La Pine Mushing Event - Saturday

La Pine Mushing Event - the highlight of my year. This year there were 30+ teams (with 2 to 14 dogs) including 13 Chinooks. Mushers from all over the western states converge on the camp ground; run their teams on the trails; share marvelous food; sit around the camp fire swapping tales and advice and; listen to awesome husky howl-ins. Trask, being an enthusiastic howler, got both Cedar and Koyuk to join in the songs. The motorhome resonated several times each night.
We arrived late Saturday morning. I claimed my campsite; took out the rig; hooked up the dogs and; we were off to the staging area 1/4 mile away. It is difficult to get a focused shot of dogs racing over a bumpy trail. Cedar and Koyuk knew where they were going and stopping for a photo-op was not an option.

Ferrari and the dogs resting at the staging area.

We went out for a brief 2+ mile run but it was quite warm that late in the day.

Koyuk and Trask back at the staging area.

Three happy but hot dogs.

Then it was back to the campground to officially claim our spot.


While the dogs rested that afternoon, everyone met at the campground log cabin for a huge potluck and presentation from Ellen Donoghue. Ellen has spent the last three years at Jeff King's kennel just outside Denali Park and supported him during his Iditarod, Yukon Quest and other races. She regaled us with tales of cold, running champion dogs and Alaskan beauty. I had wonderful flashbacks of my winter outside Nome. Until you have lived it, there is nothing like the absolute quiet and beauty of a northern night where you can easily navigate with starlight alone. Add a moon and/or northern lights and it is truly other worldly. The vapor from your breath becomes magic crystals in the air.

The Great Howl-in

Koyuk is in season. Not really wanting mother-son-opps-puppies, Trask went to stay with Tule Loowit for three days while Koyuk was fertile.
Tule and Trask greeting Trick-or-Treaters.

 The next day they headed for the mountains and a hike along Crescent Lake.

 Trask was quite spoiled during his stay.

 Tule and Trask passed out from exhaustive play.

Last evening Trask returned home. The resulting frenzied howl-in broke all sound records. Not only was Trask frantic because his beloved Tule left but he got a whiff of Koyuk and the "hormoans" kicked in. His crazed howls were joined by both Cedar and Koyuk and then the local coyote pack. The howl-in continued non-stop until the canine tranquilizer kicked in and he was separated from the others in the bedroom behind the closed door.
Another tranquilizer finally calmed his distraught whines and cries. He only had occasional bursts of howling and moaning during the night. Koyuk was safe with me on the other side of the door.

(Finally) Mellow Trask

This morning all was back to normal. They went for a very fast rig run; got totally soaked and covered with mud; got a bath; harnesses along with my jeans, coat and shoes were thrown in the washer and; then they crashed together on the dog couch for much of the rest of the day.

I am not sure Dave or I would have survived a frenzied, howling, moaning, whining Trask for the three days Koyuk was fertile. We are so thankful for Greg and Sarah taking him in and relieving all our suffering.
Oh no - as I type the coyotes are back and all three dogs are again having a howl-in.

Happy Howl-o-ween

Happy Howl-o-ween from:

BrownStone Trask,  BrownStone Koyuk and Moonsong Cedar

BrownStone Laika

BrownStone Bramble and BrownStone Muku

First Fall Training Run

Team Nookies hasn't been able to run the rig for weeks due the unseasonably warm weather (80's - 90's). We have three days of mushing coming up and need to start getting back in shape.
Today we had our first fall-season run. The temperature was in the 50's, still too warm for dog powered sports, so we ran in the rain. Even going uphill, the dogs were running too fast for me to get a decent picture. I needed to hold on tight to the bouncing rig.
I changed my turnaround location. Now the rig is anchored to a huge oak tree while I walk the last few feet to get the paper. No more out-of-control runs on the main road.
Trask was so excited on this, his first full-speed pull, he kept passing Cedar and Koyuk (in lead) from his wheel position. The resulting cat's-cradle of lines from one such surge ahead was picture worthy.

A Day in the Life of BrownStone Chinooks

The bathtub normally doubles as the dog's toy box. In preparation for a predicted huge storm, I moved the toys out and filled the tub with water. (no power = no water)  He-who-must-have-something-in-his-mouth-at-all-times eagerly brought me toy after toy all morning. When I went downstairs around noon, I found that Trask had dumped and emptied the basket in search of his newly, rediscovered toys. 

This afternoon I was doing one last e-mail check before heading off to Rally class with Cedar when Trask and Cedar came in and jumped onto my lap. These photos do not do their muck caked bodies justice. Then again a large portion of their mud is on my once-clean clothes.

"Honest mom, I wasn't digging up cattail roots in the pond muck."

When I took them outside to clean them off, a somewhat less muddy Koyuk joined the grubby duo.

Trask covered in really stinky, grey-clay muck.

The phone rang - another irritating, election-issue solicitor. While I was on the phone and before I was able to completely wash the dogs, they snuck into the house and made a beeline for the bed.

They look so innocent.

Decorating with Chinooks

By October 1st each year I usually have my "fall" porch decorations up. I take down the fuchsia baskets and hang my autumn baskets which are adorned with orange lights. Gourds and pumpkins from the garden complete the scene. This year it is still in the 80's and my fuchsia baskets have never looked better. But, since Halloween is fast upon us and I found this wonderful garden gnome, I now have a mixture of summer baskets and fall gourds.
Trask, he who must put everything that fits into his mouth, showed up just as I was taking pictures of my decorating efforts.

 "Leave it"

I ran into the house, grabbed the bitter apple spray and coated the gnome and all gourds. This picture was taken after one lick of a tempting squash.

 My handsome boy.

Koyuk and Cedar joined us on the porch. They checked out the decorations while Trask checked out the fuchsia. 

 It is now officially Autumn.

 "Enough pictures. Can we go now?"

Bitter Apple spray has proved not to be a deterrent. Between Trask, the deer and I suspect racoons, this morning I have a front yard littered with chewed upon gourds and pictures for the memory of my efforts.

McKenzie - Last Photos

This blog is a diary.  Diaries contain both the joys and despair in life.  McKenzie's last day was the depth of anguish but I feel I must also document it as part of my diary for it shows the depth of love we all had for her as well.
The day we made the heart wrenching decision to let McKenzie go to a more comfortable place, Dave and I carried her outside for pictures with the other dogs. She could not stand or walk on her own. The dogs self arranged.  In all of the pictures, they were all touching her.

To help move McKenzie about during her last days I put on her life jacket. It is padded and snugly wraps her body. The handle on top made it easier to help her up and ambulate as much as she could. Before the vet came, Dave insisted on some last pictures. Dave had a wonderful bond with her. She always had kisses, a smile and  wagging tail for him.

McKenzie was always in tune to my emotions.

 Everyone was with her in the end.

I have been humbled by the outpouring of condolences.  McKenzie was a true friend to all who knew her and prominent ambassador for the Chinook breed.