Mud Puppies

Snowstorm!
I used to get excited about snowstorms...it's at a whole different level now. It is no longer the regular anticipatory excitement regarding an upcoming ski day or snowshoe trip; instead, it is a constant feed of excitement from my dogs. As soon as those first flakes hit, a group howl rises into the storm. From there, the dogs catch snowflakes, roll in the snow, and eat every last bit they can. It is their drug. I can't help but to join in the revelry, even when that snow gets churned into a muddy mess.

Juno

By noon, most of the snow is gone and turned into a mud pit. That is when we decided to run yesterday. It is staying cold enough now (under 40 degrees) that they can run in the afternoon without getting overheated. When the dogs came back for a quick water break, the 6 mile run was apparent. The two lead dogs, Lynx and Attla, were pretty as a picture; the rest of the team had to deal with mud getting kicked back into their faces. Hence, barely recognizable dogs all colored brown. When they stopped for their break, several of the dogs flipped on their backs and rolled in the snow. The snow underneath them quickly became brown as well. Apparently, that's how they stay clean and cool on the trail. They're like little kids jumping in the powder.

After the water break, I got to take the dogs out: solo. Usually, Bill is on the ATV. My friend, Laura, came with me in case of an emergency, but basically I was on my own. I have run 6-8 dog teams before, but running 12 dogs is a whole different story. These dogs have power. They can pull that ATV up the steepest hill without a break in pace. It was nerve wracking, but it was awesome. The first time I called out "Haw"(left), a few of the dogs looked back with their heads tilted. They know me, they know my voice, but I am not the boss. I'm just that sweet girl that gives them food and love. Oly and Osiris kept looking back at me, trying to figure out where Bill was, but they finally shrugged it off and put their energy into running. Now that I've completed my own training, I'll be able to take the racers out more often. The pressure is on!