Merry Strawmas Again!

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Maverick

With the approach of snow and cold, it was time for Strawmas! Some of you might remember from last year that the dogs loved getting straw in their houses. Something about the feel, the warmth, the taste...it's magnificent. This experience was no exception.
As soon as I walked up to the yard with the straw poking everywhere, they went nuts. Of course, I started with Maverick, since he is the patriarch. He sat by his house, stamping his foot impatiently, as I arranged the straw. When I was done, I offered to give him a nice belly rub. I could see his dilemma: lay down and get pet or arrange straw. For once, he ignored my hand and went for the straw. Rolling, sniffing, and pushing commenced.
Fury was a little more nonchalant about the matter. She hasn't been sleeping in her house at all the past few months, even though she's tiny and it's a lot warmer. When I approached with the straw, she stayed in her sculpted hole without reaction until I was satisfied with the arrangement in her house. As soon as I walked away, she hopped up, dove into the straw, and stayed curled up in there for the rest of my time in the yard. She refused to come out, even for a goodbye kiss.

Fury

Alameda was her usual spazzy self. I carried the straw around in a big plastic bin, so I didn't have to worry about a huge bale. I thought it was safe to place the bin next to me while I arranged the straw, but Alameda had other plans. Right as I turned my back, she pounced on the bin of straw, knocking it everywhere. She dove headfirst into the escaped straw and starting flinging it back and forth. Alameda wasn't going to let this straw get the best of her! I just laughed and collected what I could from her attack, when all of a sudden, she attacked again! You would think I would have moved the bin out of her reach...
Spirit reacted with love instead of hate. Once I put a hand full of straw in her house, she moved right in. I tried to get her out, but she wouldn't move from her beloved house. Therefore, I had to pack the straw all around her. As I threw it in her house, she rolled and rolled, loving every moment. Eventually, she was only a face surrounded by a pile of gold.
Once again, the younger dogs, like Pismo, decided to take advantage of the fact that I was on my knees. All five of the puppies attempted to stand on my back, licking my ears, as I hurriedly tried to stuff their houses. They thought it was the best game in the world.

Lynx

These are only a few of the many wonderful reactions to Strawmas. Every one's is a little different, but it is certainly a holiday for the dogs. They'll spend the next few days rearranging everything and gnawing on straw. In a few months, I'll have to add another layer, as most of the original straw will be dragged out into the snow. I don't mind though, it's worth it to see them all so happy! Plus, it's unbelievably cute to see all their heads poking out of the straw when I walk up into the yard.

SNOW!

Sunlight's first snowstorm hit last night and another one appears to be on the way!
It started yesterday afternoon while I was still at work. I looked out my window to sunshine and calm trees, then just moments later I saw a flurry of snow come swirling out of the sky. Sweet sweet snow! Unfortunately, by the time I left work, nothing was sticking to the ground. I figured that it would stay that way since the ground is still so warm.
At home, it rained steadily through the afternoon. The temperature hovered right around 33 degrees, which made the dog yard a cold, muddy mess. Thankfully, after dark hit, the rain turned to snow. It snowed steadily through the night. Most of it seemed to disappear instantly into the warm earth, but a lucky few inches of flakes decided to stick around.

I always find friends!

This morning was breathtaking. Bright blue skies and everything sparkling white. I took a drive down my road, expecting the ranch to be beautiful. I was not disappointed. The snow had left a fluffy, pure white blanket over the farm land. Driving down my red dirt road, with the green pines, blue skies, and white snow was a wonderful start to the day. As I approached the ranch, I could see black cattle standing out as a stark contrast against the brilliant snow. Even better, I noticed six cowboys walking down the lane. I slowed down and watched as they turned off the road into the ranch land. As soon as they hit the fields, the horses broke into a gallop, with snow flying behind them. I sat mystified as the cowboys raced across the snow heading for the cattle. I fell deeply in love with every single on of them.

Arriving at work, I was happy to see that we got even more snow up here! It's starting to look like a ski area again! I've taken several breaks already to throw snowballs for a coworker's dog and generally just stand in the snow. It feels like home. I was hopeful and brought my Nordic skis up to the mountain today; if it doesn't melt super fast, maybe I can do a couple turns...

Sunlight Mountain Resort

Taking Advantage of the Sun

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It's been beautiful in Colorado the past few days! After a few weeks of bitter temperatures, the sun decided to help us out a little. It's still fairly chilly in the evening (perfect for sleeping), but now the days are very warm. The shade is still quite cool, but as son as you get into the sun, it's incredibly nice. I was even able to spend the day yesterday just lying in the sun in a t-shirt and shorts. While this doesn't bode well for the snow fall, it does mean that I can spend more time with the dogs before I freeze. Hopefully, it'll be nice for another month and then we get a big dump of snow.

Luma

Anyway, the dogs are relaxing in the sun and loving it. Instead of tucking into their barrels, they stretch out in their perfectly sculpted spaces. I say "perfectly sculpted" because most of the dogs have taken to digging, pushing, scratching, and rolling to create earthen beds throughout their individual spots. Naturally, this makes sense; why would you endure a hard flat surface when you can create a hole molded to your body. The puppies haven't quite gotten the art of comfort down. Instead, they tend to just dig for the hell of it. No finesse. No care. The older dogs take their time and work steadily. With the older dogs, a huge hole never just appears one day; it is a slow process with little scratches and adjustments each day. Luma is a master of comfort. She seems to have a different whole for different positions. If she wants to lie on her side, there's a relatively flat spot that she has transformed into a molding of her body. If she wants to curl into a ball, a deep, narrow hole awaits. Luma has even made a spot next to her friend Sasha so the two of them can lay next to each other with their backs rested upon an embankment. So much work just so Luma can be comfortable and lazy.
With the temperatures starting to plummet, it seems that the dogs are trying to soak up as much sun as possible. They're even willing to leave these beautiful holes in order to lie in the warmth. Usually, everyone stays alert and awake when I'm in the yard, just in case I offer a run. Osiris and a few others have decided that sleeping in the sun is a much better way to spend their time. Our biggest dog will stretch the entire length of his body out, only moving if the shadows start to overtake him. I'm sure this will come in handy when the only warmth in the winter will come from the sun's rays.

"Stop looking at your shadow!"

Meanwhile, I just noticed some of the younger dogs fascinated by their shadows. The dogs are so used to me now that instead of constantly following my movements with their eyes, they're becoming entranced by other things. Yesterday morning, the sun was especially bright out in the dog yard. The morning light was leaving extremely crisp shadows and Zion was having the hardest time figuring it out. He would walk into the light and spot his shadow next to him. Freeze. Not a tail twitch, not a head shake, not even a lift of a paw. He just stared down this apparent black dog rising from the earth. Finally, after a few intense moments, Zion would assume nothing was going to happen and shake himself out. Freeze. Not a tail twitch, not a head shake, not even a lift of a paw. This happened several times as I watched. Zion would have a quick moment of uncertainty, followed by intense scrutinizing, then he would give up; only to see his shadow move once more! Blast! Eventually, Zion gave up on trying to figure out who this strange entity was. He took a few swipes with his paws before deciding it wasn't worth it. Thankfully, by that time, I had already been forced to sit on Attla's barrel because I was laughing so hard. Zion did not seem to be offended by my laughter, only confused as to the source of it.

Myself, as well as the dogs, will be taking advantage of these last few rays. No frozen water, no frozen lead lines, and no frozen hands. It's only a matter of time before we'll be racing through the snow; alas freezing, but with a stupid grin on everyone's face. 

The Complexities of Watering

At night, for the past week or so, the dog's water pans have frozen. This begins the complicated version of feeding. Before, when the water remained a liquid, the dogs could get their food either on the ground or mixed in with their water. It all depends on the dog. For instance, Colfax never drinks enough on his own, so I mix the food in his water so he is forced to hydrate; on the other hand, it can be argued that Kobuk drinks an abundance of water, so he doesn't need any encouraging. 

Kayenta: "Is that food you have in your bucket?!"

With the frozen water, I'll have to start shifting over to the winter feeding ritual. In the morning, the dogs will receive a  wonderful slushy! About 30 pounds of food will be mixed with an equal amount of H2O; this turns the food into a puffed up, disgusting-looking, mixture. The dogs love it. It goes down fast and easy. If they're lucky, I'll mix in a little dried meat or vegetables in the buckets as well. They always make a bee line for the meat and usually leave the lettuce for last...figures. After feeding, everyone gets a few inches of water in their pans. Last year, if I knew it was going to be well below freezing all day, I just added more water to the food mixture. Otherwise, when I came out at night, all the pans would be a frozen mess with a whole lot of wasted water.

Pismo's always ready for feeding time

With training starting next week, I'll have to make sure to keep the water receptacles clear. The dogs are going to need water at every break and a pan full when they're done running. Each metal container holds enough water to take care of the dogs for 1 week. However, the colder it gets, the more likely it is to get a few inches of ice built up. It's a major pain to hack through a few inches of ice first thing in the morning. Once the ice gets too thick and that is no longer an option, I'll have to start carrying buckets from the house. Not only will I be working on my cardiovascular with running dogs up and down hills, but I'll be toning my arms with bucket after bucket. At least I won't have to worry about freezing!

Snow is in the air...

It hasn't officially hit home, but it's coming! Ski areas all across CO keep posting photos of fresh powder. Each morning when I drive to work, I expect to see the ski area peaked with white. Unfortunately, not yet. The leaves have all fallen up at Sunlight and each days seems to get a little chillier. It's only a matter of time, which means I need to quell this impatience.
The entire weekend was cold, wet, and dark. The temperature hovered right on the edge of freezing. Another month and it'll probably be well below freezing...one can only hope! On these splendidly disgusting days, I managed to do nothing. And what a glorious nothing it was too! I brought Sculpin in to join in the nothing; we had a great time watching movies and eating ice cream. I did manage to host a dinner Friday night. It has become tradition (apparently) to now have some friends over for a big dinner. This time around I made fresh fettuccine and angel hair pasta with either an alfredo sauce or a butternut squash sauce. Put a salad on the side, brownies for dessert and we were all set! Each week, I want to make something big and delicious. It's a great way to finish my week and fulfill my passion for cooking. I'm thinking possibly an Elk Stew for this Friday?
With cooking, cuddling dogs, and spending time with friends, I'll manage to hold out for the snow. Less than two months until Sunlight opens and then the real fun starts. Until then, I'm working hard in the marketing department and getting guest services ready for the season. I just can't wait for this winter to begin. Between being a manager at Sunlight and getting to really dive into dog sledding, it's going to be perfect! 

Evil Cat

The cat has been more evil than usual lately. I'm still not sure if the dead chipmunks and birds left on my doorway are tokens of affection or symbols of the fear I should feel toward this feline.
It'll start with the whole bird. I'll walk out the front door to almost step on the poor little blue bird. Not yet maimed, just an innocent little gift. If I'm rushing to the dog yard and don't dispose of it immediately, I'll come back with the wings strewn across the welcome mat. A little later, only the head will remain. Then just feathers.
She's taken to taunting the dogs as well. She'll saunter into view and sit; near enough that they can see her tail twitch, but far enough away that they can't get a bite in. She makes sure to circuit the yard, so every dog has a chance to grow frantic. One of these days, somebody is going to get loose and then the cat won't be so smug...  
I wish she wouldn't bother the dogs or kill baby rabbits, but I can't complain too much. She does take care of the mouse problem; even if that means I have to deal with her staring in the window looking for them. Sometimes, I think she's looking at me like I'm a mouse...

Grand Adventures!

Well I've had a whirlwind few weeks. For 6 days, my Dad and I went adventuring in Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon, and Mesa Verde National Parks. I could never pick which park I like the most as each one was extremely unique!

Atop the Rim at Bryce Canyon

Hoodoos

The first stop was Bryce Canyon National Park. Driving along, through the desert and then flat farmland, I was not expecting the beautiful site that awaited us. Bryce Amphitheater is a gigantic bowl filled with red sandstone sculptures called hoodoos. The structures can range from the height of a human to ten stories high. Over time, water and erosion sculpted them from the earth, creating this incredible collection at Bryce. Our first evening was spent walking the rim of the amphitheater, looking down into the unknown depths. On our second day in Bryce, we hiked down into the amphitheater. At sunrise, the red rock is a fiery sea with the fingers of the hoodoos reaching up to the sky. It was impressive to see the gigantic sculptures and their defiance of gravity. For a few hours, Dad and I strolled through the maze of Navajo Loop and Queen's Garden. I would love more time in the bowl to get lost amongst the towers, to camp out under their shadow. Someday...
The next stop was at Zion National Park. While we were able to experience quite a bit of the park, I enjoyed our hike into The Narrows the most. The Narrows is an extremely popular hike, but only for those that don't have a problem with cold water (I honestly don't know how I talked Dad into it...). At the very end of Zion Canyon a paved path deposits visitors at a pretty picnic spot. For those wishing to venture further into the Canyon, they must endure the chilly waters of the Virgin River. Since the Canyon becomes so narrow at this point, there is no room for a nice walkway; instead, hikers must slog through 45 degree water into the depths of the Canyon. Thankfully, in most places the water barely reached to our knees. We wound through the canyon as the walls got higher and the pathway narrower. The going was steady and slow as we picked our path up the river; at least the water was clear and the bottom mostly sandy. At one point, we diverted into a side canyon, where you could touch each canyon wall with arms outstretched as they soared 1,000 feet above our heads. Zion seems packed with interesting hiking opportunities. Another one that I'll have to explore further...

The Narrows

Grand Canyon!

I had a friend to enjoy the view...

The third destination was Grand Canyon National Park. I wasn't as excited about the GC as I was about the other parks. I went into it thinking, "Big deal, it's a big canyon. Been there, done that". WRONG! I understand the hype. The Grand Canyon is breathtaking. A wide expanse of rock layers and greenery, so large that even looking at it, the mind has difficulty grasping it's enormity. Dad and I were able to hike into the Canyon to Cedar Ridge Point. It was certainly an odd experience for me to hike down first in order to come back up! The views were well worth the heat and the massive intake of water. We even got to watch as the pack mules hiked out on the switchbacks. Another big surprise of the GC? There are deer and elk everywhere. I mean gigantic bull elk that get a little peeved when a pretty young woman decides to get a little too close to capture a photo. Oops.  At least I got the shot...

Lesson learned: Don't get in a 
rutting elk's face

Our final stop was Mesa Verde National Park. This was completely unlike the other parks. Where Bryce, Zion, and the Grand Canyon were all focused on the beauty in nature, Mesa Verde showcased the beauty in human creation. This area in Southwest Colorado has the largest number of cliff dwellings in the world. The Puebloans lived in these defensive structures from A.D 600- 1300. The old sandstone buildings are inspiring. As an anthropologist, I have a deep respect for the people that decided to perch their homes amongst the cliffs and endure such a harsh environment. There's a good chance I'll be applying for a job as a Park Ranger there next year...

Cliff Palace

The National Parks Tour just wet my appetite. Not only do I need to return to these treasures to explore further;  I am adamant about adventuring into the other jewels of this country. There are plenty to keep me occupied!

Vancouver!

Even after all of this, my vacation wasn't over. As soon as I got home from these unbelievable places, I hopped on an airplane and went to visit my big brother in Vancouver, BC. I went to Vancouver with the intent to look at Graduate Schools. Not only did I find my dream school, I got to eat Phnom Penh too! For those that don't know, Vancouver has a very rich Asian culture; one of Sam's favorite restaurants serves Cambodian food and one of the dishes is dream worthy. Every member in my family speaks of it as something highly revered. And so, along with falling in love with the University of British Columbia, I got to enjoy wonderful food and quality time with the big brother. Oh, and I spoiled my old friend Bella. Don't tell, but I might have let her sleep in my room...sorry Sam!

Bella Coola

Training's Coming...

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Hi friends!

I know it's been way too long; I've been on excellent adventures that I will update you on in a brief moment. First, I need to write a post about the dogs...
It's getting cold in Colorado. Cold and dark. It seems much harder to get out of bed now; even if it is the same time, I preferred waking when it was light out. It's taking the dogs a second to get used to as well. Before, as soon as I opened my door, there would be a chorus of barks insisting that I hurry up with the food. Now, everyone is still a little groggy as I walk up the hill with the buckets. However, it only takes a second before they all wake up and commence the nagging.

So many eyes...

The cold is affecting them as well. Dogs that were once lazy and lethargic from the heat are now in full on running mode. Jumping over barrels, jumping on me, jumping at one another. They are balls of fur and energy!
We've had to put off training by a few weeks, due to Bill and I both running off on vacation. As soon as we're ready, the dogs are going to be ecstatic. There's a slight chance I pulled a harness out in their view the other day. Bad idea. Everyone in the yard went nuts.
One dog especially is getting excited. Oly is a 4 year old in the prime of his racing career. He is an incredible animal with a special love of the sport. As soon as he saw that harness, his whole body started to shake. It starts with a little nod of the head, some impatient stamps of the front paws, a little wriggle in the body. Soon, Oly was running in circles, yowling at the sky because he just wants to go! Oly is one of the three "crazies" at the bottom of the yard. These three, Lynx, Oly, and Spit, are all incredible athletes...they just get a little too over enthusiastic. Oly, in his impatience, will jump and nip at me. Last year, he wasn't this aggressive. It seems that as he got more used to me, the more attention he wants (makes sense). He never means to hurt, he just wants me to put a harness on him so he can run. Unfortunately, until I do that, he's going to keep tripping me, jumping onto my shoulders, and nipping at my shirt. He's caught skin a few times, never broken through, but damn it still gets sore.

I can't wait until I can get some energy out of him. When Oly is on the line, he's nothing but a professional. True, when I first start walking him to the line, he has to be held up on his back legs so he doesn't drag me...but, once we get there, I only have to say "wait" and he will sit down patiently until I have fitted the harness and hooked his lead line. As all the other dogs are lunging around him, Oly waits. He doesn't move until the ATV is started. Then he bursts forth with all his power; sometimes, I swear he could move the whole team on his own.
Oly is an unbelievable team dog. He is certainly intelligent, just not to the level that a leader must be. He's tall enough to carry the heavy weight in the back, but fast enough to keep up with the lead dogs. A rare dog to find. He lives to run and until training starts, he's going to take it out on me. I'll give whatever affection I can to him...it's just hard when a 90 pound dog comes leaping and nipping at you!

A Brief Study on Sitting

This morning, I rose at dawn to take care of the dogs. It was a peaceful morning with little barking and a big sunrise. Usually, the dogs are running in circles, woofing, growling, and causing a ruckus. This morning, after I fed, everyone settled back on their haunches and just watched. It was at this moment that I noticed how each dog sat: equally balanced on both back legs, with a straight back and head held high. Every single dog in the kennel, sitting perfectly.

Zion

I paused to think back over the dogs I've known in my life and very few have sat this nicely. Most dogs I've encountered will sit with a "slouch". They might start with a straight back, but eventually they'll shift onto one hip and lean to one side. I've noticed this especially in Labradors...odd. Of course, my curiosity grew and I had to do some research.
The leaning to one side is called a "puppy sit". Dogs will switch back and forth, taking turns with each hip. It is the lazy man's sit; the step right before laying down. Basically, if I was a dog and had to sit, I would do it this way. In obedience school, dogs are trained to sit back straight, balancing the weight on both hind legs. This just means that the dog has correct posture. Most dogs have a hard time holding this position for longer than 3 minutes. Lo and behold, my dogs hold it for hours.
My sled dogs were never properly trained to sit pretty, they were just trained to run. I think that as an extension of running, their hips and joints are so muscular and strong that sitting straight just works better for them. They'll still lay down with one leg tucked underneath them, but sitting is all about looking good.

Lynx and Attla after a run

This also gives me high hopes for a reduced chance of hip dysplasia. While hip dysplasia is mostly hereditary, a frequent sign is how the dog sits. Off to one side usually means that there is some pain lingering in their hips. Hopefully, my dogs all stay healthy and sitting straight. I'll keep a careful eye on them, as usual. One more thing for me to watch out for. When you've got 37 dogs and 37 personalities to keep track of, life can get a little overwhelming. Good thing that all they need to be happy is running and licking!

Niva

Thank you www.dogfencediy.com for making this post possible!

Niva. Beautiful, neurotic, needy little Niva. My little puppy has grown, technically, into an adult. She is 21 months old, but she's still as small as ever. While her brothers keep getting bigger and bigger, Niva stays skinny and short. A true reflection of her mother, Chena. From her mother, she also inherited an intense need for affection.

Niva at 6 Months Old

In order to satiate her need for affection and her unending energy, I decided to spend the day with my little pup. Usually, I'll just take the dogs for a hike and then take them home; on Friday, I figured it was time to take one of them into the real world (duhn duhn duhnnnn).
Whenever I walk up to Niva's spot, I am instantly jumped on. No matter how much I work with her not to jump, she can't contain her excitement. Funnily enough, this trait continues all the way through a hike. Whenever Niva has the upper ground, which is the majority of the time, she feels as if it is necessary to wrap her front legs around my waist and hold on for dear life. This usually results in her hopping backwards while I try to push uphill. It's impossible to get frustrated, it's just too darn cute! Every time, I laugh at her, give her a little pat, and push her back down to try again another 10 feet up the trail.
Anyone who thinks that sled dogs don't want human attention, meet Niva. This little dog will hang onto me for dear life. Any excuse to lick an ear, a hand, a toe will be quickly taken. Any chance to climb into a lap, squirm under an arm, or lean against a leg will be top priority. This little girl would be by my side any hour of any day if she could.

Therefore, I decided to test her limits. Niva came with me to work. As a sled dog, she's used to being home, running on the sled, or going for a hike with me. This indoor thing...foreign and scary. I started out by familiarizing her with the outdoors and the other dogs that call Sunlight their playground. She took about 30 minutes to really get comfortable and start playing with everyone else. Niva gets along great with the other 36 dogs in her family, but it can be touch and go with the rest of the dog world. I gave her time to sniff and study. She was especially intrigued by a big black lab that seemed intent on chasing sticks...as a sled dog, fetching must be beneath her.
After I saw that she was happy in her surroundings, I moved inside. Instantly, her body went rigid and she started to pant. Where did I go? I went back and forth, inside and out, slowly increasing the time that I was in my office. Each time I came into view, she would take a step closer to the door. Finally, she made it into the threshold and it was her turn to go back and forth, inside and out. Within an hour, she had conditioned herself to lay quietly at my feet. Granted, there was a lot of time spent with her sitting in my lap as I worked on the computer (not gonna lie, it's hard to type around a sled dog).

Niva and I at the top of Mushroom Rock

I was unbelievably proud of Niva. I can now comfortably trust her to spend a day with me at work, where she can play and run.  I hope to try this with a few of the other dogs over the next few weeks. If I can get them out and having fun, why not? As long as no one pees in my office or starts a fight, this could be the start of a beautiful work day.

 
With the Aspen trees in full foliage and the impending few snow storms, this is my time to explore Colorado. Whether I bring Niva, Whitey, Maverick, Qjoa, Osiris, or any of my other 32 choices, we'll see! Somebody has to tackle the real world with me...

Wrangler

Before I really get back into the dogs, I have to spend a moment talking about horses. Once a week, for the past 3 months, I was a bona fide cowgirl. Sunlight Horseback Tours, run from Memorial Day through Labor day, gave me the opportunity to guide. We had 12 horses and about 50 km of trails in White River National Forest.

Babbish Gulch in White River National Forest

Growing up, I rode a little at my friend's farm, a little at summer camps, and a little on vacations. It was always English and it never consisted of more than a brief trot. Now, I can say that I have cantered over the ski trails riding Western.

Judd, saddled and ready to go!

Each morning, I would saddle up two guide horses. These were always two of the smarter horses, pastured separately from the other ten horses, that the guides could use to round everyone else up. Riding up to the ski trails, I would whistle for the other horses, signaling that it was time to come in from pasture. Most mornings, they would pick their heads up, stare at me riding up the mountain, and go back to eating grass. Therefore, it was necessary to trot up the hill and circle back on everyone. As soon as I got my horse galloping downhill, a ripple effect would cause all the other horses to follow. Keeping everyone in line and headed for the right gate wasn't always the easiest, but eventually we got them down. Starting off your morning with a canter through pasture land....there's not much else that can beat it.

Fatty Logan refusing to come in from pasture

The horses at Sunlight are stubborn, spirited, quick, and beautiful. Each had a very unique personality and I quickly figured out what kind of guest could handle which horse. Judd was a beautiful Roan that tossed his head a lot; therefore, he needed someone who could tell him who was boss while keeping the reins loose. Logan was a fat Mountain Pony that needed someone with good balance as his saddle easily slipped from side to side. Sally was terrified of anything flapping behind her, so those guests that tend to space out and point wildly at the scenery would not work. Devon was a fidgety two year old that only guides rode because he had a tendency to spook and bite. Even with all of these quirks, these horses made great companions and I loved every minute I spent with them.

Jiggs took the sign a little too seriously...

Every Monday, I would round them up, feed them grain, groom, and saddle. By 10am, we were out on the trails; wandering through Aspen groves and climbing up into the National Forest. I learned a lot about how to read my horses movements and let them do most of the work. By the end of the summer, I had created a bond with the guide horses. We knew how to respond to one another and which trails were our favorites.  I knew the difference in each horses' gait and I could feel when they wanted to run. I loved it when they wanted to run. Once a week, this was my happy time.


 
The horses are all gone now; being leased out on hunting trips to pack out elk and mountain goat. However, every time I pass the stables, I smile thinking of the fun I had reconnecting with horses. When you're out west, you might as well do as the cowgirls do!

Zane and Loma say HI!

Hiatus

I apologize for the long absence. Back in March, my life became much more socially involved. On one hand, it was excellent meeting new people and experiencing the social world of the Roaring Fork Valley; on the other hand, I let my writing dissipate and, for that, I'm sorry.
I'm back at a computer and I'm back to the blog!

Mt. Sopris from Mushroom Rock

A lot has happened over the summer. All 37 dogs are residing at the kennel. The racers have had several months of rest and relaxation. All are happy and ready to start training once more...only a few more weeks until we begin! The puppies are now larger than most of the other dogs, even though I still call them "my pups". Fury is still a little bitch to the other dogs,  Pismo has discovered his uncanny jumping ability, and Maverick is more of an attention hog than ever. Even after 14 months with them, I still love spending every day in their company.

Maverick!

 While the dogs got to relax all summer, I was busy working! I was working for Glenwood Canyon Resort and Rock Gardens Rafting, but now I'm back at Sunlight Mountain Resort (home sweet home). The summer was taken up by outdoor concerts, trips back East, and only one day off a week. I still feel as if I haven't experienced even a tiny portion of Colorado. So much to do, and with a full time job, it's hard to make it all happen!

Whitey overlooking Glenwood Springs on the Red Mountain Trail

With the coming of fall, I'll have time at work to write and stay updated on this blog. Promise! There's summer adventures to tell about, updates on dogs, dogsled training, and maybe even some traveling tales...
I'm back!



(Also- I've been asked to provide sponsors on some posts. I've just started working with a marketing company that focuses on pets and the outdoors. Check out the links I provide for each sponsor...they will most likely all gear toward dogs!)

Dog Yard, Sweet Dog Yard

My little Fury is back out in the dog yard! While it is always nice to cuddle with my dogs, having one live in the house always reminds me that they are working dogs. They have very few manners. Two weeks of Fury was starting to wear thin, especially after she went to the bathroom on my carpet at 3am. It would have been understandable, if she hadn't been outside for 4 hours right before. For the last few days, she was spending nights outside. This was due to the high-pitched howling occurring every night. Whether inside or out, she would bark and yip to her friends up in the yard. It was easier to handle when she was outside. However, the other night, it was so loud that I just brought her inside at 3am. Within ten minutes, she had left me a nice little present.I think Fury was starting to hate being a pet too.
Therefore, as soon as she got her sutures out, she went straight back up into the yard. She did 5 quick sprints around her area and then sat atop her barrel wagging her tail. We both recognized that the dog yard is her home.

Meanwhile, Bill and the racers are traveling south. He's hoping to make it to Montana by tomorrow. As long as the dogs behave and there are no truck issues, they should be fine. Apparently, the dogs are going stir crazy. After racing for so long, they are all wound up. Plus, a few females are in heat, so Bill has to isolate them away from the males. It'll be good when we can get everyone back in their familiar spots. To do so, I'll be spending the next few days fixing chains, cleaning the yard, and organizing the dogs. I am so ready to have all 37 pups back!

Homeward Bound

The racers leave from Anchorage this evening! They left Homer last night after spending a few days packing and organizing. The long journey from Alaska to Colorado will take about a week to complete. Only one more week and I get the full kennel back! All 37 dogs will once again howl at me in the mornings...I can't wait!

Healing

Fury is healing well; although, we had a little setback two nights ago. I take her cone off to let her feed and relax whenever I'm home. If I can keep an eye on her, I usually feel confident that she won't attempt to pick at her sutures. I was wrong. I saw her sit down and take one good scratch at her throat before I could jump up and scare her. Instantly, a drop of blood flew to the ground. My thoughts: "crap".
I pinned her down to get a good look at the new problem. It didn't look too serious. The sutures were still in place, there was just a little dribble of blood down her throat. I was able to bandage it up while I called our vet. I doubt that Dr. Thorsen approves, but I really like having his cell number...
He told me to keep the bandage on and bring her into the office in the morning. Within 20 minutes, the wound had stopped bleeding. I put the cone back on, gave her some pain meds, and waited out the night. Thankfully, the next morning, Dr. Thorsen said that she was healing beautifully. The small scratch should heal along with everything else and it actually allowed some of the pus (worst word ever) to drain out of Fury's neck.
The need to scratch is actually a sign that Fury is healing. Until she can get her sutures out next week, however, the cone is staying on. I don't want to give my little pup any more reason to stay away from her friends in the dog yard...even if it is really nice when she curls up in my lap.

Spring!

With the official start of spring, Sunlight has become a t-shirt haven. There are few things better than skiing in a t-shirt on a bright, sunny day. Seeing how every day here is sunny, you really can't beat it! The snow softens up beautifully in the afternoon and almost reminds me of skiing back east. Of course, it is very important to wear sunscreen constantly (don't worry Mom). I was out in the sun for only 5 minutes and already felt it burn. Colorado is strong, but it feels so good after those months of cold.
The dogs are noticing the change in weather too. They'd rather sleep outside and I've often caught them tanning. The temperature is also affecting their appetite. Since they have little use for insulation at this time of year, the dogs are all cutting back on what they eat. Well, with the exception of the puppies...they still scarf down whatever is in reach.
Fury is feeling the weather as well. Being stuck inside with a swollen face and the cone can be a little depressing. Every now and then, she catches her reflection in the mirror and her head drops from embarrassment. We've been going on walks together and as soon as we round the corner to the house, she pulls hard on the leash to go back up into the dog yard. I'll let her back up as soon as she gets those sutures out. Until then, my little girl is going to have to make do with sleeping on the couch and eating beef and gravy dinners.

Fight

There was a fight in the dog yard Friday morning. It's common for a pack of sled dogs to fight, but mostly it consists of little nips and shoves to show dominance. This dog fight was serious and could have been to the death.
After I fed the dogs and cleaned up the yard, I let everyone off to play. I've done this several times throughout the winter and the dogs love it every time. They go ripping around the house, trying to be the fastest sprinter. There have been a few bumps and bruises here and there, but like I said, it was all to show dominance...nothing intense. Fury is one of the dogs that needs to prove herself. She is the smallest dog in the kennel; a pure white tiny little husky with a big attitude. She'll often growl at the other dogs to let them know that though she is small, she is mighty.

On Friday, everything was going well until Fury growled at Qjoa. They usually get along fine, but for some reason Qjoa snapped. She's about twice the size of Fury and had her pinned down in a second. I was only ten feet away, so I was able to get there quickly. I screamed myself hoarse as I tore them apart. Everyone tells you not to get in the middle of a dog fight, but when you see any animal resort to such primal instincts, what can you do? If I hadn't waded in there with my hands and feet flailing at both of them, one of my dogs might be dead. I would do anything to prevent that from happening.
I could instantly tell that all the damage had been inflicted upon Fury. Qjoa had her pinned down so effectively that Fury didn't stand a chance. I cradled her in my arms and ran to the warehouse. I couldn't get a good look at her with all the other dogs barking and distracting me. In the warehouse, I first saw the wound in between her ears. A large chunk of fur had been ripped away revealing her scalp. Then, I noticed a big wound at her neck. On the left side of Fury's throat, Qjoa had sunk her teeth into the muscle. Fury was still animated, but the depth of the wound worried me immensely. I ran her to my car and we drove instantly to our vets.
On the drive down, I could tell that the fight had affected my little Fury. She crawled to the front of my car and lay in my lap shivering. By the time I got to the vets, my pants and hands were covered in her blood. The vet is a calm, older man that I would trust any of my dogs to. As he gently handled Fury, he assured me that she would be fine and that she just required some sutures. Her throat had taken an awful bite, but it would be ok. If I had waited any longer to split them apart, she might not have made it.
I had to leave Fury there for several hours since she had to undergo anesthesia. When I finally got to pick her up, my poor girl was very drugged up and swollen. Two days later, she is doing pretty well. The swelling has gone down due to the antibiotics and she has been sleeping fairly well. She has to wear the cone of shame to prevent any scratching at the sutures. I'm also giving her a steady diet of soft foods since her throat still seems to be bothering her, even with pain medication. Hopefully this will teach my little Fury to stop growling at the other dogs and to play nice!

The Finish!

Congratulations to Kuka Kennels for finishing the 2012 Iditarod! The team arrived in Nome last night at 4:15pm AST. 11 dogs crossed under the archway and all 11 looked extremely energetic. Bill and the team placed 42nd overall and couldn't have looked happier.
I am unbelievably proud of this team. They worked their butts off in this grueling race. To top it all off, when they stopped at the finish line, they kept lunging forward to keep running. Apparently, a fellow musher walked up to Bill and immediately offered to buy Spur when he saw his enthusiasm to run.
The last hundred miles went well. It was cold, windy, and desolate, but the dogs made it through. Now they get a long rest and lots of love at home! I can't wait to give them all big hugs and kisses! My Iditarod dogs are coming home! 

So Close!

The team racing back by McGrath checkpoint....they've come so far!

The team is resting at Elim checkpoint right now. They've been there since about 9:15am AST. From Elim, it is 95 miles to Nome! They might have to take another long break at White Mountain checkpoint, but I'm expecting them to finish sometime tomorrow. They're so close!

The Coast

Well, the team is still "coasting" along (forgive me, but it had to be said). At 3:12am AST, Bill and the team left Shaktoolik checkpoint on the coast of the Bering Sea. They are currently at mile 740 out on the barren ice.

Yesterday afternoon, they left Unalakleet checkpoint out on the coast. They had already been at Unalakleet for 10 hours since officials were asking mushers to wait out a dangerous storm. Finally, they were given permission to head up the coast and battle the harsh winds and biting cold. Many mushers decided, instead, to scratch from the race. They seemed to drop suddenly; 12 mushers in all have now scratched. That leaves Bill as the only musher from Colorado to continue in the race! I knew our dogs were tough...
Early this morning, it seems that Bill took off with the team and then had to turn back a few miles out. I am assuming that the winds were severely limiting the team's sight. Out on the ice, the cold and wind can wear down at you with no place to hide. After waiting it out a bit, the team turned back north and continued up the coast. They are about halfway across Norton Bay and heading straight for Koyuk checkpoint.
From there, they will be able to stay mostly on land and avoid the desolate ice. At Koyuk checkpoint, it is 123 miles to Nome. I believe that my team will arrive sometime tomorrow evening.

Dallas Seavey coming into Nome

Meanwhile, the leaders have already finished the race. Dallas Seavey, a 25-year-old musher from Alaska, came in first place. He is part of racing legends and a 4th generation musher. He held onto an hour lead all day yesterday to beat out Aliy Zirkle. The frontrunners were all able to miss the storm that hit Shaktoolik and caused the other mushers to delay in Unalakleet. Therefore, they could push hard over the ice to Nome. While the winners have completed the course, several other mushers are fighting hard to survive. Racers will trickle in over the next few days. I'll certainly be beaming with pride when my team crosses that finish line!