Denali Web Cam

Getting a bit homesick for Alaska here, so here is a link to the webcam at the Visitor Center with a view of Denali...http://www.nationalparksgallery.com/item/7323

This weekend is the memorial service for Susan in Fairbanks. If I didn't have a foot in need of surgery, I would be attending. We (dogs and I ) will be paying our respects on a walk-about together.

Time out for my Grandson, Taras!

We're having a wonderful visit with my son and his wife and almost two year old son. Taras loves "puppies" and this is a photo of him watching mine from afar, with a safe one to hug.

There is flooding in the Alaska MatSu valley, from heavy rains, closing the highway between Anchorage and Denali Park. http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/matsu/story/8096644p-7989104c.html

More brown bears near Anchorage

This is a link to another story on grizzlies coming into neighborhoods. Apparently stricter hunting rules and other factors are allowing them to come in closer.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/bears/story/8090057p-7981767c.html

Happy 10th Birthday, dear Skinny!

Today Skinny is 10 years old! We were so lucky to bring him back with us from Aliy Zirkle's kennel in 2001. That is also the year Liller joined us from Susan Butcher's kennel.

One of these photos if of Skinny in lead with Sulatna and Liller making the three dog team, just running for fun, shortly after both had arrived.

The other photo doesn't show Skinny but he was leading with Glory for my team in the Nicolet Sprint. Sulatna and Balto were in wheel. Skinny was primed and flying... we came to hard gee curve with a fence to show the way. The man at the fence looked at me very skeptically as if he were sure! I would not stay on the sled. We let out a great 'yahoo!' when I was still on.

Skinny has run lead for us for two Jackpine 30's and he's also the father of our great A and B puppies.

Thank you, Skinny!

Posting format

I'm trying to recover the original posting format as it seems to get lost in the bottom of the post.

Fairbanks News tribute to Susan and Granite; memorial service date

Fairbanks News-Miner'Through blizzards of doubt and fear,' Butcher never gave upBy Dermot ColePublished August 12, 2006Posted in Local, Dermot Cole column

LEADING: After winning the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race three times in a row, Susan Butcher finished second in 1989.UA President Mark Hamilton recalls watching news coverage of that event and how she responded when reporters asked about finishing second. "She answered the question humbly, but as journalists are prone to do, the reference to second place was repeated in the next question,"

Hamilton said."Susan firmly instructed the reporter not to ask again, saying, 'This is Granite's last race and I told him we won.'"

He was immediately won over by what she said about her great lead dog. Years later, when Hamilton met Butcher he began to tell a story about the finish-line quote that had moved him so deeply. She hadn't forgotten. She finished the sentence for him.

Hamilton, the poet, offers this tribute:

Lead dog, breaking trail through blizzards of doubt and fear,Running to help the team, as if chasing Joe Garnie 40 miles from Nome.You said years ago, before this latest race, "There is only one sad thing-giving up."We didn't give up, we the fearful ones, wanting guides for the darknessof that good night.Wanting trails broken for us, promises kept, nature controlled.We only see the Northern Lights; can't feel them in our soul as you do.

We didn't give up, not on you.You were hard as granite, tough as the arctic, gentle as a sled dog,Unflinching in the darkness.Susan, I swear to you . you won.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------SERVICE: The memorial service for Susan Butcher, who died of leukemia a week ago, will be Sept. 2 at 4 p.m. in the Davis Concert Hall at UAF. If you care to send condolences to the family, write: The Monson Family, Box 60249, Fairbanks, AK 99706.

Dogs in Healing Ministry

This is a link to an article written by my son for The Oregonian (Portland, OR) recently.
http://www.oregonlive.com/metrosouthwest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_southwest_news/1154570123180860.xml&coll=7#continue

Brown bears in Anchorage

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/wildlife/bears/story/8066937p-7958666c.html

Thanks, June Price, for the link on this story on brown bears in Anchorage, including Kincaid Park. The first time I went to Kincaid Park I had driven too far and was looking for a place to turn around, which happened to be Kincaid Park. I drove in the access road and right! next to my small rental car was a BIG moose. I couldn't resist taking photos of him through the window , too close for comfort.

Then, one time I went to Kincaid to walk. It was the year of the Fairbanks restart. The next day was when a person (runner or biker, not enough snow, I believe for skiing) was stomped by a moose on the trail I had just walked... his face was smashed in but he managed to crawl to his car and survived the attack. I heard about this enroute to Fairbanks.

VERY IMPORTANT THING I LEARNED: (and I reminded myself of this when I drove up to Chugach Park and was thinking about a solo hike... the sign read, Bear Area)...

When you are in Alaska, you should remind yourself frequently that is not Kansas (or Wisconsin) anymore... these wild critters are for real! and you might meet them as you walk around the corner of your motel (as I did one morning with a moose and my newly acquired dog). I can't tell you how many times I've stepped over moose droppings at the Millenium Hotel, the Iditarod HQ for the race.

Chicago Tribune article on Susan

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-0608100238aug10,1,1214982.column?ctrack=1&cset=true

Very well told. Still too hard to believe.

One more beautiful story of Susan

This is from Cabela's website, Jon Little's beautiful story.

http://www.cabelasiditarod.com/

I'm attaching two photos of Sulatna, a dog from Susan Butcher. Sulatna is out of Susan's Poppers and Emmitt Peters' Yukon. She is 13. To me she epitomizes a Butcher dog... she's very fast, very very smart, responsive, sweet , independent, loves! to run and never quits.

She has great feet, coat, endurance and temperament. She's a leader and a puppy trainer, but mostly these days my house companion, too.

When I received Lillen from Susan last year she sent me a followup email. In it she cautioned me to not overly feed her as she would keep the pounds on, but also she said, "As long as you follow her rules (Lillen's) she'll be very happy." It is true of Sulatna, Lillen, Liller and Scuba, all lead females who came to us from Susan.

Each of them was a stellar performer, and three still are. Scuba died a few years ago and Susan shared my grief. She had had her on several Iditarod teams and loved her spirit. She was a motivator, she told me. When other musher's dogs were laying back towards the end of the race, Scuba was up and cheering to go. Rick Swenson recalled her when I visited with him in Takotna one year. We still have four of Scuba's pups. Lillen and Scuba are out of the same grandfather, Lacanin, and Glory, one of the pups is very similar to Lillen.

Well, Susan is out there cheering and motivating all of us. We keep sharing many stories about her and I do hope someone puts them into book form.

Coyote visit

This morning about 6:30 AM this coyote paid a very unhurried visit. Skinny was tied outside but did not see the visitor. I went out on the deck and said " Go away, shoo!" and s/he went into the woods, only to come back out and follow the trail to the dog pens. Some of them saw him/her, but there was no meeting, thankfully. I have seen quite a few coyotes in the past year... the rabbit population is the highest I've ever seen and I know that is an indicator of a good year for seeing coyotes.
I did always think foxes and coyotes weren't too happy being in each other's areas, but we have both roaming around, often.

Another link on Susan

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/lifestyle/local_story_219095511?+page=3

Susan Butcher, Anchorage Daily News

This is the link to the Anchorage Daily News article by Craig Medred. It tells her story so well.
David's note on the website says that she didn't leave until they promised her she had made them strong. Chisana chose a star in the sky, at David's prompting, and said she thought that was Susan, but 'don't worry, she's not alone'.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/butcher/story/8045354p-7938337c.html

As some of us share stories back and forth, it is clear that no one expected to lose Susan Butcher, ever. I am, once again, so grateful to have been able to spend time with her. I am treasuring the emails in which she coached me on dog care and discussed various dogs with me. I am treasuring my memories of riding with her on an ATV in predawn hours on a frigid morning. I am especially treasuring these wonderful dogs entrusted to me.

Thank you, dear Susan.

IN MEMORIAM, SUSAN BUTCHER

Dear Susan Butcher lost her battle with leukemia yesterday , leaving her husband and two daughters, Tekla, 11, and Chisana, 6. We are very sad to hear this and so grateful for having known her. She first and foremost loved her family.

She was an inspiration to many people around the world, of all ages. Susan won four Iditarod races with her wonderful dogs. She climbed Mt. McKinley with a dog team .
Her many feats are legendary and she leaves a wonderful legacy of strength for her children and all of us. She was known for her wonderful dog care.

We received our first dog, Scuba, from Susan and over the years have been so lucky to know her and be mentored by her. Last year we visited her in September and she sent dear Lillen home with us. Four of Susan's dogs are still with us.

I personally treasure all of the times I have had with her and am very very sad this morning.

This photo was from the 2001 Iditarod... Susan, on the left and David, with Chisana on his back. She was taking an Iditarider at the Start that day.

More of summer

Chena's visit to her friend, our vet, found that she has an infection of undetermined origin, and she's on antibiotics. She perked right up after a few doses. Possibly the infection came from her diving swims or her visits to the apple tree after the other animals... not sure.

Sulatna is always happy on runs and this one was no exception. She has a beautiful stride/gait and loves to run in wide circles when she's happy.

Hot again, 80's today, into the 90's tomorrow... summer goes on and on!

Don't sit under the apple tree with any one else but me

When I pick up the cd's from the trailcam at Wal Mart, I'm excited to see if I've caught anything at all on camera, and there are always interesting photos.

This little fox is one of a few that are very bold around here now that Solo is gone, but this is the first photo on our trail cameras of a fox.

Chena and Sulatna spend a lot of time under this tree analyzing what scents are in the air.

Chena isn't feeling well... I hope it's just an ear infection from swimming too much but we'll find out tomorrow at the vet's office. She has multiple health problems at her advanced age. I'm always dreading losing her, and today is no different.

I can't imagine going to the apple tree without her. She wouldn't swim last night and she wouldn't pick up apples today, so something is bothering her.