Cascade Peaks Are 4 Month Old

The BrownStone Cascade Peaks litter is 4 months old and boy have they grown! They were a day old when the first "animal" picture was taken.

BrownStone Cascade Mt. Trask (Trask)

 Wy'east - Mr Navy

 Ms Pink - BrownStone Cascade Mt. Loowit (Tule Loowit)

 BrownStone Cascade Mt. Pahto (Kyrik)

 Pahto - Mr Red

 BrownStone Cascade Mt Karuk (Alaka'i)

 Karuk - Mr Green

 Ms Purple - BrownStone Cascade Mt Klah (Luca)

 Ms Yellow - BrownStone Cascade Mt Koma (Laika)

Ms Orange - BrownStone Cascade Mt Mazama (Bramble) 

and Ms Yellow - BrownStone Tillamook (Tiki)

 Ms Silver - Moonsong Mighty Mouse (Mouse)

Cold Day Activities

Yesterday it was 20 degrees and windy when I took the dogs for a rig run. Because of my bronchitis, I have not run since LaPine. To get into shape both the dogs and I need to get back into the routine of daily runs. No pictures. I did not want to trust my Cannon or hands to the freezing cold.
The rest of the day was spent inside. I put the sixth and seventh coats of fur laden, spar varnish on the small collection of parts that make a dog sled. (Canine patina - after a couple of coats I gave up trying to totally remove fur flying off playing dogs).

Between sled varnish coats, I tackled the kitchen sink. What started out as a fairly simple replacement of an instant hot system, thanks in part to he for whom everything that fits into his mouth belongs there, became a complex plumbing job. To replace the system I had to remove the faucet with it's four lines. It was held in place by a long screw located way up behind the sink itself. To get there, I had to wiggle myself under and behind the insinkerator and all the plumbing. Once wedged, I reached for my flashlight. I finally found it across the room in Trask's pile of toys. The game of wiggle-wedge-reach-puppy kisses-wiggle out-search was repeated several times with the screwdriver, wrench, flashlight and set screw itself. All of my movement and Trasks antics tweaked the rest of the sink plumbing loose. As I was straining to re-screw the faucet set screw, the pea-trap fell off soaking me with waste water.

Rather than just replace it, I decided to take all the plumbing apart to clean the pipes and tighten the now loosened joints. Plastic pipe with greasy residue proved too much a temptation for all of the dogs. As soon as I set a section down, it was mouthed and became a tug toy. The job in total took way too many hours but it was a great excuse to not go outside to pick up storm damage limbs and pull weeds.

Itinerant Kibble

A crashing garbage can and rustling noises coming from down in the mudroom can never be good. What with the dog door, who knows what could have gotten in? Fox? Skunk? Raccoon? Nope. I turned on the light to find a puppy kibble bag with legs and a trail roving around the floor. 

"Hi mom. I thought you might have accidentally thrown away some missed kibble."

"I need to make sure none is wasted".

Demolishing a three layer, vacuum sealed, super glued kibble bag is exhausting work - especially when the efforts are fruitless - but grandma Cedar is always there for consoling comfort.

1st Place for Luca

Today " PR" BrownStone Cascade Mt. Klah (Luca) got first place female puppy at the UKC show in Castle Rock, CO. This was the first show for the little beauty and her forever family.

La Pine Mushing Weekend - Sunday

Sunday morning was clear and 26 degrees. With no other way to get him there, Trask accompanied Team Nookies on the 1/2 mile run to the staging area. I really expected a nice easy run allowing Trask to saunter but no Team Nookies knew where they were going and were anxious to get there. Trask did his share of pulling the entire way - not really what I wanted on his young joints but the ground was soft and I could not slow him.
Of course there were the inevitable tangles (rest breaks) as ever curious Trask checked out all the wonderful smells.

By coming along the river and through the woods instead of the road, Team Nookies made a grand entrance into the staging area.

Most of the day was spent watching the other teams.

This truck and trailer brought 38 Siberians.

Trask and Cedar paying close attention to the other teams.

 Koyuk getting a better look.

 At 3 1/2 months, Trask is already powerful.

Chinook Kasute (related to McKenzie)

Chinooks Kenna Lu and Parker

 A team from the way NE corner of Washington.

 Dashing Kennel from Idaho.

 Chinook social break.

 Oregon Siberians

 The dogs really wanted to run so...

mid morning I took a short run with Cedar and Koyuk.

There were teams large and small running the trails.

Handsome Trask

After her runs, Karen Yeargain worked privately with Cedar and Koyuk on passing etiquette. We spent about 1/2 hour passing other dogs and teams while she taught them to focus solely ahead and ignore the other dogs. Karen is amazing (and patient).

 Trask intently watched the entire lesson.

 Then it was time to head back to the campground...

where we met a Siberian with wheels...

 and Chinook Sury taking a test run with a new sako cart.

Once again the La Pine Mushing Weekend did not disappoint. Team Nookies had a blast and learned a lot.

La Pine Mushing Weekend -Saturday

The high point of my fall is always the La Pine Mushing Weekend. This year mushers and several hundred dogs from California, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon took over the La Pine campground for three days of running dogs on dirt. Friday Team Nookies headed over the mountains but because I still wasn't feeling well, we did little beyond setting up camp and hiking along the river.
Saturday morning Greg joined us (without Tule). To get to the staging area, Greg drove his car with his bike and Trask while Cedar and Koyuk pulled me 1/2 mile on Ferrari through the woods. Ferrari's wheel base is about 2 feet wider than the soft sand trail. Going was a bit tough for the dogs. Each time we tore through the sagebrush I was glad I had put solid spoke wheels on her.

Dan's team of 5 Chinooks and 3 huskies was heading out on the trail as we entered the staging area. The quad loaded with two people is in gear to give resistance to the powerful team.

Trask got to reunite with his sire Oscar.

For our run we opted to stay off the roads with the big fast teams and took a scenic trail instead. Greg bikejored with Oscar while the girls pulled me on Ferrari. (There was no lack of puppy holders in the staging area to keep Trask occupied while we were gone).

 We put Oscar in the lead on the way back

A highlight of the day was the photo-op of 10 Chinooks on a gangline. I was totally tangled and disabled by the time Team Nookies made it to the picture area.

Trask was so excited to be the lead dog he gave his first ever howl as everyone else was being hooked up.

A PNW first: 10 Chinooks on a gangline.

 Trask instinctively knew what his job was and held everyone out tight.

He gave it his all to keep the team in line when the other tired of standing there.

Trask, always in pulling mode, leading Greg back to his car.

Team Nookies dined alfresco at the campsite while Greg and I retired to the musher's potluck and tales in the lodge. Then it was off to bed to rest up for another day of mushing.