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.