Denali Highway Truck Camping

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On by!

With the snow still lacking, we decided to head to the Denali Highway for some truck training! Derek and I packed up 30 athletes (21 adults and 9 yearlings) and met our friends and fellow mushers from Smokin' Ace Kennel for three days of winter camping and truck mushing fun!

One might think that truck mushing is the lazy way to exercise the athletes, and in some ways, it is! Rather than sitting on an ATV at -20F, we slowly drive at 9-10 mph in the warm cab of the pickup, listening to music, and rolling down the window whenever we need to yell a command out to the team. Sounds plush right? Well, we learned that hard way that we're just not cut out for truck mushing. After spending long hours sitting in the truck then getting out to load dogs or bootie paws, both Derek and I could hardly move with our backs all tense and out of whack. While the dogs have fun no matter what they're pulling, we need to be active! Bring on the sleds!

Jezzy, Matt, and I enjoying the warmth of the wood stove. (photo by Amanda Brooks)

Derek and I hanging out while the dogs take a short nap. (photo by Amanda Brooks)

The dogs waiting to run.

Two lines, 30 dogs, and Kindi is ready to rock!

Fire Break Trail

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Can you see the Alaska Range on the horizon?

One of my favorite trails in Two Rivers is called the Fire Break Trail. Most of the Two Rivers trails weave through the lowlands, swamps, or down the Chena River, but the Fire Break is entirely hills. Going straight up and straight down, the trail climbs the ridges bordering the Chena Valley where we can get a glimpse out across both the Chena Valley and the Tanana Flats. On clear days, like today, we can see the Alaska Range 100 miles away!

The team basking in the alpine glow of 3:15 PM in Alaska.

Calamity Jane and Drake posing for the camera.

Happy Veterans Day/ My Dad is the Best Dad in the Whole World

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Originally I had intended to do a Veteran’s Day post, but I couldn’t quite get organized yesterday. Instead, I figured I’d just do a “My Dad is the Best Dad in the Whole World” post today, which is actually more fitting because as I brainstormed what to write, I realized “Thank you for your service” just wasn’t going to cut it.  

For the first chapter of my life, Mike Olson was a dashingly handsome Navy pilot, as you can see from the pictures. His callsign was Swede, and he flew the A-6 Intruder. For your time given to the United States and our freedoms, thank you. For the dedication and sacrifices of all our military servicemen and women- thank you!

But I have to selfishly admit, it’s the time my dad gave specifically to me that has had such a monumental impact and shaped who I am today. From coaching my soccer team (the Intruders) to coaching my nordic team (Team RAD) to organizing backpacking trips (during which it always rained, snowed, or had no trail) to cooking the best breakfasts, he has always been there. Occasionally, he takes it too far, like hiding in the bushes during my college soccer tryouts, which were closed to the public. It was only mildly embarrassing to be called out in front of everyone.

Most importantly, he showed me how to smile and laugh even when conditions were miserable, and how the best stories come from the most challenging adventures. For that, thank you.

You’ve inspired a new and improved proverb:
Give a woman a fish and you feed her for a day. Teach a woman to fish, never catch anything, but smile and laugh the whole time- you’ve shown her how to love life.

I love you Dad.

Denali Highway: Trucks, Acting, and Wolves- Oh My!

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The past couple of days, we traveled to Alpine Creek Lodge on the Denali Highway and experienced a lot of firsts! First time chasing wolves, first time being movie stars (Ok, so we weren't the main focus, but Cartel, Fire, Boone, Brant, Drake, and Coot will be in a movie!), and first time truck training on the Denali Highway! 

The team chasing the black wolf!

1- First time chasing wolves! The Denali Highway is a 135-mile mostly gravel highway between Cantwell and Paxson right through the Alaska Range. Caribou, moose, fox, bear, wolverine, lynx, marten, wolves, and loads of other wildlife call this area home. For the first time this trip, we literally ran with wolves! Cresting a hill, we spotted a large grey wolf, and as we rounded the corner, two more sprinted down the road, including the black one in the photograph. Curious Lefty thought it was pretty exciting and wanted to chase after them!

Cartel, Fire, Boone, Coot, Drake, and Brant patiently waiting for their turn in the spotlight.

2- First time being canine movie stars! I'm not sure how much I can share, so the description is going to be vague, but we'll be in a documentary with the Bondys at their incredible home of Alpine Creek Lodge. Fire, Cartel, Boone, Brant, Coot, and Drake did a spectacular job repeating scenes, patiently waiting their turn, and looking adorable for the camera. Sometimes when we were running, a snowmachine with the cameraman would be just a couple feet away, and they never once were distracted! Great job team!

Jezzy supervising the team and wishing she was a sled dog.

I'm going to take this opportunity to promote Alpine Creek Lodge- if you're coming to Alaska, look them up! They have an incredible lodge in the middle of nowhere (68 mile of the Denali Highway to be exact), and it has all the amenities that you'd expect at a 5-star hotel and restaurant. Plus, they're dog lovers. Need I say more?

3- First time truck training! When there's not enough snow for sleds and you have a large group of dogs to train, some mushers hook up the whole team to the truck. The trails in Two Rivers are too narrow and windy for a truck, but the Denali Highway is perfect! Twenty-one dogs attached to the front of the Ford, and off we went! While it was nice to ride in the heated cab of a truck, I can't wait to come back with sleds!

Training Continues

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Beautiful sunny days on the trail.

This season has been exceptionally low on snow, with October going down as the driest October in the history of Fairbanks! One might think I was sorely disappointed by the weather (since mushing is preferable on a sled); however, I have to admit, the crystal clear blue sky days followed by extravagant aurora displays were fine by me. After a wet summer, I'm soaking up all the Vitamin D I can. Also, who wouldn't want to look at the northern lights? The lights have been so active, that occasionally I'd see them on my drive to work at 7:00 AM in the morning!

Camping with everyone.

As the miles are starting to get longer, we're spending lots of time puttering along on an ATV. In September and the beginning of October, we stick to dirt roads, but as the swamps freeze up, the Two Rivers trail system triples in size. Two Rivers is known for having some of the best training conditions in all of Alaska: hills, flats, rivers, passing dog teams, loose dogs, cars, cabins- we have it all. And because of that, there are literally thousands of little offshoots. Sometimes they work as dog trails, and other times we find ourselves at the end of wood cutter's area and have to turn a 16 dog team 180 degrees in the other direction. Or we crash through weak overflow ice. Or we high center the ATV on tussoks the size of a beach ball. Whatever the obstacle, I love it- it keeps it interesting! 

*You might notice I've been saying "we," which is in reference to the dogs, myself, and Gunhild! Gunhild is joining Ryno Kennel this season from Norway. I will be doing a proper introduction in near future!

Lights over the cabin.

We're getting snow!

Just yesterday, we received our first substantial amount of snow. About three to four inches fell over the course of yesterday and last night. The dogs are in heaven!! Every time we stopped, they'd bite the snow, roll around, and cover themselves in a blanket of snow crystals. Watching their bubbling excitement reminded me of a class of elementary school kids out in their first snowy recess, squealing, rolling around, chasing each other and just genuinely happy.

As many of the longtime Kennel followers know, Fire and Ham are some of the main leaders who blaze through any obstacle. Their knowledge of Gee and Haw is flawless, and a trail is not necessary, they'll make their own. Recently, I've been working on training other young dogs to be just as bold, and they've been doing great! The video below is of Katy (who is already an all-star leader) and Belle in lead with Lefty and Boone in swing navigating a massive patch of overflow on the banks of the Chena River. I called them off the safety of the shore and out onto the ice. While they didn't respond immediately to the commands, they still did exceptionally well and are showing lots of progress! Running across thin ice is a terrifying thought for lots of these guys (except Drake who wishes he lived in water), so the trust and determination shown is impressive! The video ends when I realized I could go no farther in the ATV because we'd busted through the overflow and the ice in front was too thick to bulldoze. This ended up being one of those times were we practiced a full team turn around :)