Summer Place Kennel February Race

This morning we had our first two dog drivers in the kennel race for February.

Tanner Johnson ran first, a six dog team, with leaders, Navy and Ruthie; swing, Sherpa and Rosie; and wheel, Buffy and Herman.   The trail is a bit punchy today but there is snow, hooray!  Tanner had a great run.

Katie Richard ran second, a six dog team, with leaders, Navy and Ruthie;  swing, Yuki and Sherpa; and wheel, Buffy and Herman.  Katie had a great run.

The kennel rules call for two hours of work for each driver so Tanner and Katie chopped out gates, groomed trails, handled all of the gear/harnessing out and back in.   Flawless morning.

And it is SNOWING again, very big flakes.  Tanner dragged the trail after the runs hoping it would set up tonight.  Looks like we'll have to drag again.

Thanks to Katie and Tanner!  Dogs are happy tonight.  They thought we had forgotten how to run sleds.
Stay tuned, more runners.

Yukon Quest 1000 and 300

We're slow in updating because mostly we're dealing with weather.... frigid, then meltdowns, then trails, then no trails, more frigid, more meltdowns... chop, chop gates, haul straw.  Dogs are doing very well, including 16 year old Lillen who stays in nights and barks incessantly to get out in the morning.

So, the Yukon Quest is on and we're following Allen Moore (1000) and Aliy Zirkle (300) and Ryne Olson with SPK Dogs in the 300 too (yearlings in team).   At this juncture Allen is first into Pelly Crossing and looking oh so strong!  Aliy is vying at the front with Michelle Phillips and looking oh so strong.  And, of course, the dogs look, oh, so strong!

Stay tuned.  We are hoping to be running teams tomorrow.  This morning a bit chilly , minus 11 (probably lower windchills), but trails are looking nice.   It is a crazy, rollercoaster winter, but we still love winter.

Snowing

Chill

Windchills in the minus thirties and forties, temp at feeding time, minus ten... it feels like Alaska, but, it's not, it's Florence.  Interior Wisconsin in January, we haven't had a chill like this for awhile, but the dogs are tolerating it well and so is Julie, actually.   Dressing right, dogs and humans, helps.

Moved to the house for most of the day/night is Lillen, age 16 ;  Buddy age 14.5, Eos, age 13, Copper, age 10, and Navy (short coated) age 10.5.   They have been peaceful and well behaved, sleeping to music of the 50's on Sirius.

There are a few shenanigans, Eos chewing her line to go off to the biscuit box on the stairs (and eating what was left)... which is why she's on a leash (past experience).

The males are stiff legged walking around at times, but they do solve their conflicts, peaceably.

Cold again tonight and a bit tomorrow, then warming up to 11 above :)  I still love winter!

Not Safe, Trails; Ruthie's overnight adventure

Icy trails continue, hard and slippery, not safe for dogs, humans or ATVs.

Odd happening in Ruthie's pen overnight, will share photo later.  Her house faces East;  this morning it is turned about 90 degrees, facing South.  She must have had a critter under it . As small as she is, she turned the house by herself, it appears, trying to dig it out.

Husky tough Ruthie.

Tsunami, powerhouse and sweetest dog

Tsunami, son of Frita and Martin, age nine, sweetest dog ever and a powerhouse in wheel,
was invaded by cancer .  Such a still young and beautiful dog, he crossed the Rainbow Bridge yesterday.  We think of him running free and strong and pain free now.   True to the Alaskan Husky
his outer body showed no signs of the ravaging within him, but his behaviors gave us clues to his pain.   We love you, Tsunami, and regret losing you so soon.  Godspeed, dear, loving friend.

Snow Low

Waiting for good snow as we haven't even groomed the upper loop yet, nor out the gate.
We'll get it, but it's not timely for activities planned.  The kennel race is extended into February to
give us all a chance on good trails.   Not safe for beginners right now.

Think snow, please!