AARG Cameras

Today Team Nookies went for what was to be another counter run. Sunshine. 30 degrees. The trail was a tough with 6" new, sticky snow. Fortunately snowmobiles condensed it a bit for us. For a run to count toward a title, I need pictures of the start, turn around point and end. Since I am alone, I also need some landmarks to demonstrate distance. My new camera is supposed to give me GPS coordinates of each picture and a distance log of where I went. In the ideal world, I would be able to stop, take off gloves, go through the menus for the correct settings, calibrate the compass and shoot. I must have missed a set-up step at the beginning of the trip. I did not get a GPS reading until this point a good 2.5 miles from the van.
The distance between the last picture and this one was 3.1km. These two pictures were 5.3 km apart.Last week I determined by comparing this cut bank with Google earth, that this point was 4.1 miles and an elevation gain of 763'. The dogs were still going strong so I decided to take them another 1/2 mile+. We successfully negotiated a turn without tangled dogs, me being drug or even falling off the sled. I went to take a picture and all I got was a grey screen. I could not even turn the camera off to re-boot it. As we flew back down the road, I decided to shoot random shots for GPS and see if I could get a scenic picture of the dogs running along the tree lined road framing Diamond Peak. I figured that even if the camera just took grey, it would at least save my GPS points. Wrong. So no tangle free turn-around or ending pictures. AARG! Oh well, it was a beautiful day to be on the trail and the downhill ride back to the van was exhilarating.

My Funny Valentines

Ma Nature dusted the world white long enough to get some pictures of my funny Valentines. No matter how little, Snow = great fun for ChinooksMother and daughter - Cedar and Koyuk Silly Willy Regal McKenzie"she kissed me""did not"

Hanging On

"Let's get going!"I am trying to put Working Sled Dog Excellent tittles on my dogs. It requires 100 trail miles documented and verified. Since I am pretty much always alone, verification is a major stumbling block. Thus when I saw a Nikon GPS, shock, water and dust proof camera yesterday, I became so excited I bought it. (Thank you for the Valentine Dave.) Supposedly I can get a GPS location on each picture; get a map of where I traveled and get time over distance. Cool Huh? Today I took it for a spin. Luckily I also checked Google Earth for landmarks before heading to the mountains so I knew when I had reached the required 2.5 mile turn around point. Actually the reason for the check was because I did not make it through the 257 page manual and wasn't quite sure I understood how to take a picture let alone do the GPS thing.The Waldo Road is popular with snowmobiles. The conditions were cement hard, snowmobile tracks with widely varying depth. In other words, really tough to control a sled. Some of the tracks were a foot or more deeper than ones that they cris-crossed. The dogs were really excited and ran fast while I held on and tried to take pictures. (Think standing on 1.5" wide boards while on the back of a bucking bull and holding a cell phone size camera in the gloved hand that should be holding onto the steering bow.) We climbed 550 feet in 2.5 miles. The dogs were going so well, we continued on a good 1.5 miles. I didn't have a clue as to what I was taking pictures of or the camera settings. All I could do was lift the camera with my gloved hand during what looked to be a smooth spot and shoot. Of course my gloved hand changed settings with each picture.
Then we turned around. I am required to take a picture at the furthest point - well it didn't happen. I set the claw brake in anticipation of having to untangle the dogs once I got them and the sled headed back. They made their first ever, smooth, come-about and were off. The sled ran over the claw brake and it became lodged under a runner. The drag did not phase the dogs. I finally got them stopped but had to get off the sled to free the brake - you guessed it. Another frontal drag for me. Good thing the camera is shock and water proof. I fell on it. Oh yea, the manual says to wipe off the lense with a soft, dry, clean cloth once exposed to water - sure.I thought I had taken several pictures of the dogs with Diamond Peak but this is the only one on the camera. The dogs were headed downhill with solid footing. We flew. I was just hanging on and occasionally snapping away with my huge gloved hand. And oh yea, snow on the lens.Van in sight. The dogs are pulling even faster if possible. I am standing with both feet on the brake. There is a steep berm between me and the van. I really did not want to fly over it. The end.

Maku Update

I was finally cleaning out my in-box and I came across a very important November post that I had missed. One of the best things about being a breeder of these wonderful dogs is hearing from their forever families. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Hi,
Muku is getting all fuzzy for the winter, and has already been up trail running and playing in the snow. She's such a happy and fun dog!
Deavah, Brad and Ben

Five Chinooks at Rest

After a day full of 5-way, Chinook tag games, the dogs were ready for some zzz's.

Koyuk, McKenzie Cedar, Willy and Lupin. Oops, I disturbed them by taking a picture.

Sun

Yesterday the sun hit the back patio for the first time this year. I grabbed the paper and my coat (it was only 38 degrees), camera, and coffee and went out to soak up some rays. Lupin and Koyuk tried mightily to get the ice out of the dog's water bowl until they tipped it and gained their prize.While the youngsters played keep-away with the chunk of water bowl ice, Willy and McKenzie "chilled" on the warm pavement.
Lupin in her lion pose.Within minutes the sun traveled back behind the trees. Before it did, I was able to grab a picture of McKenzie, Willy, Cedar, Koyuk and Lupin. Love those ears!

Not-So-Much Slumber Party

Kerstin, Anna and Klara brought Lupin over yesterday for a play date. The dogs immediately engaged in a 5-Nook game of tag, with rules only they can interpret.

Koyuk ready to ambush anyone taking a short-cut through the pond While the dogs zoomed about, the girls headed for the trees.Anna is "riding the porpoise" on an obliging, springy branchKlara attempting to join her sister.

I got no further pictures of the dogs. They were all way too excited to sit for a picture. Besides, Lupin is our guest for the weekend. There should be plenty of photo-ops once the novelty wears off.

Last night was akin to a 'tween slumber party. Five Chinooks, one cat and two humans on one bed is totally nonconductive to sleep. I knew the dogs would stay where ever I was so I took the "no-dog" couch and let Dave sprawl in freedom without four legged beings vying for the most human contact. The dogs made the most of the greatroom non-slumber party. Every toy in the house was brought out and tested for tugging strength and quality of squeaker. Bones were chewed; dropped on the hardwood floor; and buried under dog beds. Chase the cat became a favored game.

At one point I finally fell asleep only to be awakened by malodorous kisses. One of the dogs had figured out how to open the kennel door. McKenzie knows but has not done it in years. They were able to push up a 5" bar out of the sleeve without pushing on the door then push on the door before the bar slid back into place. Once free, I can only assume the party resumed outside. I do know that at one point it included rolling in deer poop. Later after they are all bathed, I will attempt to get 5-Nook pictures.