The Howler

Look Mom, No Hands!

2012-01-02T09:09:00.000-09:00

2012 Race Schedule

2011-12-31T18:33:00.000-09:00

   As 2011 comes to a close, and the 2012 racing season begins I've finally put together a race schedule which I'm really excited about.

   Putting together a race schedule is one of my biggest challenges each year, and there are many factors which I look at before I decide to commit to a race.

   Mother Nature is usually to blame for making racing decisions difficult. NOAA has a hard time predicting what the weather will do an hour from now, so trying to guess if some of the early races will actually go off, or if there will be enough snow to have a safe race is almost impossible for me to predetermine. This year Mother Nature has made almost all of us Alaskan mushers very happy by blessing the entire state with plenty of the white stuff. This is the first year that I've been racing in Alaska where weather wasn't a factor in determining where I would be going.

     The next thing I look at is the quality of the event. What makes a quality event? One thing a race needs to have is a good trail, which is well marked. A good trail is one that is safe, and makes sense to negotiate with a dog team. I gave up adventure a long time ago and no longer feel that in order to prove myself worthy, I must do all the foolish things I used to do. As for a well marked trail, I live in one of the more remote locations on our road system so I'm very fortunate in that I can get lost at my own leisure without leaving home. Cool huh!

   Next, I look at the rules. Most of our races have similar rules, but each race usually has at least one or two rules which may vary from the norm. What I'm looking for in the rules are things which I feel do not make sense to a dog team.

    The most important consideration is are the distances, and mandatory rests appropriate for my team at each specific time of the year. As the winter progresses, the dogs' condition improves, and so each race should be challenging, but well within the abilities of the dogs on my team.

Enough of my yapping, let's go to the races.

The Knik 200

January 7th + 8th

http://www.knik200sleddograce.com

The Northern Lights 300

January 27th.

http://northernlights300.org

Paul Johnson Memorial Norton Sound 450

February 8th*

Iditarod

March 3rd

http://www.Iditarod.com

*dependent on whether or not I can convince 3,500

of my dearest friends to give me a buck.

Well that's all for now. Looking forward to seeing all my friends, and hoping to make a few new ones. Until the next time, I hope you're having as much fun with your dog or dogs as I am with mine.

I'm outta here, Mike

Load Up and Go

2011-12-28T07:09:00.000-09:00

Team Work

2011-12-27T10:20:00.000-09:00

      I had the privilege of listening to John Baker speak a little bit ago, and loved his description of what he calls Team Baker. In the most humble manner imaginable, from a man who is not only the reigning Iditarod champ, but who has the distinction of having the fastest Iditarod finish ever, he referred to himself as simply the driver of Team Baker.

   I think that all too often, at least in the eyes of the general public, dog mushing is viewed as a solitary endeavor, because unlike in NASCAR, rarely does anyone ever see our pit crews. As the 2012 sled dog racing season approaches, I thought it appropriate to introduce you to our crew.

   Introducing our handlers this year. These are the guys who are in the trenches day after day, night after night, doing the million little things right that allow us to succeed.



From Topeka Kansas, Nicholas Guy, with his favorite dog Nestor.

From Jericho Vermont, Christian Taylor, with his favorite dog Edison.

   Handlers are the unsung heroes of the dog mushing world, without whose help it would be impossible for us to do what we do. Maintaining a large kennel is in many ways very similar to other forms of farming in that it's a 365 day a year job, which requires a lot of man power. I rely on these guys, even if you don't see them often, just like a NASCAR driver depends on his pit crew. The world's fastest driver can only get out of the pit as quickly as his crew can change his tires and fuel his car.

   As I begin to look at putting together a race schedule that makes sense for our team and our team's goals, there is another group of folks who are vital members of this team that I would like to thank. They are our sponsors. They are the folks who make it possible for us to purchase the mountain of stuff a dog team requires on a yearly basis. Their financial support of our team cannot be overstated, but I'm also proud to be associated with them all on a personal level. They are our extended family.

Rick McMahan, and the boys that make fishing fun at Denali Fly Fishing Guides.
James and Joy Wheeler, EMS K-9 Unit.
Jayne Hempstead, Cantwell Veterinary Service for taking great care of our dogs.
Frances Gray, dear friend and supporter.
Kenny Dolenak, Josh Baltimore, and the gals in the office at Ringers Gloves
Claude and Jennifer Bondy and the crew at Alpine Creek Lodge.
Land officer James Smith and AHTNA Inc., our neighbors.
Michelle Henderson Grainger Industrial Supply. Can't wait to take you mushing Michelle
Mark Roberts, and the fellows from New Zealand for making the greatest dog food on the planet at K9 Natural.
Scott Lee for making me feel at home at the Inlet Towers.
Tom and EZ Farbo, long time friends and supporters. Love you.
Maureen Regan, my Iditarod chef from Mighty Fine Kitchens.

The crew, Christian Taylor and Nicholas Guy, making the magic happen.

2011-11-13T09:45:00.000-09:00

The Luckiest Day of my Life

2011-11-09T17:45:00.002-09:00

     The luckiest day of my life started out as what I'd call a fairly typical day. The crew and I had mushed our thirty-nine dogs out to our remote camp in front of the truck. There was a little more fresh snow than I expected, but we had a great run, and I was excited that even some of my young dogs, "teenagers," had figured out what this whole camping thing was all about.

     We got all the dogs cared for and bedded down. We ate supper and turned in for a little shuteye. Since we were still in the truck I was using the cab as my portable office as well as my sleeping quarters, leaving the crew a little extra room in our shelter.    At camp is usually where I do my best thinking so I like to stay up a bit after our arrival jotting down observations of our days activities, and working and reworking what we call the playbook which is a list basically of which dog is going to run where in the team. Before I turned in, I had noticed that it had started to snow again, and decided that our layover needed to be shortened in order to ensure we would be able to actually make it home.

     I slept for an hour, and when I got up it had stopped snowing and there wasn't really any additional accumulation. I was a little relieved and felt confident that we would have another great run. We fed the dogs breakfast, packed up our stuff and prepared to leave.

   Now in order for us to leave camp with the truck, I need to do a little three point turn to get us heading in the right direction. it's really no big deal, there is a small clearing which I use to back into, and I've done this same three point turn in this exact spot a hundred times. But today, on the luckiest day of my life, I missed the clearing slightly and slid just a bit sideways. Apparently the snow cover allowed me to float up and over a stump as I backed up. Unfortunately while backing up, the truck compressed the snow which no longer would float me back off of the stump. So there we were, 60 miles from home with a rope come-a-long an axe and one rather large truck whose transmission and drive shaft where now perched atop a two foot diameter stump.

   Chop, chop, chop, crank, chop, chop crank, crank, crank, chop... For six hours. I'm hoping you get the picture. Now for those of you who do not believe that Mother Nature has an interesting sense of humor, after the first hour of chopping and cranking it started to snow lightly. After our second hour of chopping and cranking it started to snow heavily. Three hours of chopping and cranking and the snow was really starting to come down. Yup, I was starting to get a little worried, but as long as the wind didn't kick up I was sure we would still be able to get home.

   The Alaska Range is notorious for strong winds, and there are many stretches of the Denali highway where the wind can magically take six inches of snow and pile it all up in one spot creating an impassible drift. Four hours into chopping and cranking, and a slight breeze started to bend the spruce tops, five hours into chopping and cranking and the wind was whistling. Finally, we got the truck freed after six hours of chopping and cranking, but now the wind was down right howling.

   We hurried to get the dogs hooked up and off we went.    The dogs apparently enjoyed their extra sleep and were easily plowing through drift after drift, the truck on the other hand was bogging down a little deeper with each. But, we were making good progress and the wind had died down and there was even a hint of blue in the sky which told me the snow would soon be letting up as well.

   We made it a total of ten miles from camp when we hit an enormous drift which sent the rear end of the truck sideways off of the shoulder of the road. We started digging out the wheels, all the while trying to calm the dogs down who were really confused as to why we were stopped so long. Once I was confident that with the dogs help we should be able to get the truck back up onto the road, I walked up the line asking the dogs if they were ready. They responded with a resounding, "yup, we're ready," I hopped into the truck yelled out the window you boys ready, and they responded again enthusiastically. Alright then, they lurched, the truck began to creep forward, I let up the clutch, and just when I thought we were out of the ditch, "SNAP."

     The nano second it took for the gangline to break seemed to happen in ultra slow motion, I swear I could see each individual fiber let go and I sharply remember having the urge to reach out and grab it as it was happening, but I couldn't. Not that it would have helped any. Once that last strand of rope let go there was an audible pop, the truck slipped back, and everything went from ultra slow speed to the speed of light instantly, as thirty nine dogs tore down the highway as if they had just been shot out of cannon.

   My heart stopped beating.

   But wait. "THUMP" Did they? "THUMP" They couldn't have. "THUMP... THUMP," But it really looks like they did. "THUMP... THUMP" If they did, I don't believe it. "THUMP... THUMP" They stopped. "THUMP" They stopped. "Thump" THEY STOPPED! THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMPITY THUMP. THEY STOPPED!!!

Because they just stopped.

That is why this day was the luckiest day of my life.

P.S. All thirty nine dogs are one hundred percent safe and sound. Albeit they were awfully confused as to why we wanted to load them in the truck after only a ten mile run. As for the three of us, other then being really tired that evening, we're already back at it.

Until the next time I hope you're enjoying your dog or dogs as much as I am mine, Mike

Snowy Day

2011-11-06T20:35:00.000-09:00

Twain

It's been a beautiful snowy day in Cantwell. We have over a foot of snow already, which has been really nice for the dogs. It makes the trails softer on their feet and a little less bumpy for us. Mike, Christian, and Nicholas have gone out to our training camp on the Denali Highway with 39 dogs. They are still training in the truck. The dogs will run 52 miles to camp, sleep for 6-8 hours and then run home. I know that Mike is really impressed with all the dogs this year, but sometimes he mentions one or two who really stand out. Last trip he reported that Bandit and Boone, both 2 year olds gave him the impression they could run forever effortlessly. Their brother Bruiser tried to keep running down the highway when they let him loose after running 100 miles.

Here at the Den I got to walk puppies in the snow. We are having a bunch of fun, except they are getting faster than me. Last week one of them ran all the way home from the top of the hill without stopping. That was when I decided I was better off taking them in two groups rather than all at once. Angus has moved inside for the winter. I really think he would have preferred to retire to Florida.

Angus the champ

This is How We Roll

2011-10-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

Summer in Denali

2011-06-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

Now that the snow has finally melted I've decide to spend my free time this summer helping those who have helped me, and to do what I can to get you all to visit Denali this summer.

Rick McMahan of Denali Fly Fishing http://www.denaliflyfishing.com was the first person to come on board when I signed up for last year's Iditarod. Rick was not only instrumental in helping us with the substantial cost, he also was a big part in helping us acquire other sponsors, and he has gone out of his way to introduce us to the business community of the Denali Borough. The moral support he provided cannot be understated.

On a totally different note, for the past several years Rick has been involved with a program called Dine Out for Life. http://www.diningoutforlfe.com It's a program in which all of the proceeds from the meals sold at a participating restaurant on a specific evening are donated to the Alaska Interior Aids Association http://www.interioraids.org This past spring Rick brought the first ever Dine Out for Life event to the Denali Borough, which was held at the 49th State Brewing CO. http://www.49statebrewing.com It was well attended and I'm sure it will be bigger and better next year. I'll post dates for next year's event as it approaches.

What I really enjoyed the most about my time with DFFG, which may not come across in the video, is how passionate this crew is about fishing. Fishing is what these guys do, regardless of whether or not they are guiding. Jared, who was my guide and instructor for the day and also one of my neighbors, is hardly ever seen without his waders on. If you are in the Denali area this summer and you are looking for an authentic Alaskan experience give these guys a call. I promise you won't regret it.

A great day of fishing might have been exactly what I needed to concentrate on finishing my recount of this past year's Iditarod.

Guest appearance by Wilson, Rick's dog

Another great reason to visit Denali this summer, is the Cantwell Bluegrass festival, July 8th, 9th, + 10th, http://www.cantwellodgeak.com Mike and the crew at the Lodge have worked really hard this summer, to make this year's Bluegrass festival a big success. They've built a brand new stage, and removed the old hotel off of the property opening up the viewing area a ton. Hope to see you there!

Got to go play with my puppies, until the next time I hope you are having as much fun with your dog as I am with mine.

Mike

Down the Avenue and On Our Way to Yentna Station

2011-04-17T08:25:00.000-08:00

       Over night, 4th Avenue relinquishes its familiar habits, and awakes as center stage for what many consider the greatest drama of the modern world, Iditarod.  Adventure, history, sport, challenge, spectacle, excitement, fear, thrill, accomplishment, sacrifice, attainment, controversy, relevance, love and hate.  Iditarod leaves no element of humanity untouched.  It is impossible for me driving to the staging area downtown, not to think of the personal journeys of everyone we encounter on our way, not only the mushers, but their spouses as well, their families and supporters, their handlers, the volunteers, the fans, the media, everyone who participates, imagine the story that could be told if only it were possible to chronicle how we all ended up here.

   Unfortunately, the only story I know is my own. So, how did I end up here? Well, I don’t have a very interesting answer to that question, but my mother does. She has said all along that when I was young I fell off a horse, hit my head and haven’t been right since. Don’t remember the event, but that might explain my dislike of horses, just can’t trust a prey species.

        For those of you who don’t know me well I’ll confess, I absolutely love the whole downtown thing.  I even love saying downtown, (sounds so Rat Packish. Question to self, why do I love Dean Martin so much?)  Maybe it’s because I live in a village of only a hundred people, (need to get out more.)  Or just maybe, it’s because my little brother is taller then me, was also a better athlete and a better student, or perhaps I’m just a big ham, but I love, love, love the attention, I love meeting new people, I love talking to people, and perhaps most importantly I love seeing people excited about something I’m passionate about, (even if they don’t get it.)  I’m also addicted to the way Caitlin looks at me when I’m about to step on the runners at the beginning of a race, (my baby really, really likes cowboys, but she LOVES me.)

I’ve been on the Avenue every year since 2006, as a part of Jeff King’s entourage. And although he never gave me the opportunity to drive the tag sled, (can you believe he actually made me run.) I cannot say that I didn’t get a first class education in regards to how this whole downtown thing works. I felt right at home now that it was finally my turn, and enjoyed the experience all the more because of my past involvement. Shades? Check! Sharpie? Check! SHOW TIME!

        I’m a very visual individual, and stuff like dreams, visions, and memories usually come to me in high-definition 3D surround sound clarity, but as we worked our way up to the start line all I was receiving on the old brain wave station were still images.  Nothing but snap shots, glimpses of people I’d known or met over the years, places I had visited, dogs I’d driven, and a plethora of the more ridiculous situations I’d been in with dogs. (book on that one coming, need another lifetime.)

        What would it take to get to Nome? I didn’t know and as it turns out I guess I still don’t, but I do know what it has taken me to get here. I can remember with crystal clarity the many, many sacrifices I’ve made over the years. But, right here, right now, I wouldn’t change a thing. Even all the dark cold morning trips to the outhouse seem worth it.

       3, 2, 1, lift off. I quickly glanced over my shoulder to verify if Lindsay was up right. She was, relief. Her million-dollar smile however wasn’t as fluid as it usually is.  It seemed to have a nervous rigidity to it with a slight twist of excitement. Problem, she was driving my very new hardly tested Iditarod sled, which she had never driven, and I really wanted her to make it around with my sled remaining very new and untested. Solution, what she needs is a distraction.  A hot dog? Perfect! I grabbed the wiener out of the spectator’s hand as we sped by. I asked Lindsay if she was ready, she nodded.

      Now passing something, anything, from one sled to a second sled both moving forward at eleven miles an hour attached with an eight foot rope requires a rudimentary understanding of physics, (before you start assuming that I might be more learned then you would’ve thought, I’ll confess that I’ve never taken physics, but I have passed many objects, successfully and otherwise, from one sled to the other.) All you really gotta do is have a little faith in a well respected phenomena known as gravity.  It’s all really simple, and much like a good golf shot, one must calculate wind speed, mass, force, and trajectory.  Having made my calculations, I lobbed the magic wiener, (bun ketchup and all,) straight up into the air with enough force to propel it’s mass, launching it on a trajectory, which would hopefully give it just enough hang time to allow her to basically, “catch up to it.” She made a spectacular grab.

   Whether or not she actually ate the hotdog I do not know, maybe, simply making the catch was all that was required, but her smile was now flowing as easily as the Jack River in July, and more importantly, her knees and elbows suddenly re-realized that they could bend and we were now a seriously cohesive unit.

My Iditarider Mike Smith was a lot more knowledgeable about sled dogs and the Iditarod then I would have guessed, I thoroughly enjoyed his company. We talked dogs, while tossing out gloves, ball caps, and ear bands supplied to me for the occasion from my sponsors, Ringer Gloves, http://ringersgloves.com and Grainger Industrial supply http://www.grainger.com to the fans lining the trail.

To say that I was having a blast would be an understatement, but I’m confident that if anyone in Anchorage was having more fun then I was it was the twelve dogs I was driving. The dogs I’m privileged to own all possess a certain, “joie de vie,” which is expressed whenever they encounter something new. Anything, a loose dog, a dog team in front of us, a car, a pink elephant with it’s tail on fire, everything that is new is exciting. The number of fans was enough to get them fired up. When the crowd cheered, the dogs barked, the crowd cheered louder, they barked louder, the barking, (I call it trash talking,) can usually be attributed to a couple of individuals within the team, but it is contagious, and when one dog barks, the others feel like they have no choice but to join in. The barking itself is now the new thing which needs to be celebrated. How do a pack of half crazed sled dogs in peak physical condition celebrate? They go like the devil’s horse hell bent on home. That’s how.

The eleven mile trip from 4th Avenue over to the Campbell Airstrip provided my crew plenty of reasons to get excited. A culvert, boom, fourth gear. A pedestrian overpass, boom boom, fifth gear. A Martin Buser banner, kablam, wait a second, where did that gear come from? I didn’t bother to time our trip, but we must have been really hauling a**, we passed three teams and beat my rig to the staging area by ten minutes.

In Willow on Sunday morning, I was feeling confident (some who were there might even say I was overly confident) however there are two reasons why I felt the way I did. One, well I never met a dog musher who ins’t confident, and two, the dogs were in great shape. I’m positive that we had prepared (or conditioned) this team for the upcoming event remarkably well. We had worked tirelessly over the past couple of weeks tending to their feet, and we also managed to get an extra pound on them while maintaining their appetites.

One of the absolute highlights of my Iditarod was the short trip from my truck up to the starting chute. Caitlin had informed me that Brandon Lee, one of my neighbor’s boys, who we rely on throughout the season to cover dog chores and odd jobs around the kennel when we are away, was going to be at the restart. Brandon is a great kid and an excellent worker, and I was really excited to be able to provide him with an armband that would grant him access to the staging area. I initially thought that he’d get a kick out of helping us get the team to the start line.

As our time to go nearer I became a little worried about Brandon running up with our team. He had never done this and he had never even been to a sled dog race. Also, I had plenty of handlers and friends there who knew how this all worked. What to do? I told Brandon that I thought that we had plenty of folks to help with the team, but what I really needed was someone to ride the sled with me to help keep it under control. His eyes lit up like a Vegas slot machine. I had him stand on one runner, I on the other. The wows started the second I pulled the hook and we began moving. I’d bet that he managed to get in at least a hundred wows during our short trip, perforated with other expressions of excitement like “They’re crazy” “This is sick” (I think sick is good) and he even let a holy crap slip (don’t tell his parents please). We got to the line and I thanked him for his help and off we went.

If there was one thing I was worried about it was getting lost on this first stretch. There is a spiderweb of trails stemming from the surrounding communities of Big Lake, Wasilla, and Knik that access the river and I have gotten myself turned around on this particular trail system a couple of times over the years. As it turns out I had nothing to worry about, because the party that started down in Anchorage was apparently just the warm up for today’s festivities. Practically the entire trail from the start all the way up to Yentna and beyond was lined with people. The trail was wide and, due to all the traffic, it was well put in which made for really easy going. A great way to start the race.

We checked into Yentna station, where I turned in my bib, grabbed a bail of straw and off we went. There were a few teams parked there. There was anther team who had come in just in front of me also preparing to leave and another team approaching the checkpoint from behind. I thought I had recognized a couple of teams around me, but it was too early to be concerned about the grand scheme of things. However, I cannot say that I didn’t secretly wish to have access to my Iditarod Insider account. Now that would’ve been cool, wouldn’t it?

The sun started to set soon after leaving Yentna, and the glow of the numerous bonfires could be seen for miles making it impossible to get lost. I passed one bonfire, and a spectator yelled out, “Ten miles to Skwentna.” I found a quiet spot off the trail a ways and camped. I had planned all along to stop shy of the Skwentna checkpoint and then blow through it and head straight over to Finger Lake.

I felt that it was imperative not to put a long run on them straight out of the gate. The dogs devoured their first meal of the race, which reaffirmed my race plan thus far. The dogs, knowing the drill well, settled down for a nap. I cooked a second meal that I would feed them just before we were ready to continue. I prepared snacks for the next leg, then sprawled out on top of my sled for a little rest. I had a hard time sleeping though, watching the headlamps of the many teams silently slipping up the trail. Were they the teams I had seen parked earlier, now rested enough to skip Skwentna and camp somewhere shy of Finger? Or were they the teams that started behind me making their initial run longer, planning to spend some time in Skwentna? Impossible to know really, and practically impossible not to think about. Just enough ways to slice this pie to make it interesting.

Until next time, WOOF.

The Anchorage Ceremonial Start

2011-03-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

Across this great country of ours there seems to be a tremendous amount of confusion regarding the phrase, “March Madness.”  In forty-nine of the fifty states, many people believe that March Madness has something to do with college basketball.  Here in Alaska everyone knows that March Madness means only one thing, IDITAROD!!!

If you are one of the confused, I would like to invite you to reconsider.  The Iditarod kicks off on the first Saturday in March.  Sixty to eighty dog teams converge on Anchorage prepared for the challenge known as the Last Great Race.  Thousands of fans from around the state who by March have succumbed to varying degrees of cabin fever, looking for any excuse to get outdoors and have a little fun, come out to wish their favorite mushers well, enjoy the almost spring like weather, and to celebrate the historical role that huskies and mushers have played in Alaska’s history.   Add to the mix the enlightened few from every corner of the globe who show up to see what this Iditarod thing is all about, and you’ve got a world class championship sporting event mixed with what only can be described as an Alaskan version of Mardi Gras.

Some say that the downtown Anchorage start is merely ceremonial, others think of it as a spectacle, some mushers even think of it as one of the challenges to running the Iditarod, few folks if any think of it as the official start of the Iditarod.  For me, the Iditarod officially started on that preceding Thursday, when I arrived at the Millennium Hotel to attend the driver’s meeting.  The crystal water glasses placed at each seat made it obvious that this was a little different than let’s say the Copper Basin or the Knik race.  The meeting itself wasn’t much different, just longer.

The first half of the meeting was spent taking care of business.  We were informed about how the GPS tracking device worked and who would be installing them and when.  I received my vet book, which I must sign and have signed by a vet at every checkpoint.  I signed for receiving the symbolic mail cache, which I also must have at every checkpoint.  I then got an hour or so of practicing my autograph.  I signed posters, hats, and five bottles of wine with my mug on the label.

Just before lunch, they had the Iditariders come in, these are folks who won online bidding wars in order to ride in the sled of one of the mushers on Saturday’s ceremonial start.  As each stepped up to the podium, their respective musher was announced and stood up, so the Iditariders could get a chance to put a face to the name they were obviously anxious to meet.

We were then escorted out into the foyer for the annual champagne toast and photo shoot.  We were short a couple of seats, and I got sandwiched between Zoya Denure, and Brendan Norden.  Any guesses as to whose chair I opted to share?  A comment was made as to how silly this was.  I responded by saying that I thought it was really cool.  I couldn’t help but think of all the old grainy black and white photos of all the great dog mushers, the explorers, trappers and miners of that era that I relished as a kid.  These images have a lot to do with who I’ve become.  I can’t help but think that in a hundred years people will look back on our current mega pixel digital images as archaic relics, just like we do those old black and white photos of yester year.  Perhaps, in the future some kid somewhere will relish these now current photos, and emulate all of us as I did my predecessors, and just maybe they will inspire that person to challenge themselves in their own personal way.

After the photo shoot there was a pizza lunch for Iditaroders and Iditariders.  I didn’t have an Iditarider just yet, so I got a little break.  My sled was randomly pulled from the bidding.  Iditarod does this just in case an Iditaroder were to pull out before the event placing the Iditarod in the sticky situation of having more Iditariders than Idtaroders.  In the event that no one pulls out, the Iditarod puts the remaining sleds up for bid at a live auction held on Friday night during their presenting sponsors diner party, which was the case this year.

The remainder of the meeting was dedicated to the trail and conditions.  Very frustrating for a rookie, “In and out of Rainy just like last year,” “Hot water available at the same spots as last year,” And my personal favorite and the line that every race marshal needs to memorize before accepting the position, “The trail is in the best shape it’s ever been in.”  Guess I’ll just have to figure it out as we go along.

That evening we headed over to the banquet, which was held at the Dena’ina center downtown.   I drew bib number twenty-seven and got a chance to thank my sponsors.  Caitlin thought that twenty-seven was a really cool number because it was a cubic number and she thought it was a really, really cool number because it’s cubic root was three.  Yikes!

Until all of the personal pre-race parties start, Friday is sort of an off day, unless you’re still putting your sled together or something like that.  Kidding, my sled was good to go despite what you all might have heard.  It had five miles on it going into Saturdays run.

Now I’m not the kind of guy who believes in rituals, or superstitions, I even have a hard time believing in luck.  However, I do have one particular quirk, which I myself find difficult to explain, and that is, I must stay at the Inlet Towers on Good Friday, (that’s what I call the day before Iditarod.)  It’s where I’ve stayed on Good Friday every year since 2006, or since I’ve been in Alaska.  Just good vibes I guess, (vibes, that’s not superstitious is it?)

My pre-race party was held in the lounge of the Mixx Grill, at the Inlet Towers.  A few of my neighbors from Cantwell came down, as well as a few of my mushing buddies, Mark, (Prez, as in president of the ITC,) and Debbie Moderow made an appearance, Lindsay’s, (one of our handlers,) mom and grand-mom flew up from Oregon to attend, a few of my sponsors and plenty of folks that were staying at the hotel for the Iditarod joined us.  My friend Scott Smith presented me with a bundle of shaved spruce bows and pipe clamps wrapped together neatly with pink duct tape, (didn’t even know they made pink duct tape,) as a repair kit for the sled I’d built which he was confident was never going to make it.  I christened it the Spruce Bow Award.  I’m thrilled to report that everyone had a great time.  The manager excitedly reported that it was his second biggest night of the year.  Can’t imagine what the biggest night of the year was, but I’m confident we will rise to the challenge next year.  I will be very disappointed with myself if I haven’t already convinced you that Anchorage is the only place on the planet to be on Good Friday, so I’m just going to assume that all of you will be in town next year.  So here it is, in writing, a personal invite to our pre-race party.
When:  Good Friday, 2012.
Where:  The Inlet Towers 1200 L Street.
Time:  6:00 P.M.
Why:  Help us be number one!

I mentioned earlier that the Iditarod was planning to auction off my sled on Friday night, and I thought that I was obligated to be there for the auction.  Well, I was really disappointed when they told me that they didn’t need me there.  So I asked if I could come if I wanted to.  They said sure, but they didn’t sound so sure.  I just couldn’t believe that they would raise as much money for the ceremonial ride as they could if I was present.  I mean who would go crazy bidding on a no name rookie musher like me without knowing a darn thing about me.  Lets face it I’m not exactly Martin Buser.  So, despite the hesitation I perceived, I showed up anyway.

I entered the banquet room, and to my surprise there was Lance, as in Sir, strutting around the room in a full-length fur coat that the crowd was very actively bidding on.  Apparently, admittance to such events is one of the perks of being ordained, “Sir.”  The auctioneer saw me standing there and jumped over the remaining items to put my ride up for bid.  I didn’t get as much, “Mike time,” as I would’ve liked but I managed to get one joke in and, yes, even Lance laughed.

The bidding started at what I thought was a ridiculously low dollar amount, but it quickly increased which made me feel a whole lot better. A live auction is something I’ve never participated in, and after having been involved in one, I now have all the admiration in the world for auctioneers. I thought I could talk a lot, but wow, the dialogue was so fast it was impossible to follow. I didn’t understand a word the guy said. I never saw a hand go up, nothing. All I can remember was that occasionally a higher dollar amount was announced. That’s got to be good, right? I hope so, because every time I heard the figure go up I stuck my thumb up like I knew what the hell was going on. Before I could determine if attending was a good idea or not, a gavel struck the podium and I had been sold to Meg Smith. I practically jumped from the stage and gave her a big hug. Although I was ecstatic to be the first musher in Iditarod’s history to attend the auctioning of their Iditaride, I was at the moment very relieved to have had the whole ordeal behind me. As it turns out Meg had been an Iditarider in 2009, and was bidding on behalf of her husband Mike. I retreated form the event thrilled to finally know who my Iditarider would be, and more than happy to hand the remainder of the evenings festivities back over to Lance.

I haven’t had the opportunity to watch much TV since the glory days of serial television, when Dallas was the must see on TV. And I would like to remind readers that the reason they didn’t tell you, “who shot Jr,” in the first episode of the season was because the network wanted you all to stay glued to your sets for the remainder of the season. So if you really want to know how the 2011 iditarod unfolded from my perspective, you’ll just have to drag your laptop along with you all summer. I’ve got a lot of miles to cover, and I’m just not as fast as I once was.

Our trip down the Avenue, as in 4th, and the re-start coming soon.

WOOF

The big question answered

2011-03-25T12:12:00.001-08:00

This was sent to me via Email from a long time friend:

    “Welcome back! We followed you and Catlin’s comments during the race, and are proud of your progress down the trail. (Great Photos, by the way). And, now we’re looking forward to your Iditarod account.
     So, get busy! WRITE, WRITE, WRITE… we know you can do it. We want to know what you experienced on the trail, and how you felt about it. You know the big question, everyone is going to ask, don’t you? … i.e. Will you do it again? You might have to address this, before too long, too.”

    I was just finishing up part two of my Iditarod wrap up, which chronicles our time in Anchorage and the ceremonial start, (which will be posted no later than tomorrow morning, I promise.) Part 2 of my Iditarod experience does not however answer the question that everybody is going to ask. Honestly I hadn’t thought that the question everybody was going to ask was a question at all. A huge part of the reason it takes me so long to get material posted is because I’m already busy preparing for the 2012 Iditarod, running two teams of yearlings everyday. My afternoons are occupied running two teams of puppies, in preparation for the 2013 Iditarod. Oh yeah, and this time of year we also invest a ton of our time dealing with our breeding program which would take us into the 2014 Iditarod. (ATTN: anybody driving to Alaska via Arkansas, please give me a call I have a new lead dog down there that needs a ride.) ANY MORE QUESTIONS!

    Yes I plan to run the Iditarod until my knees, back, and fingers completely give out, or until there is a mini me wishing to take over, (hint, hint.)

    Shortly before the re-start in Willow a good friend Mike Ellis, (crazy Quester,) stopped by our rig, and while we were talking I commented that I couldn’t wait until next year, and he laughed and said your already thinking about next year, and I said Mike you gotta see what I’ve got at home.

    Jason Reppert who I worked with briefly during my tenure at Jeff King’s operation, was one of the volunteers at Nikolai. He called Caitlin shortly after his stint in Nikolai to report that I was totally in my element.

    Don’t get me wrong, I often wish this wasn’t the case. During my 24 in Takotna, I was talking with Sonny Linder, he asked me how it was going and I told him that I sort of wished that I was having a miserable time of it, so that I could give this crazy lifestyle up, and live a normal life, maybe take an annual vacation with the wife to Hawaii or someplace where normal people vacation, maybe even have the money to have plumbing installed in the house, (man I often dream about flushing something, anything.) I might even take the time to see my doctor more than once every ten years, (huh, funny, if I got a doctor I can’t remember his or her name,) I probably would even start thinking about a retirement account or something like that, (Anybody have any Idea who the hell this IRA fella is, has he ever run the Iditarod?)

    The bottom line: It took me almost twenty years to admit it, but I’ve got a serious problem. I’m an addict. Dogs, dog mushing, and the Iditarod are all that I think about. Poor Caitlin.

WOOF

A few dogs for sale

2011-03-21T21:02:00.000-08:00

Iditarod Wrap Up

2011-03-20T11:26:00.000-08:00

Shortly after arriving back in Anchorage, I received a call from a friend who was apparently surprised by the manner in which I answered the phone. She said, “I’m glad to see your ego is intact.” I have no idea why my ego, great or small, should’ve been altered in any way. Yes, it’s true that less then 24 hours earlier I was in Unalakleet making the difficult decision to withdraw from the 2011 Iditarod. I suppose some people might think that withdrawing from the Iditarod would be devastating to one’s self esteem, but as I look back on my rookie experience, which was Iditarod 2011, proud is how I feel.

I am first and foremost very proud of the group of dogs with whom I had the privilege to travel the Iditarod trail. I have been impressed by the athletic feats and determination of sled dogs for years, but the dogs and their performance still managed to astound me. I’m very proud of the people who have worked with us all winter in order to get us to the starting line. Friends and family gave up hours, days, and months of time to help us train and prepare the supplies and equipment needed for the race. I’m also very proud of the companies and friends, whose financial help made Iditarod possible. It was fun to see their excitement at being involved with our team and this incredible adventure and encouraging to know that they were behind us. And I’m awfully proud of my wife for being as always the backbone of everything we do.

As I sit here trying to capture my thoughts and opinions of the 2011 Iditarod my memory is a little overwhelmed. There is just too much to process in such a short time. So Iditarod junkies keep your refresh buttons warm and check back as we begin the Last Great Race again. I plan to take you with me, checkpoint by checkpoint, as I try to relive the 2011 Iditarod.

Prelude to future installments

As the sun set on our first day of racing, I noticed that the green and red lights of the GPS tracking device mounted to my sled would, every fifteen minutes or so, blink alternately. I assumed that the flashing lights indicated that the tracking device was sending out its signal indicating my location, speed, etc. I immediately thought of Caitlin at home waiting anxiously for the next blip of info. By the second night, which was spent heading over Rainy Pass and then down the Dalzell Gorge, I caught myself referring to the GPS unit as Caitlin. Sunrise, day three, heading out of the Rohn check point I started to question my sanity, after all, only seriously delusional individuals name inanimate objects. I began to compare my behavior with that of Tom Hanks’ character in the movie, “Cast Away.” As the dogs scurried up and over the Post-Rohn Glacier, I was preoccupied trying to determine if talking to a basketball named Wilson was as crazy, or was it in fact, crazier then me naming my GPS tracker Caitlin. By the third night I had completely given up trying to evaluate my sanity. I was convinced that, if I concentrated on a particular thought when the unit now known as Caitlin blinked, I could transmit subliminal messages home via satellite.

Over to the coast

2011-03-15T00:16:00.000-08:00

I am watching Mike and the dogs make good progress towards Unalakleet. As of right now they have 19 miles left to go. Many of you noticed that Mike took a long layover at Kaltag. The dogs have gotten a stomach virus and Mike has been working hard to keep them hydrated. Just like people sometimes get sick when traveling on crowded airplanes, dogs can share viruses when they come together at races. In Kaltag Mike used every trick he knew to try to get more liquid into the dogs. He also consulted with the veterinarians. One thing that Mike has stood out for is his commitment to providing the best possible care for his dogs. During the All Alaska Sweepstakes, in 2008, Mike impressed our veterinarian, Jayne Hempstead, with his resolve to put the needs of the dogs before his own ambitions.

This morning, after giving the dogs a long rest, Mike decided to withdraw three dogs from his team, Nestor, Zazu, and Ziplock, and continue on towards Unalakleet. While fighting a virus is not how Mike would choose to be running his first Iditaord, he may get a kick out of the article about his dilemma by the Iditarod news titled "Should I Stay or Should I Go." Here in Cantwell, Mike has a local radio station, WOOF FM 102.1, and on that station he has included the song "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash. I think Mike would be pleased that at least his struggles have a rock and roll connection.

As Mike made his way accross the Kaltag portage, he chose to give the dogs a break at Old Woman Cabin (Thank you GPS for keeping me in the loop.) Old Woman Cabin has a rich Iditarod history. Many mushers have stopped there over the years. Part of Mike must desire to be moving up the trail at a winning pace. However, having the opportunity to take a moment to see some of the places along the way is an incredible opportunity.

This evening I spoke to a friend who was working at the Nikolai checkpoint. He said that Mike and the dogs looked great and that Mike was clearly in his element out there on the trail. Whatever trials and troubles Mike may experience during this race I know that they are paired with experiences and possibilities that only exist when your dream big.

Off the river

2011-03-13T22:35:00.000-08:00

Mike and the dogs have made it to the end of the stretch of the Yukon river traversed by the Iditarod trail. Mike made the good decision to give the team a long rest in the afternoon sunshine. I could see on the GPS that it was 26 degrees (above!). Resting in the heat of the day is very relaxing for the dogs. They are able to stretch out and be comfortable. Mike could no doubt see the benefit to his team as their pace picked up following the rest.

From Kaltag, Mike will head overland towards the Bering Sea coast. The trail follows the Kaltag portage. There are a couple of BLM cabins along the trail, most well know is Old Woman Cabin. These cabins are open to all and stocked with firewood. They offer shelter to travelers who may encounter the fierce coastal storms. The legend is that you need to leave something at the cabin for the Old Woman so she will not chase you and bring you bad luck. When Mike when through the area in 2008 he left a bag of goodies made by our good friend Tom Farbo. Tom included his best sewing needle and thread. I hope that she remembers and brings Mike and the dogs good luck on their trip through.

It is 75 miles to Unalakleet. This will be another long run for the team. Mike is doing a wonderful job of caring for the dogs and keeping them happy and healthy on this first trip to Nome. They have traveled 624 miles in the last week. When they reach Unalakleet, they will have 236 miles until they reach Nome. While they are narrowing in on the end, the run on the coast can be challenging and brutal. I am glad that Mike has traveled this part of the trail before so that he can know what to expect.

Up the Yukon

2011-03-12T22:45:00.000-09:00

Mike and the team have come nearly 100 miles since they left Shageluk at 4:30 this morning. Mike took his mandatory 8 hour break at Shageluk. Each musher is required to make three mandatory layovers during the race. One is the 24 hour break at a checkpoint of their choice. One is an 8 hour break at a checkpoint on the Yukon river, And the last is 8 hours at White Mountain, the second to last checkpoint. While these are the only mandatory stops, mushers stop their teams many more times. Mike is trying to offer our dogs nearly as many hours of rest as they are spending running.

For the last 75 miles, Mike has been traveling up the Yukon river into the wind. The Yukon is an immense river close to 2000 miles long and several miles wide. The unforgiving winds challenge even the most determined mushers and dogs. Mike and the dogs will take a break at Eagle Island and then face the last 65 miles up the river. When Mike reaches Kaltag, where he will leave the Yukon river, he will be traveling a trail he has seen before. In 2008, Mike drove his snowmobile to Nome and he joined the Iditaord trail at Kaltag. Hopefully this familiarity will make the trip a little easier for him. Having a chance to see the trail and learn about its challenges and amenities is a big part of what Mike wants to do on his rookie run. I know that he is gaining valuable insights in strategy and dog care that will help him in future races.

Before the race began, Mike showed me his plan to Takotna. However, I never saw his plan from Takotna to Nome, so I am at the edge of my seat watching the race progress.

Through Shageluk

2011-03-11T21:40:00.000-09:00

Mike and the dogs have just made it over one of the most difficult parts of the Iditarod trail. From the ghost town of Iditarod to Shageluk the trail exists only for the race. The majority of the Iditarod trail serves as the local roads for villagers. Alaska, with its abundance of water, becomes much easier to traverse once it freezes. The locals use their snowmobiles to get around. Hence the Iditarod trail varies in width and definition based on local use. Since the section from Iditarod to Shageluk is not used by locals, it does not have as secure a base as where it receives traffic all winter. A trail without a secure base is like trying to run on sand. It takes a lot more energy. Mike gave the dogs a long break in the afternoon sun, partway through this run. This should help keep the dogs happy, healthy, and running at the right time of day.

Mike and Oz

From Shageluk, Mike will head towards Anvik, on the Yukon river. The Yukon can bring challenging weather conditions for dog teams. It is often very windy, with the teams having face it head on. This, combined with the monotony of traveling this immense river for 150 miles, can test the determination of both the musher and the dogs. People often ask Mike which dogs are his leaders. Of the dogs on his team, only two of them do not run in the lead position. However, different dogs are better at leading at different times. Knowing how to use the strengths of your dogs is a big part of driving a team successfully. To run up the river and into the wind, Mike will not be looking for the leader that knows every turning command or the leader who can find a trail buried in snow. Instead, he will likely call on his bullheaded dogs who are determined to keep going, no matter what. Nestor is the definition of this kind of dog. He may not be an ivy league graduate, but he will definitely get it done. When hooking up the dogs for a run in the kennel, Nestor often has to join the group last to prevent him from breaking the equipment in his desire to get moving. Carrie sent me this outstanding picture which captures Nestor's personality as he waited for the start in Willow.

Lindsay and Nestor

It has been fun hearing from the many folks that are following Mike's progress. Tonight I heard that Lawrence Winkler is calling him the Cantwell Cannonball. Look out Yukon river, here they come!

On the trail to Iditarod

2011-03-10T22:10:00.002-09:00

Patton waiting for the start

Mike and the dogs are on the long trail between Ophir and Iditarod. Mike is doing a fantastic job of managing the team. They left their 24 hour break with a bang and made it to Ophir in just over two hours. He then gave them a two hour break in the afternoon sun. Sled dogs prefer to rest during the warmest part of the day and in the latest part of the night, from midnight to dawn. This allows them to run near dawn and dusk, similar times to when their crepuscular ancestors chose to hunt. By giving the team a break right away he set them up to run at the right time of day and broke up the 100 miles between Takotna to Iditaord.

Iditarod is a ghost town once inhibited by ten thousand people in pursuit of gold. Over $35 million dollars of gold was taken from the area in the early 1900's. Iditarod is considered the halfway point of the southern route of the race.

As I have been following the GPS tracker, I have been looking at my Alaska Gazetteer atlas. When Mike left Takona this morning he clearly reached a critical point geographically. The scale of the maps has changed so that now 1 inch represents 22 miles instead of 4.8 miles. I think that this idea of traveling where few people have gone before, where maps do not exist in great detail, is part of the mystique of the Iditarod.

Dr. Jayne Hempstead and Caitlin

Preparing a team for the Iditarod has been a humbling and inspiring experience. I can't even begin to explain the amount of help we have needed. It has taken the four of us, Mike, Lindsay, Nick, and I, working more than 16 hours a day. Even with this we have needed help in numerous ways. Friends, family, and supporters have gone to extremes to help us prepare. While I know that some of this generosity is due to our friendships, I think that part of it is the appeal of participating in the type of exploration and adventure that is hard to achieve in the modern world. It is not often that someone has the chance to head off into the wilderness with only his own wits and skills to care for himself. People are captivated, also, by the idea of someone following and fulfilling a lifelong dream. While I sometimes question my choices and my commitment to this adventure because of the challenges and sacrifices it requires, I know that others who have not taken the road less traveled by also question their choices and wonder, if only... The Iditarod presents a chance for people on all paths to join in a great dream and a wild adventure.

Down the road less traveled

Special thanks to Carrie Skinner for the great photos!

24 in Takotna

2011-03-09T22:17:00.000-09:00

Mike and the team got to Takotna at 7:40 am this morning. According to Mike's plan he wrote in Anchorage, he was anticipating arriving in Takotna at 8 am. Pretty incredible strategy. Talk about a musher who knows exactly how his dogs will perform. Mike and the dogs, and many other mushers, are taking their 24 hour break in Takotna. Each musher is required to stop at a checkpoint of their choice for 24 hours. Mike will actually be staying for 25 hours and 10 minutes. This will accommodate for the difference in starting times of the teams. The 24 hour break is a chance for mushers to get a little extra sleep and give extra food and care to their dogs. Takotna is one of the favorite spots for a 24 due to its great hospitality and food.

Many people have asked me if I have heard from Mike. I had not heard from him since the start of the race, but I was hoping that he might call during his 24. (My one fear was that he would not remember our phone number!) However, he not only remembered it, but found time and a phone to call on. His report was filled with great news. He says that the dogs are doing incredibly. They have been running at a really steady pace, which has kept them happy and healthy. He is taking great care of them and is totally impressed by their performance and attitudes. He said that he himself is doing great. He is eating and feels very sharp, despite the lack of sleep. He plans to get some good rest tonight. He has finally had a chance to take his boots off. He said the only chance he had to go inside before this was for an hour in Nikolai.

Overall, he kept expressing how awesome his experience has been. When I asked him what I should tell people he said it is "indescribable." I can't even begin to imagine the country that he is having a chance to see and the connection he is experiencing with the dogs. Mike explains that the relationship between a musher and his dogs is akin to military comrades. Both he and the dogs are vested in their mutual success. Hence the level of trust they develop and their understanding of each other's needs, habits, and nuances is extraordinary.

I have definitely been enjoying the 24 hour break. I still find myself checking the GPS info, even though I know he is staying still. Mike gave me an interesting perspective on the trackers. He said that each time it sends a signal to the satelites, it does so with a little flash of red light. So just as we are thinking of him every 15 minutes, as the report updates, he is also thinking of us watching him.

Photo Sarah Waterman

Tomorrow will bring more movement down the trail. It is a short 20 miles to Ophir, but then 80 miles to Iditarod and still a total of 620 miles to Nome. Until tomorrow I hope you are all having as much fun with your dogs as Mike is with ours.

Over the Alaska Range

2011-03-08T22:52:00.000-09:00

Mike and the team are resting in Nikolai. They have made it over the Alaska Range and across the Farewell Burn. Mike is exactly on the schedule that he created. It has been really fun, albeit a bit nerve racking to watch him on the GPS. I think Mike's brother Anthony said it best "its killing me, not to mention my productivity." Despite this, I still highly recommend the Insider GPS tracker. The information is much more current than the standings on the Iditarod page. I expect Mike to leave Nikolai in a few hours and make the run to McGrath and Takotna.

Photo by Greg Sellentin

I have been hoping for more videos of Mike, but did not see any today. Maybe the camera crew will have a chance to catch up with him during his 24 in Takotna. Mike withdrew 3 dogs, Clyde, Lager, and Uber, from his team in Rainy Pass. They have been flown back to Anchorage, are currently resting at our friend's house, and will be home in the kennel on Thursday.

I have been having fun answering the fan mail that Mike has received from students around the country. I appreciate the kids' enthusiasm and practicality. The most humorous questions I have received so far are "Do you have a best friend?" and "Where do you go to the bathroom?" Another student told me he has a dog named Tango. "She tears up everything. But the dog before was good."

Photo by Sarah Waterman

I am looking forward to Mike's 24 hour break, as knowing he is staying still may allow me to take a break from clicking refresh on my computer. More updates tomorrow!

Iditarod Start and Restart

2011-03-07T18:38:00.000-09:00

We have had a wonderful time at the start and the restart. Mike was very relaxed the whole time. (Much more than I was!) The dogs look fantastic. They are eating everything in sight and are enthusiastic and playful. We spent the weekend at the Inlet Tower in Anchorage, which is a great place to stay with dogs. It is very close to everything, but has a quiet parking lot for letting the dogs out of the truck. We were joined by good friends at the musher's banquet and Mike spoke memorably as he drew his bib number (27). He explained the mushers are not superheros and must rely on the help and support of many others. For us this includes our handlers, Nick and Lindsay, our families and friends who have helped us in so many ways, and our fantastic sponsors: Grainger, Ringers Gloves, Cantwell Veterinary Services, Denali Fly Fishing Guides, Ahtna, Cantwell Native Village Council, The Cantwell Lodge, Alpine Creek Lodge, Jindex, Marmot, Eddie Bower, Inlet Tower, Mix Grill, Wheeler EMS.

The ceremonial start went well. The dogs were relatively patient. I managed to make it to the starting line running in front of the team. (Believe me this is not easy.) Lindsay made it the whole way around on Mike's second sled with a smile one her face and her feet (and runners) on the ground. Mike enjoyed throwing hats, gloves, and earbands to the crowds from Grainger and Ringers Gloves.


Photo thanks to Donna Quante

The restart in Willow could not have been better. It was a perfect day. We saw all sorts of good friends, and the sent Mike off with a bang. Brandon, who got to ride the sled to the starting line with Mike told me they said they needed extra people to hold our team back.


Brandon Lee popper-scooper and dog food stacker extraordinaire

The final roster for the team is Icarus, Iowa, Hawkeye, Phoebe, Lugnut, Nestor, Oz, Patton, Clifford, Titus, Twain, Uber, Ziplock, Zazu, Clyde, and Lager.


Mike's Sled Ready for Action

While our dogs are not known for patience they waited for their time to start. There is a great video of Mike and Clifford, Zazu, and Oz on the Iditarod Insider. If you do not have a subscription yet, you have to get one. I am especially enjoying the GPS tracker which gives updates of location and speed every 15 minutes.

Nestor in his one moment of waiting patiently

So far, the race seems to be progressing exactly as Mike planned. He is giving the dogs lots of rest and making his way down the trail. There was a video posted last night of him taking a break on the trail and again, he seemed cool and collected. He is currently in Rainy Pass with 16 dogs. This means that he has made it through the infamous steps. There are several videos of teams crashing in the steps and, for once, I am glad we didn't make it on camera. I am looking forward to watching his progress and sharing my insights with you, so keep checking back!

Photo thanks to Rick Wise

Iditarod Start in Willow, AK

2011-03-06T22:18:00.000-09:00

Ready for Anchorage

2011-03-02T21:50:00.000-09:00

Our first trip to the kenai

2011-02-03T08:34:00.000-09:00


Half of the gang the morning after the race. Pheobe, Haweye, Oz, Me, Icarus, Zazu, Patton, and Lugnut

    If you are a Sports Center fan the concept that on any given Sunday anything can happen is probably something you accept as a part of professional sport. Sure there is always a chance that a dark horse can come out of the stable on fire, but nine times out of ten talent will best chance. If you prefer Disney to Sports Center, this is probably something that isn't easy to accept. After all the Bad News Bears have to win otherwise no one leaves the theater with an uplifting experience. If this was Disney, my money would be on Colleen Robertia. Local gal, big smile, all heart, and dedicated. (If you weren't rooting for her shame on you.) If you'd rather the dark horse on fire, I guess you'd be stuck rooting for me to pull off an upset.

    Interested in the opinion of a dark horse who was out on the runners during the race? (I hope you realize that if you continue reading you're going to get it whether or not you want it.) The boys in Vegas who make a living taking bets on this kind of stuff would be really happy with the results of the T 200, because what statistically happens happened. The best team won, the second best team took second and the third best team took third. http://www.tustumena200.com/ for results.

    Those of you who bet on Colleen take solace in the fact that the human heart is what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. (Which by the way is what the boys in Vegas count on.) For those of you who bet on me, you need therapy.

    Stevie Wonder could have seen that Dee Dee had the team to beat. Awesome!!!

Icarus knows what check points are all about.

As for Cim, I'm really getting tired of following this guy around just to have him disappear at the end. I hope he's just as sick of me keeping up with him until the end. (FYI, Cim's got my vote for best dog in the race.)

    As for our journey, yeah there are plenty of hills on the Kenai, but we live in the mountains, hills are not a problem for us. The tropical heat is really what killed our chances of an upset.

    On the lighter side; At the half, the Clam Gulch Lodge donated rooms for the mushers to sleep in. Three per room. Confession. I have a reputation of snoring like a grizzly in January. I opened the door to room number one to find Dee Dee curled up as peaceful as an angel, and just couldn't bring myself to disturb Dee Dee's sleep.
So I quietly shut the door and went on to room number two, only to find ex-professional fashion model, Zoya DeNure sound asleep. I hesitated just long enough to witness Anna and Kristy Berington enter room number three. What's a fella supposed to do. Well, Zoya lives in Paxon which is on the opposite side of the Denali Highway from Cantwell 134 miles away, which in Alaska makes us neighbors, so I went on in. I had a hell of a time falling asleep worried that I would definitely lose any chance I might have at the sportsmanship award if I woke up went to the john or in this scenario jane and left the toilet seat up. Conclusion. Alaskan girls absolutely do kick _ _ _!!!

    As for our very own Alaskan gal who is kicking butt, we are very proud of Lindsay's performance in the T 100. She finished right where we were expecting her to just behind all of the accomplished Jr Iditaroders and Paul, and just in front of the rest of the first time racers. It was a real thrill watching her nervous excitement. Lindsay had a lot of fun and I know she learned a ton.

    As for the race itself, I cannot say enough about the quality of the event. A beautiful trail, groomed and marked exceptionally well. Officials, checkers and vets always right where you needed them and pleasant. In fact, from the moment we arrived in Soldotna, until the banquet was over, everyone we met was excited that we were there. This kind of mushing enthusiasm speaks greatly of the quality of the mushing community on the Kenai. It's obvious to me that the mushers who call this area home have over the years conducted themselves in a manner which has created this passion in the non mushing community for the sport. Awesome, Awesome, Awesome! Kudos all.

    A special thank you to Mindee and Kelly Morning for their generous hospitality, Sal's Diner in Soldotna for all of the great breakfasts, and to Jayne Heampstead for convincing us to make the trip.

    Until the next time I hope you are all having as much fun as I am, Mike

The Kusko and the Tustemena

2011-01-20T12:27:00.000-09:00

    Get ready mushing fans it's Kusko time http://www.k300.org/core/. If there is one race which since I came to Alaska that has captivated me more then any other it is the Kusko.   As I posted on FB, I'm a little jealous of those who are there, and next year I'm determined to get The Wolf's Den team to Bethel. Not only is the Kusko the premier mid distance race in the world, this year it's got one of the deepest fields it's had in years, and trail reports have been good. Should be an exciting race. I'll be glued to my laptop this weekend for sure.

    On a personal note, got one interesting Kusko related email and one phone call recently. I sold a few dogs to John Simmon a couple of years back and John called the other night letting us know that Weasel has proven to be his star leader, "barking all the time." He'll be running her up front in the Dash, as in Akiak. Man that's a fast one! The other two dogs he purchased, Trouble and Twister will be going with Jackie Larson in the 300.

    Dave Diehl, Richie's dad who I'm willing to bet is also his biggest fan, Emailed to let us know that Ajax who Richie bought from us has made the grade. Dave's comments included the following, "his attitude is so positive, that he was added to the team."   Richie will be running the 300 hundred and It will be Ajax's racing debut.

    I think it's obvious who I'll be rooting for. Go get em fellas! I am also hoping that it's blatant that I have no qualms bragging about the dogs we've raised that are gettin'er done with other mushers. It's truly one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

    As for our team, we'll get a chance to race on the following weekend at another world class venue. The Tustemena 200 http://www.tustumena200.com/. This will be our first visit to the T, and I awfully excited to finally get a chance to get down there. I've heard nothing but stellar reports about this race for years, and I need to thank Jayne Heampstead for making our trip to the Kenai possible.

    There were doubts that the T would actually go off this year due to weather, but mother nature has again this year as she did last year blessed the T with a very timely dumping of the white stuff. YIPPEEE! And the T's race commitee needs to be commended for making the very smart decision to wave the late entry fee increase in order to get a bigger better field. Many mushers where leery signing up with the bum weather reports, but now that they got snow the field is getting better every day. Absolutely love smart decision makers.

    The Tustemena will be full of firsts for us at The Den. My first T, and it will also be the first time we've been able to field two teams. Lindsay Seidenverg will running her first ever race and she'll be driving the B team as she refers to them, "she's gonna get in big trouble if she keeps calling them the B team," in the T 100. Can't say enough about this young lady, she's got it all going on.

    "Mental note to self regarding the T," I recently saw that there is a Jonrowe team entered. I'm really, really, really hoping it's Dee Dee driving. Let's all keep our fingers crossed. Two reasons why I'm psyched, one I just love Dee Dee. Two it's a competitive thing. I feel the need to further explain that one. I am by nature competitive only with myself, I'm the type of guy who is very self critical and am constantly striving to do what I do better then I did it before. I have never, never, and I do mean it, thought to myself I want to beet so and so. So what's the deal with Dee Dee? Well, during the 09 Don Bowers 300, I pulled into the first check point well ahead of everyone else, We were really smokin that weekend. Apparently Dee Dee must have had a good run at the Bowers the year before, because as I was signing in, all I heard from the folks standing around was, "only Dee Dee," "like Dee Dee," "Dee Dee this," "Dee Dee that," "Dee Dee," "Dee Dee," "Dee Dee." Well, after taking care of my team, I took a short nap, readied the gang and left the first checkpoint. The bummer is, a fella's got a lot of time to think with two hundred and twenty miles to go. I was literally having the run of my life, It was all I could do to stop my team long enough to sign my name at the check points, and I was feeling great about the teams performance. All of a sudden, I started wondering just how this whole darn thing would be unfolding if only Dee Dee was here. Enough said.

    We'll be posting our take on the Kusko when it's over, as well as the Tustemena, until the next time I hope you are all having as much fun as I am, Mike

The Dog Barn

2011-01-19T06:23:00.000-09:00

Gee and Haw at The Wolf's Den

2011-01-11T09:37:00.000-09:00

Iditarod Training on the Denali Highway

2011-01-07T16:59:00.000-09:00

My Bio

2011-01-06T12:10:00.000-09:00

Right to left, cut me some slack I'm a lefty; Lugnut, Caitlin, Me with an awesome pair of beaver mitts I won at the Alaska Excursions 120 made by Erin Redington, Iowa, and Lindsay.

    Just got back from an eight day six hundred plus mile training/camping trip. One of the many Emails awaiting my return was from a gal working on my Iditarod bio. She sent a list of questions, I'm not sure this is what she was looking for but I think it is as revealing as I'm currently willing to be, and because I've now accepted the nakedness of FB I fiqured what the heck, why don't I just post my reply here for all to see, if anyones interested. {sometimes feel like the character from the Toby Keith song the Critic, "ain't even sure anyones reading yo page,"

Hi connie,

    I'm 42 years old married and working on starting a family. I moved to Alaska in 2005, and as I like to say I was born Alaskan in Massachusetts. I started my kennel in 1986, and have been mushing ever since. We currently own 80 sled dogs and one beagle. We live in Cantwell AK, AKA Camelot, it is the most beautiful spot on the planet.

    This March will be my first of what I hope to be many Iditarods. I've been hooked on the Iditarod all the way back to the Butcher Swenson days. My wife and I decided about six years ago to seriously attempt to put together an Iditarod team. We bought what we thought were some of the finest breeding stock and we've been raising puppies ever since. We are very proud that all the dogs on our team were born and raised here at the Wolf's Den Kennel.

    I have run many many races over the years, and I've even managed to win a few. However, what's interesting is when I look back at all of those races the ones that stick out in my mind as being memorable are not necessarily the ones where I've won or placed well. the races that I remember as being special are the ones where my team met or exceeded their maximum potential.   A team that might not have the sheer talent to win, but comes together at the right time and performs to the best of it's inherent ability is a real pleasure to experience. regardless of where you place.

    As for my past occupations, that is an easy one. I've done almost everything you can imagine in order to cover the dog food bill. When I think of it. I'm pretty sure that what I've spent on dog food over the last 24 years would have covered a degree from every Ivy league institution on the planet. But I would never trade the education I've acquired living with dogs for any other form of education.

    Why, is my favorite word in the english language. So the question of WHY do I love the Iditarod really is a big part of the answer. Every musher has a different reason for running the race, and each musher has people who help them and many people who support them, and the race itself has volunteers, pilots, vets, trail breakers, checkers, etc, Iditarod to me is much more then a two week odyssey . It's a rich intricately woven tapestry each fiber of which is the myriad of answers to the question, "why" of every person who has ever been involved with race. Why do all these people from all over the world, do what they do all year long in order to be involved. Imagine what that story would be like?

    As for why I'm still crazy about sled dogs, I think that it's really because without a team of dogs in front of me I'm really not much at all, I'm not really athletic, I'm not really that competitive, and sometimes I can be a little lazy even. However with a dog team, I'm able to achieve a state of grace which on my own would be impossible.

    The dogs I select are similar to the people I enjoy, and those are the ones with a certain fire in the belly if you know what I mean. Great outlook on life, that sort of thing. I need to enjoy their company and they need to enjoy my company three hundred and sixty five days a year.
    The bond between musher and dog, might answer many of the questions you've asked. Like the scariest moments, and what it is like to finish a race. We've just got back from an eight day six hundred plus mile training/camping trip, and when a person spends that kind of time with a group of dogs an interesting phenomenon takes place which I call the, "bubble." After three days it is no longer a person and a group of dogs. A musher and a dog team become a single living breathing organism, that moves around in an invisible bubble, that isolates itself from the rest of the world. This bubble is created by overcoming the many, "scary moments," and often it is disappointing when the bubble bursts, like at the end of a long race or a long training run.

    The other interesting thing about scary moments, is that over the years, I've been gaffed with snow hooks, soaked in overflow, dragged, lost, and I've smashed into almost every type of obstacle imaginable, including my good friends pick up, but to be honest there has only been one instance when I've felt fear, and that is the one and only time I lost a team. Otherwise with a team of huskies in front of me I feel ten feat tall and bullet proof.

    I hope this answers some of your questions, but as you might have guessed this is a subject I could gone forever about. Sometimes even in my sleep, you can ask Caitlin if you don't believe it.

Hope you're all having as much fun as I am, Lugnut and Mike

Our 2010 - 2011 squad

2010-10-29T19:28:00.000-08:00

Well that's the whole gang.

I'm confident that this crew can get from Anchorage to Nome. I still don't have a clue how we are ever going to get to Anchorage. Interested in helping visit our website. http://www.wolfsdenkennel.com

     Howler fans, I hope you weren't expecting a calendar of events. Monday it was10 degrees, took the dogs out for a 20 mile run, and oh yeah, it was cold, blah blah blah. Boring! If you really want to know what each and every day is like around here I'd recommend you seriously consider working for us one winter, or stopping by for a visit.
    What I will tell you is that Caitlin, Lindsay, Brittany, and I have been busy doing what can only be described as constructing a monster. I feel a little like Dr. Frankenstein.
   The Black and Silver also signed up for our first race of the season, the Alaska Excursions 120. Decmber 18th and 19th. Hope we can hang with the likes of Ryan, the Rocket, Redington. Hope to see some of you there. I would love to know what I could do to get more fans to the races. Any ideas don't be afraid to post a comment.
    And for those of you who think I need to blog more frequently, a reminder, anticipation is most often more fullfiling than gratification.

Until the next time I hope you are having as much fun with your dogs as I am with mine.

Mike

September up date

2010-10-04T19:14:00.003-08:00

September 1st, the first day of summer apparently. Hopefully September 30th was the last day of summer. Just in case does anyone have any recommendations for a good sun tanning lotion. Caitlin swears that I think every September is unusually warm, but I've got hundreds of white bunnies bounding around that agree that September in Cantwell should be snowy. However there are more then a few coyotes that think white bunnies minus snow equals a really, really good start to winter.
Enough about the whether report already. What about Iditarod preparations? Well we've managed to get approximately 350 miles on 24 adults. Not my best September by a long shot, but the ATV's both need new brake pads, the dogs have already run me over with the ATV, and I've already been bitten once, so I'm guessing it ain't all bad. We'll be tripling that in October. I'll be posting a list of who the race dogs are and why I think they are the coolest, baddest, sickest, phatest, or whatever the latest expression is for the most awesome group of outlaws a fellow could hope to hang with, in the very near future.
We've also managed to get our 12 dog yearling team out on a regular basis, I really love working with the young ones, they improve dramatically on a daily basis in leaps and bounds, (just add the cape.) They make it so obvious that the time you spend with them is really worth every second. I'll be posting who they are shortly as well.

`In other departments, I've finally managed to get the shop doors up in time to build my Iditarod sled. Okay, so we are still missing some door hardware, but the last sled I built was six years ago in a wall tent at forty below. As for the missing hardware, I'm really, really hoping I've already convinced Mark Couch owner of Alaska Forge, www.http://www.alaskaforge.com to stop by on his way to Fairbanks for the ADMA symposium http://www.sleddog.org to determine what it's going to take to open, close, and keep closed them babies. Just plain love what this guy does with Iron, and he makes a pretty good snow hook as well. UNDERSTATEMENT! I no longer own a single hook that he hasn't made.
As for that sled I built way back when. Well it's got a few miles on it, (LOL,) and it has fallen apart in one place or another during my last five races three of which we've won, and it keeps telling me that if I stick it in another race It's going to sing to me that gut wrenching, incredibly ugly song, that only a dog musher who has experienced the song of aluminum snapping would know. Mental note to self, "it can't hurt to get down the steps and the gorge for the first time with two runners, after all there isn't even a Sir Michael, yeah, yeah, yeah, so there is a Saint Michael the arch angle, wait a minute, if a sir can do it, shouldn't a saint be able to, wait a second, how exactly does the hierarchy of all of this work out, I mean Sir then Saint, or Saint then Sir, if only a deck of cards had Sirs and Saints instead of Kings and Queens,,, Kings, huh? Probably shouldn't go there. [IF YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT THAT THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT WHAT THE FELLOW WITH THE LAST NAME OF MACKEY HAS DONE AND IS CONTINUING TO DO IS THEY MOST INCREDIBLE SPORTING FEET EVER ACCOMPLISHED, THEN PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE PAY MORE ATTENTION!] www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com
As for the sled I hope to slap together in time for Iditarod, we are going to need some financial help making that happen. Anyone interested in getting me down the gorge with two runners ought to let me know. I've been working on a new sled design ever since I built the last sled but funds always seem to slow down progress. Enough said.

Clint Warnke's very over due visit was my personal highlight of the month. We really had a blast. Hey, and He's pretty good at socializing pups. Or a least cheap labor.

Why anyone would want to beat this guy to a checkpoint or a remote cabin in the bush is a mystery to me. I'm positive if you let him get anywhere ahead of you he will not only have the wood stove going he will also have his dinner hot and would be willing to share it. If I could only convince him to run the Iditarod one more time instead of attempting the quest, I could assure myself of a belt buckle. NOTE to all of you Questers. If Clint actually runs the Quest this year do yourselves a favor. Do not pack anything in your sled that isn't mandatory. If you need anything, and I mean anything, that you otherwise would have packed with you, just ask Clint. I'm positive that whatever it is you need that you didn't bring with you he's got two of. Example, "hey Clint my sled fell apart, boy I could really get it back together if I had an impact wrench a compressor and a set of socket's." and the truly amazing thing about Clint is he not only can produce what you need, he never has to go digging through his overly stuffed sled bag to find it, he just pulls it out of a back pocket. No Joke the guy has pockets on his long johns. Second mental note to self, "if the guy can produce anything I might need from the pockets of his long johns, it might be fun to go through his overly laden sled bag while he's sleeping just to see what the hell else he's brought along with him."

DVM Jayne Heampstead also showed up while Clint was around. Every time I see Jayne I pinch myself to remind me that It's not a dream. Cantwell is a village of approximately 150 year round residents, with the closest amenities 150 miles away in the town of Fairbanks, how fortunate am I to have Jayne as a neighbor, supporter, and friend? Did I forget to mention that she's got the hands of a surgeon, third mental note to self, "hold on,,, she is a surgeon, I probably mean she's got the hands of an artist." I might have to explain this one a bit further. It's not a joke, but the last three times I've sent dogs to Jayne for a surgery, I've come home and actually accused my wife Caitlin of missing the appointment. In all three instances I've come home to dogs bouncing around like they hadn't even had their temperature took, let alone been through surgery. Incisions and stitching so neat you need a magnifying glass to verify that she actually preformed the required surgery. Love what you do for us Jayne!

Jayne will be working with what I hope are four of our yearlings this year as well as the ever talented Anitra, aka, River, Winkler. Giving some of my young dogs a really cool experience and hopefully making River Winkler aware of the fact that the path of least resistance is not usually the most rewarding.

Side note, I wonder if the two of them are sharing baking recipes or talking dog?

As for the rest of Septembers story, We are proud to announce that Windigo Outfittes http://www.cheqnet.net/~windigo/windigo_001.htm will now be producing all of our G-Cell harnesses as well as our Hibernator Jackets. Call or Email us for details. Caitlin can now sleep between 2:00 A.M. and 3:00 A.M. Jack Bauer time. Just saw the 2010 Iditarod video for the first time, Fourth mental note to self, "whow, those are some really sexy jackets your team is wearing Hugh, www.laughingeyeskennel.com wait those are our jackets, Caitlin rewind. Hey we made those! Can you believe it. I mean how rewarding is it to see the mid-night oil you've burned featured on the official Iditarod video. Wait a minute, wait a minute,,, rewind, rewind, that's Jeff's team www.huskyhomestead.com Dublin, Charles, Titan, Deets, and the rest of the huskyhomestead gang in our harnesses and our jackets. The bests best, wearing our stuff, I'm going cry, shut if off, please." A HEARTFELT THANK YOU JEFF FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ALL OF US.

I just found out that our website had a little over a million hits last year. Now I'm sure Mark Zuckerwhatever wouldn't even blink if he only got a million hits a second, but I really think that a million hits for a little known dog musher like me is something worth the proverbial pat on the back. Wondering if you're company couldn't use our marketing prowess. Think again. More bang for your buck Guarantied! Call us or Email if you want to be involved.
If you like our style help us keep it up. If you don't and are a fan of sled dog sports, please choose a musher to support. A donation no matter how small is often the difference between success and hanging up the harnesses. Despite the happy cheerful mood of all of us on FB, I for one can't help but feel a little disturbed that many accomplished dog mushers are missing from this years Iditarod roster.

Caitlin's right I've got to blog more often. I'm a little winded.

Mid month update, dogs, the smoking hot gun, and a look at some of our more recent sponsors. Can't wait. Until the next time I hope you are all having as much fun with your dogs as I am with mine, Mike

2010-09-07T20:19:00.003-08:00

2010-08-27T13:03:00.007-08:00

Big day at the den, our first kennel tour.

Our puppies aren't really sure what to make of the guests arriving.

"I don't remember signing up for this"

Caitlin dazzling the crowd.

WOW! Those dog really took off.

I'm positive our guests enjoyed themselves, but I'm willing to bet I enjoyed their visit just as much as they did.
Until the next time I hope you are all having as much fun with your dogs as I am with mine.

More puppy pictures

2010-07-04T12:24:00.018-08:00

Six puppies came out of that little hollow.

Lethal's and Iowa's pups learning to get along

A sunny day at the Den

Wiffle Ball anyone?

People still ask, "why do you do this?"

Iditarod sign ups.

2010-07-01T22:49:00.000-08:00

Iditarod is something I've dreamt about for what seems like a long, long time. For one reason or another, or in most years many reasons, I wasn't able to do much about my Iditarod obsession but dream about it. Since we moved to Alaska, we have concentrated all of our efforts into getting ourselves into a position to make the dream a reality.

We are entered in the 2011 Iditarod. We will be posting updates as we prepare for the last great race. For now it's life as usual at the Den. New puppy pics coming soon.

Photo provided by Virgil Trout for those of you who don't believe it.

Whoops!

2010-06-10T21:25:00.002-08:00

What was I thinking? I mentioned to a few friends that this year was going to be my rookie running of the Iditarod. I guess it's put up or shut up time. Anyone got deep pocket's this is not the time to be holding out.

Dogs for Sale

2010-05-07T07:46:00.013-08:00

Here are a few of the dogs we are willing to part with this spring. For a complete list visit our website, http://wolfsdenkennel.com/Pages/Dogs/For%20Sale/ForSale.html.
We'd really like to keep them all, but there just isn't enough time in a day. These are mostly young dogs with loads of potential.

I was planning on having this list together over a month ago, but I just couldn't decide who I was going to keep and who I could live without. I spent the last three weeks of the winter running these guys everyday and they all looked awesome.

Our E and F litters out of Suspect, (who is out of John Littles dog Solomon, and Jeff King's Berkley,) are the out cross we've been looking for. Fat fur balls with the attitude our dogs are know for. Our D litter out of Lugnut X Hero, are all about speed, and our B litter out of Lugnut X Iowa, which is the heart and soul of our breeding program, have already produced a lot of leaders. We are repeating that one this year.

We've already had one litter out of Patton X Lisbon who are featured in the previous post, and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Iowa's litter out of Lugnut, Inca's Litter out of Nestor, and Lethal's litter out of Pepperjack.

Until the next time. I hope you are all having as much fun with your dogs as I am with mine.
http://www.wolfsdenkennel.com

Puppies, must be spring.

2010-04-28T09:29:00.007-08:00

Lisbon's pups at a week old. She had four males and one female. Check out the little fellow on the right, he's got the coolest handle bar mustache I've ever seen. Got a good suggestion for a name let us know. We name our litters alphabetically, and this will be our G litter. All names must start with the letter G.

To learn more about us and our breeding program visit our website. http://www.wolfsdenkennel.com

An Epic leap

2010-04-26T13:56:00.006-08:00

Epic showing off her version of the high jump. Whenever anything at all is going on in the yard Epic goes airborne. She just has a hard time keeping all four feet on the ground.

ROAM

2010-04-26T13:33:00.004-08:00

The Howard Cosell on 2010

2010-04-25T12:30:00.016-08:00

Just got a grip on how all of this blog stuff works and we've decided to morph our Howler Ezine into this blog. We plan to update it often throughout the mushing season and as frequently as possible throughout the summer.

Winter 09/10 at the Den was a blast. One of the highlights of the season came out of our pup pen. Zazu, I don't know who came up with the name, but I know what it means, PHENOM! didn't miss a step of training, made all of our races, and oh by the way she's been leading since the day she donned a harnesses. Watch out for her and her two brothers Zepplin and Ziplock next season.

Finished the construction of our state of the art dog barn just in time for the winter season. After three days on the trail, sixty degrees, two feet of straw, thirty dogs, a cold budweiser, Trusty Husky foot ointment, and a tube of Icy Hot, and it's rub down time. TCB if you know what I mean. Talk about a good time.

Managed to sneak in three races, forgot to bring my balls, (uh, can I say balls? hell it's my blog,) to the first one, the copper basin 300, finished 20th, the jet was ready but the pilot had the afore mentioned problem. Enough said about that one. Remembered to pack the boys for the Chatanika Challenge, surprise, won that one. By the time The CantwellRondy rolled around I was packing some serious heat, and the 1st place trophy was a spruce pole chair complete with a moose antler backrest that my neighbor made. The dogs of the Den rose to the occasion and we brought the thrown, as we call it, home.

Our G-Cell harnesses gained popularity with three teams using them to get to Nome, and dogs around the state are refusing to come out of their houses without our Hibernator Jacket on. Windigo Outfitters will soon be producing our stuff. Deb and Steve came up this spring to learn... or I should probably say teach us how to make harnesses. We instantly hit it off, and I'm awfully excited to be partnering up with them. Side note the Cantwell lodge misses Steve's big voice and thumping bass riffs.

Benedikt Beisch asked me to do a little videography during the Denali Doubles sled dog race for his website Mushing TV http://www.mushing.tv. Check out the footage, I think I might have a future in the film industry.

Leslie Morgan a TV producer form LA rolled into town working on a solo project chronicling the progress of an Iditarod rookie http://www.1150project.com. She got to Cantwell late at night and I don't think she realized how isolated this spot is. She thought Willow was the end of civilization, she probably still does. The following morning was clear as a bell and we got a chance to go out on a little dog mushing / Ski-Doo tour of the Alaska Range. Loads of fun, and refreshing to re experience this place through someones eyes who is seeing it for the first time.

Can't imagine signing off on an entire season without bragging a little about some of our dogs who are doing some really cool stuff with other kennels. Hero went to Nome this year with Matt Hayashida, brining our total of Iditarod finishers to 5, but who's counting. Whiskey, Malt, Glock, Knickers, Zero and Kermit, are all kicking butt in New England's six dog 30 mile races with my friend Rico Portalatin, http://www.jazzmineskennel.com. Yankee won the blue harness award at the Jr Iditarod in front of Anton Guillermo's team, and Swifty and Kindle lead Meredith Mapes' 6th place Jr team.

Jr Idiatord 2010

2010-03-06T10:39:00.008-09:00

Anitra Winkler ran our team to take 2nd place behind winner Marissa Osmar. Anitra also won the coveted humanitarian award. Congrats Anitra! We're proud of you.

What an awesome weekend, filled with all the fun and excitement one would expect of a top notch sled dog race. Plus a whole lot of down time Talking dog with good friends Scott Smith and Russ Bybee. Thoroughly enjoyed meeting Larry Csonka who was there to film the event for his TV show NAPA's North to Alaska. http://www.larrycsonka.com

The Team: Ozzy and Pheobe in Lead, the power pack Patton and Icarus in wheel, Zazu, Nitro, Twain, Clifford, Hawkeye and Lugnut filling out the team. AWOL for the start Iowa