I'm a Musher!

I love being on a sled. In my opinion it is the best part of what I do here. I won't go into the peace and tranquility that a smooth ride can bring. I won't go into the calming feeling of being part of a team working as one down the trail. I won't even go into how much better I feel at night after a good day of working with the dogs. I won't go into any of that because in this post I'll explain how I finally became a real Musher.

Same trail. Different night. Nothing to worry about. I've been here not many times but enough to be more comfortable on the sled. Maybe too comfortable. You have to be on your toes at all times or the dogs will take that moment to surprise you.

It was on the way back from the turn around that I would learn yet another valuable lesson in the world that is Mushing. 

One of my leaders, Tristan, was getting tired and his tug was starting to slack a bit. To give him a break, I decided to stop and swap out him and Thunder. If you remember (because I sure didn't) the base hadn't really developed under the snow yet making it harder to set the snow hook.

I set it, however, like normal. Making sure they pulled it into the snow and before I let go of the brake I let them give an extra tug to make sure it was set well.

It seemed fine and they weren't really pulling hard at this point and were ready for a little rest. I got Thunder and brought him up front and swapped him and Tristan. I put Tristan back where Thunder was and walked back to the sled.

I remember one of the first things Jaye told me when I was to get on a sled for my first time. "ALWAYS BE READY TO GRAB THAT SLED IF IT TAKES OFF!" This is where I was too comfortable that night because I was not ready.

I thought I had time. If they didn't pull the hook out by now then it must be set really well. As I put one foot on the runner I found out that I was really wrong. The sled took off and I fell on my ass. I got up as quickly as I could yelling "WHOA, WHOA!!" but of course there was no stopping them from where I was standing.

As I ran yelling and watching the sled disappear into the darkness my stomach dropped. I couldn't believe I had just lost Jaye's dogs. So many things began to run through my mind. Will they stay on trail? Will they find and animal and run into the woods? Will they get tangled in a downed tree? If they get tangled will that cause a fight and I won't be there to break it up?

All I could do was follow on foot and hope that one of the other mushers would get them. As I walked back I kept my eye on their tracks looking for any sign that they went off trail. Luckily, Dave was sitting on his snowmobile about a mile ahead of me. He didn't see my light so went to offer his thinking mine had died when he noticed that the sled was empty as it went by.

I saw him hauling ass towards me to bring me to my team. I had thought one of the girls had my team and Dave would just bring me there on the snowmobile. Well, that wasn't the case. The dogs were still running with an empty sled.

When Dave got to me he said "Get on and Hang on tight!" I swear I peed a little on that ride. I know we had to catch my team but that was a scary ride. I'm glad he knew what he was doing and soon we came up to my team trotting along like nothing in the world was wrong.

I then realized that I wasn't just going to pull up, hop off, and grab my team. This was a moving operation. I felt like a cowboy saving a runaway stagecoach as I stood on the snowmobile and hopped onto my sled as we were racing down the trail.

I stepped on the brake and brought the team to a halt so we could all catch our breath. Well, so I could catch my breath. The dogs were just fine and wondering why we stopped.

So, they say that you are not a real musher until you have lost your team. That night I became a real musher and learned to put a little pep in my step when dogs are on the snow hook.

Upper body strength.

It's important. Just how important I found out on this run.

This was my second time on this trail on a sled. I wasn't too worried about it. There was nothing too technical and I expected an easy run. We lined out and the ladies took off first. I figured they would catch and pass me soon anyway so I waited to give them some running room and then pulled the snub line release. 

They were on fire again. These dogs love to run but you've heard me say that before. I reached down to grab my mittens. The first part of the run is not the time to let go of the handlebars or take your focus off balancing and controlling the sled. I learned this quickly.

When I bent over to reach the mittens the sled began to tip. I was unable to recover being bent over the handlebar and down I went. I held on though and was dragged by the team at 20+ mph on hard, crunchy snow. 

Days prior to this a friend of mine from Canada, Mario, was explaining how to recover from just such an incident. I had been dragged probably 500 feet by the time I gathered myself. The conversation with Mario came to me now and I began pulling myself up onto the sled which was now on it's side.  I managed to get my waist over the edge and put both feet on the runner that was on the ground. Crouching and trying to balance, I yanked the sled upright and quickly put my right foot on the runner as it landed. It worked! I thanked Mario a few times after that.

I had tipped over before even though I've only been on a sled a few times. This was the first time it happened while I was going that fast and the dogs did not stop. So, among all the lessons I'm learning good upper body strength is one more thing needed to be a musher.

First sled run of the season

We finally got enough of snow on top of a base to carefully venture out on sleds. Planting the snow hook wasn't perfect but we went for it.

David and Jaye went ahead on the snowmobile to break trail and make a loop at the end for the dogs to follow so that we could hopefully avoid a come haw (U-turn with 18 dogs). It was also nice to be able to hook to the machine if the dogs needed untangling instead of trying to pound the hook into the frozen ground.

We made an early start with 5 teams running that day. I set up the sleds and dropped dogs. Jaye was still out on the trail by the time I got to the staging area. The sleds were lined up with gang lines (8 dog team for me and 11 for Jaye) and harnesses were on the dogs. It was cold but sunny and the dogs were itching to go.

With some minor issues and tangles from over excited dogs, we hit the trail one by one.

When I pulled the pin to release the team we shot out of the parking lot and down the trial like a bullet train. I had not been on a sled by myself except for a few times and that was a year ago, with less and slower dogs. Needless to say I had a death grip on the sled.

I still only had my liner gloves on from handling the dogs and didn't dare reach for my mittens even though they were right in front of my laying on the sled bag. They say one hand for you, one hand for the sled. I gave both to the sled as my heart was trying to jump out of my throat.

Luckily not long after the start we began a long gradual uphill climb. This slowed the team down enough to where I was comfortable reaching for the mitts. My hands were starting to sting at this point but I hadn't noticed because I was excited to be on a sled at all. This is what I had been waiting for.

One I wiggled my hands into the mitts and pulled them up so that no cold air could get in, I settled in for the ride. With a few dips but mostly up hill, I felt at least a little control standing on the sled. The other side of the mountain, however, was a little different.

This was a long downhill with some steep and fast areas thrown in for when you get bored. I started to feel like a ballet dancer by the time we hit the bottom. The sled has a drag mat with spikes on the underside. To slow the team down you turn in your heels and put weight on it so you look like you are doing a plie. With the new snow and hard ice under it, most of the downhill I was doing a plie.

Becky was ahead of me and was returning from the bottom as I was getting close to the turn around point. The trail was narrow and we were coming at each other head on. She had an 10 dog team to my 8. I slowed down waiting for my dogs to pick a side and pass her. Both of my leaders had a different idea.

Tristan went left, Thunder went right and Becky's team ran right into the middle. We stopped our teams quickly but not before my leaders decided to wrap up with her team. I planted my hook as best as I could and ran to get my dogs out of her line.

I grabbed Lightening because somehow she got in there but had nowhere to hook her so I was trying to pull Thunder out one handed with little luck. David had been patrolling the trail back and forth making sure everyone was doing ok. Luckily, he was there when this happened.

He and Mari jumped in to help straighten out the mess that was getting worse by the second. After the 3 of us got my team out of Becky's way she went on to give us room to fix my team. I had to unhook necklines to give them slack and figure out who went where and try to line them out again.

Jaye went by as this was all happening and stopped just behind me to make sure we were ok. Thunder took this as a chance to join her team. He would not line out and just wanted to turn around. Mario and David grabbed my leaders and ran with them for a few feet and we were off.

We reached the bottom and hawed into the loop created by the snow machine with no problem. So much better than a U-turn.

You would think that by now they would be tired enough to take it easy but they attacked the return ride uphill with the same determination as when they first start the run. By now, though, I was getting the hang of it.

The turns, dips, rises, leans, and bumps of the trail all require the musher to do something. You are never quite standing still on a sled. Immediately after the loop when we began the uphill climb I took the opportunity to squat down on my heels for a minute.

It was then that I noticed just how much work I had been doing. My ankles, and calves ached from the almost constant tippy toe plie braking on the hills. My knees and hips hurt from constantly shifting my weight in relation to the slope of the trail and corners so I don't tip the sled at 20 mph. My shoulders, forearms and wrist hurt from the death grip and my lower back was chiming in as well. Mushing is very physical.

The ride back was uneventful which I didn't mind at all. I had my tangle for the day. It was good to be on a sled and once you get a rhythm it can be very peaceful on the trail. I think that's the part I like best. 

A quiet, peaceful ride to just think and work things out with a bit of adrenaline thrown in now and then on corners and downhills. Next time I'll talk about tipping the sled at 20+mph. Yeah, I did that.

Checkpoint Training

A checkpoint is basically a pit stop for musher. The number of pit stops depend on the length of the race. Some checkpoints allow the handler (that's me) to help the musher with dogs, gear, feeding, etc. At some checkpoints all we can do is watch as the musher has to be completely self sufficient. Last night was my first hint at what it will be like at the checkpoints in a real race. A small hint but an educational one.

I started at the house by preparing some fat for the dogs to snack on in between runs. Chopping it up into bite size pieces and adding to a cooler of warm water. Hay would be needed for them to bed down on as well so I loaded that onto the trailer.

Of course as I loaded up the truck the dogs begin to whine and howl in anticipation. I'm getting excited to because it will be a first time for me doing this part of my job. My parka is packed with extra gloves and my head lamp for when it gets dark and we head down the road.

We are doing this training with some friends Becky and Dave. Becky is a musher and Dave is her handler so at least I'll have company. We arrive at their house and immediately start preparing for launch. The food and gear needed at the checkpoint is unloaded and I begin dropping and harnessing dogs while Jaye lines up the ATV and gangline.

After they are hooked up and out of the driveway it gets really quiet. I looked at Dave and said "Now what?" With the girls gone our job was to get the food and hay ready for their return. We also, moved the trucks down the road so that the dogs would not see them and try to head for the trucks when they got in as was their habit.

With the trucks out of the way, food buckets and hay set aside, and a bonfire slowly building we had time to just hang out and wait.

After the second run, however, I got a text from Jaye saying that she was dropping Trooper on the next loop and to meet her at the end of the driveway. I ended up taking Trooper and Wyakin because they were not quite up to the mileage of the team and were tired. Both of them had been recuperating for a few weeks. One from surgery and the other from a sore shoulder. After taking them off the line I brought them to the truck in which they happily jumped into a box to rest and be fed. 

It was starting to get dark and cold out. I had thought at the beginning that I would not need extra or heavy gear because I wouldn't be on the ATV. I was wrong. I'm glad that I did bring my parka and gloves but wish I had my snow pants on and better boots. Standing around waiting for your musher to get in gets very cold after you stop running around preparing food and gear.

At just over 2 hours and 19.3 miles the teams came in to "check point" for a rest. Dave and I each led our teams, around the yard as they came in to where they would bed down for a couple hours. After attaching a lead dog to a leader hook in the ground to keep them lined out we set to giving the dogs some baited water with a little fat and kibble in it for energy.

Now that the bellies were full we threw down the hay for them to nest on. A few of the veterans knew right away to curl up for a much needed rest on the hay. The newbies followed suit and within 30 minutes all were nice and cozy on their own pile of hay.

We threw some sausages on the fire, had a couple beers and chatted while the dogs rested. The runs had been uneventful, a very welcome thing after a rough 2 week period. In retrospect I find it ironic that the good run she finally had was the one I did not go along for. Let's hope that has nothing to do with it.

The next run would be much shorter. Only 6 miles. When the girls left for the last run Dave and I brought the trucks back to the yard, picked up most of the hay to use in the truck boxes later and got ready yet again for the return of our teams. This time they would need a good portion of kibble with their water for supper so that had to be prepared. 

It only took a short time to get everything set up this time and the extras put away so Dave and I went in and sat by the fireplace in the house. It was much more comfortable this way.

After that it was old hat. The teams came in, lined up at the truck and got fed. Harnesses removed and hung up. Booties were removed and the dogs loaded into the truck. Put the bowls and buckets away, pick up any poop, load the ATV and go home.

I learned that I still need to dress warm even if I'm not going out on the trail. Learning is fun.

Learning Experience

I’ve heard of having to tie dogs to trees because of an accident or a tangle so bad that there was just no way you were going to get that gang-line straight with dogs attached to it. I was about to learn what that was all about.

That morning we had decided to explore a new section of trail we stumbled across while bikejoring. It looked like a snowmobile trail and had potential to add at least a few miles to our runs. The trail headed back towards a road that we run on so we thought it might end in a gate that we saw on the way in but what the hell, take a shot.

Last time we went down this trail we came across a huge tree down that would require a chain saw and had to do a come-haw or u-turn with 18 dogs. Not the most ideal situation but it went pretty well considering, with minimal tangles.
On this trip we brought a chain saw. As Jaye watered and tried to entertain the team I walked on ahead to the downed tree and started cutting. The blades were dull so it took some doing. Cut, wiggle the saw, cut, let it cool down, cut some more.

It probably took me 20-30 minutes. At least it felt like it. I would have to stop every so often to either let the blade cool down or just rest for a minute. Each time I did I could hear the dogs barking in the distance. I knew there were anxious to get going and Jaye would have a hell of a time keeping them calm. Thunder, a notorious line chewer, was tearing apart any nearby branch or root he could get his teeth on because he had nowhere else to put his energy.

I was sweating, out of breath by the time I was done, but the tree was cleared. I walked back to the ATV and we were able to continue exploring the new section….for about 100 ft.
This is where we came upon a stone boundary wall and a dead end trail. Now, this trail also narrowed to just enough for the ATV and maybe a person walking beside it. We had to do another come-haw with saplings and small trees all over and very close to each other. You can imagine it did not go smoothly.

On the first attempt there seemed to be a doable path to the right that looped right back to the trail. Unfortunately the top of that loop turned out to be to sharp and the ATV became lodged against a tree. We had to get the team back up that loop to give the gang-line some slack so Jaye could back up.
Remember those saplings everywhere? Trying to guide the dogs back up only tangled the team among the trees. Then they darted back down the loop and my foot went with them so I got dragged a few feet before they ran out of line again.

At this point Jaye said “Take your gloves off” and started unhooking dogs from the gang line. Now, this may sound like routine. What’s the big deal? Unhook ‘em and put them on a tree. Remember, these dogs are distance runners. We had only gone 4 or 5 miles at this point. They were in no way tired. So, while they were jumping and pulling at their harnesses wanting nothing but to race down the trail and getting more and more frustrated as they wait for that freedom, we wrestled them to be tied out to tress around us.

I stumbled, fell and tripped over a dog more than a few times in those moments. On top of blindly doing what I could as it was my first time and wanted to do it right but not quite sure the best way was. I saw that Jaye had some connected in a chain by their neck lines so I followed suit and we got it done.
Now we can back up the ATV, line out the gang line and start placing dogs. These dogs by the way are still jumping at the bit and barking wanting to get on the trail. We headed back the way we came and decided not to use this section again. At least the tree is cleared for anyone else that might want to go exploring.

There are mornings when I have to fight to keep moving but this one took the cake (or kibble). The rest of the day was I was exhausted and sore. It was definitely a learning experience.

Training Days

Ah.... training days! These are the mornings I get up a little earlier (unless it's cold enough to sleep in till 7) make my coffee, stretch a bit and get ready to harness up the fur devils. As soon as they see Jaye and I walking out towards the ATV with harnesses in hand they erupt. 

First thing I have to do is go in and put them all on tie outs if they aren't already on them. This is so we can manage them one at a time which, believe me, is the only way to do this. As I enter the kennel I am usually bombarded by paws and tongues. I try to close the gate while being crushed against the fence by all the dogs wanting to be first on tie out. The bark and growl at each other because they know what a tie out means this early in the morning. After all are tied to their posts, harnesses go on. 

I have just recently learned what color most wear because of the different sizes. I get the harnesses and most of them dive head first into it before I can open it for them. They lift paws to step in as I go from dog to dog. Some are harder than others because while I am trying to harness them up they are launching towards the gang-line.While I'm doing this Jaye is moving the ATV into launch position and running out the gang line.

The dogs usually reach some form of calm at this point with their harnesses on and waiting to be put on the line. After fetching the first dog, however, bedlam erupts once again as they all bark, howl, screech, and whine to put on the gang-line. We have a couple girls in heat currently so that takes a little extra care leading them to the front of the line away from the boys. All the girls are in front which helps motivate the boys to run. The girls get placed and we begin to put dogs along the gang-line according to the order the Jaye set the night before, rotating as needed so that most dogs get trained at different spots each time.

After all the dogs are on and the gate is opened before them, I am usually standing by the neck line chewers, we have 2 of them. Jaye puts on her jacket and hops on the ATV and starts it up. That is my signal to get in gear and hop on behind her. As I get on I can see that the line anchoring it to a tree is flexing and the ATV itself is bouncing in place from the power of the team snapping in harness as they lurch forward in anticipation of the run.

No sooner am I sitting down that she pulls the stick holding the anchor line, hands me the stick to stow as she stuffs the line in the basket in front of her, gives a yell and we are off like a long, furry, bat out of hell. Coming out of the gate is a SHARP left turn down the driveway, then a SHARP right turn out of the driveway. The first few times I was holding on the the ATV with my hands and my butt cheeks. These dogs LOVE to run.

As we settle into the run the dogs are now quiet, doing what they love and have been waiting to do. This is the part that makes all the noise, all the mess, all the hard work worth it. I enjoy fall weather, color, smells. But there is something about experiencing it behind a team of Huskies.

Beginning of the season

I have been here for one week now. I have to admit I was nervous at first this being my first time as a full time handler. We are settling into a routine now though and I am feeling much better about my ability to do this.

I picked up the dog's names again quicker than I thought I would. Learning the morning and evening routines gave me the most anxiety. I like to know the schedule of events ahead of time. It just calms me. But once those routines were learned I realized I really had nothing to worry about.

Beside projects that Jaye needs help with during the day, the same thing needs to happen every morning and every evening. I like that.

On non-training days I let Sami out to pee because she is in the basement with me and her pups. Around 7 I swap the dogs around which means I tie up the ones that have been loose at night and let loose the ones that were tied up. This is all within their respective kennels. Then I get frozen meat and put it in a bucket of hot water to have for the evening meal.

The evening meal happens at 5. I add kibble to the bucket of thawed meat soup, throw on my coveralls and head out to the yard.

Before entering each kennel with the food I have to go in and make sure they are all on their tie outs to limit the chaos. By now they know food is on its way and are all going crazy.

I scoop out each dog their portion and all is quiet in the dog yard. Now I grab a pooper scooper and make my rounds. All the dogs are either laying next to or on their houses watching me clean up their mess. I'm sure they get some gratification out of this show.

Rinse the buckets, check the water, untie the ones that can have play time and go take some ibuprofen.

I'll get into training days next time.