leila's first race. I wish her well!
Down in the lower 48 is the West Yellowstone race, I'm missing it this year - last year was my first year there and I had a blast. I hope it is a success for everyone.
With Leila and Bill gone, I volunteered to take care of the 30+ dogs they left behind. So, tonight I fed over 80 dogs - all our dogs (Scott went Christmas shopping in town this evening) and Bill's. I think it took me an hour to do them all...
Due to truck issues on the way to the Alaskan Excursion, Buddy Streeper, his wife, child and handler stopped by - but it was only for a quick meal and I was out feeding the dogs while they were here so only got to say a quick hi before they took off. It sounds like they'll be back here on Monday, so that should be interesting. (For those non-mushers, the Streeper's are a sprint and stage stop team that is ranked #1 in the world! One of Aaron's dogs, Java, is from them.)
In other news, I'm going to be published (again) in the CKC magazine. It's always a pleasure to write for CKC, who has been such an awesome sponsor these past years. I can't wait to see the article - it's on Alaskan Huskys.
Oh, and today my team passed a test: Aaron ran them. As I hooked up and watched them leave the yard it was rather hard. I mean, I know how they each run and their preferences and this was Aaron's first time with them - I couldn't help being a little worried! He said they looked good, which was exactly what I'd hoped for.
I've also been reading a great book by C.S. Lewis (of course, aren't all his books awesome?): That Hideous Strength. Not my typical genre (kind of modern sci-fi, but with a British twist), but it has been a lot of fun...can't wait to finish it!
The book I read before THS was Economics in One Lesson by Henry Haszlit. A great, practical book. I discovered that economics is just plain common sense...or you could say that the economics principles that work could be summed up by saying: "Capitalism with compassion."
But I won't bore you with one economics lesson...for now! Next post I'll have another story for you...
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Wheel Dogs
The other night Scott and I were talking dogs and discussing the merits of single-wheel dogs. I would’ve never run a single dog in the first one or two sections in front of the sled (wheel), but now I’m a believer in the method.
Although you may lose some power without the four dogs in the back, it makes the next section (one or two sections in team up from wheel) an ‘honest’ position – those dogs have to work too. Until Scott told me we put the weakest dogs in those spots, I’d never really thought about it. But what he said is true: I automatically put my strongest dogs in wheel and the best front end dogs are arrayed in front. And who goes in the middle (in team)? Those dogs I forget about, the dogs that don’t stand out.
Taking some of the power out of the wheel sections makes the rest of the team work harder as well, because up in lead the dogs just aren’t pulling as hard anyway. Thus, without being able to rely on the back four doing so much of the work, they have to lean into their harnesses a bit more.
Another benefit is that the wheel dogs have more freedom to move out of the way around tight turns and switchbacks – which I have noticed on our tight portage trails. The dogs can jump over or under the line which helps you navigate the turn by jerking the sled out of the turn and also keeps them from getting wrapped around a tree or off the trail. Single-wheel is also beneficial for looking at dogs more closely, whether judging performance or soundness.
While on the subject of wheel dogs, another mistake I realized I was making, was putting my biggest dogs in wheel. It’s actually hard on the ‘big boys’ to be back there since the tug-line pulls down on their hips at a sharper angle in wheel than further up the gang-line. Thus, it is best to put your big, powerful dogs up one or two positions and put smaller (but not tiny) dogs in wheel instead.
Another introduction…
Noah: from Bill Cotter, running with the race team. He’s Bill’s trademark big, white dog. Although he’s a leader, he’s not as competent as the other 22 leaders on the race team, so he hasn’t really led. The biggest dog here, it would be horrible to have to bag him if he got injured!
Just Scott’s dogs to go now…
Stories from the North, episode 1: How Jeff King died
As promised, I have a story for you!
I was told to ask Bill Cotter about the time he was running the Yukon Quest with Jeff King. Now, unfortunately I cannot reproduce the atmosphere or Bill's quiet telling of the tale - with laughter - but I hope you can enjoy it even so! I know musher stories change with time, so hopefully I'm getting all the facts correct...
It was one of the first Yukon Quests, back before cookers and when mushers would stop to start a fire and cook their food and dry everything. Bill and Sonny Linder and a couple others were, therefore, stopped along the Yukon River and decided to cut up wood and make camp.
Sonny was carrying wood to stack by the fire and Bill, having cut it, was tossing it down the bank to him. And then Jeff King entered the show. He decided to stop, but Bill didn't hear him - if anyone else did - and he walked over to where they were working. Again, Bill had no idea he was there. He tossed some more wood...and one ill-fated log hit Jeff on the head.
Of course, the others saw this and told Bill. Jeff was knocked out and they moved him to the fire, trying to find a heartbeat and see if he was breathing. They couldn't find anything. At last, they decided he was, really, dead. After taking care of his dogs, they talked about what to do with Jeff's dogs, sled and the body.
After some discussion, Bill suggested that they leave the sled, let the dogs loose to follow. He asked Sonny Linder if he would empty his sled (Bill would carry the gear) and carry Jeff's body to the next checkpoint.
Now, I've never met Sonny Linder, but apparently he's a very quite person and when he speaks, Bill says, you'd better listen! And he spoke. "Bill, YOU KILLED him, YOU carry him!"
So, they prepared to leave camp. At that moment, Jeff King said, "Be quiet!" Their discussion had disturbed him. Of course, everyone was overjoyed that he was alive and they kept him talking. He had a big headache.
I'm not sure if Jeff finished that years Yukon Quest or not, but I wonder if Bill can claim some credit for Jeff's success because Jeff hadn't won a race until after he was knocked out...and he went on to win the Iditarod!
I was told to ask Bill Cotter about the time he was running the Yukon Quest with Jeff King. Now, unfortunately I cannot reproduce the atmosphere or Bill's quiet telling of the tale - with laughter - but I hope you can enjoy it even so! I know musher stories change with time, so hopefully I'm getting all the facts correct...
It was one of the first Yukon Quests, back before cookers and when mushers would stop to start a fire and cook their food and dry everything. Bill and Sonny Linder and a couple others were, therefore, stopped along the Yukon River and decided to cut up wood and make camp.
Sonny was carrying wood to stack by the fire and Bill, having cut it, was tossing it down the bank to him. And then Jeff King entered the show. He decided to stop, but Bill didn't hear him - if anyone else did - and he walked over to where they were working. Again, Bill had no idea he was there. He tossed some more wood...and one ill-fated log hit Jeff on the head.
Of course, the others saw this and told Bill. Jeff was knocked out and they moved him to the fire, trying to find a heartbeat and see if he was breathing. They couldn't find anything. At last, they decided he was, really, dead. After taking care of his dogs, they talked about what to do with Jeff's dogs, sled and the body.
After some discussion, Bill suggested that they leave the sled, let the dogs loose to follow. He asked Sonny Linder if he would empty his sled (Bill would carry the gear) and carry Jeff's body to the next checkpoint.
Now, I've never met Sonny Linder, but apparently he's a very quite person and when he speaks, Bill says, you'd better listen! And he spoke. "Bill, YOU KILLED him, YOU carry him!"
So, they prepared to leave camp. At that moment, Jeff King said, "Be quiet!" Their discussion had disturbed him. Of course, everyone was overjoyed that he was alive and they kept him talking. He had a big headache.
I'm not sure if Jeff finished that years Yukon Quest or not, but I wonder if Bill can claim some credit for Jeff's success because Jeff hadn't won a race until after he was knocked out...and he went on to win the Iditarod!
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