Neighbors Campout

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One of my favorite aspects of living in Two Rivers is being surrounded by folks that love dogs, love mushing, and think that spending a Sunday on the trail trumps video games and movies (maybe not football games but that's what 4G is for). This past weekend, Riley and I took the dogs on a campout and met up with other local mushers  Matt, Joanna, Chase, and Spencer. By camping next to other teams, it allows the young dogs to get a better idea of the checkpoint atmosphere and hopefully prepare them for our first race in a week and a half. That's right- Alpine Excursion race is on December 6th! Fingers crossed for more snow!  

Dog Party

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After a run yesterday, the squad came inside for a little relaxation and bonding time. As you can see, Katy, Sally, and Cartel immediately took to the couch. Those girls know how to get comfortable. Niagra preferred to stay to the outskirts where she could lay down without getting tramped by playful Fez and Rucu. Derby curled up behind the couch. Supai just laid down in the middle of everyone, and Fire and Ham stayed close to get as many rub downs as possible. Add Stormy into the mix, and it was a full house. Yep, my childhood dream: a house full of dogs. 

Speedy Hookup

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Last year, I briefly experimented with a GoPro camera during hookup. What resulted was 40 boring minutes of harnessing dogs, booting dogs (TANGENT: there's a verb not in the dictionary- bootying? bootieing? the verb describing putting booties on dogs), and preparing the team for a training run. As you can see from the video, outfitting a team can be quite a process! With a little iMovie magic, I've shortened the clip to a high energy three minutes. Be forewarned though, the footage is a tad bumpy, so I wouldn't recommend watching it if you can't handle roller coaster rides.  

Country Roads

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This weekend, Derek, Fire, Niagra, Eider, Amy, and I took out the puppies for a fun run on the frozen sloughs around the Chena River. Every now and then, it's fun to just take a small team out and explore the beautiful area of the Chena River Valley. The frozen sloughs remind me of country roads (hence the John Denver song in the video) as they meander through dense willow and spruce thickets. Beaver dams and tussock peninsulas separate the smooth, level roadways of the sloughs and ponds, making for exciting portages. Overall, lots of fun, and I'd say the puppies had a blast too! 

Yearling Campout

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This weekend, Riley and I took the yearlings on their first ever campout. It's important for young dogs to understand the significance of straw and how to relax and sleep when out on the trail. We brought along Cartel, Ham, Katy, Amy, Fire, and Drummer (Amanda Gecas sled dog) as role models; however, they weren't the best examples. Amy preferred to flirt with Drake and Coot rather than rest. I think the cool temps and running sleds for a change had everyone excited! Needless to say, the yearlings were less than perfect campers, but with a month before our first race, we have plenty of time to practice. 

Cartel and Ham leading the way.