The Winter that Wasn't

The winter that wasn't! It looks like winter, acts like winter, but we are slow at getting miles of exercise. It's about ten below zero this morning.

This training season began late with too warm weather for running dogs on the ATV. We finally started with ATV's and deer hunting began, so we had to stop. Then the snow did not come and did not come. It rained in deluges and the trails and pens became treacherously icy. No ATV, no sleds. Our first sleds came out on January 25th with the 30 mile race less than a month away.

For mushers training for sprint races (4,6, 10 miles), it is a bit easier( IF they can find a race!) For us training for a 30 mile race (mid-distance) , it is downright depressing (but the race area has snow). And to coordinate the schedules of humans who can actually run and train in the particular moment that pops up as "right", has also been difficult. They get involved in other things because of no snow. The dogs are hopeful, as always.

I just heard that the Tustumena 200 in Kenai area of AK had rain on the trails this weekend, turning some to ice.
Anchorage has so much snow they can hardly drive, good for Iditarod Start anyway.

There are mushers getting out of mushing; there are others moving North North! I'm looking to NEXT year :), but will take what we can have for this year.