Back to Nome, All Alaska Sweepstakes

The All Alaska Sweepstakes has started in Nome, enroute to Candle and back to Nome.

There are 17 mushers and the start was under the Iditarod finishing arch. This is the link:

http://www.allalaskasweepstakes.org/

We are in meltdown here, although it freezes up at night and the gates are hard to open.

Lots of chopping and definitely Yaktrax weather. Unless we get significant snow, we will not be running sleds again, but one never knows in N.E. Wisconsin.

Photo: Dog lot in Nome , just downhill from the finishing arch.

Easter Sunday, 2008

It snowed a bit yesterday, but nothing much new stayed on the ground. We are still feeding the deer each morning with our dog friends. The young buck is starting to come in alone these days, but he was with all of the gals yesterday.

We had a great day with our ten month old granddaughter , Fina. Nothing like a baby to lift your spirits.

The temperature is zero right now, still needing straw for dogs. The hot sun has been working at meltdown in the pens though and it's treacherous walking . We're working on the drainage trenches at each gate. The trails have lost just a bit on a few curves in the sun, but the railroad grade trail has ice chunks/tough for dog feet even with booties. Unless we get a really great snow, we'll probably stop running now until trails dry out for the ATV.

Photo: Chena accompanies me to feed the deer.

Old Line Vigor in Pups

Ruby is six years old but she runs like a pup. Her mother was Liller (Iditarod 01) (Butcher ) and father Skinny (Jerry Louden's Quest leader).

The black dogs (siblings) zero in on each other, ignoring their brindle siblings, chasing each other. They are FAST.

Photo: Ruby, age six, was breaking trail on our morning free run to the back forty.

Old Line Vigor, 3

And this is Glory, age twelve. She raced in lead on a 4 dog sprint team with me. Her co leader was Skinny, what a pair! Sulatna and Balto were also on that spirited team. Glory still takes off like a two year old.

Old Line Vigor, 2

This is Martin running his morning route with me, while I hauled waste. Martin ran Iditarod with Aliy Zirkle and was on her championship Quest team in 2000. He's powerful and a real sweetheart. His pen pal, Ruby, ran with him, too. Martin's father was Flood, a great leader for Aliy. Martin runs in wheel mostly.

Old Line Vigor

It's a great day for free running and 17 dogs had their turns. This is Power, twelve years old.

His mother was Scuba, first dog in our kennel. Scuba ran Iditarod with Susan Butcher. Scuba's mother was Susan's leader, Elan.

Power is incredibly tough and fast; great feet, coat, speed, endurance, best eater/drinker. His sister was out running with him, too. Trails are way too punchy for sleds, but Glory and Power are both deep snow dogs, seeking it out. They were a tough three dog team with their brother, King, at one time... tough runners and tough to handle, very exuberant.

Photo: Power, age twelve. March 13, 2008

Herds

Our vet refers to the kennel management as herd management. Our dog group (herd) has been enjoying the sun and warm meltdown temps, but we have three inches of new snow this a.m. which will make it less slippery for their morning free runs. The temps have moderated a lot so hopefully no more twenty below cold spells for them this winter. Soon we'll be raking and hauling out the straw, the biggest task of the year.

We still have fifteen deer coming in twice a day for feedings. They have been fun to watch and we're glad to see the small yearlings wintering over so well. Once the fields are melted we stop the feedings. We have a natural shelter for them in our swamp/valley surrounded by hills.

Back to Earth

With Lance Mackey claiming victory again in the Iditarod, we have been glued to watching the race. Aliy is moving along in 21st position right now, heading into White Mountain.

Back here, we have been in a meltdown for two days, but looks like now we'll get another 3 inches (at minimum) of snow, so back to shoveling gates and cooking soup. Winter is not yet waning in Wisconsin (although there was some false thought of that yesterday at 45 degrees).

Chicken Soup Morning, Cold

My house thermometer says minus thirteen, so bet the dog pen thermometer will read at least minus twenty/twenty five. The good thing is that the sun is already shining. I'm off with hot chicken soup to the dogs. March 8th, Wisconsin, minus twenty. March 8th, Alaskan Iditarod Trail, plus thirty.

Quiet Days

We haven't been running with the icy condtions. A little snow yesterday helped somewhat, but the dogs and I are still slipping/sliding unexpectedly from time to time. We're watching the race on the computer and doing the regular work.

It'll be back down to at least minus ten tonight. They need these temps for Iditarod, we'll trade!

Temperatures

Temps are warm. Aliy is resting at Mile 165; some of the others that rested near her are moving on and looks like temps just as warm or warmer (38 degrees) ahead, and it's just daylight (if that).

Allen should be into Rohn soon . Sue Morgan left Finger Lake right behind Runyan and Scdoris.

Trent Herbst, with his yearlings, still has 16 and is in Finger Lake resting, it appears, making him last in the pack for now.

Photo: Rainy Pass Checkpoint in 05 or 06.

Back at the Ranch

It's very icy/hard in the dog pens and the entries into the pens. I didn't free run the dogs yesterday as they all get excited /leap around. Several dogs took falls just in plain exuberance yesterday, so we'll try to keep the lid on again today, although they get restless and like their usual day. I dislocated my left thumb on something, probably chopping ice, but it's wrapped and working. Paw safe salt is not to be found around here, so using Morton's salt, not working too well.

We're watching Iditarod with great interest and commenting from afar on our other blog.
The GPS info this year is very interesting. As someone said, 'like a race within a race', as the official stats show one thing and the GPS shows more current info on the mushers carrying the devices.

Happy Trails, March 1st.

While the Iditarod mushers took off in Anchorage, we ran three teams and took my granddaughter for a sled ride on the beautiful trails today.

All dogs were excited to go, Lillen was leaping in the line, retired or not, as was Skinny, who led the first team out. Frita had a great run with her children here today, as her daughters, Bullet and Mouse , took off with Aliy Z. and Allen M. in Anchorage.

Dogs run: Leaders, Buffy, Skinny, Ruthie, Medio, Frita. Team dogs, Lillen, Kiddo, Sherpa, Yepa. Wheel dogs, Quattro, Herman, Swix, Yuki. One snow bank literally swallowed Yuki... she fell off the groomed trail into deep snow, and the sled fell over her. A taste of Alaska for her, but she was fine, resilient. The driver flipped the sled so he could drag her out.

Late day it has warmed up too much, but trails are still intact, so we're off on our xc ski trek for the day.