Friends and Cast of North Wapiti

Editor's Note: Thank you Barbara for your nice comments. It is always nice to hear positive feedback (nudges and suggestions often lead to new ideas and improvements so those are welcome too!).

However, I would be severely remiss if I didn't point out that like most wonderful North Wapiti experiences - the website is a team effort :)

I would have been lost (and Karen's coverage suffered) if it weren't for Kim Berg stepping up to the plate for this year's Iditarod. As I've mentioned before I had a S.A.D. winter (Seasonal Affective Disorder - aka "Not enough sunlight"....) I felt fine, but so very tired and basically hibernated from December thru February. Kim helped me get caught up on entries from before the race (which I read during the race and kept having the weird feeling of "where was I when this came thru") and took on the task of posting Diary Entries during the race. That left me free to rejoin the living in time to work on coverage links while getting my bearings on what's been going on with those lovely fur-babies from Perryvale.

Heather Walls is also a MVA (most valuable asset)!! She is the website's #1 fact checker and grammar editor. She has also been a very friendly and prompt sounding board for NW ideas.

Penny has added such a spark of fun with her cartoons and long hours on the Cafe Press merchandise. I know her wonderful cartoons have made me burst out laughing sometimes and added energy & fervor to the whole NW update/coverage process.

We all enjoyed the Iditarod photos for this year from:
June Price - Ceremonial Start
Robert & Sue Wilkens - Ceremonial Start
Theresa Daily (Dogsled.com) - Ceremonial Start
Teresa Barnes - Ceremonial Start, Restart & Finger Lake!! Plus a story to share in the Diary
Donna Quante - Open House & Willow Restart
Photos below by Dan Rehak - Cache Valley K-9 (Thanks Heather for sending us the photos!)
Photos below by Don Rosebrock - Cache Valley K-9

Insider stories from:
Old Friends Just Met by Belinda Marshall
Karen In Finger Lake by Teresa & Richard Barnes
Sheep Mountain - Jamie's Report
Sheep Mountain - Donna's Report

Jamie West - What a nice lady to regularly open her BEAUTIFUL home to Karen and all of us who straggle in as NW fans every year as Open House visitors or rookie handlers. Alaska had worn me out by the end of my trip and I stumbled just a bit going downstairs to pack up on my final evening there (I didn't hurt anything, but it was enough to convince me that I needed a nap after dinner) ...I crashed hard and then left early in the morning so I never really got to express my personal thank you's to her & Harry. THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! Her husband Harry burned my pictures to cd before I left so I could share them with another fellow rookie musher from the mid-west

Janet (the mind goes blank...as I should have been out the door for some work already! Shhhh don't tell anyone!) - her behind the scenes help with Karen's dogyard at Jamie's and her blurbs like from Karen's leaving yesterday

Donna Q - her video, her photos, her insight, so much an asset!

Mark - I don't know him very well having only experienced a mild dose of his wit while he was restrained by his cast last year, but what a supportive husband!! Karen & I (both with all too infrequent happy 20yr marriages) have traded emails about how lucky we are over the years :)

There are others that Karen would/will ( & I should) add. We've discussed a "Friends of North Wapiti" page for just such thank you's, but like the Orange Collar page...it's on the to do list.

Now I really MUST fly!

Ann

March 31, 2007 Our Race Season Kelim Siberians

Our Race Season by Kim & Kelly Berg - Kelim Siberians   While Karen is getting ready to race in Alaska...   Here in New Hampsire, 50 degree temps & mud season make us realize - our race season is over. We are always sad to see winter leave, but we are very happy with our race results this season and wanted to share them with the group! We ran 4 races this season, many races were against all kinds of teams (Alaskans, Siberians, Malamute/Inuits, Hounds). The only race we ran with a total Siberian field was Eden. This winter we had a few new team members to work with. Last May, NorthWapiti's Skor joined us, along with NorthWapiti's Rainy. Skor  Son of Grover, Brother to Crunchie & Snickers Rainy Daughter of Moses & Kaylinn, Sister to Boom We also had 5 yearlings join the kennel - Flutie & Stryder (brothers), Viper, Myst & Togo. Flutie Stryder Viper Myst Togo With so many young dogs coming onto the team our goal for the season was to put together one older, more experienced team (we call them the "A" team) and one team of "rookies/yearlings". We split them up in those categories to more evenly match the dogs training experience, age and physical ability. Our snow arrived late - but at least it arrived this year! We decided from training that the "A" Team was going to consist of - NorthWapiti's Skor - (NorthWapiti's Super Grover x Northomes Visa) Kelim's Super Dodge, SD, CGC - (NorthWapiti's Super Grover x Tsuga's Hollywood of Kelim, SD) Kelim-Tsuga's Quest, CGC - (NorthWapiti's Lincoln At Kelim, SD, CGC x Kelim's Sugar Maple of Tsuga) Kelim-Thesewood's Tracker - ( CH. NorthWapiti's Guy Smiley x Northomes Maja) NorthWapiti's Lincoln At Kelim, SD, CGC - (NorthWapiti's Odin x Chuchinka's San Antonio Rose) Kelim's Dodge Viper - (Kelim's Super Dodge, SD, CGC x NorthWapiti's See Spot Run) Skor  Son of Grover, Brother to Crunchie & Snickers Dodge Son of Grover Quest Son of Lincoln, Grandson of Odie & Kaylinn Tracker Son of Smiley Lincoln Son of Odie & Kaylinn, Brother to Batdog & Holly Viper Son of Spot, double-Grandson of Grover The "Yearling/Rookie" Team consisted of - NorthWapiti's Rainy - (Chlout's Moses of Velikaya x Chuchinka's San Antonio Rose) NorthWapiti's Myst At Kelim - (Chlout's Herman of NorthWapiti x NorthWapiti's Roary) Kazlo's Stryder At Kelim - (Kelim's Super Dodge, SD, CGC (Grover son) x NorthWapiti's Whinny) Kazlo's Flyin Flutie - (Kelim's Super Dodge, SD, CGC (Grover son) x NorthWapiti's Whinny) NorthWapiti's Togo At Kelim - (NorthWapiti's Super Grover x NorthWapiti's See Spot Run) and the last spot shifted a little between - Sibersong's Decal At Kelim - (NorthWapiti's Guy Smiley x NorthWapiti's Lyra) Kelim's Mollywood of Tsuga - (NorthWapiti's Lincoln At Kelim, SD, CGC x Kelim's Sugar Maple of Tsuga) Rainy Daughter of Moses & Kaylinn, Sister to Boom Myst Daugher of Herman & Roary, Sister to Banshee Stryder Son of Whinny, Grandson of Grover Flutie Son of Whinny, Grandson of Grover Togo Son of Grover & Spot, Brother to Fritz & Minto Decal Daughter of Smiley & Lyra Molly Son of Lincoln, Grandson of Odie & Kaylinn Our first race was a two day 15 mile race in Stratford. It snowed 8 inches the night before which made for a really soft, punchy trail. We didn't care though, we were racing! :) The A Team ran awesome and had a really inspiring run - the new snow didn't seem to slow them down a bit. The Rookie Team did well for having over half a team of dogs that have never raced before. Kim started out with Rainy & Decal in lead, but after just about 2 miles switched Decal out for Myst. Myst ended up the fastest, hardest driving dog on that team both days. Rainy also did a great job in lead! We had a few overtaking passes and turns that went well. The only glitches with that team was at one point Myst saw a snowmachine coming at her and turned around and booked it which made for me jumping off to grab her before the whole team was turned around and fixing a huge tangle. Another 'big' thing for that team was two rookie leaders leading the team over the finish line near the parking lot. It was a little confusing for them and we finished '6 wide' but we still made it over. This race was a huge learning curve for that team and we were proud of them! We could tell that they were somewhat wide eyed and taking it all in. Race Results (23 teams Total) - A Team - 1st place by 16 minutes Rookie Team - 8th place Our 2nd race was a sprint race (we prefer longer races than sprints - but it was 25 minutes away). We decided to just race the A Team here. The team ran great and we were in first place by ONE second on Saturday. Sunday the second place hound team made some time on us, so we missed first place by 29 seconds.  We also ran the 4 dog class to give some of the younger dogs more race experience. Race Results (7 teams Total) - A Team - 2nd place (29 seconds out of 1st) Our 3rd race was a 24 mile race on Bear Notch Road in Bartlett NH. The trail was in the best shape we have ever seen it, but the temps were in the 40's, warm for our dogs. We decided this time to give Myst a shot at running on the "A"team and a break from the pressure of lead on the "rookie" team as she is the youngest member of our kennel this year at 15 months. Dodge ran lead with Rainy to give that team a 'seasoned' leader for a change. The A Team had a great run, and I was happy with how they performed given how hot they were. The "rookie" team had it's flattest run of the year. Race Results (14 teams Total) - A Team - 5th place Rookie Team - 11th place Our 4th and final race for the season was a two day 10 mile race up at Eden Mountain Lodge. Temps were decent at below freezing each day and it snowed the WHOLE time we were there, sometimes making for quick white-out conditions and hard to find trails. With over a foot of new snow on Friday it was a very slow going, punchy, soft trail both days. It was the type of trail that a dog could easily strain a muscle. The A Team had another great run, and the "rookie" team was starting to look like a veteran team. We had multiple head on passes which the dogs handled well! I should also note that the "Rookie" team had two 'borrowed' additions from Sibersong kennels due to Togo having a strained shoulder muscle and Decal being in standing heat - Weyekin (Linc daughter) and Dawson (Smiley x Lyra son). Race Results (11 teams Total) - A team - 1st place by 13 minutes Rookie Team - 4th place This race season left us very proud of the dogs and ecstatic about next season! A few quick notes - Skor Rainy Viper Myst Quest - Skor was the SUPERSTAR this season leading every step of every race. We are always in awe of that amazing dog :) - Rainy also lead the "rookie" team in every race. We did a training run yesterday and she was fabulous. Made us realize just how far she has come this season as a leader. She is a very cool dog :) - Viper was the only yearling to make the A Team in every race, something we didn't plan on, but he just ended up there! - Myst was the youngest member of our team, but ran two races in lead - again something we didn't plan on, but she just earned her way there! - Quest lead his first race in Bear Notch and did very well! He is now considered a leader on the team instead of a leader in training (although leaders are always in training in one way or another!) - We had the fastest Siberian team at every race Many thanks to Karen & Mark Ramstead for sharing their incredible dogs and knowledge with us! Their line of dogs never cease to amaze, awe and impress us. We wouldn't be where we are today without their friendship and wonderful dogs! Kim - Karen - Kelly If anyone wants to see race photos and results, check out - http://kel-im.com/kelimsiberians/race2007.html   Kim & Kelly Berg www.kelimsiberians.com