I posted some pictures of Mark and my run today.
http://picasaweb.google.com/northwapiti/January312008Alaska
Hope you enjoy.
Karen
http://picasaweb.google.com/northwapiti/January312008Alaska
Hope you enjoy.
Karen
Home of Iditarod Finishing and Best In Show Siberian Huskies - 11-Time Iditarod Participants
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
January 29, 2008 Greetings From Alaska!
Well, finally GREETINGS from Alaska!!! We arrived in Alaska last Wednesday evening and have been busy getting settled in, getting the dogs back into the game, and preparing for my drop bags.
The drive up was pretty nice and uneventful. We did see a fair amount of wildlife - moose, caribou, elk, deer, and buffalo which is always nice (as long as they are not in your lane of the road!!) Just a few miles before the US border a critter trotted out in front of the truck. A few moments of "It's a wolf", "No, it's a coyote" ensued until it stopped on the shoulder of the road, looked directly at us and ended the argument - "Wolf" we both said at the same time. It was a very beautiful rich, sable colored wolf and he was very content to stand just off the shoulder of the road and watch us go by. Neat to get such a close look at him.
The border crossing was without incident, even though the border guard did ask for the health certificates on the dogs and did spent a lot of time going over them, unlike at the Montana/Alberta border a few weeks back, they passed scrutiny. And yes, they were EXACTLY the same certificates.
Thanks to some wonky Alaskan weather, our dog yard was rather snowed in when we got here, but 96 husky feet and 6 human feet (Mark, mine and Harry's) make pretty short work of getting things packed down and the dogs settled in. Many of their stakeouts are sporting new doghouses, so there much sniffing, peeing and darting in and out of dog house doors.
Mark and I were as thrilled to find the guest room (aka OUR room) sporting a new bed - we refrained from sniffing or peeing on it though.
There are also a few new inhabitants at WestRunner Kennels - Toby the handsome 'downstairs' cat, who thinks he is a living fur ruff - and Ashleigh, the neurotic, but cute, little border collie x spaniel house dog. Oh, and of course, Romeo the horse. He is the one that had a 'parting of the ways' with Jamie late this summer, resulting in a number of broken ribs and a punctured lung - for Jamie, not Romeo!! Romeo seems no worse the wear from the incident, Jamie is still moving slower then normal.
We opted not to run the Don Bowers race this past weekend - not because there was anything wrong with the dogs or us - we just felt it was all too rushed with our trip up here and all to be at the starting line in 'ready to race' shape for Friday. We have, however, had the dogs out on a number of runs already. Everyone is doing pretty well, although they have slipped a bit out of the 'groove' they had going on the Seeley 200 and at home. I know with a bit of patience on our part, they will find it again.
The rookies - Bingo, X, and Runner are taking everything is stride. Togo seems fascinated by the deep snow and is distracted time and time again by the tops of small trees sticking up out of the drifts. We crossed a road yesterday on our travels and he went across on two legs to better get a look at a road sign. What a dork!
A few of the girls are in heat, which is actually good, as they should be more then finished by the time Iditarod rolls around.
Anyway, that is about all the news for right now. The dogs are getting a day off today and we are running into Anchorage to do a Costco run for my drop bags.
Don't worry - I haven't forgot about my Seeley 200 story!!
Karen
The drive up was pretty nice and uneventful. We did see a fair amount of wildlife - moose, caribou, elk, deer, and buffalo which is always nice (as long as they are not in your lane of the road!!) Just a few miles before the US border a critter trotted out in front of the truck. A few moments of "It's a wolf", "No, it's a coyote" ensued until it stopped on the shoulder of the road, looked directly at us and ended the argument - "Wolf" we both said at the same time. It was a very beautiful rich, sable colored wolf and he was very content to stand just off the shoulder of the road and watch us go by. Neat to get such a close look at him.
The border crossing was without incident, even though the border guard did ask for the health certificates on the dogs and did spent a lot of time going over them, unlike at the Montana/Alberta border a few weeks back, they passed scrutiny. And yes, they were EXACTLY the same certificates.
Thanks to some wonky Alaskan weather, our dog yard was rather snowed in when we got here, but 96 husky feet and 6 human feet (Mark, mine and Harry's) make pretty short work of getting things packed down and the dogs settled in. Many of their stakeouts are sporting new doghouses, so there much sniffing, peeing and darting in and out of dog house doors.
Mark and I were as thrilled to find the guest room (aka OUR room) sporting a new bed - we refrained from sniffing or peeing on it though.
There are also a few new inhabitants at WestRunner Kennels - Toby the handsome 'downstairs' cat, who thinks he is a living fur ruff - and Ashleigh, the neurotic, but cute, little border collie x spaniel house dog. Oh, and of course, Romeo the horse. He is the one that had a 'parting of the ways' with Jamie late this summer, resulting in a number of broken ribs and a punctured lung - for Jamie, not Romeo!! Romeo seems no worse the wear from the incident, Jamie is still moving slower then normal.
We opted not to run the Don Bowers race this past weekend - not because there was anything wrong with the dogs or us - we just felt it was all too rushed with our trip up here and all to be at the starting line in 'ready to race' shape for Friday. We have, however, had the dogs out on a number of runs already. Everyone is doing pretty well, although they have slipped a bit out of the 'groove' they had going on the Seeley 200 and at home. I know with a bit of patience on our part, they will find it again.
The rookies - Bingo, X, and Runner are taking everything is stride. Togo seems fascinated by the deep snow and is distracted time and time again by the tops of small trees sticking up out of the drifts. We crossed a road yesterday on our travels and he went across on two legs to better get a look at a road sign. What a dork!
A few of the girls are in heat, which is actually good, as they should be more then finished by the time Iditarod rolls around.
Anyway, that is about all the news for right now. The dogs are getting a day off today and we are running into Anchorage to do a Costco run for my drop bags.
Don't worry - I haven't forgot about my Seeley 200 story!!
Karen
Sunday, 27 January 2008
January 27, 2008 Hard Work & Laughs
(By Colleen Hovind)
It's been almost two weeks since Anna and I returned from our trip with Karen and the 24 dogs to Montana. You can't begin to imagine what happens when three women travel together in a dog truck for the better part of two weeks.
I thought what I'd do is share some snip-its from our trip. This is by no stretch a neatly woven tale but rather "tales from behind the dog truck".
Karen and Her Brother, Jim
Our first stop on the trip was in Calgary. Karen's brother Jim escorted us to the hotel through the booming town of Calgary during rush hour. It occurred to me that Jim's car was quite a contrast to his sister's choice of transportation - a hot little sports car that can travel faster than the speed of light versus a huge dog truck. Hmmm!!! As we stopped at a red light behind Jim, Karen considered turning on the "moose" lights and blinding him but opted instead to inch up ever so close behind Jim's car just to make her brother a bit nervous. Sibling rivalry is alive and well for sure!!!
A Cold Night in Whitefish
Karen's diary entry on the Flathead Race mentions the warm temperatures we experienced. If I can speak for Anna, I bet she would not use the word "warm" to describe her first night's sleep in Whitefish. Her recollection is sure to be somewhat distorted since hypothermia has a way of playing games with one's sense of reality. Poor Anna being young and not holding an ounce of body fat, almost succumbed to the sub-zero temperatures in our hotel room the first night. Anna woke the next morning to say she darn near froze to death, while Karen's side of the story is that she sleeps better with a window open so that she can be more aware of her dogs if they fuss in the dog truck. How can you argue with that? Let's just say that the rest of the trip Anna made darn sure there was a surplus of extra blankets in the room. Brrrrrrrrr!!!
Kara Saves our Lives
Karen also mentions in her diary entry that we had a "hairy" drive back down the mountain to Whitefish once the race was finished. I truly believe that Kara was the driving force behind saving the day. I thought hard about whether I dare share my thoughts on this, but have decided to jump in knowing that Kara will make me pay on many levels. As you may recall, Karen's post reads "while we didn't hit the ditch, we slid into a guard rail". While the guardrail did indeed save our behinds, the fact that Kara's box was on the driver's side is what really made the difference. You see, Anna and I, having loaded and unloaded the team many times during our trip, soon realized that "little" Kara had perhaps gained a few pounds over Christmas and (dare I say it) had transformed into somewhat of a Chunky Monkey. Okay, so maybe she had just a few extra pounds on her girth, but nonetheless her presence on the driver's side of the truck played a big part in "holding" the truck from gaining further momentum as we met the guardrail. All kidding aside, it will go down as one of the top five "almost" moments in my life. Another I will look forward to adding to the list is when Kara makes me pay for sharing this story. Kara, the reference to needing a crane to lift you into your box was uncalled for. My most sincere apologies.
The Art of "Loading and Unloading" a Dog Box
Well, if it's an art I certainly have not yet mastered it. I pride myself on always handling dogs with the utmost respect and care. It is with great angst that I must admit I suck at loading a dog box. The bottom boxes aren't bad, but the top boxes??? While none of the dogs are harmed when I load them, I think it is safe to say that I have not yet finessed the technique. The saving grace is that I know Karen, Anna and likely anyone else who witnesses my struggle, gets a good laugh - and I am always up for humour. And if loading isn't bad enough, I seem to be missing the brain capacity to remember which dog goes in which box. Some of you may have seen the flattering photo that Karen posted of me sporting a gift from Nahanni - a scratch from my nose down to my lip. Beautiful I say, just beautiful. As Nahanni will attest to, it was when I tried to load her in the wrong box that she felt it necessary to correct me with the now famous NAAAA-hanni karate kick with her hind foot. Being a sucker for punishment, the rest of the trip I insisted that I load Nahanni so that I could right the wrong so to speak. By the last day of our trip, I do recall Anna and I agreeing that my "loading form" had improved with at least a few of the dogs. Anna managed to dodge any injuries until we were loading the remaining 12 dogs at Seeley Lake after Karen had left the start. It seems Jinx had a bone to pick with Anna and took it out on her eyeball. No major damage but a nail to the eyeball is never pleasant. In hindsight, one has to wonder if perhaps Kara paid off Nahanni and Jinx to do her dirty work as a way of getting back at Anna and me for our tasteless comments about her weight. Seems pretty clear to me now that I think about it.
I thought what I'd do is share some snip-its from our trip. This is by no stretch a neatly woven tale but rather "tales from behind the dog truck".
Karen and Her Brother, Jim
Our first stop on the trip was in Calgary. Karen's brother Jim escorted us to the hotel through the booming town of Calgary during rush hour. It occurred to me that Jim's car was quite a contrast to his sister's choice of transportation - a hot little sports car that can travel faster than the speed of light versus a huge dog truck. Hmmm!!! As we stopped at a red light behind Jim, Karen considered turning on the "moose" lights and blinding him but opted instead to inch up ever so close behind Jim's car just to make her brother a bit nervous. Sibling rivalry is alive and well for sure!!!
A Cold Night in Whitefish
Karen's diary entry on the Flathead Race mentions the warm temperatures we experienced. If I can speak for Anna, I bet she would not use the word "warm" to describe her first night's sleep in Whitefish. Her recollection is sure to be somewhat distorted since hypothermia has a way of playing games with one's sense of reality. Poor Anna being young and not holding an ounce of body fat, almost succumbed to the sub-zero temperatures in our hotel room the first night. Anna woke the next morning to say she darn near froze to death, while Karen's side of the story is that she sleeps better with a window open so that she can be more aware of her dogs if they fuss in the dog truck. How can you argue with that? Let's just say that the rest of the trip Anna made darn sure there was a surplus of extra blankets in the room. Brrrrrrrrr!!!
Kara Saves our Lives
Karen also mentions in her diary entry that we had a "hairy" drive back down the mountain to Whitefish once the race was finished. I truly believe that Kara was the driving force behind saving the day. I thought hard about whether I dare share my thoughts on this, but have decided to jump in knowing that Kara will make me pay on many levels. As you may recall, Karen's post reads "while we didn't hit the ditch, we slid into a guard rail". While the guardrail did indeed save our behinds, the fact that Kara's box was on the driver's side is what really made the difference. You see, Anna and I, having loaded and unloaded the team many times during our trip, soon realized that "little" Kara had perhaps gained a few pounds over Christmas and (dare I say it) had transformed into somewhat of a Chunky Monkey. Okay, so maybe she had just a few extra pounds on her girth, but nonetheless her presence on the driver's side of the truck played a big part in "holding" the truck from gaining further momentum as we met the guardrail. All kidding aside, it will go down as one of the top five "almost" moments in my life. Another I will look forward to adding to the list is when Kara makes me pay for sharing this story. Kara, the reference to needing a crane to lift you into your box was uncalled for. My most sincere apologies.
The Art of "Loading and Unloading" a Dog Box
Well, if it's an art I certainly have not yet mastered it. I pride myself on always handling dogs with the utmost respect and care. It is with great angst that I must admit I suck at loading a dog box. The bottom boxes aren't bad, but the top boxes??? While none of the dogs are harmed when I load them, I think it is safe to say that I have not yet finessed the technique. The saving grace is that I know Karen, Anna and likely anyone else who witnesses my struggle, gets a good laugh - and I am always up for humour. And if loading isn't bad enough, I seem to be missing the brain capacity to remember which dog goes in which box. Some of you may have seen the flattering photo that Karen posted of me sporting a gift from Nahanni - a scratch from my nose down to my lip. Beautiful I say, just beautiful. As Nahanni will attest to, it was when I tried to load her in the wrong box that she felt it necessary to correct me with the now famous NAAAA-hanni karate kick with her hind foot. Being a sucker for punishment, the rest of the trip I insisted that I load Nahanni so that I could right the wrong so to speak. By the last day of our trip, I do recall Anna and I agreeing that my "loading form" had improved with at least a few of the dogs. Anna managed to dodge any injuries until we were loading the remaining 12 dogs at Seeley Lake after Karen had left the start. It seems Jinx had a bone to pick with Anna and took it out on her eyeball. No major damage but a nail to the eyeball is never pleasant. In hindsight, one has to wonder if perhaps Kara paid off Nahanni and Jinx to do her dirty work as a way of getting back at Anna and me for our tasteless comments about her weight. Seems pretty clear to me now that I think about it.
Scooge Defined
As with any profession, over time a few words crop into one's vocabulary that seem to "stick" and are used repeatedly while working in your chosen field. Handling dogs is no exception, and so enters our first word of the North Wapiti dictionary of handling terms. "Scooge", (sounds like Ebenezer Scrooge, without the "r"). Its definition is all encompassing and refers to any type of revolting thing one might encounter as a dog handler, and you guessed it usually relates to something that originates within a dog. To elaborate on its definition would not only be distasteful but may limit your use of the word. So please, use the word freely in your everyday lives with your animals and think of Anna and me fondly every time you use it . SCOOGE!!!
As with any profession, over time a few words crop into one's vocabulary that seem to "stick" and are used repeatedly while working in your chosen field. Handling dogs is no exception, and so enters our first word of the North Wapiti dictionary of handling terms. "Scooge", (sounds like Ebenezer Scrooge, without the "r"). Its definition is all encompassing and refers to any type of revolting thing one might encounter as a dog handler, and you guessed it usually relates to something that originates within a dog. To elaborate on its definition would not only be distasteful but may limit your use of the word. So please, use the word freely in your everyday lives with your animals and think of Anna and me fondly every time you use it . SCOOGE!!!
Great People and New Friends
First off, I have to say that having a chance again this year to take a winter trip with Karen was another windfall for me. Karen and I have become friends over the years and it is certainly a relationship that I honour dearly and never take for granted. So Karen, thank you for letting me share your world.
Next on the list is Anna, who I met a few times while at North Wapiti. By the end of trip, we had spent pretty much every moment of two weeks together with lots of laughs and hard work. Despite the age difference (Anna celebrated her 19th birthday while on the road - Anna, now EVERYONE knows), we had a blast together but also knew when to buckle down and get to work. There may have been a couple of times that Karen would have loved to disown us but she resisted the temptation (or we stayed in the truck so she couldn't drive off without us). Thanks for your patience, Karen.
Best of all, I finally got to meet Karen's Mom which was a pleasure. Morna, you are a gem. She gets a certain twinkle in her eye when she talks about her kids - definitely a proud Mom and for good reason.
Then of course there is Marlene and Doug Daniels from Belgrade, Montana and Barbara and Jim Watt from Missoula, Montana. As Karen mentioned in her post, these people are very special. I had a wonderful time getting to know them and was blown away by their generosity and hospitality. Thank you, thank you.
In closing, I have one last thing to share. Remember that horrible saying "blondes have more fun"? Well, I firmly believe that "handlers have more fun", right Anna? Ohhhhhhhh, Penny, I think we might need t-shirts!!!
Colleen Hovind
First off, I have to say that having a chance again this year to take a winter trip with Karen was another windfall for me. Karen and I have become friends over the years and it is certainly a relationship that I honour dearly and never take for granted. So Karen, thank you for letting me share your world.
Next on the list is Anna, who I met a few times while at North Wapiti. By the end of trip, we had spent pretty much every moment of two weeks together with lots of laughs and hard work. Despite the age difference (Anna celebrated her 19th birthday while on the road - Anna, now EVERYONE knows), we had a blast together but also knew when to buckle down and get to work. There may have been a couple of times that Karen would have loved to disown us but she resisted the temptation (or we stayed in the truck so she couldn't drive off without us). Thanks for your patience, Karen.
Best of all, I finally got to meet Karen's Mom which was a pleasure. Morna, you are a gem. She gets a certain twinkle in her eye when she talks about her kids - definitely a proud Mom and for good reason.
Then of course there is Marlene and Doug Daniels from Belgrade, Montana and Barbara and Jim Watt from Missoula, Montana. As Karen mentioned in her post, these people are very special. I had a wonderful time getting to know them and was blown away by their generosity and hospitality. Thank you, thank you.
In closing, I have one last thing to share. Remember that horrible saying "blondes have more fun"? Well, I firmly believe that "handlers have more fun", right Anna? Ohhhhhhhh, Penny, I think we might need t-shirts!!!
Colleen Hovind
Sunday, 20 January 2008
January 20, 2008 Tales From Montana
I have a few tales from Montana to tell that don't really fit into either 'race report', so this is the 'Between Race Reports' Report!
The first story to tell is Surge's. After a lovely day of shopping in Whitefish, we headed out for Lincoln. Once we got all settled in there, I phoned home to see how things were going their and to give everyone a contact number for me.
Gabi Husch answered the phone and as soon as she heard it was me, launched into a story about Surge. Turns out she had been trying without luck to reach Mark at work. She reported that Surge was in trouble. His breathing was laboured, his gums pale and his heart rate high. My stomach flipped, Surge had had a bad run with Gabi and Anna a few weeks before, but quickly recovered. In the time before we left for Montana, I kept a close eye on him and he seemed completely back to normal, so I wrote it off as 'nothing to worry about'. Turns out I was very mistaken.
Luckily, the Husch's oldest son's girlfriend, who happens to be in school about to graduate as a vet tech was around and took all of Surge's vitals before they contacted the vet.
A bit of time, a few more phone calls and the decision was made to get Surge into the Clinic that evening. I spent an anxious hour and a half or so waiting to hear from the vet. When I did, the news was good. While Surge did have a case of pneumonia, it looked like it was caught before it went too far. Dr. Lewis took the time to tell me what an excellent crew I had at home caring for the dogs while I was gone. I already knew that, but it was nice to hear anyway!
Surge spent 2 days in the Clinic and is now home and doing very well. He is still on antibiotics and will go in for another check when they are done, but it looks like he is recovering like the trooper we know him to be. He is loving the bologna and cheese (and pill - but don't tell Surge that) 'sandwiches' that Kathryn makes him every morning.
The other story to tell is about our "Montana Moms". With no slight intended to either Doug Daniels or Jim Watt, who were both very kind and gracious to us all too, but the ladies really tucked the NorthWapiti Team under their wings.
I am speaking of Marlene Daniels and Barbara Watt. Both ladies heaped delicious treats and great meals on us for the week and a half we were in the state. From elk sausage to fantastic cheese to to die for brownies to incredible chocolate bars to homemade cinnamon buns.the list goes on. When we set up our room in Seeley, our clothes stayed in our suitcases and the 2 drawers in the room were dedicated to food storage!
The first story to tell is Surge's. After a lovely day of shopping in Whitefish, we headed out for Lincoln. Once we got all settled in there, I phoned home to see how things were going their and to give everyone a contact number for me.
Gabi Husch answered the phone and as soon as she heard it was me, launched into a story about Surge. Turns out she had been trying without luck to reach Mark at work. She reported that Surge was in trouble. His breathing was laboured, his gums pale and his heart rate high. My stomach flipped, Surge had had a bad run with Gabi and Anna a few weeks before, but quickly recovered. In the time before we left for Montana, I kept a close eye on him and he seemed completely back to normal, so I wrote it off as 'nothing to worry about'. Turns out I was very mistaken.
Luckily, the Husch's oldest son's girlfriend, who happens to be in school about to graduate as a vet tech was around and took all of Surge's vitals before they contacted the vet.
A bit of time, a few more phone calls and the decision was made to get Surge into the Clinic that evening. I spent an anxious hour and a half or so waiting to hear from the vet. When I did, the news was good. While Surge did have a case of pneumonia, it looked like it was caught before it went too far. Dr. Lewis took the time to tell me what an excellent crew I had at home caring for the dogs while I was gone. I already knew that, but it was nice to hear anyway!
Surge spent 2 days in the Clinic and is now home and doing very well. He is still on antibiotics and will go in for another check when they are done, but it looks like he is recovering like the trooper we know him to be. He is loving the bologna and cheese (and pill - but don't tell Surge that) 'sandwiches' that Kathryn makes him every morning.
The other story to tell is about our "Montana Moms". With no slight intended to either Doug Daniels or Jim Watt, who were both very kind and gracious to us all too, but the ladies really tucked the NorthWapiti Team under their wings.
I am speaking of Marlene Daniels and Barbara Watt. Both ladies heaped delicious treats and great meals on us for the week and a half we were in the state. From elk sausage to fantastic cheese to to die for brownies to incredible chocolate bars to homemade cinnamon buns.the list goes on. When we set up our room in Seeley, our clothes stayed in our suitcases and the 2 drawers in the room were dedicated to food storage!
The Daniels and Watts were also the greatest cheering section anyone could ask for. We were honoured to have them around.
One of the nicest things about both couples was that they seemed to be right there whenever we needed something, but quietly vanished into the background when we were busy. It is a tricky balance to achieve and "The Wenches" (aka Anna and Colleen) and I really appreciated that.
It is folks like that that take a good trip and make it great! Many thanks ladies (and gentlemen!!!).
I posted some pics from the Montana trip. You can find them at
Friday, 18 January 2008
January 18, 2008 Flathead Sled Dog Days 100 Race
The Neckbone race in La Ronge, SK that Mark and I ran last year was such a good warm up event for the dogs that I was disappointed that scheduling wasn't going to allow for us to run it again this year. When I happened across the information on the Flathead Sled Dog Days running the weekend before the Seeley Lake races, I figured that would fit the bill perfectly.
So, the Thursday before the race, Colleen Hovind, Anna Husch and myself loaded dogs and headed for Montana. Anna was a last minute addition to the entourage. Her brother, Markus has been to Alaska with me a few times and Anna figured it was her turn for an adventure. She was a very pleasant addition to the team!!
We spent an enjoyable Thursday night in Calgary, having dinner with my Mom, my brother, Geek and wife, Mrs.Geek. Mom made sure we were loaded up with lots of snacks and goodies for the drive. Moms are the greatest.
Everything went well until we hit the US Border. There we met up with a Border Guard that must have been attacked by a pack of rabid sled dogs as a child. His personal interpretation of the regulations for crossing the border with dogs were very different then every other border guard I've met in the 12 or so years I've been doing this. It took about a 2 hour delay while the wonderful staff at the Westlock Vet Clinic pulled and detailed all the information this guy wanted before he would let us into the US.
When we were finally on our way, we passed a coyote trotting along the ditch towards the border. I hope he was carrying all the proper paperwork.
Despite the delay, we got into Whitefish in time for our vet checks and all. The weather was horribly discouraging though. When I called home and whined to Mark that it was raining outside, he reminded me it has almost always been like that when we raced in Montana - basically it was a 'Suck It Up, Princess' reminder.
Morning dawned warm and wet - not ideal by any stretch for my team, but .... as Mark would say "Suck it Up Princess".
So, the Thursday before the race, Colleen Hovind, Anna Husch and myself loaded dogs and headed for Montana. Anna was a last minute addition to the entourage. Her brother, Markus has been to Alaska with me a few times and Anna figured it was her turn for an adventure. She was a very pleasant addition to the team!!
We spent an enjoyable Thursday night in Calgary, having dinner with my Mom, my brother, Geek and wife, Mrs.Geek. Mom made sure we were loaded up with lots of snacks and goodies for the drive. Moms are the greatest.
Everything went well until we hit the US Border. There we met up with a Border Guard that must have been attacked by a pack of rabid sled dogs as a child. His personal interpretation of the regulations for crossing the border with dogs were very different then every other border guard I've met in the 12 or so years I've been doing this. It took about a 2 hour delay while the wonderful staff at the Westlock Vet Clinic pulled and detailed all the information this guy wanted before he would let us into the US.
When we were finally on our way, we passed a coyote trotting along the ditch towards the border. I hope he was carrying all the proper paperwork.
Despite the delay, we got into Whitefish in time for our vet checks and all. The weather was horribly discouraging though. When I called home and whined to Mark that it was raining outside, he reminded me it has almost always been like that when we raced in Montana - basically it was a 'Suck It Up, Princess' reminder.
Morning dawned warm and wet - not ideal by any stretch for my team, but .... as Mark would say "Suck it Up Princess".
by Penny Blakenship
The girls and I fed dogs, readied the sled, and eventually harnessed and hooked up the 12 dogs. The team consisted of Jinx, Hilda, Holly, Nahanni, X, Bingo, Hector, Batdog, Runner, Togo, Boom and Barq. As the snowmachine pulled up next to the team to help us up to the start, I all of a sudden realized the X, Bingo, Runner and maybe even Togo were not at all familiar with the machines. Bingo and X looked like their eyes were about to pop out of their heads at the sight and sounds of the 'iron dogs'. Well, no time like the present to learn.
We struggled up the difficult ¼ mile to the start line and arrived just in time to be released. The dogs and I were in high spirits as we got underway for our first 'real' sled run of the season.
A number of teams passed and the rookies dealt with that very well. X and Bingo were stopping dead in their tracks with each snowmachine we encountered, but all the drivers were courteous and kind, so I was sure they would figure out in time they weren't really an issue.
The trail climbs for over 20 miles, cruises along a summit for awhile and then drops for over 20 miles back to the finish line. Actually, the altitude gain over the 20 miles was over 3100 ft - that's a BIG climb. I was actually very pleased with how well the dogs all stayed in their harness and worked hard, despite the warm temperatures.
The view along the Summit was absolutely breathtaking. There was a big storm front moving out and another one moving in, so there was stunning dark skies next to vibrant blue sky - all set over a blanket of sparkling white snow. I shot off a bunch of pictures with a disposable camera, but haven't got them in to see if they turned out yet.
The miles clicked by easily and soon we cruised across the finish line. Many mushers had been opting to have their teams walked down the nasty trail back to the dog trucks - or were having tug lines undone. I just let the dogs cruise by and someone yelled 'Watch the gate" as I passed. Boy, where they right. I did more sled driving in that ¼ mile then the whole rest of the race! We arrived upright and in one piece back in the staging area though.
All the dogs devoured their snacks and meal before being unhooked and eventually put away. I was pleased with all of them, but especially young Bingo and X, who drove hard and seemed happy for the whole run.
My dear friends Marlene and Doug Daniels treated us to a wonderful dinner in Whitefish before they headed home to Belgrade, MT and we headed back to the hotel.
Day two of the race at least was cooler and it was snowing instead of raining. That had made everything VERY slippery, so very gingerly we did chores and inched up the mountain to the staging area.
As my running time was the slowest from Day 1, we were first out of the chute on Sunday morning. I had put Hilda and Jinx in lead again, but Jinx just didn't seem 'with' the program. Sure enough, we I called them up to leave the chute; she started slowly and was promptly run over by the rest of the team resulting in a big tangle. I cleared the chute and recruited a photographer to stand on my brake while I threw Hector up in lead with Hilda. That got us moving, but Hector really isn't the best leader and he was too busy flirting with the girls to be doing a good job, so after a mile or so, I stopped and put Runner up in lead. Runner was still in awe of his first race and all and while he stayed up front and focused, he wasn't setting a great pace. I started to think this might be a VERY long day.
By this time Jinx started looking like she might have woken up, so I decided to try her up front again. She was ready this time and the dogs seemed to find a bit of their 'groove'.
Today we had a lot of company through the biggest climbs, which was nice. The dogs climbed well, but the new snow and a few other issues damped their enthusiasm for the downhill portion of the trail. For a number of miles they just seemed to 'lose' it altogether and merely plodded along. I hummed, planned what we wanted to do for dinner, and contemplated the brim of my ball cap to distract myself while I waited for my dog team to come back. Many years and many miles have taught me that patience is the best tactic in this sort of situation.
Sure enough, about 10 miles from the finish line they seemed to come together again. A few snowmachines roared by and the rookies barely even flicked an ear. Yeah!
We crossed the line in about the same time as Day one. Not too shabby, but also not what I know the team is capable of. However, tails were still wagging and appetites intact at the truck, so it was hard to not consider the race a success.
The drive back down the mountain to Whitefish was a 'hairy' one. Many trucks and cars were in the ditch - and we ended up no exception. Well, we didn't actually hit the ditch, we slid into a guardrail. I will confess to being very scared as we slowly slid towards it. Luckily, there was no damage to the truck (snow was actually between the rail and the truck) and we were able to just drive out after a bit of shoveling.
Fellow musher Butch Austin wasn't so lucky and hit the rail right behind us. He was pulled out by musher Rick Larson but did suffer some damage to his truck.
Once back to Whitefish we quickly dropped dogs and changed for the Banquet. I got $30 and a red flashlight for being the 'red lantern' (my first one in 6 years!) and Anna and Colleen each got a little gift bag as in recognition of how helpful they were to all the mushers in the race!! Way to go girls!
View photos and race info at http://www.northwapiti.com/races/2008/flathead.html
Next up - Seeley Lake!
Karen
Next up - Seeley Lake!
Karen
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
January 16, 2008 The 24 'Super Dogs' Headed To AK!
Well, we are home - but with our departure to Alaska scheduled for Monday, things are busier then ever here. I know I owe you all some Diary Entries - and I strive to work on them over the next few days, but I will make the disclaimer that I'm battling a cold too, so not all too energetic.
I thought I'd start with talking about the final 24 in our 'A' string this year. Now, if you were paying any attention to the names of the dogs on the teams I ran in Whitefish and Seeley Lake over the past few weeks, you have already figured most of this list out - but just in case you weren't paying attention.
Introducing our 2007/2008 main string - aka THE SUPER DOGS...
I thought I'd start with talking about the final 24 in our 'A' string this year. Now, if you were paying any attention to the names of the dogs on the teams I ran in Whitefish and Seeley Lake over the past few weeks, you have already figured most of this list out - but just in case you weren't paying attention.
Introducing our 2007/2008 main string - aka THE SUPER DOGS...
(In Order Of Age)
| Name | Sex | Age | Status | Races |
 < width="60" height="60">Kara | Female | 8.5 | Veteran Leader | 2007 Neckbone 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 Iditarod 2006 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Knik 200 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2005 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2005 2005 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2004 Finisher 2003 Knik 200 Finisher Iditarod 2003 |
 < width="60" height="60">Moses | Male | 8 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 Iditarod 2006 Finisher 2006 Knik 200 Iditarod 2005 2005 Knik 200 Finisher 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 Iditarod 2004 Finisher Yukon Quest 250 (with another musher) |
 < width="60" height="60">Nahanni | Female | 7.5 | Veteran | 2008 Flathead 100 Iditarod 2003 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 2006 Knik 200 |
 < width="60" height="60">Crunchie | Male | 6.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 Iditarod 2006 Finisher 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Knik 200 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Iditarod 2005 Iditarod 2004 Finisher |
 < width="60" height="60">Barq | Male | 6.5 | Veteran | 2008 Flathead 100 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Iditarod 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2006 Knik 200 |
 < width="60" height="60">Sprite | Female | 6.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 Iditarod 2005 2006 Knik 200 2006 Copper Basin 300 Iditarod 2006 Finisher |
 < width="60" height="60">Hector | Male | 6.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Flathead 100 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 Iditarod 2006 Finisher 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Knik 200 Iditarod 2005 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2005 Knik 200 Iditarod 2004 Finisher |
 < width="60" height="60">Hilda | Female | 6.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Flathead 100 2007 Neckbone 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2006 Knik 200 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Iditarod 2004 Finisher |
 < width="60" height="60">Herman | Male | 6.5 | Veteran | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 2007 Sheep Mtn 150 Iditarod 2006 Finisher 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Knik 2002005 Sheep Mountain 150 2005 Iditarod 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Iditarod |
 < width="60" height="60">Dasher | Female | 6 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 Iditarod 2006 Finisher 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Knik 200 Iditarod 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 |
 < width="60" height="60">Holly | Female | 5.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Flathead 100 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 |
 < width="60" height="60">Batdog | Male | 5.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Flathead 100 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 Iditarod 2006 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Knik 200 |
 < width="60" height="60">Jr | Male | 5.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 Iditarod 2006 Finisher 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Knik 200 |
 < width="60" height="60">Q | Male | 4.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 22007 Neckbone 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2006 Knik 200 |
 < width="60" height="60">Jinx | Female | 4.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Flathead 100 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2006 Knik 200 |
 < width="59" height="60">Spider | Female | 4.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 |
 < width="60" height="60">Runner | Male | 3.5 | Rookie Leader | 2008 Flathead 100 |
 < width="60" height="60">Boom | Male | 3.5 | Veteran | 2007 Neckbone 120 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2008 Flathead 100 |
 < width="60" height="60">Tess | Female | 3.5 | Veteran Leader | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2007 Taiga 300 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 |
 < width="60" height="60">Charge | Male | 3.5 | Veteran | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2007 Taiga 300 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 |
 < width="60" height="60">Watt | Male | 3.5 | Veteran | 2008 Seeley Lake 200 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 |
 < width="60" height="60">Togo | Male | 3 | Rookie | 2008 Flathead 100 |
 < width="60" height="60">X | Male | 2.5 | Rookie | 2008 Flathead 100 |
 < width="60" height="60">Bingo | Female | 2.5 | Rookie | 2008 Flathead 100 |
It's a great group of dog - lots of experience with a nice touch of youthful enthusiasm. Kara is the most senior member of the Super Dogs. Make no doubt; this will be her last year racing. You may notice her brothers, Loki and Odie are not on the list. That is definitely the end of an era for me - Odie has been on all my race teams since the 2002 season. Cutting him from the team almost felt like amputating a limb, but both the boys are enjoying running with small teams with Kathryn and the Husch's.
Irving, Wolverine, and Roary were all very hard cuts too - but for different reasons. I know that Irving is going to be a major star in the kennel, but he is not quite ready this season - same for the very serious and seriously handsome Wolvie. Roary was 'oh so close'. I just already had a bunch of girls in the pool and opted for a little more size and power.
Mo is likely on his last race season too, but the way his boy Boom is roaring up the ranks, it is more like he is just passing along the torch.
The real rookies of the group are X , Togo and Bingo. All three traveled well down to Montana and seemed to really enjoy their first taste of racing. X is the real star of the bunch.
Key leaders this season are shaping up to be Sprite, Tess, Hilda, Q, Moses, Spider, Jinx, Jr, Kara, and Batdog. The MAIN leader in the crew this year is without a doubt Dasher. She is so full of herself lately; I'm surprised she doesn't just explode. She's been obnoxiously bouncy and happy since the real hard work around here began. She loves being THE gal and I am learning to put my complete trust in her. That might not sound like a hard thing to do, but with all the serious leaders I've had in the past - like Grover, Snickers, Kara, etc - it is kind of difficult to learn to just completely trust a bouncy, bubbly little gal that seems to take nothing seriously - but I'm coming around!
Folks at home were left with instructions to keep Newt and Roary in shape for me, just in case I changed any opinions on some of the dogs that went down to Montana with me. I didn't and this group is indeed the final group that will be heading up to Alaska with us next week.
Not to say there weren't a few issues that came home from Montana with us - a number of the dogs picked up a seriously nasty stomach bug. In fact, we even made a quick trip to the vet in Seeley Lake with Charge before heading home on Monday. As we had hoped and suspected, it is nothing requiring any more aggressive treatment then what we were already doing (some antibiotics and a few stomach meds). Charge is already showing significant improvement, but now a few others are starting to get sick. Oh well, better now then right before or during Iditarod.
Spider also had to make a quick visit to the vet yesterday. She finished Seeley Lake strong and happy, but about 16 hours later started favoring her front left leg. By yesterday she wasn't bearing any weight on it. Trevor quickly found the start of an abscess on one of her toes and it was lanced and drained. It almost looks like she stepped on something on the trail. She is mostly back on 4 feet now - and thoroughly enjoying some house time as she recovers. Kara, of course, is appalled at sharing her dog beds and toys - especially after having been without all that for almost 2 weeks!
So that is it for today! Tomorrow I will have some Tales from the Races for you all!
Till then..
Karen
Irving, Wolverine, and Roary were all very hard cuts too - but for different reasons. I know that Irving is going to be a major star in the kennel, but he is not quite ready this season - same for the very serious and seriously handsome Wolvie. Roary was 'oh so close'. I just already had a bunch of girls in the pool and opted for a little more size and power.
Mo is likely on his last race season too, but the way his boy Boom is roaring up the ranks, it is more like he is just passing along the torch.
The real rookies of the group are X , Togo and Bingo. All three traveled well down to Montana and seemed to really enjoy their first taste of racing. X is the real star of the bunch.
Key leaders this season are shaping up to be Sprite, Tess, Hilda, Q, Moses, Spider, Jinx, Jr, Kara, and Batdog. The MAIN leader in the crew this year is without a doubt Dasher. She is so full of herself lately; I'm surprised she doesn't just explode. She's been obnoxiously bouncy and happy since the real hard work around here began. She loves being THE gal and I am learning to put my complete trust in her. That might not sound like a hard thing to do, but with all the serious leaders I've had in the past - like Grover, Snickers, Kara, etc - it is kind of difficult to learn to just completely trust a bouncy, bubbly little gal that seems to take nothing seriously - but I'm coming around!
Folks at home were left with instructions to keep Newt and Roary in shape for me, just in case I changed any opinions on some of the dogs that went down to Montana with me. I didn't and this group is indeed the final group that will be heading up to Alaska with us next week.
Not to say there weren't a few issues that came home from Montana with us - a number of the dogs picked up a seriously nasty stomach bug. In fact, we even made a quick trip to the vet in Seeley Lake with Charge before heading home on Monday. As we had hoped and suspected, it is nothing requiring any more aggressive treatment then what we were already doing (some antibiotics and a few stomach meds). Charge is already showing significant improvement, but now a few others are starting to get sick. Oh well, better now then right before or during Iditarod.
Spider also had to make a quick visit to the vet yesterday. She finished Seeley Lake strong and happy, but about 16 hours later started favoring her front left leg. By yesterday she wasn't bearing any weight on it. Trevor quickly found the start of an abscess on one of her toes and it was lanced and drained. It almost looks like she stepped on something on the trail. She is mostly back on 4 feet now - and thoroughly enjoying some house time as she recovers. Kara, of course, is appalled at sharing her dog beds and toys - especially after having been without all that for almost 2 weeks!
So that is it for today! Tomorrow I will have some Tales from the Races for you all!
Till then..
Karen
Monday, 14 January 2008
January 14, 2008 Karen & Her Wonderful Team
(by Barbara Watt)
I have so much to say about this weekend and last, and I would probably bore you all.
Karen was due to leave Seeley Lake, Montana, this morning, early. They were planning to drive all the way home today.
I have to say that Karen is the most gracious person, but lots of fun, too. Meeting her was an absolute joy. Meeting the dogs was an absolute joy, also.
My husband and I took lots of photos, and I will be sending them to Kim in a little while, and she will put them on Karen's website. My head is spinning with the photos of all the dogs, so a number will not have names with them unless Kim can figure them out! Of course it's easy to tell Crunchie apart from Moses! But try to tell Watt part from Tesla - brother and sister and nearly the same markings!
I will also write some stories about these two weekends. Never as well as Karen writes, but I can relate the facts!
In Whitefish we were able to meet Marlene and Doug Phillips-Daniels. Marlene, you are joy. Lovely, kind, funny, and a mind like a steel trap! Go ahead - ask her anything! And a wonderful friend and fan of Karen's.
I also got to meet two of the finest people I've met in a long time. Colleen, Karen's good friend, was one of the handlers, and she is just a gem! Colleen works so very hard, and with such love for each of the dogs. And we had such good fun laughing and laughing! Colleen couldn't be nicer to the dogs, and knows each one so well. And then there is Anna - a neighbor of Karen's. Anna turned 19 on Saturday, and I think grew up at North Wapiti Kennels! She know each dog, the mother and father, any pups, all personalities, etc. Anna
is just beautiful, but doesn't mind mucking around cleaning up after the dogs. She and Colleen took care of the dogs who weren't racing at the time (two races, two teams) and did such a fine job. There is a great deal of work to be done for these champions, and there were treated like the queens and kings they are!
I have to talk about Kara. Oh, Kara!!!! A number of people write about her, especially Karen. Very enjoyable stories, but I thought there was a lot of story to the accounts. Good, entertaining stories. Well, was *I* ever wrong! She IS the princess. Or maybe the queen! When we first spied Kara hooked to the truck, she sat like the beauty she is. WHEN she might want to wave, my husband says she waves like Queen Elizabeth!!!
You can see photos at - http://www.northwapiti.com/races/2008/seeleylake.html#Race
Barbara Watt
Karen was due to leave Seeley Lake, Montana, this morning, early. They were planning to drive all the way home today.
I have to say that Karen is the most gracious person, but lots of fun, too. Meeting her was an absolute joy. Meeting the dogs was an absolute joy, also.
My husband and I took lots of photos, and I will be sending them to Kim in a little while, and she will put them on Karen's website. My head is spinning with the photos of all the dogs, so a number will not have names with them unless Kim can figure them out! Of course it's easy to tell Crunchie apart from Moses! But try to tell Watt part from Tesla - brother and sister and nearly the same markings!
I will also write some stories about these two weekends. Never as well as Karen writes, but I can relate the facts!
In Whitefish we were able to meet Marlene and Doug Phillips-Daniels. Marlene, you are joy. Lovely, kind, funny, and a mind like a steel trap! Go ahead - ask her anything! And a wonderful friend and fan of Karen's.
I also got to meet two of the finest people I've met in a long time. Colleen, Karen's good friend, was one of the handlers, and she is just a gem! Colleen works so very hard, and with such love for each of the dogs. And we had such good fun laughing and laughing! Colleen couldn't be nicer to the dogs, and knows each one so well. And then there is Anna - a neighbor of Karen's. Anna turned 19 on Saturday, and I think grew up at North Wapiti Kennels! She know each dog, the mother and father, any pups, all personalities, etc. Anna
is just beautiful, but doesn't mind mucking around cleaning up after the dogs. She and Colleen took care of the dogs who weren't racing at the time (two races, two teams) and did such a fine job. There is a great deal of work to be done for these champions, and there were treated like the queens and kings they are!
I have to talk about Kara. Oh, Kara!!!! A number of people write about her, especially Karen. Very enjoyable stories, but I thought there was a lot of story to the accounts. Good, entertaining stories. Well, was *I* ever wrong! She IS the princess. Or maybe the queen! When we first spied Kara hooked to the truck, she sat like the beauty she is. WHEN she might want to wave, my husband says she waves like Queen Elizabeth!!!
You can see photos at - http://www.northwapiti.com/races/2008/seeleylake.html#Race
Barbara Watt
Saturday, 5 January 2008
January 5, 2008 Flathead Sled Dog Days 100 Team
| Name | Sex | Age | Status | Races |
| < width="60" height="60"> Hilda | Female | 6 | Veteran Leader | 2007 Neckbone 120 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2006 Knik 200 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 Iditarod 2004 Finisher |
| < width="60" height="60"> Jinx | Female | 4 | Veteran Leader | 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2006 Knik 200 |
| < width="60" height="60"> Holly | Female | 5 | Veteran Leader | 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 |
| < width="60" height="60"> Runner | Male | 3 | Rookie Leader | First one! |
| < width="60" height="60"> Bingo | Female | 2 | Rookie | First one! |
| < width="60" height="60"> Togo | Male | 2 | Rookie (First race with Karen) | Togo ran some shorter races with his previous owners Kim & Kelly Berg. He's a rookie to a race of this length. |
| < width="60" height="60"> X | Male | 2 | Rookie | First one! |
| < width="60" height="60"> Boom | Male | 3 | Veteran | 2007 Neckbone 120 |
| < width="60" height="60"> Hector | Male | 6 | Veteran Leader | 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 Iditarod 2006 Finisher 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Knik 200 Iditarod 2005 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Sheep Mountain 150 2005 Knik 200 Iditarod 2004 Finisher |
| < width="60" height="60"> Barq | Male | 6 | Veteran | 2007 Iditarod 2006 Sheep Mtn 150 2006 Knik 200 |
| < width="60" height="60"> Batdog | Male | 5 | Veteran | 2007 Iditarod 2007 Neckbone 120 Iditarod 2006 2006 Copper Basin 300 2006 Knik 200 |
| < width="60" height="60"> Nahanni | Female | 7 | Veteran | Iditarod 2003 2005 Copper Basin 300 2005 Knik 200 2006 Knik 200 |
Karen
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