Below are pictures of the dogs enjoying their summer of relaxation. Lots of free runs, sunbathing, and romps in the play pen are the activities for the day. From left to right, top to bottom: Lefty, Drake, Belle, Eider, Coot, Fenton, Sally, Kindi, Sally (sunbathing), Rucu, Cartel, and Fez.
My older brother, Nick, is visiting Alaska for the summer and helping me take care of the kennel. After years of living on opposite sides of the US or globe, I've been so excited to spend a chunk of time with him. From racing around South America in a mototaxi to working in Ecuador at an upstart tea company called Runa to working with AmeriCorp on land conservation in Boston, Nick has been around the globe. This fall, he will be starting a graduate program at the Yale School of Forestry.
I've been lucky enough to have a stream of family this year from little brother Tom, to mother Katy, to older brother, Nick. Yeah for Team Olson!
Nick and the logs for the new cabin.
This 4th of July, Nick and I had two EXCITING finds!
1st- Morels!
2nd- Runa Tea in Fairbanks!
Lucky for us, Runa Tea has all the energy kick we needed to trek around the burn and hunt for the morels. Joining us on the hunt were Jezzy, Stormy, Supai, Belle, Derby, and Cartel. Success!
Today, Nick (older brother), Katy (mother), and I had a family yard day. It was Katy's last day, and Nick's first day, in Fairbanks, but rather than relaxing, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and cleaned and painted dog houses, spread gravel, and cleaned out sprouting trees. We had some canine helpers including Stormy, Jezzy, Cartel, Katy Canine, Amy and Sally. As you can see by Cartel in one of the last photos, they were very curious about the new paint.
Last weekend, Derek and I flew over to the Chena Flood Plains. The pictures below show the flooding from the recent rains, the Tanana River, and the beautiful Alaska Range not far off. On the way back, I took a quick picture of Ryno Kennel from the air!
Yesterday we went on a walk down the road to the Chena River. We anticipated a few puddles but what we found was incredible! Grange Hall, which is normally a dirt road, was instead a waterway. The surrounding trees and fields were marshlands with flowing streams connecting each new marsh. Flooded rivers are amazing!
Katy braving the pouring rain to serve dinner to the sled dogs.
While I'm recovering from an injury, I recruited some top notch help. For the next couple of weeks, Katy (my mother and Katy canine's namesake) will be helping with the chores around the kennel as well as learn all about being a handler. From scooping poop, to feeding and watering dogs, to free running, my mom experiences it all-- rain or shine. And recently it has been raining. ALOT. I was hoping Alaska would woo my mother with clear skies, balmy temperatures, midnight sun, and picturesque wildlife, but instead she has dealt flood warning rains, mud puddles, and mosquitos. Even though Alaska isn't on her best behavior, Katy seems to be enjoying herself nonetheless.
Katy Human feeding Katy Canine
Supai, Jezzy, and Katy all helping Ryne do physical therapy stretches. Not everyone was necessarily helpful….
Here are some pictures from recent springtime activities.
Down at the river, we found a big white spruce stuck high and dry when the water level dropped. While chasing Jezzy, Sally ended up on the spruce and decided she'd prefer not to swim back to shore. The crew and I went out to giver her encouragement. This was a time when longer legs were definitely an advantage!
While cleaning out the computer, I found this video from a couple years ago. 106 days until fall training.
Ryno Kennel is home to Iditarod and Yukon Quest veteran, Ryne Olson and her growing sled dog racing kennel in Two Rivers, Alaska.
All Photos Taken by: Scott Chesney, Julien Schroder, Kalyn Holl, or other Ryno Crew. All rights reserved. Please contact prior to using any photos.
BIG THANKS TO THE RYNO TEAM
Big Dan’s Trucking
Rick and Sue Patton
All Dog Sponsors
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