What Kept Us Cozy Inside Our Houses...

Temperatures plummeted into the -40's last weekend and so time stood still as we all complained about the cold and made sure our block heater cords were readily available for plugging in. Vehicles complained about being started and sled dogs got extra food and bedding. No matter how cold it is the dogs still need fed and the yard needs cleaned so we get bundled up and the dog food gets made in the house with hot water so that by the time it's carried outside and poured into a frozen, metal bowl it is still luke warm, maybe. Lucy has gotten into a bad habit of spilling her water in the morning and to her surprise when you try to lick little meat chunks off your chain in -40....well.... your tongue gets stuck. Lesson Learned. Needless to say I am a much happier musher now that I have gotten to run the dogs again after a 9 day break and it's much nicer not having to look like this.....

when you are out in the dog yard for 10 minutes.

.....See You On The Trail.....

Introducing

We have added a new additon to the team this week. Cha Cha is the fourth girl in the Dancing Puppies litter that were born last July at my "other" dog yard. The kids and I walked these puppies from August to December and helped name them all. There were 7 puppies altogether the boys: Two Step, Tango and Hip Hop, the girls: Jitterbug, Jazz, Fox Trot and Cha Cha. If the girls names seem familiear that is because I own all of them. We are very excited to welcome Cha Cha to the group she is a happy and lovely girl. Like her sisters she is very easy going and well mannered...she was great to get booties on today and pulled like a mad woman the whole run. Mother is Mari who's pedigree goes back to mostly Buser/Wright lines, Dad is Simon who's pedigree goes back to Wanamaker/Swingley/Saunderson lines.

Cha Cha as a puppy last fall

Cha Cha at her old Dog Yard

On our run today....she looks happy =)

My team today..Looking good just need one new red harness from Cold Spot ..that's Cha Cha on the right third from the back right in front of Fox Trot who's wearing the orange harness
.....See You On The Trail.....

Bring Out The Cold Weather Gear

Yup, it's that time again. We have been blessed with a rather warm fall but the temeratures have dropped now and we are even looking at a low of -40 this coming weekend. The dogs are loving the cooler weather on our runs but being on the quad is a rather cold experience. Most mushers will attest to the fact that the quad is way colder to ride on than the sled because you are fairly stationary the whole run therefore cold weather gear takes on a new meaning at -20 on a 12 mile run which takes the team and I about 2 hours, not including the harnessing and booting. Here you are seeing me in my North 49 Parka bought at Costco last spring for $50 (regular price $180) what Northern Outfitters calls a "Severe Hood" this is a neck warmer hood combination with an extra detachable polar fleece piece in front....I am also wearing lined Helly Hansen Bib overalls, and -60 Sorel boots (that still don't keep my feet warm) and the hot ticket Northern Outfitters Artic Mittens..so warm...can't hardly move but I sure am warm.

Great Day for a run but look at the big hole in my team...it's time to make my gang line shorter or add more dogs...

Ohocco..right there that's the spot..now a little to the left..PERFECT

Run #33 was a quick 6 mile run to show off our skills to my friend Jill who came up form Calgary...I think Lucy made a BIG impression on her and we even let her mush home..hopefully she'll join us for a sled ride later in the year.

.....See You On The Trail.....

A Surprise Visit

The View Outside My Window This Morning

What a beautiful morning for a run with my friends...a gorgeous sunrise greeted me as I walked out to the dog yard to soup the dogs and a comfortable -15 Celsius with no wind, perfect weather for the dogs. Harnessed and all back feet bootied we headed out and as we approached the next range road, which we would usually cross to access our trails, I had this crazy idea to go visit my mom at work but to do this I have to first cross a 4 lane highway. Just before we got to the road I stopped the team and changed out my leaders. Jazz and Fox Trot were leading but I didn't want them taking us across the highway and so my faithful veterans Ochocco and Thunder made the switch and were quite happy to lead us across this new and unusual trail. We waited until the traffic cleared and I called out to the leaders and we were off and completely committed now. We crossed without incident and carried on down the road 1/2 mile to mom's office. Boy was she surprised to see us. She had me run the team around the field in front of her office so she could watch and we visited for a few minutes and then I was off again.

Surprise....visiting my mom at work..that's my mom and her boss on the deck

Once we were back on our regular trails I switched leaders back to Jazz and Fox Trot and we were having a very beautiful, quiet run. In fact I was getting sleepy and not really paying attention as we rolled along through a hay field when all of a sudden 2 very big Rottweilers were challenging the team..just perfect when you have two babies in lead....Thunder and Ochocco were trying their best from swing and team to get us back on the trail but the other half of our front end were saying "Bring It On". I got off and yelled at the Rottweilers to "Git Home" and they retreated and I pulled the team back onto the trail this brought their focus back to the task at hand and we were off down the trail once more. I was so warm and cozy in all my cold weather gear, winter boots, insulated Helly Hansen bib overalls, my parka, a toque underneath a "Severe Hood", this is a toque neck warmer combination from Northern Outfitters and I looooove it, polar fleece gloves inside my "BIG" Northern Outfitters mitts...so warm. The problem is with this much clothing is you don't move as well and you don't have much for peripheral vision. Basically if you want to look anywhere but straight ahead you have to turn your whole upper body...needless to say you get a little sleepy watching only your dogs butts for 11.5 miles. I had my MP3 player in my pocket but it was a job in itself to get everything out of the way to listen to it...so I went without. Soon enough we were back at our road crossing and I can see real well one way but not the other so I got off to check for traffic and to take a couple pictures of my Yearling leaders......

Jazz

As I am shuffling around trying to get a good shot of both leaders I caught my boot on a twig and being overloaded with clothes down I went, but while I was there I got this shot

Pretty sure they are laughing at me..Hmm.

After the run I had an "After Party" in the house with guests Ochocco and Thunder.

They are saying "More of that YUMMY side pork please"

After a little snack we layed down for a little relax time and watched an episode of "Toughest Race On Earth - Iditarod" As you can see Ochocco was quite enthralled and I wonder if she remembers being there that same year.

Ochocco decided the couch looked way more comfy but notice she is still watching the Iditarod. We actually watched her run under the burled arches with her former owner and when asked where she was she replied "In lead of course."

.....See You On The Trail.....

Odds and Ends

Here are a few pictures that were on my good camera that I forgot about..Enjoy =)

Even on free run day Ochocco is the leader

Me and my girl Jazz...these girls are just the sweetest.

Okay who called this meeting....is everyone here and accounted for ?!

The Sisters Three( Fox Trot, Jitterbug and Jazz)enjoying playing together like when they were puppies

Ole Prophet still giving his best.

Before he went missing.. Shadow enjoying a lazy Sautrday morning of cartoons with my daughters...we miss you my big funny dog =(

.....See You On The Trail.....

First Night Run

Yesterday I was tied up all day in town and it was supposed to running day for the team...so me in my wisdom decided it was time to go out of the box and run during the night with a full moon shining from above. First let me say that it was absolutely beautiful out there..it was like daylight I could see for miles and the dogs seemed really excited although my 3 little girls did quite a bit of barking at shadows for the first mile. That being said our temperatures have dropped significantly in the last couple days and it was a very cool -20 Celsius as we left the dog yard. As many of you that mush know the quad is a VERY COLD place to be at -20...whereas -20 on sled runners isn't as bad because you are standing and moving more. My daughter decided to brave the cold as well and kept me company we dressed warm; me in my parka and cold weather Northern Outfitters mitts and Aimee in all her outdoor gear. I grabbed my little headlight and we started to bootie dogs and harness..we were soon hooked up and off we went with all intentions of running our full 11 mile trail..well plans changed within the first mile..I was already struggling with cold fingers and I knew Aimee wouldn't make it for 2 full hours so we changed the game plan and decided on a fun trail and to play it by ear. Soon I heard "Mom I have to go" I thought oh boy this is going to be fun. I made her wait till we did our road crossing and then we stopped. She did her business while I added more layers to the both of us and then we were off again. We took all the little bush trails I loved this fall and it was neat running through the bush and then breaking out into an open field with the moonlight guiding our way. The dogs were just rearing to go, every time we stopped they were screamin' and bouncing on the gang line...just a lovely sight. We managed to run just over 7 miles only 4 miles short of the normal run and we sure enjoyed the warm house and hot chocolate after and the dogs sure enjoyed the warm soup for supper.

Aimee with the team ....Spooky Eyes...

I am excited to do it again but hopefully by the next full moon the quad will have been put away for the winter and I'll be on the sled.

......See You On The Trail......