August 14, 2007 Signs Of Fall

It is that time of year that the signs of fall and it's successor, winter are starting to creep up on us. The odd trees are already being touched by brush strokes of yellow, the blueberries are thick and heavy on the branches - with bears, birds and humans packing them away for the winter in one way or another. Mornings are starting to get cool and we are back to (thankfully) pulling the down comforter over us each evening. Puttering through the woods on my 4 wheeler the other day I got a whiff of that wonderful earthy aroma that is fall's signature fragrance - but the one big thing up here that tells us that winter is approaching is the arrival of darkness. See for most of the summer, despite my habit of getting up ridiculously early, I rarely see the night sky.

Although we are not Alaska, on June 21st we experience 19 hours and 13 minutes a day of 'illumination' here in Athabasca. With the actual sunrise occurring at 3:56 AM and sunset at 9:14 PM.

December 21 we have a whooping 8 hours 44 minutes of illumination, with sunrise at 8:54 AM and sunset at 4:08 PM.

(All Data courtesy of http://www.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/sunrise_adv_e.html)

It is funny how the hours of light being taken over by dark just sort of creeps up on you without notice until some sort of break in your routine jars it to the front of your brain. This year, for me, it was the trip to Pennsylvania. The morning after getting home from there I was shocked to realize that now, rather then getting up to the morning rays of sun and chirping birds, when Mark's alarm went off at 4:30 AM, it was to silence and the night sky. Not a problem, both are beautiful things, but what was shocking was that I hadn't noticed it sneaking up on us.

The other night we were over at the Husch homestead for dinner and didn't get home to feed dogs until alittle after 9 PM (normally they are fed at 8 - and trust me, they were well aware that their dinner was late. It think Fly was trying to break into the house to call the SPCA to report the fact that we were out 'gallivanting' and they were all starving to death because of it!). By the time we picked up the last bowls and spend a few minutes visiting with the puppies, our little solar powered front lights were glowing away.

This morning as I sit in my office tapping away at my computer keys at 5:30, I can just make out the outlines of the trees against the lightening morning sky outside my window (yes, these are the same trees that are interfering with my satellite internet dish - but they are lovely to gaze out at).

Not that I'm complaining - darkness is the element of long distance sled dogs and long distance mushers. The return of the night sky means the return of dog teams in my life.

You often hear fall compared to a 'winding down' and winter compared to a sleep, an end - or even as horrible a thing as death. But here it is different. Fall is the rebirth,; winter is life. Fall is full of promise, hopes, dreams and plans - winter is our time.

I embrace and welcome back the darkness. It inspires me and starts the fire burning inside. Soon it will be winter - and that is what the dogs and I live for!

Karen

August 11, 2007 Training Begins!

As any of you on our NorthWapiti News mailing list have heard, Ronny left the Kennel this past Wednesday to pursue other adventures. 

We certainly wish him well in his travels.

 

That has, of course, made us shorthanded – and me overworked – so we are again looking for kennel help. Anyone interested or knowing anyone that might be interested and suitable is encouraged to contact me.

 

Of course, as soon has we became shorthanded, the temperatures plummeted and I’ve been running dogs everyday this week. Lots of work – but great for everyone spirits!

 

I had started off this season alittle concerned about what I was going to have for lead dogs this year. Not that I don’t have a lot of dogs that lead – I do, but I’m talking about that ‘superstar’ leader that really ‘make’ a dog team. Grover, Snickers and Kara have been that for us the last few years and with Grover and Snickers gone – and Kara on the verge of retirement, I was really concerned about whether I was going to find THE leader to take this very good pool of dogs over the top. After the last two mornings, I am not quite so concerned! 

Yesterday I hooked Q and Charge up in lead. Their performance was simply dazzling! As stubborn and hardheaded as Charge is, he is very keen to please in lead. He seems to take missing a command very personally and keys well off of his co-leader – all while keeping the same drive and power that made him such an asset back in the team last year.

Q has really stepped up his game this year and is turning into a very solid and dependable young leader. He rarely misses a command and is always leaning hard into his harness. At the end of the run, while Charge constantly had to be reminded to keep the line out tight while I was unharnessing and putting away dogs, Q got sick of being pulled around and finally dropped to the ground in the middle of the trail doing his best impression of a rock. It was a very effective way to deal with his young co leader trying to drag him all over and he got heaped with praise for his inventiveness. 

Q

Charge

Spider

Sprite

 

This morning I tossed young Spider up front with Sprite. As Sprite was off last season raising a litter of puppies, I keep forgetting that she is a young lady coming into her prime. The run was simply flawless. They are wonderfully fast and responsive leaders and it was simply a delight to drive them this morning! I’ve added our dreaded ‘Widowmaker’ trail with it’s steep hills back into our run and was pleased as could be to feel the power coming down the line on those climbs!

Very promising!

 

As the runs are up to 5 miles now, I’m going to have to drag the water trough back out into the woods sometime this week and start stopping for a nice water break before upping the mileage again.

 

So, if any of you went to look at my Picassa online album after our PA trip – you will see that we took a detour on the way home to visit Cabelas biggest store, which is located in Hamburg, PA. Truly cool! Before I tell you about the cool things we found there, let me tell you a story about going there.

On Friday, as we were driving from Hamilton down to Niagara Falls we drove through Ontario’s wine country. I do love wine and asked Mark if maybe we could spend Monday night on our way home at a B&B in wine country. Despite not being a wine or B&B guy, he graciously agreed. 

Then right before my talk on Sunday, I heard that we were only an hour away from this huge Cabelas store. When Mark asked on Monday morning what our plans for the day were, I replied “Cabelas” without any hesitation. When we were driving back through PA on our way home later that day, Mark was having a good laugh. When I asked what that was about he said he couldn’t believe that his wife chose a couple hours shopping at Cabelas over an evening at a B&B in wine country. What can I say?? I am what I am!!!!

 

Anyway, both of us had a blast at the Cabelas store. It is simple HUGE and overwhelming, but despite that I found a number of needed treasures, including a couple new knives and nice new leatherman tool (this one will even cut through cable gangline) to replace the ones I left in Grayling on Iditarod last year. I played with some new LED headlamps, but nothing was top end enough for my needs. However, my favorite new toy is simply too cool not to talk about!! 

I know in the past I’ve chatted on about loving my wireless outdoor thermometer that allows me to check the outside temps in the morning to see if it is cool enough to run dogs without getting out of bed, well, I love it so much that I just couldn’t imagine finding one that I loved MORE – but it has happened. 

See this spring, my weather station somehow got it’s brain fried and keep telling me it was –33 out. I know it gets cool here, but not –33 in MAY! I bought a couple new systems but all seemed to be missing something – like the one that didn’t have a light on it, making me turn on my bedside lamp to check temps, so I had just been sort of making do for awhile until I found a good one. Well at Cabelas I found one that actually projects the time and temperature onto my CEILING!!! How SWEET is that!! Now I don’t even have to dig my arm out of the blankets to turn on the weather station light, I can just open my eyes and glance up at the ceiling! I’m in LOVE!

 

All else around the kennel is pretty much routine. The pups are all growing like crazy. Klu’s kids are evil with See usually leading on that trail. When I got back from my run this morning, the ‘Crees’ had all dug their way into their Mom’s run (which is right next to theirs) – well all except for Utin – he doesn’t like following his sisters. I think he knows they are bad news! Anyway, Kluane was giving them a pretty rough time and they don’t seem in any kind of hurry to dig under again since I’ve moved them back and filled the hole. I guess Klu figures once they have moved out they should stay out!

Sukih is actually moving to Connecticut to live with former NorthWapiti residents Whinny, Magnum and Flare at Kazlo Siberians. Tara is coming up to the kennel later in September for a visit and will take Sukih home with her then.

 

The Hillbillies are all weaned, but still hanging out with their Mom. Fritter and Roscoe seem to be the most outgoing kids in that group, but still hard to really tell at this age.

 

Kara’s little daughter, Beauty is proving to be very aptly named – not only is she gorgeous, she has a tremendous personality. All of those ones look pretty similar, so when friends are over and pick up one of those pups they will inevitably ask which one they are holding. I don’t even look anymore – if one puppy is being held – it is Beauty. She seems to make sure she is always in the right spot to be scooped off the ground.

 

We actually went ahead and bred one more litter for the fall. I usually don’t breed girls this late in the season and it is unusual for us to have 4 litter in a year, but I really wanted this breeding, so I figured I should just do it. Mom is Olena and Dad is Crunchie! Yes, this will be Crunchie’s first litter. She is due around the 20^th of September - I can’t wait. I was thinking yesterday that I could feel a bit of a swell in her belly, but it could still be wishful thinking.

Crunchie

Olena

 

Well, I must run – many kennel chores to get to this afternoon!

 

Karen

4 August 2007 NorthWapiti's Finnegan

Gone...but not forgotten

"FINNEGAN"
NorthWapiti's Finnegan
(NorthWapiti's Q x NorthWapiti's Sprite)

October 10, 2006 - August 4, 2007

I waited a long time for 'the' puppy to bear this special name from my childhood. Finnegan was showing every indication that he was going to grow up and live up to our high hopes for him. Sadly, this past weekend, the promise of this young man was suddenly lost. Rest well, my young friend. You are very missed.

Major Races
None

Current Working Status
Rainbow Bridge Member

The "Dress Up" Litter Pedigree

Finnegan's Photo Gallery (click to enlarge image - hold mouse over image for description)

July 29, 2007 Scary Moment

I'm being plagued with communication problems of late. First our phone line was down after getting accidentally cut somewhere on the other side of the highway. Took a bit to get that fixed, but right after that happened, our satellite Internet connection went down. That has been up and down for the last 10 days or so, so communication to the 'outside world' has been limited. You would think that could be a good thing, but it is quite a pain actually!

I'm going to start this entry by sharing a scary story that happened last Thursday. Ronny was in the city having wished for a change of 'wild life', and Mark and I were puttering around before leaving to pick up Cricket when a tremendous storm moved in. It last only about 15 minutes, but we got a lot of rain and huge, close cracks of lightning during that time.

Hilda and her pups had been moved up to one of the puppy pens just the day before, so as soon as the worst of the storm passed, I ran out to check and make sure they had all weathered the storm alright. I was about halfway to the pen when I became aware of Hilda frantically pacing her pen. A few steps later I could hear the howling of a puppy in distress. I ran up to the pen to find 3 puppies safe and dry in the doghouse, 1 SOAKING wet puppy running around the pen and 3 missing. The noises from the one pup were coming from under the doghouse and when I got to the back of the house I could see what had happened. Hilda, in the last couple days had dug a depression at the back of the house for her puppies to sleep in. It wasn't a big hole, but at least some of the puppies were sleeping in there when the storm hit. Three of them had crawled up under the house to get out of the rain, but the hole filled up with the intense rainfall, trapping them. I could only hear one puppy crying, so I didn't know whether the others were safely out of the water or what.

I screamed for Mark at the top of my lungs while trying to dig to drain some of the water from under the house. I also got my arm up under the house as best I could to see if I could feel any puppies in the water - I couldn't.

Luckily Mark had heard me and quickly understood it was an emergency, not even pausing to slip shoes on over his socks. I hollered at him to bring a shovel as he ran up to the pen.

Once there he lifted the heavy doghouse and I was able to crawl under and pull three very frightened, very soggy puppies from underneath. Thanks to the pallets that our doghouses sit on, all three were able to find safe spots mostly out of the water - but just.

I toweled the babies dry and tucked them all in the house with their grateful Mom. Mark stood out in his now incredibly muddy, sloppy socks filling holes before heading back to the house.

With our super sandy soil and our sloping dog yard, it just had never occurred to either of us that such a thing could happen!

Very scary!!

Anyway, the pups are all fine. None appear to have suffered any ill effects from their ordeal!

All are adorable and growing far too quickly!

Kluane's children are growing like weeds too - probably because they get lots of water!! They got a pool a few weeks back and just ADORE splashing around in it. Well, all except Utin. The only time I've seen him willing go into the pool was to pee in it! What a BOY!!!

Kara's babies continue to refuse to be weaned. I've put my foot down a few times said I wasn't going to let her in with them anymore, but have ended up caving each time. I'm just hoping she weans them prior to their first Iditarod. I'd hate to explain to race officials that I have to pack Kara in the sled so she can nurse them in every checkpoint!!

Colleen was up for a weeklong visit. She is always a tremendous help around the house and yard - plus she always brings along lots of goodies - and I just plain like having her around - so everyone (dogs and humans alike) looks forward to her visits!

Despite many offers to make room in the house for her (since Ronny has the Guest Cabin), she insisted she wanted to tent for the week, so we set up the Arctic Oven tent just outside the back door. She pronounced it very comfortable and dry, despite a couple nights of rain.

I'm actually very impressed by the tent, how easy it is to set up and how spacious it is inside. It also withstood the onslaught on Bait and Tic very well, who were constantly looking for ways to be in or on the tent.

The visit was a very nice one and Colleen got A LOT of dogs groomed for me, which was very appreciated. In addition, she and I spend an evening hanging pictures and such that were taken off the walls for our renovations last winter - it was about time I got to that.

The weather cooperated and on Wednesday and Thursday, thanks to the help of Colleen and Ronny, I was able to get 2 teams run each morning. Everyone looked great and put in very nice performances!

Yesterday we drove into St Albert and took in the wonderful farmer's market that happens there every Saturday throughout the summer before we headed back to Perryvale and Colleen back to Craven!

After we got back, I headed off in search of Mark, who had left a note on the table that said "Down at the River". Typical Mark stuff - no explanation, no real location, no time.. I made my best bet as to location and headed off. I eventually ran into him along the old railway allowance on the east side of our property.

For the last number of years the Tawatinaw River has been so high that it was impossible to get a dog team across it. However this year it is again low and you could actually walk across, if you wished. So it was Mark's idea to work on a few of the trails and our camping spot on the east side of the river and start using them again this fall.

We scouted out a few new spots and some of our old ones before heading back home. Later in the day Mark and Ronny went over and cleaned up the camping spot a bit.

I'm looking forward to crossing the river and using that camping spot again!

Today is a quiet day around the kennel. It was far too warm to run this morning and the heat is up above 30 C this afternoon, so the dogs are laying low. Mark is watching a NASCAR race and I'm trying to catch up on odds and ends before I head off to Pennsylvania next weekend.

That's the news for today!

Karen

July 27, 2007 Goodbye Arnie

I know many of you have met or heard stories about my Mom's dog, Arnie over the years.
Karen

Arnie Oct 18 1995 - July 24 2007

I think this is the easiest way for me to let all of you know about my Arnie. When I tried to call a few of you I cry so hard while dialling there is just no point.

We got Arnie as a Christmas present to Don from Karen and Jim in 1995. When Don passed away in /96, he left Arnie to me and he certainly became my dog. As Karen said " I'm sure there were days after dad passed that you wouldn't have gotten out of bed if it wasn't for Arnie" That is so true. He was my companion and faithful friend for all these years.

As you know he was sick and getting progressively worse so with Karen and Jim's blessings and Jim by my side , yesterday I gave him back to Don. He better be happy cause it's pretty sad here.

I can't imagine what it will be like when Jim and Melissa come to visit and no Arnie at the door to greet them. Sometimes it would take 15 minutes before they were allowed to come and say 'hi" to me.

My heart is totally broken and I will miss him forever.

Morna

July 20, 2007 Fly & Cricket

Day before yesterday, we took Fly in for his yearly shampoo and haircut. He happily bound into the van with Mark, sure that something fun and exciting was in the works.

He bound out of the groomers feeling spiffy and bouncy, but the second he got into the dog yard, all that changed. See, despite dogs supposedly having such a great sense of smell and recognizing each other primarily via that, our dog lot is definitely fooled by a simple haircut!

Fly is still, 2 days later, being defined as 'fresh meat' around here! He's spending most of his time hiding behind our deck, feeling sorry for himself. Every time he steps out from behind there, the dog yard goes nuts screaming and yelling at him.

I've tried taking him out for a few of the dogs to sniff, but they refuse to believe it is really Fly. Fly is beginning to get quite pissed off at them all trying to take shots at him. I'm sure they will all figure it out and settle down in time - or maybe they are all just laughing at him, in which case, it could go on for awhile!

So, still sort of on the Fly subject, I've think I've mentioned in the past that Fly was beginning to slow down with his advancing age. Many years ago he got run over by a 4 wheeler, it has bothered him on and off over the years - and now it seems he has some arthritis settling in his one front leg. We've tried a few different meds on him, but nothing is completely solving the problem.

The winter was rather hard on him and while he is still the same active, happy go lucky guy he has always been, he is more reluctant to bounce out of bed in the middle of the night to ward off the coyotes or other woodland critters.

Both Mark and I adore Fly and he has more then earned his retirement here - but we need one more favor from him first - and that is to 'Fly-ise' a replacement. So, I've been searching for a new yard dog.

I've looked at numerous breeds and talked to many breeders, but in the end, I decided we needed to put our 'money where our mouths were' and support a rescue group!

So, after filling out an application (accompanied by a letter explaining our special circumstances) and speaking with a few folks from the local 'Second Chance Animal Rescue' (SCARS, for short), Mark and I headed out last night to check out their dogs looking for a new home. http://www.scarscare.org/adoptions.asp

The place we visited was without a doubt the nicest set up for a Rescue place I've ever seen. Big, clean, covered runs in a neat and orderly yard - these are very lucky rescue dogs indeed and a group I felt completely comfortable dealing with.

The dog we were most interested in, Pearl, a great Pyrenees cross, trotted out to greet our van as we pulled in. Sylvia took time to introduce us to all 20+ dogs on the property and a few caught our eye, but in the end, it was indeed Pearl that came home with us.

Someone loved Pearl at sometime, as she was spayed and is very friendly, but when SCARS got a hold of her, she was so matted and neglected that they had no choice but to shave her coat. She has a few scars on her face, but is sweet and lovable despite it all. They guess her age to be between 1 and 2. She is a big girl, at least in our yard, weighing about 80 lbs or so. She towers over Fly and everyone else around here.

Fly isn't sure what to think of his new trainee, but he has figured out that, with her size, she is a good one to call 'friend'.

Oh, and we are changing her name - it will be either Cricket or Bug - still debating that one!

You can see pictures of her - and some of coiffed Fly at

http://picasaweb.google.com/northwapiti/FlyAndCricket1

Karen

July 17, 2007 Visitors & Puppy News

All kinds of stuff happening around the kennel right now, even if we are in the midst of a heat wave and not doing too much at all with the dogs!!

First off, we just finished a very nice visit with Jackie and Chris Marshall. In case I haven't mentioned Marshall's of late in my diary entries, let me take a moment to tell you a bit about them and why they are so important to me.

It was about 18 years ago that I showed up in Jackie and Chris's yard out in Invermere, BC. Jackie was the boss of one of my best friends and my friend had thought that it would be cool to go see their kennel while I was out visiting for a week. No one knew at the time that I had decided I wanted to buy a Siberian Husky, it was simply a coincidence that we ended up in their yard that day.

Before we left, I had made arrangements to purchase 2 year old Meomar's Miss Liberty from them, although we didn't pick her up until a number of months later, when we were settled in our house in Wembley, Alberta.

Meomar Dogs From Marshalls
Libby	Blunder	Icey	Orca

Over the next few years, I made a lot of trips out to Invermere to hang out at Marshall's. Their door was always open and they were always willing to answer my rookie questions.

It was the first winter I knew them that they took me out on my first sled ride.

Many more rookie questions followed and it was with their guidance that we bred our first litter, hooked up our first dog team, entered our first race, etc, etc.

They were patient and gracious teachers and we were able to advance quickly in our 'mushing career' with no small thanks to them.

Over the years their lives and ours have been hectic enough that we haven't actually seen each other in over 12 years.

Marshall's have just recently sold their place in Invermere and are living in a 5th wheel for the time being, so what better time to visit.

I must say, their 5th wheel is the most gorgeous trailer I've ever been in - with all 4 sliders out it features over 400 square feet of living space - unreal!!

Anyway, we had a nice couple days catching up, looking at photos old and new, and gossiping before they hit the road yesterday morning.

All the babies are doing very well. With the soaring temperatures, I bought the 'Cree' litter a pool the other day and was shocked at how fast they took to it. It was still filling up when all three girls baled in and started splashing about. Utin thinks his sisters are nuts and only goes in if we put him in, but the girls are water babies!

Kara and her kids are out in a puppy pen. The pups are having a grand time - Kara is pissed. She actually scaled the 4-foot puppy fence and came up to the house to visit the first day she was out there. Now she has decided that that is too much work and just deeks Ronny out whenever he goes into that pen. Yesterday she came barreling up to the house, figured out she could squeeze through the cat door Mark build into our screen door and came in to help me with my yoga - very helpful.

I've started giving her a bit of house time, as her babies don't want to start eating kibble, so with her up in the house a few hours before meals, we know they will be hungry when dinner is served.

Hilda's puppies have been named. Because they are a pretty inbred litter (and no we are not worried about that - the odd inbreeding in a solid, healthy pedigree is not worrisome and can even be very good) we went with a 'Hillbilly' theme. The girls are - Daisy, Fritter, Billy (Hillbilly) and Banjo. The boys are - Bubba, Roscoe, and Cooter.

I moved them out into the MASH pen off the house, as the babies were escaping the pool and poor little Roscoe fell out the doggie door the other day - and that's a big drop!! I decided that it was safer for them outside. We will move them out to a puppy pen soon, but for now it is nicer to have them close to the house.

Make sure to visit Ronny's web album - http://picasaweb.google.com/ronnywebercanada/RonnyNorthWapitiSiberianHuskyKennel2 - , as there are pictures of all the puppies there - as well as some great shots of Bait stalking a deer that was up behind our outhouse the other day. Yes, he dreams rather big! I thought I was going to fall over I was laughing so hard. The deer noticed him when he got within 6 feet or so from it and seemed rather amused too. She certainly wasn't fearful of our little black panther!

I also have a few photos of the HillBillies up on my site - http://picasaweb.google.com/northwapiti/Hillbillies

Well, time to go throw some dinner on. We are eating early tonight, as I have to make a late night run out to the airport to drop Rainy off for her trip back to New Hampshire. Many of you might remember Rainy as one of Moses and Kaylinn's children. We sold her to Kim and Kelly Berg a year or so ago and they send her back up last month to be bred to Q. It should be a very nice litter.

Q

Rainy

I'm also going to drop Ronny off in the city for a few days of 'civilization'. Don't want to sour the boy too badly before the real work starts! J

All for today!

Karen