Critter Surge

When I was dogsledding this past winter through St. Mike's Wilderness Program, the mushers talked about something called a "critter surge". When their dogs spotted a rabbit or deer, they would get a burst of energy and rush after it. This usually left the musher dragging as they stomped on the brake and would result in a massive tangle of lines. They spoke of this with dread, but also as a fact of life. They have not met my dogs.
These sled dogs laugh in the face of rabbits; they turn their heads at the sight of deer. Anything that gets in their way of a good run is unnecessary and meaningless. Almost every morning, without fail, a little rabbit will hop into our path as we ride down the driveway. The dogs do not break stride or even sniff in its direction. There is no time for rabbits when one could be pulling an ATV!
Yesterday morning, three deer ran right in front of us. Two doe and a massive stag, who paused briefly to stare at the dogs. There was no barking, no change of speed, just the leaders pulling straight ahead. I was amazed at their lack of interest. I've never known a dog to just ignore a perfectly tasty looking deer. With Lynx and Attla leading the way, however, everyone else just wanted to run. These dogs mean business.

There is one exception to this rule: Moose. Dogs do not like moose. Big moose, little moose, albino moose, dead moose. The long-legged, big-antlered beasts do something to incite wrath in all dogs. I can attest to this, as even my childhood dog seemed to have something against the animals. Daisy was a fat little mutt, whose many talents included pissing my father off and eating astronomical amounts. One day, my brother and I were sitting in our basement room, when a huge flash of brown zipped past the window followed by a much smaller flash.We looked out and saw Daisy nipping at the heels of a bull moose. The gumption this dog must have had to take on an animal 20 times her size. She chased that thing all the way down the driveway and out of sight. A few moments later, she came tearing back up the driveway with ears flying as she frantically looked over her shoulder. The moose must have realized the idiocy of this little dog and turned on her. I have no doubt that Daisy would have chased another moose if the opportunity arose.
If your leaders are really good, they can keep the rest of the team away from moose. Bill says that in a race,  they'll usually just speed up on the trail. Maybe it's the scent or maybe it's just because they're so huge, but something about moose gets the dogs excited. Everything else barely registers in comparison to their need to run.

Sopris

Mount Sopris: elevation- 12,950 feet...terrain-scree fields...weather-hail...Fun!

View of Sopris from the trail to Thomas Lakes

 
This past weekend I hiked Mount Sopris with my friend, Laura. I wake up every morning with a view of the mountain and ever since arriving in Colorado, I swore I would hike it. Since the cold is fast approaching, this past weekend seemed like the best option. We could not have had better timing. All of the Aspens are painted gold, the temperature for hiking is perfect, and the sun is still shining every day.
We headed out late Friday afternoon. It's possible to summit in one day, but you have to start ridiculously early to get to the top before noon; otherwise, there's a good chance you'll get stuck in a storm in the afternoon. Therefore, Laura and I decided to camp out for the night at Thomas Lakes. The hike in was uneventful; the majority of our time was spent adjusting our packs. The last time we had been backpacking together was when we hiked the Long Trail, so of course we had to reminisce during the 3.5 miles in. The two lakes are sheltered by the mountain, making a quiet retreat for a good night's camp. Laura and I found a campsite next to the bigger lake, surrounded by Aspens and with a great view of the summit. Arriving to the campsite at 5pm, there wasn't much to do other than eat a relaxed dinner by the lake and set up camp.

Dinner by Thomas Lakes

There was only one other person staying at the campsite and they were set far away from us, but I was happy they were there. The week before we set out there had been several sightings of mountain lions in the area. A small dog had been killed a few nights before our hike, but everyone I talked to had been very reassuring in that the cats wouldn't attack. Nevertheless, I was worried and on guard. Two pretty girls all alone in the woods might look tasty to a big cat. We didn't see any signs of mountain lions, but I'm sure they knew we were there.
 As dark fell over our campsite, we fell into our sleeping bags. Laura and I are notorious for going to bed early on the trail and we did not fail that expectation this time around. Of course, this just allowed us to get a long, peaceful sleep in before waking up at 6am to start hiking. We weaved our way through the Aspens by headlamp to filter water and break down camp. Then it was up the mountain!
It's only 3 miles to the summit from the lakes, but it is some of the toughest terrain I've ever handled. For the first half-mile, we were still under tree line and walking easily on switchbacks. However, the pines quickly get far and few between before giving way completely to scree fields. For the next 2 miles, we hiked over small rocks that easily gave out to rock slides on a knife edge ridge. The advantage to these scree fields is that 1) you get amazing views all the way to the summit and 2) it gives you and excuse to move at a glacial pace. Laura and I were careful with every step, as the rocks were an excellent way to ruin already tentative ankles. Plus, the incline was ridiculous. The ridge we climbed seemed as if it went straight up. Combined with the gaining altitude, this hike was just not fair.
As usual though, I was impressed by our attitudes. Not once did we get distraught or think of turning back. We were going to climb this mountain, slow and steady as we always do. We chatted up the guys who passed us, laughing after they got out of earshot that they were kicking our asses. It has never mattered to Lo or I that we do a hike as fast as possible; we hike it because we love it. We hike to find excellent sitting rocks so we can enjoy the view and have a little snack. We hike to feel the accomplishment of reaching the top and having nowhere else to go but down. And so, we hike it slow.
Reaching the summit at 10:30am, we bundled up against the cold at 12,950 feet. Sopris is the highest thing around, so we got panoramic views of the Roaring Fork Valley and the Maroon Bells- Snowmass Wilderness. Snow piled in drifts in the shaded crags of the mountain and avalanche paths were clearly marked in the scree. It felt good to be that high. I could definitely feel the altitude; the last stretch of mountain was a struggle to breathe. Sopris is the highest mountain I have ever climbed; I am so ready for a Fourteener now.

Views of the Roaring Fork Valley from the summit

A few minutes into our climb down, a hail storm hit. Nothing serious, just a "dippin dot shower" as a fellow climber said. With slippery rocks to now negotiate, the climb down was nerve racking, but joyful. By the time we got down to the lakes, the sun was back out and we strapped on our packs once again to head out.
After hiking 13 miles, we came off the trail. Now, whenever I go out to take care of the dogs, I see Sopris and smile. Next time I do it, I'm bringing my dogs...

Heat

For those under 18: stop reading.

Everyone else: sorry if you deem this inappropriate, but sex is part of the kennel. A big part of the kennel. Females in heat, males too distracted to run straight, and all the problems it causes. It is a constant concern and nuisance for the handlers, but it is almost as exciting to the dogs as running (maybe more so).
Right now, the entire kennel has gone insane. More than half of the females are in heat. The females that are not, will be within the week; at least, they are acting that way. When a female is in heat, she has two options. Either, she'll sit right down and growl at any male who looks her way (my favorites tend to do that), or she'll stick her butt right in their direction (excuse my blunt language). In reaction to this, the males in the kennel have stopped eating. The females have got them all so distracted, they cannot think or eat or run.
The only option is to wait it out. Females stay in heat for about 3 weeks. The second week is the craziest and the most optimal time for breeding. Since female dogs only come into heat every six months, the dogs only get two chances a year to breed. We are not breeding anyone this time around, we have enough young dogs as it is (I'm secretly hoping for puppies anyway).
The most problematic thing right now is training with the dogs. I had noted earlier that females have a hard time running together because they tend to fight. Now, however, we do not have an option. We cannot run males with females. We have already had issues with males trying to stop mid-run to check out a female; other males get all tangled in the lines trying to reach a female. Even when we stopped for a water break yesterday, the two lead dogs, Juno and Lynx, got a little more action than we would have hoped for. Therefore, the line up for the team is completely different. Males with males and females with females. I have to watch the lines carefully, waiting for fights or males to get a little too close. It is definitely high tension right now.
The other problem is in the future. Like I said, females come into heat every six months. Right now, that timing coincides directly with the Iditarod. If the females are in heat during the race, it could be disastrous. Many good racers have had to pull out because their dogs could not handle it. We can only cross our fingers at this point that it will work out.
For the next few weeks, I will have to force feed the males and discourage the females from teasing. Hopefully a dog won't get loose and hopefully we can keep training without too many distractions. Three weeks of heat and then it's back to normal... 

Golden Trees and Black Bears

 I did not want to go back to work today. The long weekend was a perfect little vacation. Before leaving Colorado Springs yesterday, Laura and I got in a nice 2 mile hike with sweeping views of town and the Rockies. The most exciting part of the hike happened on the way home: a little black head popped out of the brush on our right. The head was followed by the body of a young black bear, who then proceeded to run across our path to join up with his brother and mom. We watched them for awhile, munching away on leaves. They could not have cared less that we were only a few yards from them. All they were concerned about was stocking up on munchies for the winter.

The drive home last night was excellent. I hit Independence Pass just as the sun was going down, so I got a beautiful twilight drive through the Aspens and rocks. There had to be at least 50 professional photographers lined up along the road trying to catch the perfect light through the trees. The golden leaves really lit up with the sun at such a steep angle. I'm hoping to make it back up there a few more times before the pass closes at the end of October.

When I rolled into the driveway, it was pitch black, but my dogs welcomed me with open barks. They were even more excited when we went running this morning. Each morning, we get faster and faster harnessing. I even harnessed Zion all on my own today! It was a very great personal accomplishment. They ran beautifully today. Everyone was matched well, so the strides just hit right. We ran 8 miles in the quickest time yet. From here on out, we'll just keep going further and faster.

Fall Foliage

Fall in Colorado is magnificent. Down in Glenwood Springs, the trees are just beginning to change. It is not the usual orange and reds of the maple trees, but the fiery gold of aspen. The low brush around Glenwood isn't the best option for foliage, but I luckily had a trip planned to Colorado Springs this weekend. Driving up through Independence Pass, I understand the attraction to Aspen. At 8,000 feet, all of the trees have turned. They have created a sea of gold crawling up mountainsides and plunging into valleys. Every now and then, a pop of red appears on an unknown plant. The rest of the drive through Independence Pass is full of beautiful rock outcroppings and low tundra plants. No matter how many times I drive through the pass, I have to stop and take advantage of the gorgeous views.

Once down in Colorado Springs, I was instantly immersed in college life again. My friend, Laura, is in her senior year at Colorado College. We had a wonderful dinner last night with her roommates and then I got the pleasure of meeting all of her friends. I had forgotten how much fun college is. Well maybe I hadn't forgotten as much as missed it dreadfully, so I'd blocked it out. I'll be making the trek to Colorado Springs more often to experience college again.
Today, we're heading out to a brunch and then possibly a hike. I get to enjoy the pass once more before heading home to my dogs and kittens. A weekend away is always appreciated, but I do miss my dogs. I'm wondering if they all ate ok and if anyone is feeling neglected without me. I'll be sure to give them all a hug in the morning before we run.

Wheel Dogs

Wheel dogs are the power-pullers closest to the sled. Traditionally, they are the biggest, strongest dogs. In Jack London's Call of the Wild, Buck is a Wheel Dog. A force to be reckoned with and a strong puller. Usually, Malamutes are used as Wheel Dogs. They're the big, fluffy version of a husky. A lot of freight sleds used Malamutes to pull across the tundra. However, Wheel dogs are not necessarily known for their speed. On a traditional sled, the fastest dogs are harnessed up front, while the closer they get to the sled, the slower the dogs. This makes sense since the big, strong dogs tend to be slower. It's hard to get 100 pounds moving quickly while pulling 800 pounds.
In the past few decades, however, this has changed. The biggest dogs are no longer placed near the sled. In racing situations, you want speed and agility. When taking corners, the lead dogs swing wide, but by the time the wheel dogs hit a corner, they're in the brush. It requires an agile dog to leap over stumps and sprint through branches without getting tangled with the sled. The large dogs cannot move quick enough and, hence, have been moved to the middle of the team.
This placement for the large dogs is also beneficial in that it distributes the weight throughout the line. In the middle, they can pull smoothly and forcefully. Even more, several mushers set their pace to their biggest dogs. Since your team is only as good as the weakest link, the big dogs have to be excellent athletes to keep up with speeders like lead dogs. By placing the big dogs in the middle, it can keep the rest of the team at an even pace, so everyone stays happy and healthy.

Zion

Osiris

Our big dogs are Zion and Osiris. They are BIG dogs. When they stand on me, their front legs bend at the elbow over my shoulders. They have serious power when they're running. Bill has to frequently tell them to take it easy or else they'll get burned out. These dogs would sprint solo with the 4-wheeler if we let them. They have no concept of too fast or too hard, they just want to go. Maybe someday, I'll see what happens if I let them go....I'll probably end up dragging for 100 miles.

Similarities and Comparisons

Currently, I am working part-time at a boarding kennel. As if I didn't have enough dog time already! It strikes me every day how completely different these dogs are from my kennel. The boarding dogs are lap dogs, attention hogs, and wimps. Don't get me wrong, I love these dogs too. There's nothing wrong with a Golden Retriever laying it's head in your lap or a Great Dane attempting to stretch out in your lap. They're undeniably seeking love; my dogs are undeniably seeking a run. The sled dogs enjoy attention and love, but they enjoy pulling a sled more.
The other thing I've been noticing at the boarding kennel is the similarities between dog and owner. Several of the dogs have very quirky personalities that are explained as soon as the owner walks in. For instance, Boodle is a Bichon-Frise and Poodle mix (original name, I know) that strongly dislikes getting an inch of fur covered in dirt. Boodle yaps at anything that comes near her and prefers laying in the sun. Boodle's mom is a socialite, complete with expensive sunglasses and curly hair to match her dog. Boodle's paws do not touch the ground when mom is around. And then there is Boschi. A mutt that can unlock any gate and open any door. This dog is cool. Boschi's dad always seems to wear tan and black to match his dog; he could also probably unlock any gate and open any door.
Dogs and owners just seem to fit together. They laugh together, play together, and comfort each other. It only makes sense that they would end up looking and acting like each other. It makes me wonder who I am most similar to in the kennel. I try to spend as much time as possible with each individual dog, but there are always favorites. I think I am a little like Alameda. She sits patiently atop her house until I get in range. Then she pounces with kisses, constantly jumping up and down until I pay attention to her. She seems to love love more than any of the other dogs. I suppose I'm guilty of that as well; I love giving her love. Then again, I can see Daikon and I fitting together as well. She doesn't get quite as excited as Alameda, but if I don't hurry up, she'll start throwing out little woofs to let me know she's impatient. Daikon loves being on the sled, but then again, Daikon loves sleeping. She's very true to me in that respect.

Daikon

Alameda

As I get to know the dogs even better, more personality traits pop up that coincide with my own. I guess I'll have to pick all 37 dogs to fit with me. Not surprisingly, I think I've started looking like them... Covered in fur, dirt on the hands, and a permanent smile.