The Snow Farm

(I know, how cool is a SNOW FARM!!)

On Wednesday we all moved up to The Snow Farm – headquarters for the Wanake Sled Dog Festival. Ray asked me the other day if race site is what I expected – ABSOLUTELY NOT. I have never seen anything like this facility, so I certainly could not have expected anything like it. 

The primary feature of the Snow Farm is the miles and miles of cross country ski trails that zig and zag through the mountainside. The Russian National XC ski team is here training, as well as a number of Team Canada members. 

They are also hosting a winter Triathlon (XC skiing, running and biking) this weekend, as well as a paraboarding event and the dog sled races.

And on the 'backside' of the mountain is a 'Snow Field' for snowboarding. 

Somebody with vision had their hand in the design of this place!!! I am so glad to have had the opportunity to get to experience it!!

Karen

Irishman Creek, New Zealand

Irishman Creek, New Zealand

Last Tuesday morning found me waking up about half a world away from NorthWapiti. After about 36 hours of travel, I had arrived at Irishman Creek Station just outside of Tekapo in New Zealand.

Irishman Creek is a very famous sheep station. It is about 160 years old, in its ‘day’ was home to more than 12,000 sheep, and is even the location where the modern day jet boat was invented.

Today it is home to just over 8000 very fine Merino sheep, about 200 head of prize winning Black Angus cattle….oh…and 18 sled dogs owned by station managers Ray and Diane Holliday!!!

Tuesday morning I tagged around behind Ray as he fed sheep and later in the day sorted and vaccinated cattle.

I’ve lived in the country for well over 20 years – and hung around farms and ranches for much longer than that, so the chores and lifestyle is certainly not new to me, but it was very interesting to see it all with a Kiwi twist!!

The sheep were a little puzzled by the crazy woman with the funny accent and the camera stuck to her face!!

Bet – this place would surely be a nightmare for you!!

Cricket – sorry, no place for you here. There are no predators to bother the sheep in New Zealand, so no guardian dogs hanging about!

These are the ‘working’ dogs at Irishman Creek – two collies (they just refer to them as ‘collies’, not ‘border collies’ as we do) Frost and Sam and a ‘Huntaway’ – Moss.

The ‘Huntaways’ job is to ‘push’ the stock away from the stockman. They aren’t a recognized breed, but rather just a ‘style’ of working dog. Much bigger and noisier then the collies.

Later on Tuesday afternoon, Diana came to pick me up in the field, we left Ray to finish up his tasks, and headed into Tekapo for a flightseeing tour of the area!!

I’ll just let the pictures speak for this adventure!!

Obviously, I am seriously enjoying my time in New Zealand…more blog entries to follow!!!

Karen

A Special Announcement From The BCBC - Bet

This is an important announcement from the Border Collie Broadcast Center (BCBC)!

We bring you our Special Roving Border Collie Correspondent, Bet for this late breaking news:

Oh.... um..... errrr....

We appear to be having some technical difficulties at the moment... please stand by while we... um... wait for the reporter to get done soaking.

- Bet would like to apologize for the recent lack of posting.  Although she has a lot to say, without the use of opposable thumbs she is reliant on the Cartoonist for publishing her updates, and the Cartoonist has been dealing with some household issues, freak earthquakes and is now preparing for the possibility of Hurricane Irene.

North Wapiti Week in Review (12-20 August 2011)

Wow, have we been boring on the blog this week!  We're sorry about that, been busy, busy, busy!

To make up for it, here is the week in review from all social media, and we promise to spice things up a bit next week!

If you are on Facebook and want to be entered to win a new SKOOKUMbrand anorak (what all of North Wapiti where... even Bet), just go to their page and click "like".

Karen has been prepping for her trip and race marshaling assignment in New Zealand!

The Cartoonist pointed out that New Zealand has had a major snow storm, and wondered about the Musher's trip.

The team had a good run on Tuesday, and Karen captured this shot with Bang and Wonder in the lead.

On Friday, Karen captured this picture of Smartie... trying to figure out the whole harness thing

In case you ever wondered what Tic and Bait do while the dogs are running...

Karen reported that: "It was the coldest morning so far this season this morning (1C).  Had a great run.  At one spot on the trail, all 16 dog's noses shot straight up into the air and they all started sniffing.  They didn't react like they normally do for deer, moose, or coyote - I'm thinking bear.  There are lots of bear signs in the woods lately!!!

This afternoon, Karen reported that: "Okey, I've squished and stuffed, but Bet just isn't going to fit in my suitcase for my trip to New Zealand.  She just threw herself on The Cloud muttering about too many sheep in the country anyway!!! Sorry Bet!!!!

Bet is convinced that the Musher just doesn't know how to pack properly

Karen is currently at the Edmonton International Airport, waiting for her flight.

God Speed, safe trip, and have fun!

- The Cartoonist

North Wapiti In Review (7- 11 August 2011)

A wrap-up of events that happened at North Wapiti in the past week 

Bet had some not so breaking news about the Musher registering for the 2012 Iditarod.

Karen will be in Calgary  September 16-18 for A Weekend of Mushing for Everyone  click on the link to find out more information!

Turtle is having some difficulties figuring out which way is forward... but he'll get there with some time

Yearlings Fletch and Todd sorting out the whole "puddles are good" thing

North Wapiti is still looking for a handler for this winter (Dec - April), so please contact us if you might be interested and we can provide you with more details.

Bet opens up sponsorship to everyone, and announces a contest 

Bet and Karen were going to head out to run the Tramplings on Tuesday, but Cricket and the "big dogs" were telling them there were creatures lurking in the woods that morning, so no Trampling running that day.  Karen speculates that it was likely a coyote or a deer, but there are also moose, elk, and bear.  She also saw some wolf tracks a few weeks back, and there was a rumor that a cougar was prowling the valley.  Of course she also confided that the dog yard doesn't always "comment" on people coming into the yard, and they are often shocked by visitors to their door without having a clue they even pulled in, but if those visitors show up a "unexpected" hours or if they step off the path to the front door... they will be notified.

In a very common theme, Karen wonders what it would be like to have normal pets  Which prompted Bet to post a "normal" blog update while wearing a tartan snuggie and dillyboppers.

Karen points out the Neo really thinks highly of himself

That Cricket is FAR from normal

Bet is very upset that the Barrista at Starbucks asked if she was a Sheltie

On Thursday Karen found that the neighbor's cows were down behind the handler cabin.  Bet was ignoring them, Cricket watched them suspiciously, and Bait was stalking them.  There wasn't enough light for a picture, but here is the Cartoonist's rendering of the event.

Click the picture for a bigger view

Finally, Crickiet went to the vet yesterday for her rabies and general check up.  We are now playing: Guess the Cricket weight

Dear Starbucks Barrista - Bet

Dear Starbucks Barrista;

This is a Sheltie:

This is an extremely peeved Roving Border Collie Reporter that doesn't appreciate you asking if I was a Sheltie... and you forgot the whipped cream on my frappucino!

- Bet (WHO IS NOT A SHELTIE!)

Some More Goodies - Bet

Howdy Ho everyone, its your totally normal roving Border Collie reporter , Bet, here!

We have some extra special wonderful news regarding the Insider drawing contest!  We hadn't realized what wonderful, amazing, totally fanatic (in a good way) fans the Pretty Curly Tails had, and honestly didn't expect anyone to have joined the Insider before now, but you guys are fantastically fantastic. 

So, we're opening up the drawing for the cool North Wapiti prize thingy to everyone that has registered as an Insider for the 2012 Iditarod!  Isn't that cool... I thought so when I thought of it!

So let us know by e-mailing the helpful Musher Minion help e-mail address so we can add you to the list and to the hat for the drawing.  help4northwapiti@gmail.com (pssst, there's an actual link at the top, right hand side of the blog)

But wait!  There's more!

No ginsu knives or stuff like that, but pretty cool stuff... if you've never been an Iditarod Insider before ever, ever, ever, then once your subscription is complete you'll get a $10.00 off coupon for Eagle Pack yummy foods... its the foods of the Pretty Curly Tails and a proud sponsor of North Wapiti!

Not only do all of the Curly Tails eat it, but so do I and Cricket too!  When topped with milk, its Musher Guy Mark's favorite breakfast cereal!

And yes, he does eat breakfast in his parka, hat, and boots... don't ask... really, just don't.

-Bet