Copper Basin- 3rd Place!

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Niagra

Woohoo! What an amazing weekend! The dogs exceeded all my expectations and posted flying times to earn third place in the Copper Basin 300 Sled Dog Race. I’m just so proud of them and amazed by their upbeat, go get ‘em attitude. The team was focused, driven, and tireless. 

The team at meiers lake. 

At 2:12 yesterday afternoon, we crossed the finish line led by Cartel and Fire. The finishing team consisted of Cartel, Fire, Ham, Katy, Fez, Supai, Rucu, Niagra, Pirate, and Charley. Derby and Kindi were dropped in Mendeltna with very minor sorenesses as a precaution to prevent bagging a dog on the final run into the finish. Unfortunately, Charley (70+ lbs) developed a slight shoulder soreness, so he did occasionally get rides on the final 60 mile leg. Today, all the dogs look amazingly spry and relaxed, ready to tackle another race! 

At 4:24 AM, Riley finished in 18th place. The Copper Basin was Riley’s first 300 mile race, and he had an impressive run! He brought 11 happy, healthy dogs to the finish line, led by his dogs, Brodie and Neptune with occasional appearances by Perm. According to Riley, “Perm is the toughest headed, hardest driving, one-year-old I’ve ever driven. And Sally was the spunkiest dog on the team and likes to go fast but didn’t like the deep, soft slow sections.”

More posts about dog performances and trail stories soon to come. A huge thank you to all the race volunteers and officials for putting on the “Toughest 300 miles in Alaska!” Also, a BIG thank you to Derek and Tessa for being two of the best handlers on the race (there should be a prize for that). Handlers get little sleep, stand in the cold, clean up after mushers, and get zero recognition for all their hard work and dedication to the dog team. THANK YOU!

The team leaving meiers lake: Katy and fire; cartel and ham; pirate and derby; kindi and supai; fez and rucu; niagra and charley

Left to right: supai, rucu, kinid, fez

Meiers Lake Checkpoint

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Well after our 75 mile trek here to Meiers Lake Checkpoint, we came in with the fastest time of 7 hours and 31 minutes which was only 2 minutes faster than the next lead. We were led by Cartel and Ham and of course they both did wonderful! Here we decided to take a full rest of 7 hours to rejuvenate and get ready for these next few legs. By the time we took off the dogs were absolutely thrilled and couldn't wait for the adventures ahead! This round we are led by the great Fire and Katy. Next stop is 43 miles down the trail at the Sourdough Checkpoint. 

Team Rosters

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Who will be racing in the Copper Basin starting at 10 am today?

Ryne: Ham and Fire, Katy and Cartel, Derby and Pirate (Gecas), Kindi and Supai, Rucu and Fez, Charley (Gecas) and Niagra.

Riley: Sally, Perm, Brody (Riley), Neptune (Riley), Dana (Riley), Jana (Gecas), Drummer (Gecas), and five dogs from Matt Hall's Smokin' Ace Kennel.

Let the races begin! First checkpoint- Red Eagle Lodge in Chistochina 50 miles down the trail.

Follow the tracker at www.cb300.com.

Copper Basin Pre-Race

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Vet Checks

Today we arrived in Glennallen for the pre-race activities. Drop bags, registration, vet checks, and drivers meetings filled up the afternoon and early evening. It takes an impressive number of volunteers, sponsors, and helpers to organize a 300 mile race and herd all 50 mushers through the required paperwork to make the race happen. Thank you!

The following photos are from the vet checks. All the Ryno dogs were given two thumbs up and are ready to rock and roll!

Tomorrow, Ryne and the Team will be leaving 9th, while Riley and combination of athletes from Ryno Kennel, Smokin’ Ace Kennel, and Dark Horse Racing will be leaving 12th. Updates will be posted on this website, Facebook, and the Copper Basin website. Ryne will also be equipped with a tracker, so follow along on www.cb300.com.

Thanks to Tessa and Derek for being the pit crew for this year’s Copper Basin 300! Teams will be posted tomorrow morning.

 

Ryne meeting major CB sponsors: Crowley Petroleum. THANKS for your support of the copper basin 300!

Ham getting a check up by a future veterinarian.

Supai during vet checks.

Copper Basin Drop Bags

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With temps at -30F and -40F, we took the day to work on Copper Basin drop bags. Filled with gear, snacks (both human and canine), booties, kibble, and much more, it can be quite a process to organize all the supplies for a 300 mile race. And sometimes, the hardest part can be just labeling the drop sacks (cough cough Riley).  

Cartel claimed the lazy boy. 

Fen supervising the drop bag making from the staircase. 

Caribou Bluff and Sunshine

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On Sunday, we ventured up to the White Mountain Recreation Area for a change of scenery. With the temperature inversion, we swapped the -25F of Two Rivers for a balmy 5F to 10F. Contrary to my experiences in Colorado (the higher you go, the colder it gets), the Fairbanks area is often the opposite. The cold air sits in low lying areas, like the Chena River Valley, with the warmer air concentrating in the hills. In a normal winter, -25F would be a relief, and we would not have felt compelled to head to higher ground; however, this winter with the unseasonably warm temps, -25F felt frigid! So off to the White Mountains we went. 

Riley and the yearling team consisting of his dogs Neptune, Brodie, and Dana, and yearlings Drake, Coot, Eider, Brant, Belle, Lefty, and Fenton, split their run into two parts with a three hour break in the middle. I was told that the yearlings camped better than they have all season. Immediately upon arriving, they ate a meal, curled up and slept, then were ready to go a few hours later. Almost like adult dogs! 

I took the adult team of Ham, Katy, Cartel, Fire, Sally, Fez, Derby, Rucu, Kindi, Supai, Niagra, and Perm on a longer run exploring new areas of the Whites. The dogs and I absolutely loved the new trails, as you can see in the video. There's also some great shots of frosty faces from traveling in the valleys between the hills. 

Wilderness Athlete

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Just as important as conditioning a strong, powerful dog team, the musher must also be healthy and fit. During races and training, mushers ski pole and kick or run up the hills next to the sled. Through all my years of athletics including nordic ski racing, cross-country running, and collegiate soccer, I've never cramped as often as I have while sled dog racing. Perhaps it's because of the cold temperatures or multi-day events giving your body little time to recover. Or perhaps it's because I have to make myself stay hydrated since I don't necessarily feel thirsty at -20F. Whatever the reason, a product that alleviates cramps as well as provides the extra vitamins and nutrients to give my body a boost is GOLD. Thanks Wilderness Athlete for creating a product that hydrates, energizes, and improves my overall health! 

Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Mushers

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This Christmas, Derek, the dogs, and I headed to the White Mountain Recreation Area for a relaxing training run and campout. In the trailhead parking lot, we recognized a couple other dog trucks belonging to Two Rivers dog mushers. And this is Christmas day, mind you. Yep, rather than spending Christmas in the traditional fashion, mushers were hitting the trails and spending the holiday with their canine family. It's an obsession, what can we say? Maybe Patsy and Ed Bruce should have named their song "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Mushers". At least the tune fits pretty well with the video.