Your February 2012 NW Update and stuffs - Bet

Golly Gee Willikers everybodies, time certainly does fly and before we know it... it'll be Iditarod time!

Its your stuck at North Wapiti non-roving Border Collie Reporter, Bet here!

We've got a lot of stuffs to catch you up on, hand picked from the various Interwebs and things, so strap on your seat belt and hold on!

First off, apparently its gone from -35 degrees to +35 degrees at Camp Willow NW, and the Musher is (of course) complaining of the heat.  For the record, its 28 degrees here, and I'm perfectly fine with that.

Here's a picture of the Pretty Curly Tails out training.  The Musher said they were a bit flat after the race, and what with the warmer temps and all, but that was to be expected.  They look pretty fluffy to me in the picture.

Here's a picture of the team on the race trail

PRETTY!

Anyhoo, we also learned that Billie really, REALLY, REALLLLLLY wanted to go with the team on the Don Bowers Memorial 200 race.  She wanted to go so badly that when the Musher and handlers were loading the Pretty Curly Tails, she figured out how to flick her chain over the post, jumped the fence, ran to the truck and loaded herself.

You aren't going to leave me out of the fun!

Here is a picture that Handler Brittany took at the race... yes, THAT Brittany, and you will be surprised (and somewhat disappointed) to learn that she was not run over by the team at the start of the race.  By the by, the guy in the totally awesome North Wapiti hat (for sale in our shop, along with awesome matching mittens and vests) is NOT Musher Mark!  That is Peter Duncan, who I'm told has a really neat Scottish accent.

In case all of you wanted to know what its like on the back of the sled, here is a picture of the view the Musher has during her sled time.

That's moving pretty fast and there's not a whole lot to stand on!

She also told us that the Iditarod peoples have found a detour around the Happy River Steps this year, so no the Pretty Curly Tails won't have to deal with that.

Here is a picture of the team navigating through some of the steeper climbs of the Iditarod Trail

Now that the Musher and Pretty Curly Tails are back to practicing for the big race, the Musher has some spare time (obviously) and sent me this video for some reason.

Yes, yes, I'm sorry about the music and how it'll rattle around in your head for days and days, but don't blame me.

Anyhoo, I'm guessing that the Musher thought it would be a good idea for North Wapiti to have some bunny things to herd the sheepie things we don't have... so I promptly got on the interwebs...

I'd like to introduce to you the latest North Wapiti residents:  Cheeseypoof and Snackiecakes

I have been assured that they are 100% trained baa baa sheepie thing herdy bunnies.

That's it for now, but hang around on the Interwebs for a bit, because I have some very very VERY cool exciting cool things to announce on how YOU, yes YOU can get some really cool one of a kind stuffs for your very own that you can own and show to peoples AND help the PRETTY CURLY TAILS...

So, check back later today (after my nap) for the HUGEY HUGE announcement stuffs.

- Bet

Congratulations Musher and Pretty Curly Tails - Bet

WHOOOO BOY!  What an exciting race that was!

Last night we stayed up to celebrate the 3rd place finish of the Musher and the Pretty Curly Tails in the Don Bowers Memorial 200!

It was very exciting in the North Wapiti house last night!  Cricket even came in from guard duty to have a celebratory waffle with the rest of us!

I'm also happy to report that the anti-mooses screeching actually worked!  The Musher said that she didn't see any Mooses the entire race!  Or course, once she finished, you all dutifully stopped screeching, which explain the two suicidal Mooses that jumped in front of the dog truck on the way back to Willow... but no Mooses came close to the truck.  Silly Mooses.

So, here is the Musher waiting to race

And here is the Musher and Pretty Curly Tails coming in to the finish line

Here are the Pretty Curly Tails making a bee-line to the truck after the finish

Here is a really cool picture of the Willow dog yard with the Northern Lights thingies

And here is a picture of the race superstar

Yep, you guessed it... little firecracker Casey led for about 80 miles of the race and the Musher says Casey has secured a spot on the Iditarod team!!!

The Musher will be posting her own blog of the adventures, so I'm going to sign off because I have to pick up all of the balloons and confetti.

- Bet

The Race So Far - Bet

Howdy Ho everybodies!  It's your sitting around in Canada enjoying my chair, just woke up from a nap non-roving Border Collie Reporter, Bet here!

Its been a very exciting race so far... ok, that probably wasn't very convincing because I just said I had a nap, so let me try that again...

Holy Moley everybodies, this is a real nail biter of a race! 

Ok, that wasn't very convincing either, so I'll have to go with: its been a very predictable and going as scheduled race... which is GREAT!  No Mooses, no plowing trails with faces, and no pants on fire (yes, I know... so disappointing on the flaming pants thing)

The Musher and Pretty Curly Tails got into the Kershner Home checkpoint at 4:08 am this morning with all 14 Pretty Curly Tails.  They had to take a mandatory 6 hour rest period.  Here are the Pretty Curly Tails curled up and resting

Here is the sled resting

I can't tell if the Musher is in the sled resting or not... nobody tells me these important things.

The Pretty Curly Tails were checked out by the vet and found to be okey dokie spiffy keen!

According to the Musher, the middle 30 miles is punchy and slow because the pups don't have their "snow legs" yet... once again, clueless.  All this time I've been studying baa baa sheepie things books and I should have purchased a "Translating Musher Talk for Dummies"

The Musher did say they were all having fun... I hope that's not code words for something else, but I'm guessing that they are all having fun, so that's good.

They left the Kershner Home checkpoint at 10:30am and plan on being back into Willow at the finish around 10pm... which is way past my bedtime, so I'll have an update in the morning.  If you are on the Facebooks, the Photographer Minion Donna will make an announcement or something and I told her to also tell the mail list peoples, but she'll be really busy helping the Musher with the pups and stuffs, so that may not come for a while.  You should definitely keep hitting refresh on the official Don Bowers 200 Web site for official updates and stuffs.

In the meantime, while you are waiting, there's an interview that has the Musher in it here.  Click the blueish looking button that has a megaphone on it directly under the words stuffs.

Meanwhile, back in Willow, Alaska

Hey?  Where did everyone go?

- Bet

AAAAAND They're Off! - Bet

Thanks to the Photographer Minion Donna Quante, we have pictures of the start of the Don Bowers Memorial 200! 

Keep checking the Don Bowers link and also if you are on the Facebooks, don't forget to like them and let everyone know how much you love the Musher and Pretty Curly Tails!

So, here it was on Willow lake this morning before the race.  A balmy -32 degrees... eeesh!

I was glad to see that the Musher was wearing her chilly gear and remembered her hat.  Please note, that's the fluffy lined Skookum brand hoodie thing and not some wild animal attacking her head.

I have some pictures of the Pretty Curly Tails before the race, but I'll save those for tomorrow in case we don't have any action shots.  I don't everybodies having Pretty Curly Tail withdrawal.

So, here's the Pretty Curly Tails taking off at the start of the race.  The Musher has bib #10 and was the second out of the chute.

Front front to back we have:  Billie/Tess, Kelly/Casey, Tramp/Boo, Smartie/Beauty, Turtle/Wifi, Astro/Rocky, and Q/Charge!

Sigh... I wish I was there watching the race from the warmth of a truck or nice hotel room, or at Starbucks or something.

Anyhoo, there they go, off to have fun and avoid the Mooses (keep up the screetchy noises please).

Go you Pretty Curly Tails!  Have fun on the trail and be safe Musher!!!

- Bet

Don Bowers Memorial 200 Team - Bet

Howdy Ho Everybodies, its your back at North Wapiti lounging in my chair watching Silence of the Lambs and waiting for the part about the baa baa sheepie things, non-roving Border Collie, Bet.

For those of wondering about Cricket, I sent her off to the store for some supplies.  For some reason I started craving Fava Beans and a little Chianti.

While we are all waiting for the start of the Don Bowers Memorial 200 race featuring the Musher and the Pretty Curly Tails, I thought I'd let you all know who is racing today... other than the Musher... of course the Musher is racing, I mean the Pretty Curly Tails are talented and all, but they do need the Musher for stuff and things.  Who would open their snack bags and foods and stuff without having thumbs and stuffs?

Also, when I said "you" I meant all of you but that pesky Rob guy that mocked me on the Facebooks.  He isn't allowed to read this post.

Anyhoo, here is the Don Bowers team for 2012!!!!  In no order whatsoever, so don't go reading into the way they are listed as how they are running, because its not, so stop that!

Rocky!

Rocky is sponsored by Mary, Greg and the huskies: Yucab, Maracaibo and Rosa

















Boo!

This is a picture of Boo as a youngster.  Boo is sponsored by Tammy Taylor!




















Kelly!

Kelly is sponsored by Deb Bok





















Astro!

Astro is sponsored by former NW Pretty Sled Dogs: Spider, Batdog and Junior, now living with the Ellingers in MN



















Turtle!

 Turtle is sponsored by Kathryn and Pete Trussell, Frank and Paula Langenstein















Wifi!

Wifi is sponsored by Barbara and Jerry Lake of Hampton, TN




















Charge!

Charge is sponsored by Pat Bach and family



















Q!

Q is sponsored by Musher Minion Donna Quante





















Casey!

Alice Fitzgerald is sponsoring Casey





















Beauty!

Beauty is sponsored by friends of Save Our Siberians - Siberspace Rescue Fund








































Tess!

Tess is sponsored by Marlene Daniels





















Billie!

Billie is sponsored by LaRita Skipper

















TRAMP!!!!

Tramp is sponsored by Chugiak Kennels, Nelson, New Zealand




















SMARTIE!!!!

Smartie is sponsored by Karen Ernest and Trina!





















The Musher reports that she plans for Tess and Billie to be the main race leaders, but Tess doesn't like crowds, and who does really?  They're just so crowdy!  So if there are crowds, then leader plans will change.

The pre-race report is that its cold (duh), and the race peoples are having problems keeping the trails open because of drifting snow, lots of snow... really big lots of snow... there are also cranky Mooses.

I want everyone to join me in wishing the Musher and Pretty Curly Tails a FUN race, and now everyone make a very high pitched screechy noise to ward off the Mooses, because Mooses don't like high pitched screechy noises coming from all over the world.

- Bet

Who is in Alaska - A Musher post hijacked by Bet

The Musher has been very busy training with the Pretty Curly Tails, caring for the Pretty Curly Tails, plowing a trail with her face for the Pretty Curly Tails... and she's been meaning to post a Who is in Alaska post for weeks...

So... every time I log into Blogger, here is her post... half finished... so I'm finishing it!!!!!

It occurred to me this morning that I haven't actually let everyone know what dogs 'made the truck' for our trip to Alaska this year!!! Although I'm certain that with all the pictures, video, etc that have been posted in the last week that everyone who was really motivated has already figured it out!

I'd say 'Of course he made the truck, he ALWAYS makes the truck.' But the fact of the matter is that Crunchie is 10 1/2 years old. For a senior like that to keep up with dogs 1/3 that age is astounding, but then again, he is an astounding dog. (Crunchie is sponsored by Dana and Judy Kevelder)

Wolvie aka 'Wolverine'. The son of 2 of my all time favorite dogs, Grover and Kara. He is beautiful, talented, and a quiet, solid worker! (Wolvie's 2012 Sponsors are Brenda Potter, Carolyn Martin and Mark Fraser. Go Wolvie!!)

Astro - big, hardworking level headed boy. His first trip to Alaska, but a veteran of last season's races!! (Astro is sponsored by former NW Pretty Sled Dogs: Spider, Batdog and Junior, now living with the Ellingers in MN)

Q (aka Q-Zee, Q-tip). Hard to believe Q is 8 1/2 years old. A true powerhouse in the team. Q is a veteran of many races, including Iditarod. (Q is sponsored by Musher Minion Donna Quante)

TopDog - the very handsome, very polite and mannered Kara son. They just do not come any sweeter (or fluffier) then this boy. (Barb and Mike Branham and Cheryl Dawson are delighted to share sponsorship of TopDog)

 PLEEZEE - was there ever any doubt Trampie was going to Alaska???? The very opinionated young superstar leader. And it's soooo much quieter here at North Wapiti... except for the Tramplings of course - Bet  (Tramp is sponsored by Chugiak Kennels, Nelson, New Zealand)

 I'm really high on this young dog. This is Boo - or Boosie to her friends. She a head down, tail down, get the job done kinda of gal!! (Happy Running! Tammy Taylor)

Billie is a favorite of many. A 'boomerang' dog (sold at as pup, but eventually worked her way back to NorthWapiti) who has shown us how silly were were for letting her go to begin with. She does have a few 'quirks' but her drive and work ethic make up for them!! (Billie is sponsored by LaRita Skipper)

Tess. I'd like to think if I were a dog I'd be a lot like Tess. A definite tomboy, not flashy, just solid, no nonsense kind of gal that gets the job done!!! (Tess, I know you belong to Karen, but will always view you as "my girl". Will be watching from afar this year. Marlene Daniels)

 Kelly. Really nice young gal. Daughter of Moses and Kara, two of my former Iditarod main leaders, she is showing that she is ready to step up and follow in her parents pawprints!! (Kelly is sponsored by Deb Bok)

Runner is another veteran of the trail. A leader and one of the most enthusiastic eaters we have - a GREAT trait for a distance dog!! (Runner is sponsored by Maureen Zavodjancik)

Wifi aka Wiffie, although camera shy, Wiffie knows how to pull and is nothing but business on the trail (Wifi is sponsored by Barbara and Jerry Lake of Hampton, TN)



Photo by Donna Quante/Husky Productions

Roscoe loves to work and loves to shine in harness (Roscoe is co- sponsored by Diane Shepard of Glendale, AZ and Jackie Phalen of Maple Park, IL.)

Rocky made the team because he's got such long legs that he can hover over the deep snow banks and reach items on tall shelves... ok, I just made all of that up - Bet (Go Team North Wapiti! Mary, Greg and the huskies: Yucab, Maracaibo and Rosa)

Turtle is a total show off and all of the younger pups don't like him because he's so good at what he does: pull like a champion. (Turtle is sponsored by Kathryn and Pete Trussell, Frank and Paula Langenstein)

Smartie is sometimes mistaken for her beautiful father Crunchie, and has some big paws to fill on the trail this year, but we're pretty sure she can handle herself like the pros. (Smartie is proudly sponsored by Karen Ernest and Trina!)

Beauty is a chip off the Kara block in both looks and work ethic. (Beauty is sponsored by friends of Save Our Siberians - Siberspace Rescue Fund)

See see run, run see run, I made that up all by myself - Bet (See, though we aren't near enough to watch you perform, we'll be following you every step of the way on the computer. Go girl go.
Marlene and Doug Daniels)

Bingo is ready to roll at any time, and can also strike a model pose when the camera comes out.  Her hard work got her on the team this year (Bingo is sponsored by Mary Atkinson)



Photo by Donna Quante/Husky Productions

Bang won't be outdone by her beautiful sister and continues to show her talent in lead and eating snow (Bang is sponsored by Kathy Carmichael)



Photo by Donna Quante/Husky Productions

Jinx continues to ooze talent and work ethic.  Being THE lead dog at North Wapiti can be pretty stressful, but Jinx takes it all in stride (Jinx is sponsored by Kathryn Clark)

Charge can levitate, never gets tired, and always wants to run some more... we need to moderate his latte levels apparently (Charge is sponsored by Pat Bach and family)

Irving. Being a one-eyed dog has done nothing to slow down this hard worker, and the chicks just love him because they think he's winking at them (Good luck to all - Rachel and the Wyoming Siberian pack!)



Photo by Donna Quante/Husky Productions

And yup, the little redhead made the cut. Casey is here with us in Alaska... because redheads are the best. please note, the cartoonist made me write that... sigh - Bet (Alice Fitzgerald is sponsoring Casey in addition to her sponsorship of Herman, who is co-sponsored with her son Travis, so they can continue to sponsor the next great generation of North Wapiti dogs!)



Photo by : Donna Quante/Husky Productions

Ok, so there you have it, the 24 Pretty Curly Tails in Alaska!

Now, who wants to guess who will be racing in the Don Bowers 200 tomorrow?

- Bet