SoHum Mushers

2010-04-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

Our new toy - the Diggler FX full suspension and disc brakes a great safe dryland mushing rig.

This video DOES NOT have great audio. It is low fidelity and until i get some good video software and regain my upload capabilities on YouTube it is all i got...sorry. In spite of its flaws I am proud of this vid. It features Team Humdog joined by rOaDdie on his 4th (!!) turn in harness...and he is actually PULLING!!Initially poor OD had no clue. When I'd harness him without a neckline, as soon as the tugline would get tight he'd immediately turn around and run back to me!! SO, i began used a standard 4 dog tugline and used the neckline to encourage him to GO.....still, he resisted. HARD. And he would actually pull IN REVERSE! Snoopy was pulling me, the scooter - AND OD!!! Luckily, with patience, and positive energy it finally clicked and he is loving the run. We R Rocking!He is a good pup who is happy to have found me. I am happy too! Below my two favorite cowdogs!

Team HumDog Grows by One - Welcome rOaDie

2010-03-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Pepper and Snoopy welcomed Snoopy's long lost litter-mate and brother on Sunday Mar 14. He was released from his duties (duties he didn't take to very well) at a near-by cattle ranch, to pursue work hopefully more to his liking with Snoopy, Pepper, and I, in our mushing adventures! Thanks Ralph!!
Snoopy, above, is a dog with heart. His tug lines are always tight. He follows commands easily and works honestly. He gives all he has got with a smile on his face. If his brother has half the heart and drive that he has, he will be an awesome sled dog.This dog's given name was CODY> But we have taken to calling him O.D. ...or rOaDie. O.D. is for Other Dog...or Over Drive!!

Above, a calm moment between brothers. Snoopy has been very aggressive with him. Pepper, below, has been on the outskirts of most of those interactions. She seems annoyed by it all, but will eagerly play with O.D. when they are alone in the yard. Snoopy, with time, will mellow out... i hope...
rOaDie is very submissive. He lOVES to roll over. He rolls and he rolls over and over in the grass until he rolls right down the hill!! :)
He is a very good looking pup!!! He is so skinny....but that will change.
rOaDie is inquisitive and handsome. His confidence is growing everyday and he is adjusting well to our routine and rules. We already love him so much. He has learned/experienced so many things in one week: He has ridden in a car, walked on a leash, hung out in the house, gotten neutered, gone to doggy day-care at the vet, taken more car rides, eaten new foods including roast chicken for a good 'down'! He has gone to the river (and even jumped in!) played with toys, chased a tennis ball and learned to stay out of the kitchen and the girl's rooms. He has gone up and down the stairs, and learned to not jump on the table, and to avoid chasing the cats! We are measuring him for a harness this week, and hope to play some with him in it, by the first week in April. Yahoo! Go O.D.!
Good boy! Below, Fun times in the VOlvo.......On a side note: wanted FREE 4x4 beaterToyota for mushing truck!
Snoopy! You little licker!
Remember me bragging about a REAL musher coming to South Fork? Well she did. Lorraine Temple gave an awesome and informative assembly on the 8th. xoxo Jj

Alaska Musher Coming to SoHum!

2010-02-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

Lorraine Temple is coming to Southern Humboldt to conduct inspirational presentations! (Early Mar - stay tuned) I was excited to learn of her scheduled appearances that promise to inform our local youth about all things mushing, and more! She has been called "Barbie with an edge," I can't wait to meet her and to hear her story. You should check out her website and interesting life story at Alaska Husky Spirit. Her slide show is a MUST SEE!! Really, 5 minutes of Musher/Alaska Bliss.

Team Humdog is in serious training mode. Although we are generally happy in our groove and know that dryland mushing is best for this team, we are looking forward to our first (and probably only) race of the year. We will be attending WinterFest in Chester CA. Race info HERE. I will be running two dogs in the three dog class - and no other races - so i am not doing any serious dog racing here. But still, we are looking forward to playing in the snow, and meeting up with all the authentic mushers whose acquaintance we've been fortunate enough to make. I have observed that serious mushing is an adventurous, extreme, waking up early, nature loving, poop scooping, body working sport; and the people who love it are strong and beautiful folk. One can't know too many people like that! My report and great pics from last year's Chester Race experience HERE.

2010-01-12T20:29:00.000-08:00

Interesting Blog about Mushing History event that happened in AK in the fall of '09...better late than never?
Fur Rondy Official Site. Tons of activities surrounding this annual Dog Sled Race with a purse.
Mushing TV newly launched and a great place to hang out and vicariously enjoy this radical lifestyle. It features GREAT videos and up close and personal interviews with some of the greats in the sport.

Go Mush offers cool musher profiles, current RACE updates, great collection of links and pretty good classified ads and awesome photo gallery.

Coming soon? Every good Iditarod vacation u could ever want....

twenty ten

2010-01-12T19:54:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed participating in the lighted parade again in Dec...though Pepper looks nervous she performed superbly. I affixed battery operated Xmas lights to their halters and lit my bike with more of the same, a variety of blinky lights and wore a stupid looking Santa hat for drill. We rode from the Cal Trans lot to R.way 2 miles to the north enjoying the lights and laughter of folks there...there was even a bon fire at one home! Things got a little dicey on the return trip past the Cal Trans lot into G.ville about 2.5 miles to the south...we fell behind the motorized rigs that were rushing for more fun in the neighboring town. But we stayed positive, everyone did their best and we rolled into town as the last rig did as well! Got to enjoy more honking, sirens and praise from our fellow community members. We love applause, loud laughter, lights and fire engine songs. In fact, life - since that night - has come no where near to measuring up to that kind of fun and frolic.

sigh. I wish everyday was a lighted parade...

There has been plenty of great dryland since the arrival of the rain. Conditions are so much better: Cooler, better traction with moist roads and dogs are generally hyped by the wind and fresh moist air. We are running at least 4x weekly and hope to attend the two races nearby that feature the 3 dog 2 miler (which we can compete in with just 2.) I have collected an awesome batch of links and hope to sort through and share some of those too.

xxoo Jj

Long Dry Summer spent healing ...on to race season!

2009-12-12T18:49:00.000-08:00

We returned to the trail by mid July!! I have been seriously following my 15 point checklist and as a result i am enjoying my health and good mushing too!!! The 9 mile loop in my neighborhood with nearly 1000 feet of climbing has become an EZ 1.5 hour Sunday cruise. My dogs are pumped and real strong right now. I am here, back on the blogosphere, after an extended sojourn onto FaceBook, too much commuting and parttime wrrk. Not to mention the serious PTSD after my computer crash of winter '09. FINALLY, i have photoshop and my camera software downloaded and functioning on my 'new'er computer!! So, Fingers crossed, i upload, download and freeload!! Love u, love yer dog!

DryLand Musher's Pre-Ride Checklist.

2009-05-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

Pre-Ride Checklist

15 EZ TIPS for a Safe Dog-Powered Experience

Dog Health OK?? Do Not Run Against Vet Orders. Recommended rest times after injury, or illness in the dogs, should be fully observed.
Musher Health OK?? Lack of Sleep or Pre-Existing Injury Precludes Run.
Bike Check OK?? Weak/Failing brakes, or any other Mechanical Problems Precludes Run.
Safety Equipment?? This includes: Helmet, Gloves, Eye Protection, and preferably Long Pants, and Long Sleeved Shirt. A Long (10'+) Tow Line is also Recommended. Missing gear? No Ride.
Obedience/Command Training UTD?? Review Mushing Commands Frequently; your life depends on them obeying you.
First 1/4 Mile PLAN: Make One. The Basic Rules Include: Heading Up Hill at start of run, or Running a Flat/Grassy/Sandy Terrain at first, also, Few to No Commands should be required the first 1/4 mile.
Avoid Loose Gravel and Steep Descents.
Consider the # of days Since Last Run when making First 1/4 mile Plan. Long periods of rest generally produce more pumped up pups.
Calender Check! No runs on Days of Significant Celebrations where your Attendance will be Required.
Prepare Yourself: THINK! Visualize Teamwork and Remain Aware of Hazards.
Spiritual Health OK?? Pray for Protection. Invite a Gentle and Cooperative Spirit into Dogs, and Strength and Awareness into Musher. Focus. Breath. Make room for Guardian Angels.
Walk ALL Dangerous Stretches. These Include: Steep Descents; New or Unfamiliar Terrain;Loose Gravel; Through Gates/Fences; Difficult Turns; and Past all Hazards, like Other Dogs or People.
Learn To Fall. Generally, it involves Tuck and Roll.
Do Not Hitch up More Dogs to your Bike or Scooter than You Can Safely Control.
Put YOURSELF First. Remember, as soon as the dogs stop panting, they will look for their next big adventure. So, don't fall into a guilt trip about their needs. Think. One day off the trail (for whatever reason) is far better than 4-6 weeks (or months!) waiting out an injured driver!!

Why am I qualified to compose this list? I have broken every one of these tips at one point or another and I paid a very dear price at times. I wish for you to avoid the serious injuries that can happen at the helm of a dog powered bike, scooter, skates or skate board.

The Goal is to MAINTAIN CONTROL, STAY UPRIGHT AND HAVE FUN!!!

P.S. Coming home via the Emergency Room is generally a sign that u have failed to follow the check list. Better luck next time! :)

Bum Knee II

2009-05-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

I am reliving sweet memories from the winter. I was focused, healthy and on my game. I returned home, happily, in one piece, walking unaided and under my own power! Unlike this recent weekend, when I was -let's just say- NOT on my game~!~ So.....Knee elevated (the left one this time) whilst I juggle MRI and ORTHOPEDIC appointments, I busily scribble the soon to be released DryLand Musher's pre-ride checklist. It will be a guide to help others (and myself) have safe and fun dryland mushing experiences. Why is it, that the most important lessons are often painful, and repeated? Sigh. Sparing u the details, I will report that the swelling is much less than my crazy crash last year, i am maintaining an impressive 90* ROM, and I am hopeful for a limited time on crutches. I am consoling myself with affirmations of my relative youth in this sport, and how much I will learn and incorporate in the years to come- if my stupidity doesn't kill me first!

Mini Pup - TYKE mushes with team HumDog

2009-03-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

WOW! Had to bail from youtube temporarily went over to JayCUt online video editing and posting. Success! Click Link video not embedding > Post Iditarod wrap up to come, feel free to comment with your take on the race this year...What a race it was.

Dryland cart links/Iditarod 37 begins

2009-03-06T08:57:00.000-08:00

DryLand Season is upon us. NEED A CART?? Check out these finely engineered units from SoCal. Cool Blog Too.Iditarod 37 is underway. Lance and Jeff after heading out 47th and 41st respectively are reported to already in top ten! The Iditarod website is not real EZ to navigate and is subject to regular crashes and slow operation. Insider live feed videos of the starts have garnered mixed (mostly negative) reviews, as the site has been plagued with issues. I saw about 40 minutes 'til I was bumped and we weren't able to connect to the feed again b-4 it was over. :( Archives are where it's at I guess. I am annoyed and perturbed at computers in general. The loss of all (over 1200) my winter photos, and a harddrive replacement still finds this PC running worse than ever. ...so slow. "You can bring it in again, we can look at it."Argh. What could possibly be the issue? Pretty much over it. NOTE: Figured out the issue: the LIVE FEED of the Iditarod on Saturday, put us over our 250mb upload limit through HUGHESNET!?!?! ... and they put us on restriction!! So...Updated account, waited, re-registered and we are (at last) back online. Now to see if i can get my vids uploaded without episode....

World Dryland Championships: Event Host Needed

2009-03-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

IFSS DRYLAND BIDS!! Got organizational skills? Got location with trails nearby up to 10 miles? You could help host the 2009 IFSS dryland world championships!!! Written by Sally Bair
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Duluth, MN USA -- IFSS is now in the process of accepting bids for the 2009 Dryland World Championship. Bids must be submitted on CD or by email by May 15, 2008, to IFSS Secretary General Sally Bair ( sbair@cpinternet.com). Important information to include on the application is (in addition to the venue site, tentative schedule of events/classes/banquets, dates): * Diagrams of the trails or maps with distances and elevation for each class; * Trails’ width and list of hot spots (difficulties requiring special attention); * Type of trail (sandy – for dryland WCh, forest trails, open fields, etc.); * Number of four-wheelers (quads) or other equipment (for dryland WCh) available to prepare trails before the race and during the race; * Estimated number of volunteers needed and available; * Type and availability of trail marking material; * Parking/stake-out areas (diagram with size and distance from start and finish lines); * Maximum number of possible participants; * Availability of conveniences at race site(s), where, how many (restaurants, toilets, water); * Location for the race office and secretariat; * Location for the vet office and veterinary checks; * Time keeping equipment to be used, including format for posting times (at race site & website); Intermediate timing and posting availability; * Location for team leader meetings (generally held before each day’s heats begin); * Previous race experiences on the proposed race site (type of race, number of participants, etc.); * Hotel(s) for officials (distance from the race site); * Hotel(s) for the participants (distance from the race site) with additional information about those that will accommodate dogs/dog vehicles; * Distance between race site and closest motorway/highway; * Distance between race site and closest international airport or domestic airport connected to international airport (specify); * Rental or loan (cars, vans, trucks) possibilities for transportation; * Availability of dogs for borrowing; * Media package or plan For more information, contact IFSS Secretary General Sally Bair ( sbair@cpinternet.com) or IFSS Vice President of Sport Bernard Pepin ( bernard.pepin857@orange.fr).

Mushing Clinic & GOLD MUSH races off!

2009-02-28T17:03:00.000-08:00

CALIFORNIA GOLD MUSH conditions:

Slush and Rain
~RACE EVENTS CANCELED~

My BRIGHT IDEA?? Dryland contingent for all sled races in CA. Break out the ATV's, Carts, Scooters, Mountain Bikes and Running Shoes. Let's run these dogs!! What a bummer to do all that organizing, only to have to cancel. Maybe next year we'll be riding the freshly groomed snow trails or they will implement my BRIGHT IDEA and we'll be mud mushing! Oh well. And Team HumDog was all set to go; training like maniacs with our sights set on the 4 mile. We weather another rain storm, instead of gliding over crystal trails... Silent and in awe...The dog sledding thing is verrry cool and I am so glad I went up to Chemult. With spring fast approaching the focus shifts to the Dryland mushing. Mushing boot camp coming up, register now!

April 30, May 1 - 3, 2009

Thursday 4:00 p.m - Sunday Noon

All Levels Welcome

Includes Lodging/Light Breakfast

Meal information on Site Location Page

PRICE: $890.00

Pretty cool looking MUSHING BOOT CAMP in Fort Klamath, OR.... And I hear it gets results! Participation is limited, so interested mushers are asked to register early. Liz Parrish, Iditarod Finisher, fellow musher, supporter of mushing and mushers, and Inn Keeper (!) hosts these great events. The camp is "guided by experts Jamie Nelson and Ann Stead.... two seasoned professionals with over 70 years combined experience in sprint and distance dog mushing. " More from the webite: "...Mushing Boot Camp is a three day intensive clinic which offers you hours of hands on experience training your dogs with your equipment guided by experts Jamie Nelson and Ann Stead. The Camp also features discussions about training, conditioning, equipment, nutrition, kennel management, health issues and much more. .....You are assured of getting the full benefit of their expertise through one-on-one training as well as group instruction."

Contact: Liz Parrish - info@briarspatchsleddogs.com

Phone: (541) 892 3639

I have plenty good video and pics from our recent adventures. I look forward to putting them together. On a Sidenote: I went through a computer drama and have mourned the loss of about 3 months worth of great pics! Obvious lesson: Back up your stuff! Oh, and don't turn off the inverter while Windows is shutting down...More real soon.

P.S. Check out the KHSL TV NEWS REPORT of the CHESTER RACES: I am not pictured racing, or bragging about racing, but at 50 seconds you do get to see me on the right of the screen, getting yanked around by Will's 9 yo leader, Blue! It took 5 of us to control his 4 dog team! There is great commentary by the mushers too. One, by Laura, claims dog mushing will make you forget your worries. That is the truth.

Chemult Fun Run and Race Clinic

2009-02-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

We had an eventful and fun weekend in Chemult Or, for a race clinic / fun run. There was abundant fresh snow; conditions were slow... We still took 4th in the (unofficial) 3-4 dog /2 mile run. I also tied for third in a silly musher game that involved balloons, poker hand, swords, stuffies and a bell. Youda' had to have been there.... My tactic? Speed over accuracy. The dogs had a blast. Snoopy is still an agressive ass and has a lot to learn when it comes to leaving other dogs alone. Physically I got worked. The sled driving with just two dogs is really nothing more than a clown act. And poor pepper...she keeps looking back at me with an expression that matches that of "Max" in the Grinch That Stole X-mas! The snow was slow and deep. My time was a meter of nothing more than how fast I could jog!!! ...Guess i better learn to jog faster...or get MORE DOGS!?!?!

This team sorta lost it at the end...exactly WHO is leading?? Below, my favorite shot; love the toungue! There were a lot of great looking 4 dog teams.

Fresh snow every night...

One of the four"golden" bears that herald the crossing of the Klamath River...Below, portions of an impressive mural by Sharon Maki-Coffin.

Raptors were the Theme in Oregon...

It was a longass drive (350+ miles) and I neglected to document the most exciting part of the trip: when i tossed my car in the ditch, just a mile out of town in my early (icy) departure Sunday AM.!!! It was a slow motion slip and slide, and thanks to a passing angel with a chain and my serious tow hitch that was yankable, I spent just 5 minutes ditchbound. It woulda made a great shot though...and the thickly packed snow in the wheel wells...OH yea, that was a blast trying to put the chains on...then 40 miles of chainworthy travel at 20 mph....Believe me, I was grateful to hit the open pavement, and (eventually) make it home safely. I probably need a real (dog/snow) rig if i intend to take this crazy hobby any further...Below, interesting driftwood fountain. BLUE water!?!?!

More Race Weekend Pics

2009-02-07T13:22:00.000-08:00

You Tell ME Why People Throw Shoes in Trees..... Below, Teams in Action.
In Action ...or not...Below, note Buddha 2nd from right, i love that pup...

Interesting Skull on Ice...Below, Long Views of The Mountain called Shasta...

Mushers...A Handsome and Strong lot. Below the Sole Skijor Entrant. Go Scott!!

More Marvelous Mushers...

Our Fearless Race Marshal Terry Hinesly, an Iditarod Finisher! Below, Racing actually involves a Lot of Waiting...

What? More Strong and Beautiful Dog Drivers?

Young Liz and her Father were an inspiration. Working together from the break of dawn, in an often cold (23*) forest, caring for and running BIG beautiful huskies. Good life.

Lake Almanor...Below, Karen, who was somewhat of a guardian angel to me over the weekend. Thanks!

Jr Musher Kamryn Elliott!! You go Girl!
Happy Dog Drivers...

It IS about Winning....Debbie and Curly accept their earnings.

Bill Betzer, Long time musher who was the Trail Boss. Below, Mushing ala Photoshop...

April and John Wood bravely handled many aspects of the race. And HIM, with a bum shoulder! Thanks you guys!
I am still so pumped up on last weekend, so many great memories and inspiration for the future. I figured I better post these pics, PLUS i still have a couple more videos to post as well, all before our Next Big Adventure: Feb 14, 2009 - Chumult Oregon fun run and race clinic with the the Pacific Sled Dog and Skijor Association. See you there, or on the trail.

Video of our First Sled Run 1/29/09

2009-02-04T08:20:00.000-08:00

video of Winterfest '09 - Chester, Ca

2009-02-03T19:48:00.000-08:00

View One Dog Skijor and 4 Dog Teams at the Start Chute.

Chester Winterfest 2009 Report

2009-02-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

My New (used) Sled!! I Set out for Chester CA at the end of last month, prepared to learn to skijor and run the dogs in the Winterfest Sleddog Races in the 2 dog - Skijor class. All the while I was secretly hoping another musher would come equipped with a starter sled for sale...my hopes were realized.

My second day on the runners...I entered my first race!! I ran my two pups in the 3 mile/3 dog (2 dog mimium) class. We came in 2nd (!) out of 5 (all 3 dog ) teams that day. Our second day, Pepper especially, was not quite on her game (mid-race poop!) and though our time was just 10 seconds slower, we placed 5th out of 5! Most of the other teams did a bit better on Sunday, which still left Team Humdog with a 3rd place, overall ! I was so pumped! Had my acceptance speech ran longer, I would have taken time to thank Libby Riddles (whose biz card I carried in my trousers all weekend for luck) Susan Butcher, Joe Reddington, Norman Vaughn, Lance Mackey, Jeff King, all Women Mushers -especially Christian musher Dee Dee Jonorow who has completed the Iditarod over 20x's- the Frekings, Sled Dog Stacie, Jillian Rogers, and the many amazing trials, trails and dreams that have taken me to this point. A huge thanks also would go to Rachel Scdoris, blind Iditarod Finisher and the former owner of my sled, and to Greg who was kind enough to sell it to me (...complete with 4 dog tug line, and genuine snow hook!!) I left the race feeling a great deal of gratitude for Karen, who lovingly set me up with a sled bag for the weekend, and a regulation tug line on Sunday when my skijor line was making her, and the race officials, cringe. Even Will, who bumped me out of second by a mear 10 seconds, said "Oh, I'm sorry, I would've have stepped on the brake!!" I am so emotional about this sport. It was almost overwheming, the level of pure estacy I was feeling. I am thankful for all these positive experiences at my first race, and the genuine support of the fellow mushers that were there. When I was all too high - after coming in 2nd the first day - Greg knocked me down to size when he reminded me that "2nd is just the first loser!" Thanks for that one buddy... the DATA:

Signage from the weekend's travels. I especially love the one below, really! Watch for snow, you may need it!!

Shirley...Showing off her Trail Rash. Tossed off the sled for the 2nd time she was dragged by 6 dogs and even the velcro around her wrists did not keep her jacket sleeve from creeping up, and allowing the trail to remove the surface of her forearm. Report was, she was also down to her long johns, after the the trail claimed her snowpants - as well as her flesh. Notice, the smile. Below, It was a Serious Siberian Event. These pups came cruising through....cute.

Above, My Favorite Sibe, Buddha. And he was one too...

Lake Almanor...beautiful. Bald Eagles frequent the area. Lake levels are at record lows...

The Forest...Below, the pups before our first run with their booties, and some shots from a recent Dry Land Run. I have so many more pictures and some really good video footage as well, but am having computer issues that are preventing me from posting my vids online....so.... I will continue to troubleshoot these issues, and am looking forward to sharing more of a great time with you. See you on the trail!

The End

January Race Links

2009-01-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

SISKIYOU SLED DOG RACES THIS WEEKEND IN WEED, CA: The SSDSA is proud to invite you and your friends and family to the 2009 Siskiyou Sled Dog Races. The distance race is now 210 miles to fulfill Iditarod qualifications. Our request passed the Race Rules Committee and the Iditarod Board on May 30th. This will be California's first Iditarod qualifying event. There will also be a 105 mile distance race held in conjunction with the longer 210 mile Iditarod Qualifier. The 210 and 105 mile distance race will both begin on Friday at Deer Mountain after the Vet check. Sprint & Skijor team race competitions will be held throughout the days of the 24th and 25th followed by the Awards banquet that evening in Weed.

EXPERIENCE IDITAROD! Iditarod XXXVII starts March 7th, 2009
BID NOW! To be an Iditarider: The 2009 IditaRider MusherAuction ends Friday!
Place your bid on the musher of your choice as the closing of the2009 Iditarod IditaRider Musher auction draws near. Auctions begin closing at noon (AST) Friday January 23rd!

Coming NEXT WEEKEND the Chester Winterfest Sled Dog Races in Chester, California January 31 - February 1, 2009
$2000 PURSE!!

CALIFORNIA GOLD "MUSH" 9th Annual Lake Davis Sled Dog Race February 27- March 1, 2009 Lake Davis/Portola, CA

Check out the Weekend Activities for the program Friday through Sunday, including: Full snowshoe and sled-dog race schedule Saturday and Sunday; Friday pre-race family activities including: Kids' movies "Balto" and "Iron Will" Friday evening at the Feather Community Arts Center and Sat/Sun Student Art Show

Chemult Oregon Fun Run AND Skijor Clinic February 14 2009

OTHER RACES/EVENTS OF NOTE: Sweet artwork above is by "April Wood-Jaraw Creators" Too cute.."Wait! Come back here you huskies!"

Jan 23 & 25, 2009 Siskiyou Sled Dog Race Siskiyou, CA
Jan 24 & 25, 2009 Snow Dog Super Mush, Conconully, WA
Jan 30 & Feb 1, 2009 Cascade Quest, Leavenworth, WA
Jan 30 & Feb 1, 2009, Chester, CA (PNC)
Feb 7 & 8, 2009 Priest Lake (PNC)
Feb 14 & 15, 2009 100 Mile House BC Canada
Feb 14 & March 1, 2009 Chemult 2 (Possible PNC)
Feb 28 & March 1, 2009 Frog Lake 2
Feb 28 & March 1, 2009 Lake Davis, CA
April 25 & 26, 2009 Spring cart race, Roslyn, WA

Learn All About SKIJORING here

I am dreaming of snow...Hopefully recent precipitation to California will bode well for these events. In the meantime, we are taking plenty of dryland runs and a good deal of mud runs as well. The dirtier the better imo!

Off Topic -You want crazy Winter Mountain Biking?

2009-01-08T19:26:00.001-08:00

No dogs.... but they might wish they had 'em now and them...

The Race

THE TRAINING

A heroic GRRL and ~AUTHOR~ who rides in it. Ghost Trails" is a sometimes joyful, often harrowing ride through my experiences in the 2008 Iditarod Trail Invitational, and the events that inspired it. by Jill Homer, one of my strong Alaskan women idols

And me? I am all about the SkiJoring now. BUT I have a serious problem, in that I lack both snow and a proper skijor harness; not to mention I have zero experience at cross country skiing and a partially torn ACL... but I will persevere. Ice and roller skating skills, and passable proficiency at down hill skiing (prior to knee injury at least...) must count for something right? There are some awesome dog races in Chester at the end of the month. Will team HumDog be there? It's either learn to ski, buy a harness, and do the two dog skijor OR get two more dogs (!)and a sled (!) and attempt 4 dog 6 mile sled race!!! Reality sinking in......OR just stay home save $$... and possibly my health, by simply tending to the orchard. Hah. The trees will wait, but will the trail...and what of this inner need for speed and a flirtation with danger? Stay tuned.

December Was Made For Running Pups

2008-12-22T21:11:00.001-08:00

Poor Things. Why they look like they are being tortured into this is a mystery to me. I swear, once we get on the trail they are slobbering little mushers just barking for joy!

G'ville Lighted Parade 2008. I lovelovelove doing parades with these pups. This one was particularly rewarding as is was at night, it was cold, and it involved a run of more than 5 MILES!!! First I got my bike, myself, and the dogs suitably "lit" and set. Then there was the judging ( clowns -like us- rarely win) and just waiting around at a central point between our twin towns. The parade was set to head north first to R'way about 1.5 miles away. Team HumDog headed out a bit ahead of the main parade, I was very nervous about how it all would pan out, and scared as well for my life! But these dogs chewed up the mileage in record speed, and we arrived with about 10 minutes to spare (...yea, I might have taken this time to get my camera all set up for some mid-parade movie making, or picture taking, but no! still too nervous to capture it on "film") White knuckles all the way, we joined the rest of the parade (about 20 other big rigs, cement trucks, fire trucks etc - lots of lights and noise!) for the loop through R'way. My heart swelled with the rush of the physical exertion, and pride in the supreme performance and behavior of my team. They were focused on the work we were doing, and many times followed commands flawlessly and left many, many, dogs and people, with no interaction on their part! There were many bonfires lit, homes ablaze with holiday lights, and countless people on the street full of good old fashioned holiday cheer. It made me tear up, to hear kids burst out laughing when they saw us. It was a beautiful thing. The run back to G'ville was over 2 miles and it was a bit sketchy as I not only didn't leave in advance of the parade, I was practically the last one out of town!! Luckily, and through pure physical studliness and drive on the part of my dogs, and myself, (spinning classes payoff big time!) we caught up to the action just as the last vehicle entered town! So we were last, but at least we were in line for that final loop for the loving crowd in G'Ville! Snoopy was a spitty faced panter by the time we arrived and Pepper actually still looked pretty fresh. That Dalmatian has some staying power! PLUS she really seems to enjoy the crowd. They were both amazingly tolerant of all the noise and distractions. It was a riot and a blast. And best of all, no crashes or dog fights! I have some video footage. Look for it soon on YouTube. On the home front, we've had lots of snow. I am too disabled for cross country skis right now, so I ordered a snoscooter. More on that, and other awesome dog powered postables in 2009. Get ready for Iditarod 37~!~!~

We Rock

2008-11-22T15:05:00.000-08:00

Team HumDog on the GO!! Below our little mini musher Tyke.
Pepper had a hectic reaction to her PREVENTIC COLLAR as noted in my HomesteadBlog.
Snoopy is over 55 pounds now! He is a very strong and honest dog.
We have been having some fun scooterjoring. NewYouTubeVideo.

Fun Run

2008-11-01T22:05:00.000-07:00

We have had an awesome fall. We are running in earnest at least 3x's a week. I am growing a bit bored of our selection of runs and the dogs seem to have outgrown some of the trails. Their strength and speed make the single track we run at the park, truly dangerous, and my heart quickens at the thought of another run. It is an addictive sport; I am hooked. I found another cool mushing site with a forum. It is not a terribly active forum but the website has a wealth of links and info. It is created with lots of good energy (and IT talent!) Already 8 weeks since my last post; life has been busy! I hope with the arrival of autumn rains and dark, I will be more willing to contribute virtual news. Until later, see u on the trail!! HEY~~ you must CHECK OUT our NEW YOU TUBE VIDEO- It's a sweet and tender musher love story.

Mushing On!

2008-08-29T22:11:00.000-07:00

Mushing dogs smile.

Although the injury to my knee (ACL tear) is on a slow mend, and Snoopy was on the DL for 2 weeks with some nondescript limp, we have been hitting the roads and trails this summer on a regular basis. Yea~!~ I cannot believe how cautious I am now, pretty pitiful really...but safe at least! I walk any overly steep or dangerous stretches, and sometimes I will drive to the lowest point in my ride, and make them start by going uphill!

Overall, they are impressively stronger, and more cohesive as a team than ever. It seems couch-potato-time just makes them run better! Our training has one challenge; I so wish I had taught them to run on the right side of the road at the outset. For some reason, way back when, (with the walky-dog on the left ...for whatever dopey reason...) we favored the left side of the road. As a result, as we've ventured out on the dirt roads in my neighborhood, it is now a constant "gee over" battle, where I command, beg, and plead them to veer to the right side while they (snoopy especially) just as determinedly make haste for the left. sigh.

Here is a new video of Team HumDog on the open (dirt) road. It was a beautiful night. Enjoy.

Back in the Saddle

2008-06-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

TeamHumDog... Representing SoHum Mushers in the G.ville Rodeo Parade 2008. Pepper and Snoopy played the part of real mushing pups tied out to their rig. (in this case, a '92 Volvo wagon, in lieu of a properly tricked out Toyota 4x !)
The rodeo was a hoot. The day was hot and the crowd was festive. The dogs got to socialize and gain discipline around lots of different people, vehicles, (Harley Run was in town!) horses, other dogs, and even some mini donkeys. The donkeys were the closest to having a run in with the notorious Team HD. Go, Easy, Stop, Leave It, and On By were the main focus of our slow, 4 block adventure. They loved it, and we all hope to return again for the next parade in town. Hopefully a few more mushers will come out of the woods and join us!Pepper...Looking like she's moving, when she's standing still. Below, the still waters of our favorite redwood forest trail.
Why I Bikejor: Tired dogs are happy (and good!) dogs.
I am stoked to report I am back on the trail and loving it. I am taking it slow and must admit, I AM AFRAID! So I initiated a whole new set of rituals that I've added to the outset of our runs; it includes various prayers, affirmations, and outright bargaining with the Gods! "Please let me return alive." My knee injury sidetracked us but good, and it will be a while before we are up to our usual stunts and stellar mileage. In the meantime, I am loving the runs we have done, and am especially grateful to Humboldt Orthopedics, and specifically Ryan, and Dr. Shishido, who have given me superb care. Right now, the whole of inland Northern California is smothered in smoke. So we sadly, have had to curtail our activities yet again! SIDE NOTE: We did get to explore a great beach trail at Table Bluff. If you've not been out there, check it out! The area reminds me of Honeydew. To get there: Head west at Hookton Road for about 5 miles. It is coastal and beautiful. The beach is semi ridable, and there is also a pretty cool 4x trail that heads south out of the park. There is a picnic area, porta-potties, and lots of barely traveled, flat, paved roads as well. I wonder if it's smoky up north....See you on the trail! Oh, and please don't forget to check out my new YouTube videos.

Vital LINKS or Online (vicarious) Mushing

2008-06-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

It has been so long since my last post! Anyway, what I have for you today is a collection of virtual mushing links. A wide variety of mushing specific information, experiences, and doggie what-not that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your ergonomic chair. It is an assembly of just some the many Bookmarks I've collected in my 8 WEEKS on the Disabled Musher's List!! Healing progresses... in the mean time, surf's up! So start clicking! The first three links are membership based organizations that support dog drivers and dog powered sports.
MUSH with PRIDE: "PRIDE stands for Providing Responsible Information on a Dog’s Environment. The relationship between sled dogs and humans is one of the oldest bonds of its kind."
International Federation of Sleddog Sports, Inc.: The next Korea Championship event is scheduled on or around November 2nd.... One of the new events is called "Cani-Walking," which is basically similar to Canicross. However, competitors do not run but walk....ISDRA Sled Dog Racing: "Fast, exciting, well trained sled dog teams are the result of careful behind the scenes planning and hard work....Team and driver develop a close, trusting relationship because of the amount of time they spend together." Sled Dog Central: Links to Other Mushing Sites: A very useful resource for the beginner or expert alike. This page features so many great dog powered links like: Bruce's Bikejoring Pages, Seattle, Washington, USA - Bikejoring, see what it is like to have dogs pull you on a bike.... and, DaphneWorks, Seattle, Washington, USA - Dog Scootering and more... Dude Dog Cartoons, Theresa Daily's hilarious cartoons about the misadventures of a sled dog named Dude...plus Everything Husky! Hundreds of links to information on all types of huskies...also, Expedition Samoyeds, San Jose, California, USA - Lots of information about dog sledding and backpacking with your sled dogs....In general this site is extremely useful, check it out!

Images above are from Sled Dog Central where you will find absolutely EVERYTHING about mushing, and lots of current news and updates on handlers, their dogs and the great world of dogs powered sports; and they have a Great Forum!!

DogSledExpress: Dogsled Adventure Rides in California! "Enjoy majestic views of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen, and Castle Crags aboard a dog sled powered by a beautiful and friendly team of highly trained canine athletes. " Pat Campbell Owner / Operator / Musher below...Awesome dog sled rides in SHASTA COUNTY; Dogsled Express is located between the Nordic Center and Mt. Shasta Ski Park on Ski Park Hwy. off Hwy. 89 just East of Mt. Shasta California. Take Hwy. 89 East off Interstate 5.
Mushing Boot Camp: "Mushing Boot Camp is a three day intensive clinic which offers you hours of hands on experience training your dogs with your equipment guided by experts Jamie Nelson and Ann Stead. You will gain hands on experience and build more confidence in yourself and your team. Mushing Boot Camp offers you a training base so that you can develop your own style (art). " Mushing Boot Camp is held in MN, ME, and CO. Images above and below from Mushing Boot Camp.
K9ScootersNW.com Very cool scooter crew in WA. "We are a group of people who love our dogs. We love to hop on our scooters (or bikes or sulkies or carts or...) and head to the hills pulled by our eager dogs. Some of us love to go fast and far. Others like to trot along and smell the flowers. Our club sponsors events such as our once a month fun runs where we meet on a weekend morning and scooter (or bike) with our dogs from 3 to 10 miles." Site also features an awesome collection of WA area trails. Paw from K9ScootersNW!
N O R D K Y N O U F I T T E R S: "The Complete Source for Mushing, Skijoring, Weight-Pulling, Carting, and Packing Equipment." These folks have the gear and info for, Skijoring : Skijoring is a fast-growing sport that allows you to enjoy winter activities with just one or two dogs. .....Sledding and Carting: To get started, try training your dog on foot. With your dog on a leash, teach the commands, "hike", "whoa", "gee" (right), "haw" (left), and "on by." You can then put a new dog with some already-trained dogs....also pulling and backpacking with your dog.
Carting with Your Dog: "The site is currently undergoing a revamp, or possible teardown, pending clarification of some issues regarding the discussion of Dog Works equipment.."From an old link, you will find a super list of Dog Powered Sports Gear Venders HERE...Images above and below from cartingwithyourdog.com
Dog News: weird, inspiring dog tales: What more can you say? "Here's a free random quotes database I've been squirreling away for the past year. Every time I see a worthy dog or animal quote, I stash it here":My random dog quotes Plus there are endless dog links in addition to these: Permalink: Dog Quotes , Dog Quotations, Dog Sayings - Famous Quotes and | Great Dog Quotes | Welcome to DogQuotes.Com Home of Dog Quotes , Dog Proverbs, Dog | Dog Quotes . Welcome to DogQuotes.Com. Home of Dog Quotes , Dog | The Puppy Place: Dog Quotations | Dog Quotes | Dog quotes | Dog Quotes | Dog Quotes | Wag The Dog Quotes Dog Quotes : Another odd mix of dog related lore...dog poetry, proverbs, sayings and quotes like: "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies." - Gene Hill and, "The more people I meet the more I like my dog." - Unknown. I wish they had a daily feed...

And finally, NEED A JOB??? "Canine Sports Massage Therapy is the therapeutic application of hands-on deep tissue techniques to the voluntary muscle system - for the purpose of increasing circulation, reducing muscle spasms, relieving tension, enhancing muscle tone, promoting healing and increasing range of motion in all breeds of dogs." Image below is from Canine Massage Therapist (CMT) Certification Program. It features Timmy and Emily. They look like willing test subjects in the canine massage department!!!

Slow Healing - Safety Tips Review

2008-05-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Go Dogs Go! Photo above from Tragic Llama
Snow Dogs Go~ ! ! ~ Photo of skijoring from Bruce'sBlog

Today's post will focus on bikejor Safety.

A HIGHLIGHT- Canine control: The key to successful training in any dog powered sport is control, and this responsibility lies 100% with the bikejorer. If control is compromised, the probability of a mishap increases exponentially. The main culprit is excess speed for any given situation, as opposed to high-end speed measured in miles per hour. To illustrate, a bikejorer may have complete control of his or her team at 20 mph on a straight and flat trail, but on a downhill section with an off-camber turn, 7 mph may be too fast.

This page also focuses on Bikejor Safely; A Quote: "Ha, ha , ha, safety? You have got to be kidding! If you want to TRY to stay alive, consider the following things:" click and learn!Above info is from Bruceshomepage. He has a great general primer on training and commands crucial to dog powered sports as well. Photos from Tragic Llama.

What can I say? The traumatic injury to my leg has sidelined me, but good. SO, my thoughts naturally have turned to the possible ways I might have prevented this injury and long suffering. This is vital information to review, for me, and anyone else who is considering, or is already partaking in, this extreme (and extremely dangerous) sport!

Basically, I've come to the conclusion that short of riding my brakes the whole time, and adhering to the # 1 rule of mushing (who knew?) "Never let go of the sled," there is little I could have done to prevent this. At the death defying speed at which we were traveling, coupled with the drastic change in direction the dogs initiated, I am not so sure I could have held on to the "sled" (read:bike.) Next time though, if there ever is one - this was a random squirrel encounter at just 1 bike length - that is what I think I will attempt to do. Unless I have already become a crybaby wimpy pants and begun to ride my brakes like a grandma, never allowing us to go above 8 MPH...Really there isn't too much trouble I could get into at 8 MPH...But of course, we were going well over 15 MPH.

New motto ideas? On the brakes you ride, then you stay alive, or how about, Believe the 3 second rule, you are a fool, and finally, Go fast you might not last.

KNEE UPDATE: owie zowie. My knee is still nearly as swollen as pictured below, and I've made only minimal progress in my range of motion and weight bearing. boo hoo. 4 weeks and counting. ...

my UK bikejor blogger buddy is always updating his page and has some great info for the beginner right now...He is also way into caricross, which is essentially competitive cross country trail running with one or two dogs attached to the runner by a line, and it is very big in the UK. Carnicross allows you to jog and keep your canines under control. Seems to me that some SO HUM joggers should check out carnicross ; like the cute Chiquita at the So Hum park with her crazy miniature (out of control) chihuahua attack dogs...just an idea. Carnicross pics from tragic llama . He has COOL VIDEOS too.

Here is the seldom updated but entertaining chariot lady blog "Featuring the incredible off-(and on-) road adventures of a modern-day Donna Quijote...and two crazy scooter-pulling canines. Call it dog scootering, scooterjoring, or just plain stupid, nothing beats the thrill of running your own private Iditarod." Maybe a few extra clicks will get her posting again...

See you NOT ON THE TRAIL, but on the silly stationary trainer, that thanks to only one functioning knee, I cannot even spin correctly!

Time for a New Motto?

2008-04-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Who's a leave it?? HEY! Where did that squirrel go??

We had a BIG crash on the potentially best ride of the month. We were flying...the air was cool...body strong...dogs willing. We made it through the notoriously dangerous sections with no problems. I'm in charge right? Down the hill, temperatures were noticeably cooler and we had shady, fresh, sweetness surrounding us. The road levels out some in this area, but we were still heading downhill, going maybe 15-20 MPH...no brakes. Why?? It is so much more fun to go fast!! (OR would that be quickly? I am on an adverb preservation campaign, I think fast defies the rules somehow...) Anyway, the three second rule (you have just 3 seconds to prevent or react to potential catastrophes when bikejoring) went out the window, when a friendly, feisty gray squirrel jumped out, just one bike length ahead of us. We were heading west, the Squirrel was heading south. Guess where the pups went? With no time to slow or stop our drastic change in direction I did what any self preserving bikejoring enthusiast does in a situation like this; Bail OUT!! Seared into my memory is the impact of my athletically built (read 10 pounds overweight) body, hitting squarely on my right leg, which was outstretched, with no flex. BOOM! The impact was intense. I was certain my poor shin bone was history. Then the big roll....er grovel, actually, in the gravel. Once I regained my bearings and dragged the dogs and bike from the middle of the road, I discovered, to my dismay, I could not simply walk this one off. My leg in no way was going to support any weight. With some struggle I managed to remount, and had the dogs haul me back up the road a piece, until I ran into someone with a cell phone. A rescue mission ensued, complete with a trip to ER. I'm very happy (and lucky) to report no broken bones, but some severe tearing in my right leg. The ER Doc said "Stay active." Does he understand what that means to me? I snickered under my breath, trying to envision a way to ride my bike on crutches...Sigh. Three days have passed and besides the obvious pain, swelling and lack of mobility in my knee, I escaped with just minor road rash and body aches elsewhere. My motto is, "If you don't want to get hurt, don't ride!" Could it be time for a change?

On a bright and humorous note; In my recovery, I have been able to view some mushing videos I had on hand. One,"Redington; The Man Behind the Last Great Race" tells the story of Joe Redington SR, who was instrumental in the early days of the Iditarod. He ran the Iditarod for the last time at 80 years old!!!!! In this video, which features many famous and big time mushers, the story of his ascent of Mt McKinley (Denali) with dog sled, is also covered. It was a feat that had not been achieved before, and he and Susan Butcher, with the aide of another mountaineer, made it to the summit with two dog teams. When they reached the top, it was revealed that they had not formulated a plan for the descent! Going downhill with speeding dog teams is very challenging and risky.Their helper was irate! He yelled at them about hunting dogs he knew, that were under the compete control of their owners. Redington said, "Hunting dogs are taught to stop, Iditarod dogs are taught to GO!" Susan Butcher even admitted; "We can't control these dogs!" I guess I don't feel so bad now. Hey, if Susan Butcher (rest her soul) couldn't even control her dogs, I'd be crazy to think I can. Below - The Damage Done...ouch.

New Video

2008-04-08T22:07:00.000-07:00

2 minute Blues Cruise in amongst the big trees. Warning: Tedious blues wav file! Go with me here; the end will be worth it. Thanks for watching!

youtube

AAS Wrap-up and Weak Excuses

2008-04-07T19:08:00.000-07:00

The AAS is long done, and my girls finally made it in. Controversy over Lance's collision with a snow machine seems to be over for the most part. The idiot who ran him down and almost killed Zorro has agreed to cover expenses. Looks like Zorro is going to be OK. Here is more media coverage of the aftermath. Jeff King's Blog has a nice recap of the race, from his perspective. Great starting photos by Jan HERE.Mitch Seavey and his lead dog, Payton. Photo ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli

Are you seeing blank spots in my blog and references to photos that do not exist? Jeff Shultz can be credited with the crushing blow of removing all his great art from my 10 hit/day blogspot (5 of which are probably mine!) for want of excessive use fees....I made the mistake of asking permission..whatever.

I discovered flickr creative commons , open photo and Picasso Web; all free-share pics for FREE public use. In fact, I was able to edit all my BLOGSHOTS in one place on Picasso web. It made zapping the forbidden pics quite EZ with no need to open and edit each individual post. Of course it left boxes where once were photos, and the posts themselves are still littered with links and praise for Mr. Shultz. So be it. Onward.

AAS - Zorro Update -

2008-03-31T16:47:00.000-07:00

From the AAS Website: Update on injured dog, "Zorro" photo above ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli.
Nome, Alaska - 3/31/2008 11am
Just a few minutes ago we got a report on Zorro's condition. He has been examined by a veterinary neurologist in Seattle and completed an MRI to fully evaluate his spine. The results suggest that despite significant trauma to Zorro's chest and spine, he is expected to achieve a full recovery over time without surgical intervention.

Here is a news article that reports Zorro was able to stand somewhat, and the clown who ran into them has finally come forward. Alleluia. Below, check out Aaron Burmeister and Ramy Brooks at the finish in Nome, both with pups resting in the sled bag. Cute.
These two photos are from NorthernLightMediaBlog ©2008 by Jan DeNapoli. Zorro, on the top, is from Lance's Website.

Lance Mackey Hit by Snowmachine - Zorro seriously Injured

2008-03-29T20:59:00.000-07:00

ADDENDUM II: This awesome professional photo is copyright, Theresa Daily.
Snowmachine injures dog in Mackey's Sweepstakes team - click and read
Note: In Alaska they call Snow Mobiles Snowmachines.

From the article: He was in third place in the Sweepstakes at around midnight Friday just 20 miles from the finish line when two snowmachines came up fast from behind.

"I was flashing them like mad with my headlamp," he said. "I was shining my headlamp right in his face, but they kept on coming at me. I jumped aside, and by 30 feet further up the trail, there was a snowmachine sitting on the middle of my sled."

The machine impaled the sled bag with its runners.

"Three or four dogs were sucked underneath and Zorro was trapped in the sled bag," Mackey said......

Mackey made a plea for race officials to keep snowmachines away from the trail at the end of the race, a growing safety issue.

"Running from Safety to Front Street is almost suicidal," Mackey said. "I almost got hit on the way into Nome during Iditarod and then was almost hit half an hour later."

Safety Roadhouse, about 22 miles east of Nome, operates as a bar during the race and attracts spectators on snowmachines. Mackey said he wanted to focus attention on trail safety.

The 9-year-old injured dog has been a star in the teams that won Alaska's two major long-distance races the last two years. Last year, Zorro became ill at White Mountain near the end of the Iditarod and did not get to finish the race.

Zorro is the kennel's stud dog. If he dies, Mackey said, his future in sled dog racing is uncertain.

"My team's future, my personal future, my career, my whole life is in question," he told Nome Police Department officer Byron Redburn, who took a report in cooperation with Alaska State Troopers, who have jurisdiction. Photos from Lance's Website. ADDENDUM II: First image is by Theresa Daily - and this very touching and adorable shot was taken by, Helen Hegener. Thanks to the folks at Comeback and Dew Claw Kennels for their use.

Lance and Zorro

My husband says conspiracy. I say drunken idiocy. Either way, what a bummer.

ADDENDUM I:Update from Mackey's Website: ...Many of you are aware that Lance Mackey's dog "Zorro" was injured during the 2008 All Alaska Sweepstakes when a snow machine collided with his team. Zorro was in the sled bag when the machine struck his sled. Zorro sustained 3 broken ribs, some internal bleeding, and spinal injuries.... Complete update on his website, there is also an active link to donate towards Zorro's medical costs; which are over $3700 at this point! They are hoping it is just spinal swelling that is causing the issues with his legs...

ADDENDUM II: From Jodi Bailey, Dew Claw Kennel, on behalf of Lance;

If people would like to
they can donate to the Zorro Fund at
http://www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com

All Alaska Sweepstakes - Seavey Shatters Record

2008-03-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

March 28, 2008, Nome, Alaska - photos generously shared by Jan DeNapoli

Unofficially, at 11:29:45 pm, Mitch Seavey of Sterling, Alaska, finished the 2008 Centennial running of the All Alaska Sweepstakes Race in 61 hours, 29 minutes and 45 seconds.
The race will be officially certified by the race judges according to the rules 24 hours after
3 teams have finished the course....ADDENDUM: The check for $100,000 was issued immediately after the race, so evidently they have ditched this procedure...lots of confusion over the rules.

Mitch has shattered the previous record, 74 hours, 14 minutes, and 37 seconds, held since 1910 by John “Iron Man” Johnson. This race has not been run since 1983. This year is the 100 year anniversary run, of the what has come to be known as the inaugural race to the sport of long distance dog racing. Prior to the 1910 running of this race, dogs and dog sledding were viewed solely as utilitarian tools to survival in the back wilds of Alaska. They were not considered useful in long distance, speed runs. This race initiated the birth of the sport of Dog Mushing as we know it today.Notice in the 1st image of Seavey completing the race above, there are NO plastic fences to guard the "chute" and spectators themselves form the chute through which the runners pass. It is an organic event, with lots of local flair, and is truly in a class of its own. One interesting element to this race is that drivers are not allowed to drop any dogs. All dogs are signed over to the Nome Kennel Club prior to the race, and the Official Vet determines if they are sound enough to run. If a dog gets pooped out, or injured, the musher must haul him in the sled bag. Here is a VIDEO of the finish, from Josh's Blog, and an Anchorage News sports article.Jeff King (above) arrived second, and Lance Mackey (below) showed up third. These awesome shots of the AAS are by Jan DeNapoli. She has kindly given me permission to use them. Thank you Jan! Temps at the close of the race were hovering around zero; notice the abundant ice crystals that have formed on the dogs faces. The Queen contest determines the payout for the non-1st place winning finishers; Purse details are HERE.
An interesting story within this story is the Tuluksak School dog driving team. Tuluksak School is the only school in the United States with a dog mushing team. Their teacher, Fred Mo Napoko, pictured below, is representing them in the All Alaska Sweepstakes. As mentioned earlier, the students act as his handlers and support team. Photo by Jan DeNapoli, my new lens peeping hero...."The Dog Mushing Club consists of students from ages 10 to 19. The school’s special education instructor and cheerleading coach, Brita Steinberger, wrote in a letter last month, "Tuluksak is a village on the Southwest Alaskan tundra with a population of 428. The school is 99.3% Alaskan Native (Yupi’k Eskimo). The native population maintains a subsistence lifestyle, primarily living from hunting and gathering, as they have for thousands of years. The village does not have plumbing or running water. Despite this inconvenience, Tuluksak has a strong sense of community and really comes together behind the dog team." This story came from HERE.On a side note, I am reading yet another mushing book; Sled Dog Trails, by Mary Shields. In the wee hours of the morning, vicariously completing yet another Iditarod from the comfort of my bed, I was stunned to learn of a rookie musher in 1974, who shares my name! Joel Kottke, raced in the Iditarod just once, but he became well known in Alaska for his development of a wolf line of racing dogs. He was also honored by the Alaska Legislature in 1998.

One Year after his death at age 84, Joel Wesley Kottke has been honored with a memorial legislative citation.

"The twentieth Alaksa State Legislature honors the life an accomplishments of Joel Kottke, whose love of sled dogs and contributions to the mushing community helped preserve a unique element of our state´s culture for modern Alaskans and for the world." the citation reads. Kottke came to Alaska in 1951. He and his wife Martha homesteaded in Anchorage and he became a "fixture at the early Fur Rendezvous races, checking out all the dogs and interviewing racers before the start," according to the citation. Kottke was race marshal in 1967 for the Iditarod Trail-Leonhard Seppala Memorial Race, the first modern dog race along the Iditarod Trail. Kottke ran the race in 1974 with a wolf-dog team. In 1977 he was again the Iditarods race marshal. Kottke died Oct. 1, 1997, and was honored posthumously by the Iditarod Trail Committee by being named Honorary musher for the 1998 iditarod.

Sadly, the most frequent reference to him on the net, is about the unsuccessful, long and costly legal battle over his estate, that was waged by his step children and siblings after his death. It was taken all the way to the supreme court of AK! Here's to Joel Kottke, may he rest in peace.

All Alaska Sweepstakes - Pass You on the Trail

2008-03-28T13:18:00.000-07:00

The weather and conditions on the trail have been good, and the teams are making very good time in this year's All Alaska Sweepstakes. Jeff King is currently in the lead and was the first into Timber. As of the previous checkpoint Mitch Seavey was holding 2nd, with Lance Mackey about an hour and a half behind Jeff. Below, is Larry. He is Lance's lead pup and Iditarod Champ '08 - who has been left behind on this race, due to a nagging shoulder injury. Poor Larry! There are just 6 more mushers that have yet to reach Candle, which is the turn around point in this 408 mile out and back race. It is rare to have teams pass each other in opposing directions; most races use a loop format. The incoming (returning) teams have the right-a-way. So, those bound for Candle must pull off the side of the trail (which is just 2 snow machines wide) and allow the oncoming team to go by...praying they do not entangle themselves with the other team in the process...A couple of mushers have scratched, and there are internal rumblings about some kind of match times controversy brewing within the event; complete with closed musher meetings; rule changes by verbal consent; and yet, the main race judge will have the final say on whether there will be any adjustments to times?? I don't understand it very well. I want to know more and I'm sure it'll be revealed before too long. Josh's blog is very current, and informative - and he has a couple very interesting podcasts.This race is not only for the highly celebrated famous dog drivers. There are some Nome Kennel Club members that are serious contenders. Plus, many racers have admitted to doing this race simply for the history (centennial event) and to explore the wilds of the Yukon. Racing this year for example, is a homeschooling mother of 8, Cari Miller. Pictured below-She only started dog running about 3 years ago. And a teacher, Fred Mo Napoko (who's link actually goes to his co-teacher, Mariah Yaylor Thomas-Wolfe who might have run in his stead...but gives a good background on the school's intent.) He is representing the local high school and their mushing club and his students are acting as his handlers and support team. Stories such as these put a very folksy and human element into my appreciation for this sport.More cool blog notes HERE.
Slide shows and most photos today are from the Sweepstakes Website.

ADDENDUM: Photo credit for banner pic and shots from the Sweepstakes page goes to Jan DeNapoli She is a kind and talented photographer, who is generously sharing her gifts with all of us. Thanks Jan! Northern Light Media images are by Mark and Helen Hegener.

Got Pups?? .....Notice in the photos below, all the teams were transported to Nome via sledges, and standard pick-up trucks! It was reported that not one traditional dog truck was enlisted in the transport of the dogs this year... maybe I can do this with an f-150...or even a plywood box, as evidenced by the pics!
SlideShow 1 of the staging area; by Laura Samuelson museum@ci.nomeak.us

SlideShow2 of the race start; by T.Daily sleddog@alaska.net

Check out the burls on that archway. Burly!

Race finish for 1st place is projected at around 10 pm (Alaska time) tonight. Lance did claim he'd be back in Nome before breakfast on Saturday... not so sure he'll be the first to do it though. Keep Mushing!

All Alaska Sweepstakes - Day One

2008-03-26T21:43:00.000-07:00

100th ANNIVERSARY 408 MILES OF HISTORY - NOME TO CANDLE AND BACK 1908 -2008

A commemoration of Alaska's colorful past. A celebration of Alaska's official sport and Centennial re-run of the famous dog sled race between Nome and Candle.

The All Alaska Sweepstakes began this morning. It is a hectic, out and back run of about 400 miles, with a winner take all $100,000 purse. There is a description of the route in the book "The Cruelest Miles" from a very cool Sweepstakes BLOG:

“For the first fifty miles, the trail ran east along the blustery coast
and up Topkok Mountain, a steep, 600-foot incline rising up over the
sea. It turned inland and climbed steadily through willow and cottonwood
bush, then across creeks & rivers to Council, a mining settlement 80
miles from Nome. The route snaked through valleys, tiptoed along
ridgetops as narrow as a sled was wide, and sloped off in half-mile-long
drops. Then, about 120 miles into the race, the trail entered Death Valley.

“If the musher had survived this far, he climbed a glacier to cross over
the Continental Divide–the boundary line separating the Pacific and
Arctic Ocean watersheds. Thirty miles farther lay the turnaround mark,
the village of Candle, which was situated near Kotzebue Sound on the
north shore of the peninsula. An exhausted and sleep-deprived driver
would have to turn around and face the same terrible 204 miles all over
again. …

Winners of the 2nd All Alaska Sweepstakes 1909. J. Berger, owner; Scotty Allan, driver.

RaceRoute

There are 16 drivers entered this year. Lance Mackey and Jeff King, who came in 1st and 2nd respectively, in the Iditarod, are both racing. They have covered over 80 miles today. Lance, who was 15th out of the chute this morning was in the lead as of this evening, but by only a few minutes. There are just 2 women entered. Race standings are HERE It's interesting to note, the entrance fee for this race is between $1500 and $2000 (..depending on when you enter) AND 1 ounce of gold! I guess gold is still common currency in Alaska~!~

Another very cool sweepstakes Blog. Photos shared tonight are from the blogs featured and the ASS website.

New Video + Iditarod Epilogue

2008-03-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

Old News:
March 18, 2008 at 9:15 am

2008 Iditarod Ends With 78 Official Finishers

The 2008 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race officially ended at 8:36 on March 18th, 2008, when Auke Bay Alaska musher Deborah Bicknell (Bib #21) ended her journey under the Burled Arch in Nome Alaska with a breathtaking sunset at her back. The 62 year old musher made the trek from Willow to Nome in 15 days, 5 hours, 36 minutes and 12 seconds.

Bicknell was greeted by a large crowd of well wishers at the finish line including Loren Prosser Wells Fargo Bering Sea Community Bank President who awarded her with the highly coveted Wells Fargo Red All Lantern. Bicknell then ended the 2008 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race by blowing out the Widow’s Lamp, signifying that all mushers and their teams were safely off the Iditarod Trail.

Article from Iditarod Website under News

In all 18 mushers scratched this year, the last, just one check point out from the finish. Lance Mackey, this years winner, did the 1100 miles in 9 days 11 hoursThere is an interesting story on the youngest musher, Melissa Owens (who is just 5 days older than the youngest ever to run the Iditarod) at 18 years old she is a real tough woman, and has proved she is not a quitter. She placed 30th in the field of over 90 - the last paying position- and the realization of a dream for her. The prize money that is awarded to the top 30 finishers is pretty huge. Check out the purse details HERE.There was a pretty big raffle going on as well; Nancy Jenson of Petaluma, CA won the 2008 Dodge Ram Laramie “HEMI” 4×4 Quad Cab Pickup with Leather Package, 20″ Alloy Wheels & Tow Package from, Anchorage Chrysler Dodge . Way to take it for California. Go Nancy!I am sad to report that a total of 3 dogs died during the race; and one, Aries, was severely injured in a snow machine accident that also took the life of another dog. RIP : Zaster, Cargo and Lorne. Pictured below, Lorne and Aries before the crash. Aries, who is from the same kennels as Lorne, is now adapting to life with a paralyzed leg. Those two teams from Team JedEye; husband and wife; Blake and Jen (pictured below in a moment of connection) went on to finish the race, and earned the Siberian Record by recording the fastest time ever for an entire team of Siberian Huskies. Jen also earned the most inspirational musher. Inspirational indeed.Lots more news stories HERE
Team JedEye photos from their website , all the rest are from my good friend, JeffShultz.Our new youtube video 3.5 minutes...bring the popcorn!

Double-Double for Lance Mackey!

2008-03-12T09:06:00.000-07:00

Lance Mackey with lead dogs Larry(L), and Handsome.

Yukon Quest winner in 2007 and 2008, and Iditarod Champion in 2007 does it again, and claims the Iditarod 36 victory for his own!! He is the first, and second man, to win them both in the same year. For his Iditarod victory he received $69,000, and a brand new truck (the rig he won last year went to his wife, so maybe this year he can keep it for himself!) There is a super article HERE by Jon Little. An excerpt :

..."The old Mackey magic was back. They trotted smoothly up to Elim. There, he set a trap for King. Mackey had his cooker going and was feeding his dogs when King pulled in, just three minutes behind him. King, who’d been exhausted since Kaltag, fed his team and lay down for a quick nap. Mackey sprung up when he heard the first snore and snuck out. King jolted awake 30 minutes later, figured out Mackey was gone, and got his own team up and out of the checkpoint. But he’d lost an hour on his rival by then.

On the ice out of Elim, hoping his ruse worked, Mackey wondered. “If this actually works, it would be one of the coolest things I’ve done in the race,” he said. “I don’t know how else to out-run him.”

It worked, changing the momentum for good. (By the way, the word “ruse” is based on an old French word that means “the dodging movements of a hunted animal.” That perfectly describes Mackey at that point in the race.)...."

Handsome moves in for a smooch...Jeff King came in 2nd by about an hour. ...that same fateful hour that Lance gained in Elim. He said in an interview that Lance was "hungrier" (for the victory.)

Both drivers are set to run in the All Alaska Sweepstakes in a week and a half, which starts and ends in Nome. Before the Iditarod kicked off this year, Mackey said that his real focus was the 400-mile Sweepstakes and its winner-take-all $100,000 purse.

The contenders for the remaining top ten places should be rolling into Nome shortly. Check out Race standings HERE. Race images by the PhotoPro Jeff Shultz.

more later...

Homestretch Iditarod XXXVI

2008-03-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

Team JedEye...

Death on the Iditarod Update:
"Lorne", who was killed... and "Aries" who sustained injuries in a snow machine accident on the 9th were both from Blake and Jen Fretig's team; Jedeye Racing. Blake and Jen compete in many races together. I saw them interviewed before the race and there was so much love and affection between them. She pointed out that just being together on the trail, with their dogs, would be the best part of the race. sigh. They hail from Finland MN and are running Siberian Huskies, which tend to be slower than the Alaskan Huskies. The Siberians have sturdy pads, and rarely need booties. Thick fur protects them in the harshest of conditions, but can also make running in warmer temps, like they've had this year, a bit more difficult as they tend to overheat. Pics of Aries and Lorne are from their website.

Their version of the events is HERE w/excerpts below:

At 10 PM Sunday night, March 9th, Jen's team was struck by a snowmachine (snow-mobile) on the Yukon River between Galena and Nulato. 3 year old Lorne was killed and Aries was injured.
"... The accident was the worst nightmare imaginable. We are so lucky neither Blake or I was struck and more dogs were not injured. I thought we had just witnessed half my team killed at the time....At the time of the accident, we were both sure our race was over. However, on the long run to the checkpoint we realized we would be working through this tragedy whether we were on the trail or scratching. If we were not traveling together as we are, it would be harder to go on. But we have eachother for support and company. We just want to travel the rest of the trail with no thoughts of competition at all..."

There is some ruckus on the Iditarod Forum over all this. There are accusations about a cover up..and an equal amount of replies like "Hey! This is the Alaska interior, everything takes longer." A fair amount of bitching over the care in general, of all the 'dropped dogs' - complete with rumors of unreported deaths. WAH! Poor doggies. Below, Cim Smythe and his team. GO HERE for more great pics by Jeff Shultz.ON TO THE FINISH!
Lance and Jeff are both at White Mountain right now -mandatory 8 hour rest- then only 77 miles to Nome. Lance can leave 1 hour ahead of Jeff @ 5pm Alaska time (around 6pm PT.) It is a 9-10 hour dash to Nome, so the estimated finish is around 2- 3am Wednesday morning, Nome time. Live coverage starts 60-90 minutes before the finish. The Iditarod Website is calling the finish for 10pm tonight? Either way, some folks might be sleeping with their laptops near their pillows tonight! Below, Warren Palrey and his team. Race news HERE. And a super collection of Iditarod Links.

150 Miles to Nome

2008-03-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

Iditarod 36 is in its closing moments. With just about 150 miles for the front runners to go, it is time to tune in and check out this amazing and adventurous race across the wilds of Alaska. Below, local school children watch as Lance Mackey tends to his dogs.At this point, twelve Mushers have scratched; most citing concerns for the health of their dogs. One team was withdrawn when the driver lost a dog. (The dog was recovered -yea!)

Lance Mackey is leading (barely) with a team of 12. Jeff King rolled into Koyok just 10 minutes behind him with his team of 16, having gained and hour on him from the last checkpoint. They both have only 4 more checkpoints in the 150 miles that lie along the Norton sound, to the finish in Nome. They are both Iditarod Veteran Champions, and know a lot about the teams they are driving. They both have the knowledge to not only survive, but win this race. I've been betting on Lance, but now I'm worried about his team, or lack of....Below, Jeff King with his team.

Ice floes are a major concern over the next part of the trail, (don't want to drift out to sea!) as well as fatigue, and the natural consequences of such a state - human error- like getting lost, or misjudging the route. The trek is less dangerous in a race setting, thanks to the trail breakers. Things can still change rapidly so the drivers have to stay alert. If you check out the LIVE TRACKING you can see the whole route, and perhaps an exciting finish as well, both Lance and Jeff are equipped with the monitors. (Just 20 mushers are using them). There are strong contenders (Go DeeDee!) who will be battling it out for third, as the two front leaders have at least two hours between them and the rest of the pack. NEWS highlights below. Its a bummer that another dog has died. Super cool images, like some of what I've used today, are found HERE.

Another Death on the Iditarod
DATE: March 10, 2008

"At approximately 10 p.m. last evening, a snowmachiner (snow-mobiles are called snow machines in Akaska) ran into Jennifer Freking’s team on the Yukon River near Koyukuk. Unfortunately, the incident caused the death of a 3-year-old female named ‘Lorne.’ At this time I do not have further details. However, the Alaska State Troopers will be notified." This was posted by the official Iditarod vet. RIP: LORNEScratched Mushers - All withdrew over concern for the health of their team.

IDITAROD XXXVI MUSHER Art Church, (Bib #18) scratched at 6 am (March 10, 2008) in Ruby Checkpoint. The 51 year old musher from Willow Alaska had 12 dogs on his team when he scratched.

IDITAROD XXXVI MUSHER Darin Nelson, (Bib #81) scratched at 2:45 pm (March 09, 2008) in Galena Checkpoint. The 38 year old rookie musher from Kotzebue Alaska had 10 dogs on his team when he scratched.

IDITAROD XXXVI MUSHER Rodney Whaley, (Bib #78) made the decision to scratch at 5:08 pm (March 09, 2008) in Cripple Checkpoint. The 55 year old rookie musher from Franklin Tennessee had 13 dogs on his team when he made the decision to scratch.

This is a cool MUSHING GAME on PBS for kids or novices.

Thanks to Eric for the cool links on his blog SoHumParlance, which is our local virtual water cooler for all things current. It must really be a slow news week...heh.. heh. Hey Eric, how big is that pooch of yours?

Iditarod Day 9 - Leaders Play Tag & Sled Dog Zaster Dies

2008-03-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

KING ARRIVES IN UNALAKLEET FIRST

From PressPages:

NOME, ALASKA -March 09, 2008- Four time Iditarod Champion Jeff King is the first to arrive at the Gold Coast community of Unalakleet. King (Bib # 11) arrived in Unalakleet this afternoon at 2:02 (March 09, 2008) with 16 dogs. The distinction of being the first to make it to the Norton Sound netted King the Wells Fargo "Gold Coast" Award. This is the third year in a row that King has won the Award!

Wells Fargo representatives Loren Prosser (manager of the Nome Wells Fargo) and Carol Charles (Manager of the Unalakleet Wells Fargo), presented King with $2,500 in gold as well as the "Gold Coast" Award.

Unalakleet is strategically located on the coast of Norton Sound, just north of the Unalakleet River. There are only six more checkpoints remaining between Unalakleet and the burled arch of Nome.

NOTE: King may have been the first into Unalakleet but Lance was the first out by one hour. He dropped two dogs there and is down to 12, while Jeff is still running all 16 of his team. Dog pictured below is Eagle, who runs for Mitch Seavey. Jeff Shultz's images HERE.Death on the Iditarod:

March 8, 2008 - A 7-year-old male named ‘Zaster’ in the team of musher #87, John Stetson, died at 0120 this morning. Zaster was dropped at Ophir at 0200 on Friday and had been transported to Anchorage where he was being treated for signs of pneumonia.

A necropsy will be conducted by a board certified pathologist to make every attempt to determine the cause of death.

Addendum: The gross necropsy of "Zaster," a seven year old male from John Stetson's team, has been completed. Aspiration pneumonia was determined to be the likely cause of death. RIP: Zaster.2 more Mushers that have called it quits:

IDITAROD XXXVI MUSHER John Stetson, (Bib #87) made the decision to scratch this afternoon at 4:00 (March 08, 2008) in Cripple Checkpoint. The Duluth Minnesota rookie cited concern over sick dogs on his team, and the loss of a dearly loved team mate, Zaster, as his reasons for scratching. Stetson had 14 dogs on his team.

IDITAROD XXXVI MUSHER Ryan Redington, (Bib #51) made the decision to scratch at 6:00 pm (March 08, 2008) in Ruby Checkpoint. The Iditarod veteran from Wasilla Alaska said his team was not performing well, and he felt it was in their best interest to scratch in Ruby. Redington had ten dogs on his team when he made the decision to scratch.

Remember the Iditarod Invitational that started Feb 23, and is still in progress? This race features hikers, (believe it or not) skiers, and bikers, that race over the Iditarod trail to either McGrath (350 miles) or all the way to Nome! Here is one intrepid biker on his way to Nome, being passed by the sled dogs en-route to the same finish. I've blogged about it HERE . Latest news of this event is HERE. Leader Board is HERE

New Video + Brief Iditarod Update

2008-03-08T18:35:00.001-08:00

Lance Mackey is Flying on the Yukon River... His team is famously frisky and the race is moving along at a good clip in spite of the warmer temperatures. Jeff King is just a couple hours behind and he may battle it out with Lance for first place in the end. But the Iditarod is defined as a race of attrition, so it is still anyone's victory. Current Standings and Race News PLUS Jeff Shultz's Photo's.

NEW VIDEO!
Super fast run through the redwoods. The dogs are going about 15 MPH. Whee!

Dog Power!

Iditarod Day 7 - Jonrowe 1st @ the Halfway Point Lance 1st to the Yukon

2008-03-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

DeeDee Jonrowe at the Ceremonial start in Anchorage March 1st, 2008. She is carrying a rider as part of the opening festivities. Some folks pay to ride, and some children are granted rides on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Photos of Dee Dee from her Website

This Posted by Jon Little in Race Coverage

CRIPPLE - March 6, 2008, Checkers huddled around the inflatable palm trees set up as a joke at this remote tent camp on Wolf Kill Slough were expecting Paul Gebhardt as dawn broke this morning. Instead, they heard a woman’s voice chirping across the snow-covered swamp speckled with black spruce.

It was DeeDee Jonrowe, and nobody was more surprised than she to be the winner of the GCI Dorothy Page Halfway award, which comes with $3,000 in gold nuggets. A stunned Jonrowe reportedly was thrilled, saying today was her husband Mike’s birthday and she hadn’t gotten him a gift yet. The gold would do fine.

This from Iditarod Press page : At age 54 Jonrowe has been running the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race since 1980. (this is her 28th time!) She holds the fastest time ever recorded by a female musher, and has garnered thirteen top ten finishes. Her Iditarod record is HERE .

A Side Note: I recently read her story; Iditarod Dreams; A year in the Life of Alaskan Sled Dog Racer Dee Dee Jonrowe , co-written with Lew Freedman. In it, I learned that in addition to being an extreme musher she is also a Christian, and happy to Praise the Lord at every turn of the trail. A passage from her book reads: "The top priority in my life is to be the best I can be wherever the Lord wants me to do service. A lot of people think if you're going to influence people's lives, you have to live your religion by becoming a missionary in Africa, but I don't believe that's the case. I believe the Lord has a purpose for me as a Christian dog musher. There are not that many Christian dog mushers. In fact, if you think about it there are fewer Christian dog mushers than there are missionaries in Africa." She is pretty funny, and is a gutsy and inspiring, not to mention quite glamorous gal as well. (Gotta love her pink frilly-skirt mushing coat!)

And Back to Race Coverage

“This is probably the first time in the history of the Iditarod that the award was won by a person who didn’t even know they were in first,” said Bruce Lee, the Yukon Quest champion, former Iditarod musher and current Insider analyst following the race.

If Jonrowe was jubilated, her competitor, Paul Gebhardt, was crushed. “That was the worst run of my life,” he said. He’d been leading the race but ran into a series of problems. First, he had to pack a 60-pound male dog only a few miles beyond Ophir. Then wet snow started falling, soaking everything in Gebhardt’s sled. It was taking so long to reach Cripple that the tired musher thought he must have overshot the incoming trail, and he backtracked about a mile before running into Jonrowe. By the time Gebhardt arrived here, he’d been on the runners for 20 hours, starting in Takotna. He’d camped only three hours on the trail. The 17-hour slog in warm weather effectively takes him out of the hunt for a win, he said. “I really, really hurt my dog team doing that. They’re not quitting, but it took so much weight off them. I pretty much took myself out of contention.”

Gebhardt wasn’t the only one traveling slowly, or the only musher here feeling a little dispirited, questioning their judgement. It’s par for the course. The fastest times so far, posted by Martin Buser and Cim Smyth, were 11 hours from Ophir. Two years ago, Jeff King made the run from Ophir in about eight hours. Cim Smyth put it this way: “It’s like somebody stretched the ground in the two years in between.”

Martin Buser proved to be a practical joker, for anyone watching the satellite tracker and wondering why Buser was suddenly shooting around the terrain at unreal speeds. He took the two pound tracking device off his sled, handed to a pilot and asked him to fly around for awhile. Just for laughs. Buser was wearing a loud, red Hawaiian shirt and plaid green and blue pajama bottoms for comfort while taking his 24. Son Rohn looked remarkable, coming here just three hours behind his father.

MORE NEWS: Rohn, March 6, 2008 – Rookie musher Kim Franklin, from the United Kingdom, was withdrawn from the 2008 Iditarod earlier today.

Franklin reported that one of her dogs chewed through the gangline and two dogs left the team during Franklin’s nighttime run from Rainy Pass to Rohn. She was unable to locate them and went on to Rohn.

Under Iditarod rules, mushers must arrive in a checkpoint with the same number of dogs that they left the previous checkpoint with in order to continue in the race.

A withdrawal has the effect of involuntarily eliminating a musher and team from the race but does not imply any deliberate misconduct or violation. The two dogs were located back down the trail in Rainy Pass and were flown to Anchorage and released to their handler.

ALSO:IDITAROD XXXVI MUSHER Cliff Roberson, (Bib #56) made the decision to scratch at this morning, at 8:15 (March 05, 2008) at Rohn Checkpoint. The 60 year old Iditarod musher from Corvallis Oregon incurred minor injury to his eyes. Roberson had fifteen dogs on has team at the time he decided to scratch.

ALSO:IDITAROD XXXVI MUSHER Jessica Hendricks, (Bib #23) decided to scratch this morning, at 8:00 (March 05, 2008) in Nikolai Checkpoint. The 25 year old Iditarod musher from Two Rivers Alaska made the decision to scratch because of the effects the warm weather had on her team. Hendricks had 7 dogs on her team when she scratched.

AND: IDITAROD XXXVI MUSHER Jason Barron, (Bib #41) made the decision to scratch this morning, at 9:40 (March 06, 2008) in McGrath Alaska on the banks of the Kuskokwim River. The 36 year old Iditarod musher from Lincoln Montana stated that his dogs were sick. Barron had 14 dogs on his team when he decided to scratched.

Eighty-nine mushers and their teams remain on the trail and on the way to Nome.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - (March 07, 2008)
LANCE MACHEY - FIRST TO ARRIVE IN THE YUKON..in time for a 7 course breakfast and $5000~

IDITAROD XXXVI Musher Lance Mackey (Bib # 6) was the first to arrive in Ruby Alaska this morning at 7:32 with 14 dogs. Ruby is nestled on the Banks of the Mighty Yukon River. Mackey was greeted by well wishers and a seven course meal courtesy of the Millennium Hotel Anchorage, proud sponsor of "The Last Great Race to Nome."

As the recipient of the "First Musher to the Yukon Award", Mackey was treated to a seven course meal prepared by Millennium's Executive Chef, Keith Culhane. This year's menu included Chicken and wild mushroom terrine, Yukon potato Bisk with shrimp ravioli. The main courses included halibut flowers on a bed of peach chutney, and a fillet of beef stuffed with Alaskan king crab, along with brie en cruet. A desert of raspberry crepes, served with bitter sweet chocolate sauce rounded out the succulent feast. A carefully selected fine wine was served with each plate.

Mackey received a special "after dinner mint" of $5,000 crisp $1 bills presented by Millennium's Food and Beverage manager Brooke McGrath.

NEWS found Here Race pics are by Jeff Schultz. Readers please go HERE to enjoy more of his amazing shots from the trail.I drafted most of this late last night. And already it is old news....

It is very interesting to watch the lead positions change through the course of the race. Lance has been first, and he has been much farther back. DeeDee was first at the halfway point, and today she is running 17th. No one who has ever been first at the hafway point, has ever won the whole race , so now I'm rooting for DeeDee. Though the good money is probably on Lance Mackey; he has turbo powered pups!

The variables on the trail, and for each person individually, are huge. You really can't call it until it's done. Errors in judgement, equipment issues, injury, fatigue, crummy snow conditions, or illness for dogs or driver, can all take a strong leader and put him or her in the back of the pack. Riding that edge between knowing when to push your team, and knowing when they need rest, is a major factor to just completing this race. Winning it, I'm sure is a whole new mind game.

A tapped out team will just lay down and stop running. It is in the driver's best interest to keep them healthy, fueled up, rested, and in good spirits. So, even when grinding through warm soggy snow, or getting lost on the trail, the driver must maintain a calm and positive attitude or the dogs pick up on the frustration and funk, and it brings the whole team down, often with dire consequences.

This provides an insightful metaphor for life; Don't get yourself too worked up or bummed, because your team may fall apart!

Iditarod Update II

2008-03-04T19:35:00.000-08:00

Iditarod News can be found here and all these great images too...Above, Jim Lanier's all white team departs from Rainy Pass...Below, Mitch Seavey was the first into Rainy Pass. Lance Mackey is currently in first place and has covered over 250 miles since Sunday. He has dropped just one dog. Joe Garney and Tom Roig have both scratched due to health concerns for the dogs. Current Standings with musher links are HERE
This dog is called Shy Girl (sigh) she is running for Melissa Owens and her story is HERE . Below, is ZUMA, the Official Canine Reporter for the Race. He explains things very clearly in a super child friendly way.
THE WEATHER as of Monday:
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - (Monday, March 3, 2008) - It’s day two of the 36^th edition of “The Last Great Race On Earth” and Mother Nature is already getting into the race. Nikolai Alaska is the first checkpoint that is on the north side of the Alaska Range and warmer temperatures are in the forecast for at the next two days. Day time highs are expected to be in the low 30’s with night time lows dropping slightly into the lower 20’s. Snow is in the forecast as well.

McGrath temperatures are also expected to climb. Snow is also in the forecast. Unseasonably warmer temperatures look like the norm along the Kuskokwim River until temperatures begin to cool down on again on Thursday, March 6^th.

You can watch updated weather along the Iditarod Trail at the StormReady Weather Center.This cute pup is an Iditarod Veteran. He is running for Paul Gebhardt. His name is Bear and you can pet him anywhere, just don't rub his head! His story is HERE.

Jeff Schultz's images from the trail are amazing. The photo above really captures the activity at most checkpoints. Dogs are fed, bedded down and get a well deserved break...

Don't forget to check out the final standings on the Iditarod Invitational; that crazy human powered race over this very same trail that is still in progress. Though the racers that set out for McGrath have all arrived (Jill's story is intense, and she is a great writer and rider, too! ) there are still many bikers, skiers, and believe it or not, walkers on their way to Nome- the race for those hardy souls is barely half over! News HERE. Leader Board HERE.

Iditarod Update

2008-03-02T16:49:00.000-08:00

We had the privilege of watching the start of the 36th Iditarod live online . The feed is all glitchy now, too many armchair mushers I guess, and the server croaked.

The Very Cool Iditarod Tracking Page works beautifully though. Track Your Team Live, is also free. It is a satellite technology using gps transmitters . It features just 19 of the teams, and is experimental and somewhat controversial in nature. To watch the live video feed, (which isn't even working right now...) and view lots of other 'insider' videos, you have to sign on as an Iditarod Insider (just $20 - so worth it...?..)

The live feed we did get to see of the re-start out of Willow, was awesome. There were so many leaping, barking and generally excited dogs, some ugly, some beautiful, with all tails wagging for the most part. Some dogs needed no handler, some needed two! Watching the teams of 16 dogs, as the 8-10 handlers that are holding them back, with 4-6 strong men just holding the sled, finally give them the go ahead and they tear down the chute, is amazing! Many lead dogs are gunning it and looking straight down the trail, some dogs are listing sideways or taking it at a trot. Some of the team members are even looking backwards, or at the crowd, as if they've forgotten something or see someone they know! As a lot, there were some very bright dogs, and some not so smart ones, with strength and athleticism their common bond. The mushers all gave the teams a scratch and a rub here, and a check or repositioning there, before finally getting on the sled and taking off. There was obvious affection between them. They send the teams out every two minutes for more than 3 hours. There were 96 entered and already one team has scratched after only running the 11 mile ceremonial start yesterday. Gb Jones let the short ceremonial start, also serve as his finish. He is veteran musher, and illness has forced him to not only cancel his attempt this year, but he is retiring for good; "There is life after the Iditarod."

More Later. Photo is from the trackyourteamBlog

Countdown to Iditarod

2008-02-29T19:50:00.000-08:00

Is it time to brush up on your mushing terminology? Just review this list of commonly used mushing and sled dog race words. A well trained mushing dog must have good mastery of basic obedience in addition to any mushing specific commands introduced here.

Alaskan husky: a northern dog of mixed breed, usually used to denote those bred for racing.

Basket: the main body of a sled, where passengers or gear may be carried.

Booties: slippers for dogs, worn while working under certain conditions to prevent ice forming between their toes. Made of a wide range of fabrics, including fleece and Gore-tex.

Brushbow: the curved piece out in front of the main body of a sled, designed to stop brush from damaging the sled.

Dog Bag: a fabric bag carried on a race sled, used to put a sick or injured dog into in order to carry him to a place where he can be cared for.

Dog Box: a carrier for several dogs, most often seen as a wooden structure in the bed of a pickup truck. Styles vary widely, but usually built with individual sections that hold one or two dogs each.

Driving Bow: the handle that the musher holds on to - also called a Handlebow.

Easy!: the command for the dogs to slow down.

Gangline: the main line that the dogs and sled are attached to.

Gee: the command for the dogs to turn right.

Handler: a person who assists the musher.

Harness: a webbing of fabric that fits a dog snugly, to which the Tugline and Neckline are attached.

Haw: the command for the dogs to turn left.

Hike!: the command to get the dog team moving.

Husky: in common usage, any northern breed dog - properly, a Siberian Husky.

Iditarod: most famous for the name of a competitive sled dog race, but also has native meanings

Lead Dogs: the dog or dogs in the front of a team. These dogs are noted for their high level of intelligence and drive, and are often females. May be run as Single lead (1 dog) or Double lead (2 dogs).

Mush!: many people think this is the term used to get a team going - Hike! is most commonly used.

Musher: a person who drives a sled dog team - also called a Dog Driver.

Neckline: a short line (10-12 inches) attached to the Harness and Gangline, that keeps the dog in line.

On By!: the command to go by another team or other distraction.

Pedaling: pushing with one foot while keeping the other on the sled.

Point Dogs: used by some mushers to denote the two dogs right behind the Lead Dogs. Others call them Swing Dogs.

Rigging: all the gear used to attach dogs to a sled.

Runners: the narrow pieces of wood that a sled rides on. Usually have a replaceable plastic layer to reduce maintenance. The runners extend behind the Basket so the Musher can stand on them.

Safety Line: an extra line from the Gangline to the sled, in case the main fitting breaks.

Snow Hook: a large metal hook that can be driven into firm snow to anchor a team for a short period of time without tying them.

Snub Line: a rope attached to the back of the sled, which can be tied to a tree to hold the team when the snow is not firm enough to use a Snow Hook.

Stakeout: a main chain with separate short chains to attached several dogs to. May be strung between the front and back bumpers of a truck, or between two trees.

Stanchions: the upright pieces that attach the runners to a sled.

Swing Dogs: depending on which musher you're talking to, either the two dogs directly behind the Lead Dogs, or those between the Point Dogs and the Wheel Dogs.

Tack: harnesses.

Team Dogs: all dogs other than the Lead Dogs, Point Dogs, Swing Dogs and Wheel Dogs.

Toboggan: a sled with a flat bottom instead of runners. Used when deep, soft snow is expected instead of a good trail.

Tuglines: the main line that connects the dog's harness to the Gangline - the line that the dog tugs on.

Village Dogs: a derogatory term for poorly socialized dogs of unknown breeding.

Wheel Dogs: the two dogs right in front of the sled. These will normally be the heaviest dogs in the team.

Whoa: the command to get the dog team to stop. Mushing terminology/dictionary written by DogSled.Com

DogSled.com also has a great collection of links for all things Iditarod.The Iditarod starts tomorrow, Sat, Mar 1, 10:00 a.m. (Anchorage time) at Downtown Anchorage at the Corner of 4th Avenue & D Streets. With the real start (restart) set to occur Sun, Mar 2, 2:00 p.m. departing from Willow. A great overview of anticipated trail conditions is HERE. Considering the immense and ever changing landscape and shifts in the weather that one encounters during this intense race, it is anyone's guess what the conditions will be in the end. There are 96 entrants this year. HERE is a good run down on who to keep an eye on, in terms of placing and winning this incredible race. And the musher line up is very interesting as well, for they each have a story to tell. I am psyched to see how the race goes and am rooting of course, for all the dogs mostly. Racing images are from (ADDENDUM:have ALL been deleted. TO view visit :) Iditarod photo gallery page or (addendum) HERE for daily photos from the trail, like these beauties taken at the ceromonial start Mar 1. Notice Lance Mackey's dog, airborne in its excitement to go!Additional pics from Magali P on FLICKR (she has a pretty cool, and biligual blog) as well, with lots more dog related prose and photos.
Note RE: OBEDIENCE CLASSES: If you took my advice last week and adopted a new pup you are eligible for free obedience classes starting tomorrow, and every Saturday, from March 1, through April 12 - at 12:30 (puppy) and 1:45 (adult). These classes are at The Farm Store at 3956 Jacob's Avenue. Cost is $65, but the first three classes are FREE to anyone who has recently adopted a dog. Farm store # 707 443 7397. Classes are taught by Michelle Stone, and cover the basics,and beyond. It is so important to invest both good energy, and discipline into your dog. The years you share together will be enhanced by this groundwork. If you think you love your pup now, take him/her to obedience classes and you will love your obedient dog even more! And your obedient dog will trust and obey you for a lifetime. Sweet and happy days will be in the future for both of you. See you there, or on the Iditarod trail! Photo below from Here.

Iditarod Invitational

2008-02-25T12:57:00.001-08:00

The World's Longest Human Powered Winter Race

350 miles or 1100 miles

These folks have it going on, truly. This is not a dog powered activity, but it is a race inspired by the dog teams of Alaska. It is basically a mountain bike, ski or foot race of 350 or 1100 miles. The bike riders have super suped up bikes, and the walkers pull a sled with their gear behind them the whole way. This event, which started yesterday, goes on around the clock. Participants are allowed to prearrange for food drops only; all gear must be carried. The racers pack for daily caloric consumption of over 6000 calories, and will still drop body weight over the course of the race. A good sport for big eaters! THIS BLOG , written by a couple of self professed big eaters, goes into great detail about the intense caloric needs and the importance of fun food groups like chocolate. They intend to get 50% of their calories from fat. Photos above by Whit Richardson, those below are from blogs referenced, and the map is from race site. Here is another fun filled Arctic Athlete BLOG of one of the bikers...and JILL HOMER is racing too. I can't even comprehend attempting to hoof it. Pretty brave and strong souls. Note: This year they will take the northern dark colored route. The Map of the route:
Time limit to complete the 1100? 30 days. For the 350 you have just 10 days. To Find ongoing race results Check the LeaderBoard HERE or the latest news HERE. ADDENDUM: as of Thursday the 28th the first bike rider has arrived in McGrath at 4:20 am! ADDENDUM 2: Great coverage of the race and additional commentary featured on the NPR site HERE.

HOT DOGS!! Get 'em Now!

2008-02-22T15:50:00.000-08:00

HANK -Just one year old. Below, TATUM - 8 months old. Then ZACK, 1 year 9 months old.
To participate in Dog Powered Sports you need at least one dog. Our own local shelter in Mckinleyville is absolutely brimming right now with a super variety of potentially good running mates. Many are being held two to a kennel, and others that have been there the longest, are at risk of being put down. Please help these pups escape the black dog syndrome, (black dogs tend to languish in the shelters a long time, and as a result have much higher euthanasia rates than any other color of dog) find yourself a friend for life, and maybe a new hobby too! Dog mushing activities are known to give you a strong physique, mental clarity, a deep bond with nature, and Joie de Vivre! Dog shopping starts here. Remember, that although we can not save every dog that finds itself in the shelters of this world, we can change the life for the one(s) we do adopt. Please consider doing it today.
Check out Linus -he' s 2 1/2 years old. Good pup!

p.s.If you are visiting this blog from parts unknown (I'm amazed and happy to report that India, Canada, Finland, Britain, Saudi Arabia, many of the 50 US states, and other random countries have all passed through the suhummusher portal) don't hesitate to make a visit to your own local shelter or rescue group and find a lifelong friend. They will love you for it. Me too.

Whitehorse Finish Line 2:15 a.m. 2/20/08

2008-02-20T19:20:00.000-08:00

As the bobbing light of a headlamp came around the corner on First Avenue in Whitehorse approaching the Yukon Quest Finish Chute, the enthusiastic crowd of almost five hundred well wishers held their breath – was it Lance? Was it Ken?

Earlier this afternoon, Lance Mackey had left the last Checkpoint in Braeburn 19 minutes before rival Ken Anderson and reports along the trail to Whitehorse had placed the two mushers eight minutes apart at one stage.

Mackey glides over the Finish Line.

All evening the excitement was palpable as it was truly anybody’s race.

That bobbing light was Lance Mackey – who at 1:23 a.m. crossed the Finish line and made history with his fourth consecutive Yukon Quest victory.

“It feels better because it was so challenging, it feels nice,” said Mackey when asked about win number four. “I’m really impressed with my team, they were up for anything you threw at them.”

“Hats off to Ken too,” continued Mackey as he snacked his dogs. “He really kept me on my toes.”

Ken Anderson glided in to the Finish Chute a mere 15 minutes after Mackey, who was the first person to approach and congratulate Anderson.

“Great race,” said Lance.

“Yeah, you too,” replied Ken.

Mackey was the first to congratulate Anderson.

“Almost everything went how I planned,” said the soft-spoken Anderson. “This was probably the best race I’ve ever had.”

When asked if he’d do it again Anderson replied that he’d had fun and would like to run the Yukon Quest again.

Anderson takes questions from reporters.

Both mushers will now rest in Whitehorse through Saturday to attend the Yukon Quest Meet the Mushers event and the Finish and Awards Banquet. They will then make their way to attend the Iditarod veterinary check next Tuesday.

A tight race for third place in the Yukon Quest is still on in Braeburn. David Dalton and Michelle Phillips are set to leave the checkpoint following their mandatory eight-hour layover at 9:15 a.m. and 9:42 a.m. respectively.
****** ********* ********* ********** ********** *********

The above article is from the Yukon Quest website under current-news

For more information on individual standings, and final standings (it is not over yet) check out race-updates

On an interesting note, one musher, Donald Smidt, was withdrawn for "failing to provide dog care expected of a Yukon Quest participant." There is some commentary on his withdrawal HERE . He required approximately 22 hours to complete the 99-mile opening leg from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs. A leg that other racers completed in about 12. More discussion about it HERE. Oh, and if you think the whole thing is abusive and insane, you'll like this grrl. or SledWatchDog.

MY OWN MUSHING has come to a virtual standstill, as I have been sidelined with a chronic hip condition that has flared up something wicked for the last two weeks! I finally bit the bullet and went in for a chiropractic adjustment where I was told, the pain in my body is not due to a lack of Advil. heh heh.. Hopefully I'm on the mend, and can soon return to fast and fun times on the trail.

Three Links and One Quick Book Review

2008-02-17T18:20:00.000-08:00

arctic MOUNTAINBIKING goddess You must see it to believe it...I know, not dog powered, but pretty damn thrilling none the less. This girl and her pimped out ride are tough!YukonQuest which is considered the 1000 mile warm-up to the Iditerod, is underway now (started Feb 9) and is proving to be a fascinating race. Lance Mackey who won both the Yukon Quest AND the Iditarod last year, is currently in the lead. His story is very inspiring. Both his brothers have raced and won the Iditerod (victory for both on their 6th race). Last year Lance, after surviving cancer, won the Yukon Quest and with just a one week rest, took virtually the same team out, and ran and won the Iditarod. (his 6th run...cosmic)

The Iditarod starts March 1st. Be sure and browse their site. It features inspiring video clips, great educator links, and of course, amazing Alaska scenery. Photos above are from (deleted - to view visit:) the websites featured.

And now,
a Quick BOOK Review:Ski Spot Run: This is an well put together book on skijoring specifically and other dog powered sports generally.

For those of you who have never heard of skijoring, take note: (ski·jor·ing n. [modif. of Norw skikjøring, fr. ski + kjøring driving]: a winter sport in which a person wearing skis is drawn over snow by one or more dogs)

This book was written by Matt Haakenstad and John Thompson w/illustrations by Jack Lunde. It is an entertaining book with comical sections describing certain events on the trail, written from the point of view of the humans, and then the pups! Very insightful, and humorous! Here is a link to an essay by a young lad that also appears in the book, it is titled My First Skijoring Experience. In it, he captures the passion that rises in one that feels the call of nature, and the pull of canine power. One amusing question the authors pose to the reader early on, is "Was Murphy's law originally written with skijoring in mind?" They then illustrate their conviction that indeed it was, by coining various new Murphy's Laws, such as " The probability of falling or crashing, as well as the apparent severity (e.g.,spectator WOW factor) of stated fall or crash, is a function of the number of persons in the immediate vicinity. " The same zany logic is applied to many other areas of skijoring, and aspects of it, like improperly positioned harnesses for instance. The degree of screw-up, is of course, directly related to the dogs wriggling and fussing while you try to remedy it! This book is full of good information, plenty of great pictures and skillful illustrations, with clear descriptions of all the basic gear, commands and important safety tips. There is a thorough description of bikjoring with tips and photos as well. They cover scootering and skating behind your pooch too. I highly recommend this book to those interested in learning more about this fascinating world of dog powered sports. SkiSpotRun is available here ..Of course now I want my own skijor belt and a pair of x-country skis... for the 3 times a year it snows at my place...
:)
Beautiful pups...i love the two shots below they look like my doggies! All pictures are from SKIJORNOW!

From world Championships
Birgitte Naess, Norway

Photo by Jack Kuntz

Snow Video II Bikejoring into the Light

2008-02-08T19:59:00.000-08:00

youtube
It is weird to be posting this now. The weather has shifted and although we are still getting very wet and muddy on our runs, the snow has all melted. Enjoy!

S'No Business Like Snow Business!

2008-02-03T21:20:00.000-08:00

We've been having a blast in the snow and mud. After finding the perfect goretex accessories I am now good-to-go, in any kind of funkiness. Right now, especially in the park, even when it's not raining, the ground is so saturated I get absolutely covered in mud spray off the tires~!~

Having the right gear makes a wet outing too much fun!

youtube

SUCCESS!
What is up with the endless upload to YOUtube?? ...and I have satellite! ....hmmmmm... I wonder if there is a way for me to drag and drop them here?I tried blogger video upload and it seems even slower...?

C U later...

...i know... I still want to share the review of SkiSpotRun. Plus, I read another great mushing book; Travelers of the Cold -Sled Dogs of the Far North, which was amazing.

Bikejoring - Video III

2008-01-29T16:32:00.001-08:00

12 year old R.E. takes the team uphill and homeward bound. Notice how Pepper takes a good look at me, then decides to go on...Strong Pups. You might like this video, it has some funky effects created with video impression.

Video II

2008-01-29T14:14:00.000-08:00

My 9 year old demonstrates pure puppy power. Notice, she is not even peddling...and this is uphill! Stunts like this are NOT to be tried at home without prior training and experience. In addition this team had already run a good distance, before they were hooked up to the less experienced riders. By tiring them out some first, you minimize the threat to the rider's safety and increase the ease of control. It is still very dangerous, and riders (young or old) must be aware at all times, and understand how to control the dog(s) - or bail out!

Let's See If This Works - Video

2008-01-26T16:58:00.000-08:00

VIDEO: Sunset Run With the Pups.

Pepper is naughty sometimes and will try to grab Snoopy by the neck, in a display of dominance, as we run. This was one of those times. Notice at around 36 seconds, after already going after him once or twice, they get so revved on each other they jump off into the ditch to wrestle, or chase each other! ...i don't even know! As always, when we ride, I am gripping the bike for dear life with either a stupid smile plastered on my face, or the fear of death dominating my expression, as we confront the 3 second rule; You have just 3 seconds in most crash situations to avoid disaster. So stay focused. And have fun! P.S. Super Gratitude to Pernell, my computer guru. He taught me in three minutes, the fix to my locked up movies. A glitch I'd blundered an afternoon away trying to remedy. Yea! Thanks PT! Enjoy~

New Gear More Pics

2008-01-24T20:01:00.000-08:00

The Gear is Here...The pups are loving the new harnesses. Snoopy's is a bit small and I will be reordering his. I think he's either grown since we ordered it, or his scrunched up fear stance affected the reliability of my measurements! Pepper's fits great and hangs off her hips just right. I've got the primo set up now, with a bungee fortified tow line and my own two dog tow arrangement. Rather than the double dog line sold by the pros, which was much too long, I like to use a two dog leash unit with a spinning mid weight clip in between the caribeener and the two leash section, to keep the lines from twisting as they change sides many times throughout each ride. This, due to the fact we are not using a neck line. As a team we decided it wasn't worth it. The two leash portion is short, so it doesn't allow them to stray that much from each other anyway and they they are free to switch sides with virtually no tangles. I also really prefer having them closer than 8'. All the pro set-ups put the dogs out about 13'-15', which might be good for wide open trails, or skijoring. I attach the line to the bike t-post with a wide but small nylon collar through the end of the line and around the center of the t-post (my fave), or simply slip the line through itself, around the t-post, as pictured in the photos below. I've got some great videos to share, but am having some difficulty downloading them. Picture Project refuses to recognize them, so they are helplessly trapped in my camera. I read a great book, Ski Spot Run . I have a good review of it, and tons of fun and funny bikejor info to share. Stay tuned, and Keep Riding~!~
P.S.. I ditched the black background in this blog template, as the winter itself is too dark and gray. Besides, gold is my favorite color right now, easier on the eyes too, no?

Pismo and General Update

2008-01-06T10:59:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report Pismo Beach is Bikejor friendly. This shot comes from Grover Beach which is a beautiful 5 mile stretch of user-friendly beach. It is one of the few beaches in California that you can drive on, so it is very popular with ATV & dune buggy enthusiasts. I was there on a holiday weekend and the weekdays may be less busy but I made a point of showing up early, as this beach was swarming with motorized vehicles by 9 am. It is a wonderful wide expanse of perfectly flat beach. There were a couple inlets, that made for exciting water crossings mid-run. It was a total blast and both the dogs quickly got into the daily routine. They were very enthused about our run each morning, and we returned to our quarters, and the activities of the day, relaxed and happy. Pismo is a very dog friendly city. Some restaurants even allow them on their patios! We worked some on socialization, but Snoopy basically made being out with him a living hell. His alert was on alert. He insisted on remaining alert to, fussing and lunging at approaching dogs. We have since started a new session of obedience classes and my behaviorist suggested medicating him with a mild tranquilizer beforehand, which seems to be beneficial. Canine aggression is a serious problem. Aggressive dogs are not welcome on the race circuit and if we want to compete at all, he must overcome this fear. It is a fear based aggression, so our goal is to have him experience many different dogs, in different settings and have no negative experience in it. I am grateful to Dr. Michelle Stone who has been a valuable aide in helping me help Snoopy reach his potential. We still have a long way to go. He is just one year old. I am bummed that he is not a friendly, dog-loving pup. It is common for McNab's to have little tolerance for strange dogs, so we are possibly working against an inbred trait. I taught him not to chase the cat, so maybe we can work through his need to mess with other dogs. We will all be happier, believe me! Of course Pepper was perfect and only when he started acting up would she get involved. So, if I can rein him in, then the whole pack can relax.

Since arriving home we have been working on our couch potato lifestyles, luckily dogs adapt! heh-heh.. Seriously, after riding everyday on the road, we took about a week off for a big storm and post holiday comedown. Our real mushing gear arrived soon after our return, so we could not stay off the trail for long. I got harnesses and lines from SkijorNow, and Nooksack Racing. I also got a weird bikejor adapter unit. We are testing them all. Full report with pics soon to come... I must admit we gave up on the neckline after just a couple tries. They are much happier not being restricted to one position, and are quite intuitive when it comes to disentangling themselves with the simple line-to-halter configuration. With the neck line, it was like biking with a plate full of spaghetti! ...and where did they pick up the habit of turning around every time we stop? That little habit results in an instant tangle with a neck line attached. I like the unison energy it requires when they are in their groove, but it was way too many tangled lines the rest of the time. So I'm letting them go pretty much as they please. It is interesting how they run hip to hip anyway, even without the neckline.

My bike is super torqued. We did a couple hairy rides in the park and there was tons of brush, branches, and entire trees littering the trails. At one point they zigged, (haw) when we needed to zag, (gee) so I had to dump the bike in an effort to save my life as we wildly careened over some forest windfalls. It completely bent my brake lever, and made a special adjustment to my rear derailleur. I broke my chain the next day, and today I heard a weird squeaky-creaky noise in my headset. Drive it til it drops i guess...

Ideally for bikejoring one would want a bike with front and rear shocks, plenty of gears, heavy duty rims and disk brakes. To me it seems a little silly to spend very much $ on a bikejor rig, when you might be dropping the thing down going about 15 miles an hour and watch it get dragged like 10 feet through the gravel, while the dogs figure out what is going on...just break it!

I have some great bikejor info to share. Stay tuned, click any link to the left in the mean time, to learn more, and keep running those pups!

Dogs Across America - Report

2007-12-16T14:16:00.001-08:00

We completed over 11 miles this weekend as our contribution to Dogs Across America. The dogs are both in prime shape right now. They easily completed the double loop and in record time too. We clocked one 3 mile stretch at just 13 minutes! The rain started just as we completed our 5.5 mile outing today. I bent the rear rim bouncing down the single track with my over amped dual puppy charged mountain bike. I also had an embarrassing encounter with a couple small pups and their bewildered owner. WHAT? Never seen a crazed team of dogs, dragging an obviously equally crazed passenger (you'd have to be!) on a mountain bike, all carreening across the meadow to sniff and otherwise pester your pups? We must work on leave it, go-by, and a better easy would help a lot as well! Snoopy is just a naughty little block head sometimes. Pepper, of course, did her best to cooperate. But, he literally dragged her, me, and the bike. Like I said, embarrassing. My trust (assumption) that they would merrily go-by when they had already alerted onto the little dogs, was a serious mistake. I'm thinking disc brakes might help give me more control as well. Luckily, the dog walker was very calm, and she wasn't frightened or upset that our dogs all created a intricate spaghetti knot about her leg. Oh, and did I mention mountain bikes flying through the air?? ...nutty sport. These guys are still beginners, as am I. I hope we all survive long enough to at least semi-master this work/play.

Dogs across America in the news.

3rd Annual Dogs Across America Dec 15-16

2007-12-14T09:39:00.000-08:00

Press Release: What is Dogs Across America?

Dogs Across America is a dog mileage event to demonstrate the pulling and traveling ability of ordinary (and extra-ordinary) dogs. It is an annual event that takes place in the cooler days of autumn before dog sled race season begins. Anybody who owns a dog can join and add their miles to their State's total. We strive to total at least 3,000 miles in a single weekend. With that number of miles, dogs will have crossed America in one weekend - state by state and province by province.

In each participating State and Province, teams of dogs and humans travel the chosen trail(s) in the State. They can travel with the dog pulling them on a vehicle or they can walk with their dog. Some State coordinators divide trails into sections so that the event is like a relay. Other State coordinators choose trails where groups can travel together. Individuals who can't drive to the group trail can travel their own trail and report their miles to the coordinator. The total miles traveled in the State by the dog teams gets counted toward the nation wide goal of 3,000 miles.

In 2005, our first year, the total miles was 205. In 206, it was 821.
821 should be easy to beat in 2007.

The dog teams vary in size and pull a variety of vehicles. Some dogs pull a scooter; others pull 4 wheel rigs (usually 4 to 6 dogs). Other participants may use sulkies, bikes, rollerblades or wheelchairs. Some will run or walk the trail on foot. Some of these walking dogs will be drafting - pulling a cart.

Some states, due to lack of a suitable trail or if the participants are too spread out, run local trails and add all the participants' mileage together. State organizer collects mileage, number of human participants, name of trail(s) and sends it to web master Mike Behnke for compiling and posting on this web site.

Interested in joining in on the fun?

We would love to have you and your dogs join us, but in the interest of being organized, we need to register everyone that would like to participate. We are now accepting registrations and you can sign up here or the signup link in the menu. You can also go to your state and clicking the signup link from that page.

note from Jj: One of SoHum's chosen trails is the Southern Humboldt Community Park. You may ride/run/walk any trail or road you desire, adding your totals to the rest in the state.

Photos

2007-12-11T19:49:00.000-08:00

We're off!

Yes, that really is a huge glob of ...SPIT flying out Snoopy's mouth! Mr SlobberFace.
Pretty fun times. Notice my gear is still amateur style. Pepper runs with a traditional harness designed for use with a leash, and Snoopy has a harness from BikerDog that came with another side unit for running your dog. If I recall correctly, it was actually designed to discourage pulling, because when the dog is to the side you want to avoid them jerking around. Heh heh. He is a real bullet, and I can say this harness has done little to discourage him from pulling.....Anyway, I hook the two dogs to my bike with a simple double leash that is extended all the way. This is affixed to the t-bar of my bike with a small collar with metal buckle. We have already worn one collar out. The dogs have new gear coming soon. They will be fitted with real harnesses and I will be testing a couple different line set-ups. As you can see though, one can have a great deal of fun and harness some amazing canine power with just the simplest gear.

Welcome Aboard Part 2

2007-12-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

I am so into this - thanks for checking it out. I was forced to start this blog for my reports and ramblings about my love of dogs and all the fun we are having bikejoring together, as my homesteadingblog was becoming a platform mainly for my latest crash, or Pepper and Snoopy's antics! So I gathered up all my killer mushing links and started with a fresh template. The NewBlogger stylee is worth the switch - it is SOOOO much easier than HTML.

If you look through some of the links you will find all the information and gear (even dogs !) that you will need to start a great new activity with your canine friends. This sport is set to sweep the nation - now is the time to be at the head of a new wave of fun! Running is a dog's reward, and running your dog will reward you too. For after a good run, escaping, barking and chewing things, all seem like work! Tired pups are good pups. It is a total blast! So, If you like dogs, nature, and speed, mixed with a bit of danger, daring and exhilaration, you must try dog powered sports! The bond that has been formed through our strenuous outings is like no bond I have ever had with a dog; and I have had a good number of dogs.

First and foremost, before you hitch Rover up to the BMX, is obedience training. Any dog owner interested in tapping into the amazing power contained in their pooch, must first have a good command of that dog. Basic obedience, such as focusing on you, sit, stay, stop, no, and leave it, are all essential for staying alive while hitched to your dog(s). Keeping in mind a good heel may not be a valuable skill in this circumstance - if they pull on the leash they'll probably be great at mushing!

An easy, citified way to run your pup, when obedience is not so solid yet, is the WalkyDog. It is not exactly mushing, but provides a great way to run your dog. It is ideal for dogs that are too small to pull, but are blessed with abundant energy (we love you tyke!) The one disadvantage if you want to eventually train them to pull, is that they must learn to run in front after the WalkyDog has conditioned them to run at the side. I still like being able to use it. It is ideal for urban situations, where you need to be in absolute control of your dog and not take up too much space!

We took a few pics at the park yesterday, I will post them soon. I must admit it has been difficult to document this process with very many photos, as the speed and danger elements seem to dominate! ;}

Welcome Aboard!!

2007-12-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

This is the maiden post for the SoHum Mushers! Friday night the 7th of December, SoHum Mushers was represented at the 2ND annual Garberville Parade of Lights by the sole member of this fine organization, Jojo and her two dog team comprised of Snoopy and Pepper. They completed the first loop from the Cal Trans lot into Garberville and back again. With just two near dog fights, and lots of distracting lights and sounds, it was a raging success with the dogs performing impressively. "It was a blast! We will be back again next year, hopefully with more dog teams, and happy dog drivers!" report by: Jojo Roxx : Team HumDog... sorry - no pics :(