First team into Mendeltna!

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Ryno Kennel was the first team into Mendeltna, the last check point! She got in at 6:11 this morning. Ryne felt that she was going a lot faster than she did, but there has been some intense snow fall the last couple of hours, so everyone has been going pretty slow. The dogs did really well and everyone was pulling hard! 

Ryne will have to take a 3 hour rest in Mendeltna. The team completed their mandatory 6 hours rest + differential at the Tolsona checkpoint. Other teams have completed more of their mandatory rest, so Ryne probably will not be the first team out of Mendeltna. We are still hopeful the super pups of Ryno Kennel can make up some time out on the trail! 60 miles to the finish!!

Ryne is traveling with 11 strong. Fez was feeling a bit stiff and sore after pulling hard in the deep snow, so she's all cuddled up in the dog truck with the handlers!

Please enjoy the following pictures from Copper Basin's Facebook page. The first three are from Mendeltna, and the last three from Tolsona.

Arriving in Tolsona

First to Tolsona!

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Ryno Kennel Race team is the first team into Tolsona Lake Checkpoint, followed close behind by Nicolas Petit. We are not able to tell you what this really means since all the racers have not taken their mandatory rests times plus start differential, including Ryne's team. We do anticipate Ryne will stay for the mandatroy six hours plus start differential at Tolsona. 

But what we would like to share is a fantastic video recorded live on Facebook by Dwayne Edward Beals. If you do not have a facebook account, after clicking the following link, and it states "To see more from Dwayne Edward Beals on Facebook, log in or create an account." just click "not now". Then join at the 2 minute 40 second mark. Fun seeing a little of what goes on at the check points!

https://www.facebook.com/dwayne.beals/videos/10212350000363958/

Ryne and super handler Derek! (Meiers Lake Check point)

Ryno Kennel Happy and Running Fast

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Ryne and her incredible teammates from Ryno Kennel passed lot of teams on the first leg yesterday, from Glennallen to Sourdough. They came into the check point as number 5, starting out as bib number 30! The dogs got a good rest and are currently on their way to the next check point, Meiers Lake - 34 miles away. All 12 dogs are doing great!

Are you awake and want to see the fun on the live tracker?! Here's the link: http://www.cb300.com/racecentral.aspx

2017 Copper Basin Team Roster

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Meet the 2017 Copper Basin Team!

Cartel and Ham are starting in lead, Perm and Katy in swing, Niagra and Boone, Rucu and Lefty, Supai and Jana, and Fez and Drummer in wheel.

It was a VERY hard decision to pick the final 12 since there are 20 solid adults in training! While we're racing the Copper Basin, Maliko will be staying back at the kennel and running the remaining dogs to ensure that they keep their miles up.

Throughout the race, my wonderful mother Katy will be updating the blog. We hope to have updates on our Facebook page as well. Fans can also follow on the Copper Basin webpage (www.cb300.com) or the Copper Basin Facebook page. Two days and counting!!

Race Time!

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Gunhild packaging fat bags.

It's getting crazy! We're in the midst of our final long training runs, packing drop bags for both Copper Basin, Two Rivers 100, and Yukon Quest, and getting ready for the upcoming adventures!

This year, we have one team signed up for the Copper Basin. With so many amazing athletes, the final team roster will be a hard pick, so I'll post the lineup closer to race time! Handlers during the Copper Basin will be Gunhild and Derek. Maliko will be staying at the kennel and running the remaining dogs to make sure they keep their miles up. An extreme cold snap is in the forecast for Interior Alaska with -40F temps and colder! Glennallen, the location of the Copper Basin, is just on the edge of it, but here in Fairbanks, Maliko and the dogs will get a nice dose of arctic chill.

We also have one team in the Two Rivers 100, which my good friend Amanda Gecas will be running. Maliko will be her handler for that race. This will take place the Saturday after Copper Basin. Amanda will be running several of yearlings to give them their first taste of racing. Main goal- to have lots of fun!

Yukon Quest preparations have already begun with drop bags due in just a week and a half! We'll have a top notch handling crew for the Yukon Quest with Gunhild, Derek, my mom Katy, friend Joan Miller (with whom Amy canine currently lives) and local friend/musher Shaynee.

Here's a schedule of the rest of the month, so mark your calendars for our big race days!

Friday Jan 13th- Leave for Copper Basin

Saturday Jan 14th- 10:00 AM Copper Basin Start!

Friday Jan 20th- Two Rivers 100, Amanda taking a yearling team. Maliko handling.

Saturday Jan 21st- Yukon Quest drop bags due

Sunday Jan 22nd- Yukon Quest vet checks

Saturday Jan 28th- Mom arrives to help with Yukon Quest

Wednesday Feb 1st- Meet the Mushers

Saturday Feb 4th- Yukon Quest Start!!

Denali Campout

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This week, we took all the yearlings and adults down to the Denali Highway for a campout and meal at Alpine Creek Lodge! Since pictures are worth 1000 words, I decided to just upload several incredible shots of our trip. I hope you enjoy! There are also a couple kennel pictures of Stormy, Amelia, and Cooke. Wow, are those two growing up fast!

With Copper Basin just one week away and Yukon Quest food drops just two weeks away, the kennel is a busy hive of activity! Chores, run, pack, chores, run, pack, more running, more chores, more packing. It's race season!!! Woooohooo!!!

2016 Year End Storm

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Jana and Drummer building snow forts on our run.

2016 left one more parting gift and dumped over a foot of snow on Two Rivers! We are beyond ecstatic! Not only that, but the forecast predicts even more snow throughout the night and tomorrow!

To celebrate, I hooked up a 16-dog team of Ham and Lefty, Perm and Niagra, Katy and Supai, Rucu and Fenton, Cartel and Boone, Drake and Coot, Jana and Drummer, and Kindi and Fez and hit the trails! Normally this time of year, I try to keep our speed up in preparation for the faster mid-distance races; however, the deep snow was calling our name, so we swam along at 6 mph the whole day, busting through snow drifts and leaving a single sled track across fields of snow. I think the dogs enjoyed the change as well.

Gunhild readying the yearling team.

Gunhild went on a shorter run with Frosty and CJ, Belle and Brant, Chagga and Wombat, Wingman and Ewok, and Uno and Blitz. While I never saw another team, Gunhild passed several! It was great practice for the yearlings.

I can't wait to see how much we receive tonight! It's like Christmas all over again!