Chatanika 100- Finish!
/Derek finished this morning around 6:30 am with a very happy, healthy dog team in 3rd place!...or last as he calls it. Like any dog race, there were some ups and downs, but overall Ryno Kennel calls it a success!
Start of the Chatanika 100
/Derek and team took off from Chatanika Lodge today around 12:50 this afternoon. He was the second to last team to leave the lot. When he reached the starting line, the timekeeper said, "You're the calmest musher yet." Sounds like Derek.
Here are some pictures from the morning, and I'll post a video soon. Next stop, Two Rivers Lodge 50 miles down the trail.
Two Rivers 100 Bib Draw
/Tomorrow Derek is heading out 2nd for the Two Rivers 100! His teammates comprise of Fire, Sally, Katy, Rucu, Kindi, Supai, Ham, Fez, and Niagra. Can't wait! He should be at the Two Rivers Lodge after the first 50-mile leg around 6-7 pm tomorrow, so swing on by!
Leader Training
/Unfortunately this year, I was not able to go down to Anchorage for the Iditarod start. I felt like one of the dogs left in the yard, howling and crying, when everyone else heads out on an adventure. After watching all the Iditarod Insider videos, reading all the articles, and cheering on our favorite teams - SP Kennel - I hit the trails to work out some of the anxious energy. I decided today would be a leader training day. Each yearling had their turn at leading the team, and one yearling in particular really surprised me: Sally.
This entire winter, I have yet to see little Sally tired. At 33 lbs, she is always happy and full of energy. However, she also was a bit immature. On long training runs, she would get bored and try to play with her neighbor or pick up booties left on the trial. Yet the past couple weeks, there's been a change. Sally has been incredibly focused and driven, but even so, I've kept her to the back of the team. Today, in lead, she wasn't just leading, she was driving. Passing other teams and the occasional moose, she was all focus and kept trying to go faster. Needless to say, I'm excited about the future of this little dog.
Chatanika Challenge
/We just signed up for the 100-mile Chatanika Challenge starting Friday March 7th. There will be one substitution- Derek will be racing his first ever dog sled race!
Ducks
/Remember these little guys? Well, they're not so little anymore. At 5 1/2 months, the Ducks are growing fast. From left to right, Drake is the biggest. He is very affectionate and cries in excitement whenever he gets attention. Eider reminds me of Stormy, who is his half aunt. They both have narrow little heads and love attention. On free runs, both he and Stormy heel.
Left to right- Brant, Coot, Cayenne (SP), Drake, Champ (SP)
Coot is competitive. He wins every game of tug-of-war, even when he's playing against bigger dogs like Jezzy. He also loves back rubs. Brant is crazy. He's incredibly independent and will just take off running in a random direction during puppy walks. Luckily, he listens and comes running back. Left to right- Drake, Eider, Coot, and Brant.
Northern Lights
/This evening, the team and I went on a nice stretch out run, during which I noticed two things:
1. I didn't need my headlamp until almost 6:15!
2. Incredible Northern Lights were out in full force by 6:45! Amazing! I love it when the northern lights are out before my bedtime.
Fenton and Outlaws In Harness
/Fenton, Belle, Lefty, and CJ- rocking the harness!
Another short story- Eagle Summit
/Per Wikipedia (a most reliable source)- In 1916, Hudson Stuck, who was one of the first people to climb Mount McKinley's South Peak, wrote, "The Eagle Summit is one of the most difficult summits in Alaska. The wind blows so fiercely that sometimes for days together its passage is almost impossible. ... The snow smothers up everything on the lee side of the hill, and the end of every storm presents a new surface and an altered route.
Since signing up for the Quest 300 in October, I had successfully ignored Eagle Summit. Not once did I think about the monstrous descent that’s known for howling winds, blinding whiteouts, heroic rescues, broken sleds, broken mushers, and terrifying stories. I was able to laugh and giggle as the trail breakers described the rock and tundra swept summit at the Mushers Meeting. “You need to at least unhook the tugs of half your dogs, if not bring chains to wrap around your runners,” they said. I smiled and nodded my head but made sure the true meaning of their warning didn’t sink into my mind. I’d say my ability to compartmentalize and completely disregard uncomfortable events is one of my strengths. It keeps me happy in the here and now.
Well, at Mile 101, I could no longer ignore the inevitable. Eagle Summit loomed massive and hazy just a short distance away. As my dogs lay resting on a knoll in the sunshine, I sat in the Mile 101 cabin, eating bacon and chatting with Kristin and Andy from Hey Moose! Kennel. Trying to ease concerns, Kristin said, “I heard the drop is only like 3 seconds long. That doesn’t sound too bad. You guys will be fine.”
Fast forward 1 1/2 hours and 1500 feet elevation. The dogs and I stood atop Eagle Summit with the sun setting. A light breeze swirled around us with deep reds and fading light on the peaks to the south. It was one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen. If I wasn’t so concerned about descending with my dog team still calm and composed from the long climb up, I would have stayed to witness a photographer’s dream sunset. Seeing as the last thing I wanted was an amped up dog team on the steepest trail EVER, I crested the summit and started down.
The first pitch was as the trail breakers had described. It felt like the team leapt off a cliff, floated briefly, then flattened for a nice long runout. Whew, ok, we survived that slope. After regaining control of the team, we side-hilled over to the next pitch. Right before reaching the top, I quickly stopped, ran forward and unhooked a half dozen tug lines, raced back to the sled, then hollered “Ready!...Alright!” With only half the normal pulling power, our pace slowed as we climbed the small hill before ‘the big one.’ I felt like a little kid on a roller coaster. Slowly, methodically, creeping up the hill before the cart dumps over the other side, sending your heart into your throat. Giddy and tense, you feel like screaming with excitement. So I did, “OOOOOOOOeeeeeeeee!!!!” My dogs all stopped dead in their tracks, turned around, and stared as if to say, “What’s your problem?” I felt rather ridiculous. Ok, continue on.
Whoooosh. We hurtled down the final pitch. I focused all my energy on pushing hard on the claw break and keeping the sled upright. We raced down the trench left by mushers before us, jolting us left and right. My flexible sled bent and torqued as it bounced on tussocks and patches of sugar snow. I thought of Kristin... Kristin said three seconds, ok, one....two....three... four. Oh, focus, don’t tip. Counting, right... one... two...three...
Well, I have no idea how long we flew down the final pitch. I remember feeling elated as the terrain smoothed out. I hollered another “OOOOeeee!” and I think this time the dogs understood why I was so ecstatic. I stopped the team and all the dogs stood happily, wagging their tails. With perfect weather and good trail conditions, we survived our first descent of the infamous Eagle Summit. Until next time, o treacherous one.
Another GREAT photo by Scott Chesney
It Takes a Team
/This year’s Quest 300 highlighted one of the most amazing aspects of dog mushing: community support. At the starting line, I felt like a Nascar racer with an amazing pit crew working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly. Founders members, Chris Swisher and Randy Foland, and my two AMAZING handlers Derek and Tom were essential in getting me to the starting line. When we realized that the youngsters could reach their Quest identification tags on their collars and were chewing them illegible (the tags are what allow veterinarians to identify each dog), Chris and Randy quickly removed all the tags and secured them out of reach of anxious puppy teeth. Derek and Tom helped organize the sled, snacks, dogs and anything else.
In addition to all their help, I was thrilled to see my neighbors and coworkers venture out to watch the race and cheer on the teams. Not only did my employer, Feniks and Company, encourage me to take time off during the busy season, but they all came out to cheer us on! Thanks so much to Melody, Danielle, and Suzanne! Kristina, Enli, and Jake brought delicious treats that gave me a sugar high on the trail. Lynne and her kids as well as Dominique, Noah Jane, and Merica Gale gave me hope that maybe the future will get hooked on this ridiculous sport.
A HUGE thank you to Founders Members near and far for being a part of the Ryno Team. We could not have raced without you!
