Spring!

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Hiking-mobile

Even though the title of this post is “Spring” it really depends on the day. Just last week, we received 6-8 inches of snow. Since then, the temperature has been reaching 65-70F each day. And Friday it’s supposed to snow again. Go figure! Spring time in Alaska.

What’s in store for the Ryno athletes this Spring and Summer?

Vacation time! We’ve just finished creating the canine hiking-mobile. In the past, I’ve let each dog loose from their spot in the yard, and then off we went on a short. By building the ATV trailer with dog boxes, we can now start farther from the kennel for new sights. Also, sometimes my canine walking companions like to beat me back to the dog yard. Typically this isn’t an issue, but a mischievous pup likes to rummage around in areas they shouldn’t (dog food tent, trash bags, steal a bone from their neighbor, etc). The ATV allows us to all return to the yard at the same time! And it’s great practice for the young dogs to ride in dog boxes, learning that normally it means we’re about to do something fun and exciting!

When not hiking, the pups are sleeping in the sunshine, playing with their neighbors, or chewing on bones. There have been a handful of generous dog fans who have mailed tasty treats and fun toys- thank you! Thick, 8+ inch long bones and Kongs (which I freeze with goodies inside) are some of their favorites, so if you have a favorite pup who you’d like to mail a treat to, these are safe bets! Let summer vacation begin!

Hiking group of Lefty, Rucu, Cooke, Bowser, Cartel, Goblin, Bull, and Amelia.

Brooks Range

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Ever since arriving in Alaska, I’ve dreamed of exploring the Brooks Range by dog team. After living in Alaska almost nine years, we finally made it a reality! Mushing with a dog team into the heart of the Brooks Range is a bucket list item for many Alaskan mushers, so when we had some free time after the end of our expeditions with Last Frontier Mushing Co-op, we jumped at the opportunity to head north.

Temporary Parking Location

Saeward (Ryno crew), May (guide on our Wild Women Retreats and yoga instructor), 21 canine athletes (K. Louie, Badger, Cooke, Nile, Vanessa, Loretta, Smoky, Otis, Yuker, Elmer, Uno, Amelia, Rucu, Supai, Lefty, Goblin, Bull, Thresher, Mario, Bowser, and Yoshi), and I loaded up in the F250 dog truck and settled in for the 10-hour drive. However, I should note one minor detail. “Loading up” isn’t our normal “load up” of pulling the truck next to the dog yard, storing the gear in the back and letting dogs loose to easily call them to their individual boxes in the dog truck. Nah, that’s just too easy! Every spring for about 1-2 months, the driveway into our little slice of paradise turns into a wicked mud pit, forcing us to park about a mile away on a gravel road and shuttle everything (gear, sleds, dog food, tents, dogs, humans) from the kennel to the truck. So the day before our departure, we loaded all the gear, and then the next morning, we ran two teams by ATV to the dog truck, at which we loaded up our expedition party and off we went! NORTH!

While some might consider driving with dogs to be a hassle, I find traveling with the whole pack to be a fun, thrilling experience. It forces you to stop more often for pee breaks, drive a little slower, and oftentimes, a canine companion (or several ) snuggle into the cab. Plus, whenever you do stop, it’s like having a rowdy sports team, jostling with each other, bantering, and trembling with excitement for the adventure to come. It’s hard not to get caught up in all the enthusiasm.

Car Selfies

The view from the truck

So after about 10 hours of driving north, passing through Coldfoot, Wiseman, and Atigun Pass, paralleling the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and sharing the road with dozens of truckers, we arrived at the mouth of the Atigun Gorge. Prior to leaving, we’d talked with several other mushers who had already traveled north and determined that Atigun Gorge was a must-see, assuming the overflow and glare ice wasn’t too bad. As we pulled into the parking lot, we were surprised that no other dog trucks were staged in the parking area. The Gorge is a popular place for mushers to access the Brooks Range. Glancing across the valley to Galbraith Lake, another staging area, we could see several vehicles, indicating that most mushers had chosen to mush to Brent Sass’s camp on the other side of the road. Instead of using this as an indicator of trail conditions up the Gorge, we thought, how fortuitous, we get this magnificent country to ourselves! Later, we learned why most folks had chosen the other side of the Dalton Highway.

Since we pulled into the parking lot late in the afternoon, we thought it’d be a stretch to load the sleds and mush to our planned camp that evening, so instead we went for a fun run. We each took 4-dog teams and scouted a few miles into the Gorge. We found glare ice, a few areas with deep overflow, but otherwise, we concluded it was certainly do-able and we’d embark the following morning. The trouble with traveling up the Gorge is that as temperatures rise in the spring, the runoff trickles down from the surrounding peaks and settles as a layer of water over the ice of the river (hence overflow). At sections where the walls of the Gorge are tight, there can be no escape for a dog team to get around deep overflow, so you have to be prepared to mush right through it.

The next morning, we loaded up our three sleds with hundreds of pounds of gear, hooked up seven canine athletes to each sled, and loudly clattered our way down the Gorge, scraping our claw brakes on the glare ice, pinballing our sleds off boulders, and giggling and laughing the entire way. Now THIS is an adventure. The dogs thrived. I felt like Lefty (who was leading for my team) and I were of one mind. The directional commands in mushing (Gee for right and Haw for left) don’t really articulate how far gee you’re asking your team to travel- 90 degrees? A gentle gee followed by a swooping haw to skirt rockfall? And there’s nothing more annoying than a micro-manager, so incessantly shouting commands isn’t great communication either. But miraculously, it didn’t require much. A gentle direction here or there, and Lefty was on it. Edge around that deep pool of overflow. Trace the high ridgeline of ice directly across the river to then work our way along the far bank. Lefty just knew the plan. And he was a great role model for all the yearlings in the team. For example, the correct path wasn’t always the easiest. We might have to dash through overflow to avoid being trapped in deeper overflow later on, and rather than balk, Lefty would plow ahead and the youngsters would throw themselves into their harnesses and eagerly follow, picking up on his excitement.

May, Saeward, and their teams were amped by the terrain as well. Goblin single-led for Saeward. Although driven, he’s a stubborn one, so it took the whole trip before he’d listen to Saeward’s commands. Instead of listening to Saeward’s drier path, he’d put his head down, ignore her command, and blaze through the deepest water as if to say- this is the shortest way to reach the team in front and WIN! May’s team, on the other hand, was captained by Cooke. Like Goblin, he was unfazed by the deep water, but he was at least willing to listen to May’s suggestions. Well, most of the time. May’s team was so fired up, that she had to let two dogs run loose and only have five hooked to the sled, otherwise she’d surely spend the whole time being drug down the ice on her side.

(Side note- one of the funniest sights of the trip- my team was calmly standing on the ice of the river. I look back to see May and team come launching off the bank, hockey-sliding across the ice, promptly falling onto her side, and then ever so slowly being drug past Saeward and her team. The dogs, with determined faces and haunches low, were grinding against the friction of May being drug face-first down the river and ignoring her calm requests of woooooah, woooah. Those little turds didn’t let up until they were parallel with my team, and I could reach over and grab the gangline! Haha! I can’t imagine the whole incident from Saeward’s perspective! Saeward standing on her sled, watching May get drug on her side at about 3 miles per hour, up and then around Saeward’s sled and continuing on down the river at a snail’s pace. Haha! May is such a good sport).

Anyways, long story short, the mush in was an adventure. The final couple miles before we reached the Sag Valley, the water had frozen up and the conditions were excellent. So we set up camp and then began the hunt.

Mushing Fail. Video commentated by May.

I debated about whether or not to share about our hunt. Hunting can be a polarizing topic, and even beyond that, it is often a private experience. But I’ve decided to share our experience more as a story of empowerment, because that’s exactly what it was. All three of us gals had played a support role in many hunts. May had grown up in Wyoming and helped her family harvest elk to fill the freezer. Saeward grew up bird hunting and had helped with deer hunts. I’ve tromped through the mountains with Derek on his hunting pursuits. But never before have any of us had to make all the calls, and it’s not really the norm for women to do so. Upon moving to Alaska, I’ve met many amazing women who do go out and harvest their own meat to fill their family freezer, but it’s certainly not the norm. So our hunt was a test for ourselves. From the scouting to the glassing to the harvest to the meat storage, we had to make all the calls. And on the second day when we successfully mushed back to camp with a caribou stowed away in the sled bag, we were elated. It was a group effort, and we’d all challenged ourselves and pushed ourselves out of our comfort zone. I feel fortunate to live in such an incredible place with so many natural resources and thriving wildlife, to be surrounded by fearless, driven people and courageous, incredible dogs. Alaska is a land like no other, and just when you feel like the harshness of the place has worn you down, you accomplish something that fills you with love for Arctic and sense of self-reliance. So at the risk of coming off as sappy and dramatic, I decided to write about our hunt and include it in this blog. Outwardly, I’ve tried to play it cool as if I’ve been on loads of hunts and it was no big deal, but inwardly, I’m cheering- holy smokes, we did it ladies!

Lefty leading the way up a hillside.

Ok, moving on. After our hunt, we knew we had to get out of the Gorge soon, because every day we spent in the Valley was another day for warm air to melt the snow on the hillsides and fill the Gorge with overflow. The next morning, we loaded up camp and started the trek back to the truck. Immediately, we were swimming. And this was on the section that had been good on the way out! Lefty still launched into the deep overflow and deliberately criss-crossed our way up the Gorge, but it wasn’t uncommon for the sled to get bogged down and stuck. I’d have to run to the front and heave at the brushbrow to unstick the nose of the sled from the overflow, calling up the dogs. At the next gravel bar, I stopped to wait for Saeward and May and suggested that we travel closer together in case we have to help each other’s sleds across. Putting a big smile on my face, I said, “we’ll just see how far we get, and if we don’t make it out to the truck today and have to climb to higher ground to camp, that’s no big deal, we’ll just do that.” May and Saeward, smiling wide, always optimistic, were fantastic travel companions. “Sure thing!” they said. Apparently I was the only one concerned. Fortunately, my concerns were unwarranted. As we continued up the Gorge, the spots that had been bad a few days prior were frozen, so with the exception of the first few miles, the mush out was glorious! Once we returned to the truck, we loaded up all our gear and the dogs and drove around to Galbraith Lake to start part two of our trip.

The west side of the Dalton Highway somehow had a monopoly on the snow, and wow- was it a musher’s paradise! Brent Sass operates expeditions out of a large, multi-tent base camp. He acquired a much-coveted permit that allowed him to take a snowmachine in from the Dalton Highway. In this particular area, the first five miles on either side of the Dalton Highway are closed to motorized vehicles, but by Brent having the permit, he was able to bring a snowmachine in and create trails galore! The trails ventured high into mountain passes and up expansive valleys. He was very welcoming to other mushers, so when we arrived, he gave us a general overview of the trail system and said- have fun! We set up our camp on the other side of the pond and enjoyed the premier trail access.

When it was finally time to pack up and make the long drive home, it was hard to say good bye to the North Slope. Looking over the map, we scouted out new valleys and drainages that we’d like to explore and promised ourselves that we’d be back next Spring. Until next time Brooks Range.

Heaven?

Spring Trips

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And just like that, our tour expeditions have wrapped up for the season! Wow, what a whirlwind. We’ve spent the past month bopping between home and the Denali Highway in the Alaska Range. It’s hard to believe that traveling down the Highway, camping with dogs, and spending time with fellow dog lovers and adventurists is now part of my job! If you had asked me 10 years ago what my “job” would be, I’d have never dreamed it would include all that it does now: 1000-mile dog sled races, expeditions, day and aurora tours, reindeer farm. And I’m sure in another 10 years, I’ll still be baffled by the direction that life has traveled.

I recently saw a quote about embracing uncertainty, and it really hit home. So much of mushing involves uncertainty, and the resulting anxiety (whether rational or irrational) can at times feel overwhelming. What will the weather do? How will the dogs behave? Should we rest three hours? Four hours? Five hours? Will the truck start? Will the truck break down? Will the sled hold up? Will the guests have fun? Did I remember everything? What should I pack? Yet- it seems that the most rewarding experiences come from the most uncertain of situations. So as the quote was saying, embrace that uncertainty. Have fun. Let it lead you on an adventure.

But wrangling back in my rambling mind, I brought up uncertainty because I believe it plays a big role in our expeditions. On our side, there is much uncertainty. What will Mother Nature throw at us? Snow? Wind? Cold? Heat? Will there be good snow? Will the truck and our gear make it to the trailhead? How much food should we pack? Will the guests have fun? Will they enjoy dog mushing? Will the sleds hold up? But chatting with some of the guests, this trip is equally uncertain. For most, they’ve never been dog mushing. And we toss them on a dog sled, give a 30 minute tutorial, and launch them down the Denali Highway behind a charging team of dogs. And all that uncertainty transforms into a thrilling, rewarding, trip of a lifetime for all of us. We met so many incredible people this spring. I won’t name names to respect their privacy, but I’m inspired by their lives. There are some amazing people in this world. And there are some amazing dogs. I feel lucky to have spent the past month with some of both.

Here Moosey Moosey

This one hurt a bit.

Lefty and Thresher

Kalyn the dragon and May the Wilderness Stretching (aka yoga) leader

Paige, May, myself

And I should note, we have one more trip planned. Saeward, May, and myself are headed to the Brooks Range! Live on winter!

8th Place and Sportsmanship Award!

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Saeward and team finished the Two Rivers 100 in 8th Place and received the Sportsmanship Award! Way to go! Thank you, Saeward, for taking such good care of the Ryno athletes and writing up this recap for all of us to enjoy!

The trail conditions were more challenging than we expected. First, it was very warm and sunny. Second, the first 20 miles of the race were deep sugar snow; in places the dogs would sink in up to their bellies. I think the yearlings were running in such deep soft snow for the first time ever, and it took them a while to get their running technique down. Everyone pulled hard the whole race, and they did great on the uphills. My 8-dog team actually passed multiple 12-dog teams on big uphills, and those other mushers were pedaling or running while I was on the drag mat.  We averaged 7.8 mph for the first run, although some of that was due to frequent breaks.

Saeward’s bootie haul

 For the first 10 miles, we moved very slowly and took lots of breaks in the shade. At first, the four yearlings were all high-stepping in the sugary snow and then sinking in awkwardly as they tried to learn how to run in those conditions. We started with booties on only their back feet and that turned out well because the snow was filling up the booties and tearing them off. I probably passed around 200 booties on the trail that had fallen off other teams, although I only managed to pick up about 50.

 After about 10 miles, all of the yearlings had finally mastered a somewhat normal trot, and we sped up slightly but continued to take frequent breaks due to the heat. By the time we had reached mile 20 in the run, the day had started to cool slightly and the trail conditions had firmed up.

 At mile 30, we’d gone through our overflow for the day and the sun had dipped below the trees, so we stopped for a 10-minute break. We snacked and I put booties on everyone. The trail firmness continued to improve throughout the rest of that first run.

 We only stayed for 5 hours at the checkpoint because after a certain point all the dogs woke up and decided they were done resting. When we left the checkpoint they were pulling like maniacs.

 The second run was much easier for everyone, mostly due to cooler temps and nicely packed trails. I was on the drag the entire second run, and the team picked up a lot of steam in the last 10 miles. We averaged 8.1 mph. In the last 5 miles I passed a musher from the 200, and he tried to chase us. Everyone looked good, so I let off the drag a little and we sped up to about 9 mph. The other musher couldn’t match the pace so he ended up falling behind.  Everyone was quite amped up when we pulled into the finish.

 Ham: Ham is my hero and a fantastic leader. He pulled so hard, did great passing other teams, and was the team cheerleader every time we stopped. I think he was the most tired dog on the team when we got home, but boy was he happy.

 Ewok: She’s a fantastic leader. She provided so much power and enthusiasm. She was nervous about passing teams but did alright with Ham’s encouragement. She did a wonderful job with Ham of keeping the team away from the deepest spots of soft snow on the trail.

 Vanessa: Pound for pound, Vanessa probably provided the most power of any dog on the team. She’s a good little munchkin, and was a great example for her partner Thresher when he wanted to be distracted by squirrels and other wildlife.

 Flash: Flash normally pulls hard, but she definitely kicked it up a notch for this special occasion. She did very well in the heat, too. If only she didn’t wake up the yearlings at the checkpoint by trying to play with them…

 Thresher: This little squeaker is super hard-working and was probably the most graceful of the yearlings in the soft snow. It only took him a few miles to get a nice trot going. He did seem to get the hottest of any dog on the team, and when we stopped he took the longest to cool down. He often squeaks as he runs to indicate excitement, and it’s super cute.

 Bowser: Bowser pulled hard on this race and wins the prize for most consistent yearling. He’s such a laidback dog that he does a good job of working hard and steady without overexerting himself right at the beginning. He pulled with confidence when passing other teams, which is a skill he has sometimes struggled with a bit in the past.  

 Faff: Faff was in wheel position (right in front of the sled) for this race. This required more coordination and grace than being farther up in the team, especially given the soft snow conditions. She really stepped up to the plate and pulled hard. About halfway through the second run, Faff started looking back at me a little more often, although she was still pulling hard. I stopped and checked her over and didn’t find anything wrong at the time, but when we finished the race she had a slightly swollen wrist. She’s been getting a daily massage and is recovering quickly.

 Bull: This guy was sweet, enthusiastic, hard-working, and a little klutzy. Bull took the longest of any of the yearlings to learn how to run in the soft snow, so we took it slow for several hours until he figured out a smooth trot. Despite his awkwardness, Bull pulled very hard for the entire race – even on the initial steep hills where he looked like a baby giraffe trying to swim. Despite how hard he worked to run, Bull finished his race by sprinting victory laps around the yard before settling into his house for a well-earned nap.

While Saeward and team were racing, the rest of the dogs, myself, and Derek headed to the Denali Highway for our first 5-day expedition of the spring! A big thank you to Kalyn and Saeward for holding down the fort while we were away!

Lefty and Cooke

Lunch Break

Ice Caves

And they're off!

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Ham, Saeward, Bowser

Saeward and Team hit the trail at 12:50 for the first 50-mile leg of the Two Rivers 100! The trail will travel from Chatanika Lodge to Two Rivers Lodge. The trail report warned of frozen glaciation, warm temperatures, and some fun technical sled driving. Go Saeward and Team!

Saeward ready to rock!

What do you think Faff is saying to Bull?

One More Race!

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Just when you thought the Ryno Kennel racing season was over, we’ve signed up for one more race! Saeward will be running a team of eight Ryno athletes in the Two Rivers 100 starting tomorrow!

For the past couple months, Saeward has been conditioning four yearlings to prepare them for their first “longer” race. She’s taken them on camping trips and gradually increased the miles, so that tomorrow at noon, they’ll be ready to rock their first 100 mile race! Saeward and team drew bib #28, which is the 8th bib for the 100-mile racers.

Who will be in Saeward’s Team?

Ham and Ewok

Vanessa and Thresher

Flash and Bowser

Faff and Bull

Saeward

Also, you may recall that Saeward handled for Kalyn during her Copper Basin 300. Now it’s Kalyn’s turn to handle for Saeward! The best place to get race updates will be on the Two Rivers Dog Mushers Facebook Page. Since this will be the yearlings first 100-mile race, Saeward’s main focus will be getting them to the finishline with wagging tails and energy to keep on running! (Which is important since the race ends at Pleasant Valley Store and Saeward will just run them home afterwards!)

While Saeward and Kalyn are participating in the Two Rivers 100, Derek and I will take the majority of the kennel down to the Alaska Range for our first 5-day expedition. Time for some camping! Fingers crossed this warm weather cools off soon!!

What's Up Next

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Nile

I’m hoping to write up a few good stories from the Yukon Quest, but in the meantime, what’s up next for our athletes?

Starting next week, the athletes and I will be hitting the trails on several expeditions in the Chena River Valley as well as the Alaska Range!

Saeward has been training up a team of yearlings and adults to run the Two Rivers 100 in just a couple weeks!

Ernie and Bert are growing like weeds and now bigger than Sasha!

And Scarpa and Petzl were total NATURALS their first time in harness!

Spring is one of my favorite times of year. We’re gaining over six minutes of daylight every day, and the trails are in perfect shape for mushing. So basically, we’ll be spending as much time outside as we can!

Crunch

CJ and Cartel- so cuddly!

King Louie

Ernie and Bert

Bert

Ernie

Athlete Report

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We have lots of stories from the Yukon Quest as well as videos and photos to share, but what about those canine athletes?!

I’m so proud of this year’s team and am bursting with pride over their performances. While we finished with a small team, that was in no way indicative of the their drive and desire to run. And probably more important than being good sled dogs, they’re just wonderful dogs.

Lefty

Lefty- This. Dog. Lefty joined the team in Carmacks. He led a significant portion of the race. He’s certainly not fast, and he’ll let the gangline get slack if the dogs behind him try to run faster than his pace, almost like a stubborn grump saying, “this is my pace, like it or lead yourselves.” That being said, he’s one of the most reliable leaders in the team. Overflow, blizzards, open water, summits- Lefty will navigate it. He’ll find a blown-in trail or lead off trail if we’re setting up a camp or maneuvering around an obstacle. I trust him with my life. He’s finished everything he ever started.

Jana

Jana- I almost didn’t bring Jana on this Quest. She’s slowed down a bit (she’s 7, almost 8 now), and I was thinking the youngsters might be ready to fill her shoes. Boy, am I glad I changed my mind. Jana led the last 200 miles including over Eagle Summit, Rosebud, and through our “finish line storm”. Her pace is faster than Lefty’s, so they make a good pair, with Jana encouraging Lefty to speed up a tiny bit. In the finish video, you can see Jana still harness banging to go, although I have to admit this is partially because Jana HATES crowds. She prefers her one on one time.

Cooke

Cooke- Wow. This guy rocked it. He was the only two-year-old on the team, but you wouldn’t know it. He ran in team or swing the entire race, until the final leg when I thought, let’s give Cooke some responsibility and see how he does in lead. Cooke led from the Two Rivers checkpoint, through a blizzard, by our kennel (this is a huge mental challenge!), and broke trail down the Chena River. Normally the last leg takes 8-10 hours, but with the storm and trail conditions, our final run was turning into a 12-13 hour run, which is really long! At hour 11 of breaking trail and running through overflow, Cooke started to get a little overwhelmed and started running a half step behind Jana. I swapped him out for Lefty, telling him what an AMAZING job he’d done. This guy has a very bright future.

Rucu

Rucu- My Rock. Rucu probably pulled 70% of the weight from Circle to the finish line. When this guy retires, I’ll need at least two dogs in the team to fill his shoes, maybe even three. Even though we finished as a 7-dog team, it was more like a 10-dog team since Rucu was in it. He’s such a powerhouse and thrives in challenging conditions like Eagle Summit or breaking trail. He gives his heart and soul to the team. If the dogs voted on a Sportsmanship Award, he’d be the one to win it.

CJ

CJ- She’s done it again and finished another Yukon Quest! I jest because CJ is an under-performer in training and is easily distracted by squirrels, cars, other teams—really anything. She’s good at pacing herself and makes sure that she always has energy in reserve. That being said, there’s something about her happy-go-lucky attitude that is the perfect balance to the competitiveness and seriousness of the other veterans. She reminds us to not take ourselves so seriously. Chase that moose. Pounce on that bootie in the trail. Chew on that willow. CJ has spotted lots of wildlife for us, including a lynx outside of Circle, a wolverine outside of Eagle, and that pestering drone hovering about 1/2 mile away taking aerial shots (I actually love the drone shots, but CJ is good at spotting them from far away).

Katy

Katy- Katy added another 1000-mile race to her resume! She led the first 100 miles from the start to Braeburn, but the next 900 miles she ran in either wheel (immediately in front of the sled) or a spot up from wheel. Normally it’s nice to have a powerful dog in wheel to help maneuver the sled, but Katy is actually a spectacular wheel dog. She can easily duck underneath the gangline and move from side to side to avoid obstacles. She’s a favorite of the volunteers and vets because she’s tiny and cuddly and cute. It was nice to have Katy in reserve in case we needed another leader.

Uno

Uno- This was Uno’s first 1000-mile race and she did spectacularly. In Dawson, while the rest of the team was enjoying the spa treatment, Uno was the first to start bouncing around, wondering why we were camping for 36 hours. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Uno tired. She had a brief mental lapse when we ran by home and continued to run for a few hours on the way to the finish line, but once she sensed the vibe of the rest of the team, she zeroed back in on the trail and powered forward.

Wingman

Wingman- Wingman’s race ended in Two Rivers but he was an important team member and sorely missed on the last run to the finish line. He worked hard, had a good attitude, and ate everything in sight. Every time we arrived at a checkpoint, Wingman loudly barked and screamed to announce “We are HERE! We had a great run! Hey everybody- we’re HEREEEEEE!!!” He was also a cheerleader leaving all the checkpoints, but his excitement upon reaching a checkpoint was unmatched.

Goblin

Goblin- Goblin has been a main leader for our past three 1000-mile races, and this race was no different. He joined the team in Pelly with the idea that he’d be well-rested for the remainder of the race. Unfortunately, Goblin developed a sore wrist and was dropped in Central. Up until then, he led through some of the gnarliest, icy sections on the Yukon River and was a big cheerleader for the team. Goblin and Boone made a fantastic leading pair. This was the first time Goblin has ever been dropped from a race, and he wasn’t happy about it.

Boone

Boone- I am soooooooo proud of Boone! She led from the very beginning of the race until she was left with the handling team in Circle. Her Achilles was slightly swollen, so we played it safe and ended her race early. But wow. She did so, so, so well! Her attitude was through the roof, she ate all her meals, and she increased the team’s speed by at least a mile per hour. Her only area of improvement would be leading over ice. I can’t really blame her, but she hated running across ice and would try to pull the team into the willows. She needed a strong partner like Goblin or Lefty to reassure her that the ice was safe to run across.

Wombat

Wombat- Wombat was the first athlete dropped in Pelly. She ran from the beginning to Pelly and was a big cheerleader for the team, but unfortunately, she developed a sore wrist from the hard packed trails. Wombat’s problem seems to be that she works too hard and injures herself. She needs to learn to settle down a bit, watch her step, and pace herself for the long haul. She’s a fantastic car companion though and cuddled in the backseat, causing no problems and being exceptionally adorable. Cuteness score- A+++

Fish

Fish- Fish and her mom, Perm, were the biggest cheerleaders in the team. Any time we stopped, left a checkpoint, or arrived at a checkpoint, Fish started banging her harness in anticipation to run. Her race ended in Scroggie when she developed tendonitis in her back leg. I had never seen this injury before, and Fish tried to assure us that it was no big deal, bouncing around as if to say “put me in coach! I can do it!” Like Wombat, she was an excellent car companion, but I think she’d have preferred to be running in the team. I know the team sure missed her mega-stoke attitude.

Perm

Perm- Perm and Fish were our two biggest cheerleaders, with Perm hitting a whole new level of motivational barker. I like to sing out loud on the trail, and Perm decided that she was a perfect back-up singer, especially when I’d try to hit high notes. Neither one of us have very pretty voices, but the team would get fired up anyway and we’d zip down the trail. Perm developed a stretched Achilles on the way to Trout Creek outside of Eagle. Much to her dismay, she had to ride in the sled for about 75 miles until we reached Slaven’s Roadhouse. Her race ended there, where the veterinarians and race officials made a soft bed in the roadhouse for her and splinted her back leg as a precaution. Once she returned to Fairbanks, Saeward took her to North Pole Veterinary Hospital where after x-rays, Dr. Lovely determined it was just a strain and surgery would not be necessary! Perm is on bed rest for 6-8 weeks, so she’s currently living in the cabin. She’s a hoarder, and I stumbled upon two bones, a roll of electrical tape, and a canister of bear spray hidden in her crate, so we’ve since “child-proofed” the house for Perm.

Supai

Supai- This is the first race in which Supai has ever been dropped. I was pretty emotional about it since he has run every race with me since the very beginning of Ryno Kennel, but Supai had developed a sore wrist and was dropped in Circle. He’s such a hardworker and LOVES big climbs like Eagle Summit, so I was hoping he’d bounce back after a nice long rest in Circle, but unfortunately, it just wasn’t in the cards. Supai was such a powerhouse all the way to Circle, ate everything, and had such a great attitude. I love this dog. A lot. He has an impressive resume and deserves to be on a Wheaties Box.

Even though we didn’t win, these dogs showed such perseverance, heart, and strength, and I’m honored to be part of their pack. I’m certainly biased, but they’re the best dogs in the world, and I wouldn’t want to travel 1000 miles with any other group of dogs!

Climbing Eagle Summit

Two Rivers Mushers- Best friends and neighbors!

Finish Banquet

Climbing Eagle Summit

Outside of Circle

Uno

Outside of Circle

Outside of Circle

Derek and Cooke

We Made It!

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Ryne here-

Thanks so much to everyone who followed along during our Yukon Quest and came to cheer on the team at the finish!

I couldn't be prouder of the team, especially the finishers Jana, Lefty, Katy, Cooke, Rucu, Uno, and CJ! While a small team, they had enormous drive and heart. Ironically, the last 20 miles into the finish down the Chena River and through Fairbanks was some of the most challenging conditions we had encountered all race! Cooke and Jana led the run into town, until after hours of breaking trail, young Cooke needed a break so Lefty took over. The Chena River was flooded with hidden overflow and open leads. With the trail and trail markers being blown away in the storm, we decided to hunker down for a short while until visibility was better. I never thought my first experience of hunkering down during a storm would be on a river bank below one of the houses of Fairbanks just six miles shy of the finish line! Ha! Thanks to the friends and family who patiently awaited our finish and even though the canine athletes aren't on Facebook (I don't think)- thank you to these wonderful dogs who pulled me through and showed such perseverance, trust, and strength. As I sit on the couch surrounded by my sleeping teammates and family, our hearts are full!