Denali Highway Truck Camping
/With the snow still lacking, we decided to head to the Denali Highway for some truck training! Derek and I packed up 30 athletes (21 adults and 9 yearlings) and met our friends and fellow mushers from Smokin' Ace Kennel for three days of winter camping and truck mushing fun!
One might think that truck mushing is the lazy way to exercise the athletes, and in some ways, it is! Rather than sitting on an ATV at -20F, we slowly drive at 9-10 mph in the warm cab of the pickup, listening to music, and rolling down the window whenever we need to yell a command out to the team. Sounds plush right? Well, we learned that hard way that we're just not cut out for truck mushing. After spending long hours sitting in the truck then getting out to load dogs or bootie paws, both Derek and I could hardly move with our backs all tense and out of whack. While the dogs have fun no matter what they're pulling, we need to be active! Bring on the sleds!
Derek and I hanging out while the dogs take a short nap. (photo by Amanda Brooks)
