Cool Off

With me being ill for so long, the dogs have lost some of their mushing conditioning. This morning I took them for a 4 mile run - more if you count chasing deer and squirrels. 

I love the tongue shadows.

 Today was 72 degrees and sunny. When the grass finally dried, I did the first mowing of the season. I also took the first family swim to cool off.

 

Dogs - Gotta Love 'em

Koyuk came up to me and pawed my leg for attention. Her left eye was swollen shut. I didn't know if there was something in there or it was an allergic reaction. By the time we got to the vet ten minutes later, both eyes were swollen. By the time the Dr. got into the room, she had bumps all over her head. This picture was taken 20 minutes after the benadryl and steroid shots. And it is only the start of yellow-jacket season... AARG!

While I rushed Koyuk to the vet, Houdini McKenzie raided the dog-food container. I need to borrow a video camera to see how she does it. The container has a screw top lid which I close by bracing my feet against the bucket and use both hands to screw the lid on tight. I then have two stacked cases containing 12 gallons of laundry soap blocking in the food container. McKenzie has to move the heavy cases out of the way; pull the 5 gallon food container out into the room; then open the food container. She does it without leaving teeth marks of having anything to brace it on..

Cedar and Koyuk enjoying the food she spilled.

Postscript: Koyuk required another 50 mg of Benadryl and has now earned the name "Funny Face." I am sure Barbara Streisand will approve. McKenzie is not eating in the above picture. She had already had her fill which now has her quite bloated.

First Male Chinook AKC Champion

Chinooks became a AKC recognized breed in January 2013. 

Saturday, Koyuk's intended, Oscar, became the first male AKC Champion. 

Meanwhile Koyuk was having a bit of fun on her own. A large flock of scolding Jays descended on the trees by the bird feeder. Koyuk could not resist the temptation. She was quite pleased with herself when she brought her catch to me but then after parading around with it a while, could not figure out what to do with it. (The Jay is now one with the blackberry bushes.)

BtownStone Iditarod Litter

The BrownStone Iditarod litter has turned three.

The Iditarod Race trail begins on Willow Lake and winds through typical northern forests, consisting of alternating birch woods and spruce swamps. At this point most of the trail is flat to gently rolling hills. BrownStone Willow lives in Eugene with her family of four.

Tokotna only has about 75 people but it offers some of the best hospitality on the trail. Many mushers take their 24 hour layover in Tokotna. BrownStone Tokotna is now Muku and lives in BC with her family of three.

Mushers come off the Yukon River at Kaltag and leave the checkpoint on a trail that follows the ancient Kaltag portage, a relatively straight valley angling southwest through the coastal mountains. The route has been used for millennia by Natives. It makes the major transition from the inland river environment to the Bearing Sea Coast. Conditions can be vastly different at opposite ends of the portage, and wind is a constant threat on the western half. BrownStone Kaltag lives in the Seattle area.

The route to Koyuk is on the Bering Sea ice. The mushers guide states: you may see some pressure ridges but little else along this way. There may be cracks in the ice, some of which can be several inches wide. These are normal and shouldn't cause you any concern. You will probably also hear the ice cracking under or around you, also normal, if a bit unnerving. Stories about the ice cracking off and drifting mushers and their teams out to sea are probably a bit over done. BrownStone Koyuk, here with mother Cedar, lives in Eugene.

 

The mushers guide goes on to say that you'll leave Koyuk on the sea ice headed southwest along the shore. The trail generaly stays just far enough offshore to avoid shore ice which can be jumbled and rough. The trail will cut inshore just past a prominent rocky headland and run for another couple of miles across low ground and then begin to climb over a series of small ridges, eventually back to the tree line and sea ice. The trail between Koyuk and Elim is notorious for wind. BrownStone Elim is now River. She lives in Portland with her family.


Big boy Nome was whelped last. The mushers guide starting on the sea ice states: Finally you will swing sharply up the bank and find yourself at he east end of Front Street. The arch is at the far end of the street, half a mile away. You will usually have a police escort, hopefully the flashing red and blue lights won't spook your dogs. There may be enough snow to run down the middle of the street, otherwise you'll have to pick your way along the sidewalk or else just scrape up the asphalt as best you can (but who cares anyway?) Finally you'll pull into the fenced in chute for the last couple hundred feet. Stop your team when your leaders pass under the arch. Amid congratulations from everyone, the checker will inventory your sled. Once he's done, you're no longer a rookie and you can tell tales from the trail to next year's crop of newbies.Nome lives with his family in the North Cascades.

Happy Birthday Koyuk

As the teams race to Iditarod None, BrownStone Iditarod Koyuk turns 3 today.

Birthday kiss from mom Cedar.

Cedar and Koyuk.

Supervising the photo-shoot: Dowager McKenzie.

 Another picture of Sunday's Seattle AKC Dog Show. Oscar and Koyuk -: Judging for Best of Breed.

Seattle AKC Dog Show

Last Friday Koyuk and I traveled to Seattle for the AKC Dog Show. Oscar, Koyuk's intended sire, is close to becoming the first AKC Chinook Champion. I went to support him and show off Koyuk.

Koyuk moves so beautifully in the show ring.

We took first place for Chinook females and went on to win Best Opposite Sex to Best of Breed. Oscar won Best of Breed.

A few hours later the Chinooks participated in a AKC Meet-the-Breeds booth. For an hour, all of the Chinooks present were fawned over by numerous families interested in learning more about the breed. 

Oscar received all kinds of attention.

 All of the Chinooks proudly represented the breed. 

Sunday morning, bright and way too early thanks to the switch to daylight savings time, we were again in the ring.

Koyuk won the Best Opposite with her handsome sire Oscar winning the Best of Breed.

Koyuk and Oscar on the awards platform.

 "Time to go home yet?"

Team Nookies Run

Today Team Nookies added another 8 miles toward their Sled Dog Excellent titles. The trail was icy hard pack. The girls sprinted most of the way.

Three miles and still running.

Snack and water break at the turn around.

Still running...

and running, so fast Koyuk's ears were blown up.

Then they stopped.

The train makes an impressive noise in the quiet woods. Enough to make anyone stop.

Our club's big, large-team race was being held at the next sno-park north. Snowmobiles and X-C skiers switched to the trails we were on. We got a lot of practice with "on-by". The girls did get distracted with the yipping Pekingese in a hooded down coat. I was trying to corral the sled and not run over the thing so missed a photo-op.

 The last sprint to the finish.

My plan was to spend the afternoon skiing. It was 47 degrees and threatening rain when we got to the ski area. Sticky snow with frozen chicken heads in the rain - not inviting. We had lunch with Dave and headed home.