Copper Basin Spreadsheet

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For folks who don't have lots of time to pour over the run/rest schedules of the Copper Basin 300, I've made a little cheat sheet. Basically, all the competitive mushers will run the race using just the mandatory amount of rest- 18 hours. The way to see who is winning is to compare run times while keeping in mind the amount of rest each team has used. Here's the latest: 

Yip Woo! Go Allen, Aliy, and Matt!

Copper Basin 300

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The Copper Basin 300 is underway in Glennallen, Alaska! Follow along at http://copperbasin300.wordpress.com

A photo from the Copper Basin website.

A photo from the Copper Basin website.

Ryno Kennel is not racing in the CB300- but lots of great teams are! Be sure to follow along Allen Moore, Aliy Zirkle, and Meghan Luke from SP Kennel as well as Amanda Gecas from Boundary Kennel and Matt Hall from Smokin Ace Kennel. 

Why is the CB one of my favorite races?  While I've only raced the CB300 once in 2012 (and it was cancelled after only 90 miles due to no trail), the Copper Basin proves to be one of the most challenging and exciting mid-distance races in Alaska. As shown by the adjacent picture, the trail crosses open water, wind blown peaks, and frequent overflow. Add to that frigid temperatures and we have a dog race folks! 

Winter Sky

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The other morning, I woke up in darkness. I fed the dogs and cleaned the yard by the light of my headlamp. I cooked fish, prepared my sled, and played with puppies in a quasi-dawn glow. By noon, a thick cloud cover kept the sun and its glorious light hidden. I'll admit, the dogs and I were feeling sluggish and sleepy with all the darkness. It just felt so.....well, dark. To re-energize everyone, I decided we needed to run. And what a run it was. 

That evening, we enjoyed a sunset like no other. The white snow and black spruce were contrasted with the vibrant blues, reds, and yellows of an electric sunset only possible in winter. The clouds curled and stretched, texturing the entire sky. It was as if Winter had heard my morning thoughts and said, "you know nothing, Ryne Olson."

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Growing

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It's hard to believe how quickly the puppies are growing. Little CJ has changed from the polar bear cub to a real dog....well almost. As they grow, each puppy is developing his or her own personality. 

CJ is Ms. Independent. On walks, she explores tree wells and offshoot trails and ignores her smaller sister, Belle who pesters her nonstop. 

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Belle is a heathen. She's smaller than all her litter mates but by far the most spunky and destructive. She's not afraid of anything and will tear the house apart if left unsupervised (and sometimes when supervised).

Fenton is SUPER friendly....especially if you have food. When loose, his sprints over to the 'big dogs' and checks their bowls to make sure they're clean. 

Lefty loves the couch. When inside, he'll jump up on the couch and stay the entire time he's indoors. He's the most shy of the litter but warms up if you have food. 

Here's a sneak peak at the Ducks--- bios and more pictures soon to come!