OK first, this is not really a complete day. I had actually given the morning meal and had my coffee while answering a few emails. I was getting dressed to go start round 2 and thinking what a beautiful day it was; and the idea hit me. So armed with my little digital camera I attempted to capture a day the way it plays out in the life of a musher. The end of the day was lost to darkness, as is often the case in Alaska, but it is nothing we aren’t used to and nothing we can’t handle. I did pass on taking photos of the last meal and shovel session of the day, becuase the camera is not as good in the dark as I am.
So without further adieu~ my day in photos.
Going up the trail on a puppy free run was next on the To Do list.
They are just starting to get brave and run out in front of the quad.
Amazing to see how big and athletic they are getting.
Future Race Dogs
It was a Beautiful day to be out!
Hanging out for a bit when we turn around.
And they are OFF
Headed home – full tilt
Next on the list, run the race dogs. Chase-um (left) and Ribdon (right) are leading the first team. *Yes we are still on the quad.
Starting to look like winter, now all we need is a lot more snow!
The view from the quad.
The view is never disappointing.
Trail break while breaking trail. Decided it would be fun to go on a trail we had not used yet this year, let the kids bust it open. Even with me on the quad; I like the idea of the first thing going over a trail for the season being a dog team.
OK that would actually turn out to be a BAD idea. The dogs did great finding the trail, they were fine with it. A significant section of the ‘trail’ however now better resembles a large scale replica of the Grand Canyon! Not entirely sure how I made it on the quad, but I am pretty sure there were a few dodgy situations I would not have got through without 15 awesome dogs pulling me.
Having survived the Grand Canyon we are now on good trail, and headed home. Hard to see in the glow of the sun but Denali is visible in the distance.
Mandatory self portrait ~
Back in the yard between teams. Pepsi wants to know when she gets to run. Don’t worry little girl, your next.
Dogs hanging out in the sunshine.
CC is doing her ‘take me’ dance; she really really wants to run.
Yeah, you know what it is. And no day in the life of a dog musher is complete without it.
The guys are pretty relaxed after their run.
Well, not Chase-um, he wants to go again.
The puppies watch from the near by puppy pen. Yes, they started to roam too far and destroy too much, and so it was time for them to take the next step and move into the pen.
Actually they do not really seem to mind.
Got the meal soaking to feed after the second run.
The cook-pot is ready to fire up when I get home, whole fish and fats. Yeah I know it doesn’t look great to humans, but dogs LOVE this!
Cut up a bit of fish as a little snack for the puppies. After giving them the fish, my mid run chores were under control and it was time to go run the other half of the race dogs.
I did not make the same mistake, this time I stayed with the ridge line trail we have been running. The moon came up as we turned onto the ridge, and we were running right at it for awhile.
Trying to get a photo of the team with the moon in the background. Didn’t quite work, but I love the demon dog eyes effect.
Orchid (left) and Squirrel (right) in swing.
Sweet Pea (left) and Spyder (right)
Thistle (left) and Yuki (right).
From here we headed home. Dogs got that meal I prepped for them before the run. Puppies got another meal. One more go round with the shovel. Cook-pot cooked. All in all a good day, of course there is always more I want to do then hours in the day. Ah but tomorrow is another day! For today, my last to do item – share the day – is done.
Thanks so much for sharing the day with us~
