video of Winterfest '09 - Chester, Ca

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

Chester Winterfest 2009 Report

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

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?

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

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

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

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.