Ryno Kennel Into Braeburn

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Perm and Neptune lead the team into Braeburn at 1:51 AM this morning. Ryne is rotating the leaders to keep them fresh. 

Charley and Rucu are the all star wheel dogs with Ryne voicing much praise on their work ethic. All the dogs slept and ate well while on their campout between Whitehorse and Braeburn. They gobbled up their food, even snacks while on the trail, and  settled right down to sleep when the straw was spread out.

Niagra stepped in an ice crack and has developed a sore shoulder, so after a great 100 miles, Niagra gets a ride home with the The Ryno Kennel handlers.

After choosing to do their first mandatory 6 hour rest (plus start differential) in Braeburn, Katy and Fire led the charge out of Braeburn in -40 degree weather -- burr!

 

Mushers Meetings and Start Banquet

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After a day of meetings, the crew attended the Yukon Start Banquet, and Ryne drew lucky number #16! Racers will leave the starting line in three minute intervals starting at 11 AM on Saturday.

What's up for tomorrow? Eat delicious goodies from Leslie McDonald and Kristina Livingston (THANK YOU), pace, pack, pace some more, walk dogs, play with dogs, eat, sleep, and plan for 1000-miles of ADVENTURE!! Yip Woo!!

 

Left to right: Katy (Ryne mom), Derek, Ryne, Riley, Keith (Riley's dad, Matt's handler), Matt (Quest musher)

On the Road…with Enterprise!

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And we're on the road to Whitehorse…in an Enterprise rental car!! While the bulk of the travel will be done from the back of the dog sled, the support crew driving the trail is just as important, and that's where Enterprise comes in. 

The Ryno Team will be making the drive to Whitehorse in two groups. Yesterday evening, the Public Relations Manager (aka my mother, Katy Human) and I began the drive to Whitehorse. We left early in order to attend all the pre-race events.While most mothers relish their vacation time lounging on beaches and drinking margaritas in 80 degree weather with their daughters, my mother has been thriving at -35 degrees and darkness.  Thanks, Mom, for spending your three weeks vacation in frigid, winter Alaska!

Operations Manager (Derek) and Canine Specialist (Riley) along with 14 canine athletes will drive to Whitehorse on Thursday. The dogs will have a couple more days at home to stretch out and relax before all the hustle and bustle of the race start. 

Katy Canine and Katy Human

A HUGE thank you to Ryan and Enterprise for providing the Ryno Team with a rental car to allow for better mobility. The Ryno Support Team will consist of the dog truck and an AWD Enterprise rental car, meaning my mother now does not have to sleep in the back of the dog truck at checkpoints! Big perk!

Home Town Physical Therapy

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We're excited to announce a new Ryno Kennel sponsor! This past summer, I had surgery on my back due to a herniated disk. With all the bending, twisting, lifting, and movement involved in mushing, it was critical that I was back to 110% health by September 1st to begin training. Home Town Physical Therapy set up an individual rehab schedule to ensure that I was ready to go by the mushing season. Not only am I healthier than ever before, but they've decided to sponsor Ryno Kennel! Thanks Jason, Jill, Greg, and all the wonderful staff at Home Town Physical Therapy for getting me back on my feet and helping me do what I love (like in the video below). THANKS!!

Colorado Creek Trail

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With drop bags finished and just 12 days until Quest start, we've been focusing on putting some solid training runs on the dogs. Yesterday Riley and I took two teams up the Colorado Creek drainage, and with the clear, -20 temps we experienced spectacular views! Sally, who is not normally a leader, led the entire run, breaking trail for a good portion. Who says a 35 pound dog with a foot and a half long legs can't be a trail breaker?

Just as we returned, the bottom fell out of the thermometer as -40 to -45 temperatures swept through the valley. That calls for a 14 dog night! Cartel, Sally, and Fire claimed the couch, Katy claimed the dog bed, Ham the lazy boy chair, Derby found a calm secluded corner, Kindi by the water bowl, Fez next to Derek, Niagra by the wood stove, Rucu under the table, Perm against the lazy boy, and Supai never settled but tried to play with everyone all night. Stormy and Jezzy enjoyed all the company. 

Food Drops- CHECK!

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After prepping all the food drops, I left them with the AMAZING Yukon Quest volunteers today and walked away. Quest volunteers will take all the drops and stage them at their respective checkpoints across the 1000 miles. Talk about a logistical undertaking! That kind of organization takes a fleet of volunteers and dedicated officials. Thank you! Just two weeks left, and we will be on the trail!

Scott Chesney was at the food drops today and took some great photos!

Yukon Quest Drop Bags

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With the Yukon Quest just two weeks away (gasp!), drop bags holding every possible item a musher and 14 dogs might need on a 1000-mile race in a variety of temperatures and conditions will be left with volunteers at the Yukon Quest food drops tomorrow. No pressure right? I guess that's the beauty of mushing. No matter how prepared I might feel (or try to be), something will happen that allows me to use some mushing ingenuity! 

So what is in those drop bags? Three types of kibble, beef, chicken skins, BLT (beef liver and tripe), fish, North Country meat mix, other meats, supplements, runner plastics, booties, vet wrap, vet gear, socks, gloves, neck gaiters, delicious vacuum sealed meals made by Kaz (thank you!), cheesecake, bacon, granola bars, Wilderness Athlete drink mix, hand warmers, toe warmers, matches, kleenex, and the list goes on….. Veteran mushers joke that a sign of a rookie is thousands of pounds of drop bags. Well, this year I fall into that category and will take full advantage of it! 

Two weeks and counting….WOOHOO!!

Photo taken by Whitney McLaren

Kennel Days

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Here are some photos of life around Ryno Kennel. There's never a dull moment! All the professional looking shots were taken by amazing photographer, Whitney McLaren. 

Gearing up for the trapline. 

Riley, Katy, and Cartel bootying. 

Derek building the latest sled. 

CJ, Amy, BP, and Jezzy ready to go. 

Ryno Kennel

Ryne and Drake

CJ

Fenton and Ryne