Mud Bog Fun

Everyone has their own idea of fun...but...this is the real deal! During the months that I can't train the dogs with a sled because there's no snow, I hook them up to my four wheeler and away we go for dry land training. Well, this last run was not exactly dry land!!! I met another musher up the Uintah mountains where it is still cool enough in the early mornings or late evenings for the dogs to get a good run in. Up near Mirror Lake there is still snow on the ground, so the trails down below are still wet and muddy. I think that I laughed the whole time as we hit the big mud bogs, flew through bumpy-winding trails, strained mosquitoes through my teeth, and encountered cattle who were grazing nearby. You should have seen the surprised expression on the cows as they saw a pack of racing dogs coming towards them! We came back covered from head to toe with mud and manure. I know, you are thinking "She must be crazy", but it was priceless and a memory I will hold on to. Nothing like an evening of laughter to brighten the soul and put a light in the eyes.

Alexa is finally here!

What a beauty! Our little Alexa finally arrived. We have waited for many long years to get her here, and I couldn't feel more blessed! She is truly a miracle and an answer to many prayers. Great job Christy and Rommel. I can't wait to take her out and introduce her to this wondrous world and all the marvels in it.

Park City Race February 2009

The day finally comes...the race is on, my nerves are running on high, and I am ready to go! The 6 dogs are out of control with excitement. Their howling fills the mountains like music in the air. I make the final rounds to the team. Coda, Raider, Mack, Topaz, Walter, and Kiinai each get an extra rub and assurance from their musher. I tell them I am counting on them to do the best job they can. Despite the young team making a few mistakes and wrong turns (which means I plant the snow hook, jump off the sled, run up to the lead dog and drag the team the correct way), having to stop in the middle of the race, unhook the gangline to the lead dog and move her back (I have gotten pretty quick), I come in first place! This means that the dogs ran like the wind...hang on tight...even if the sled flips...number one rule...never let go!!! With the finish time of my race, they averaged a 5 minute mile. That is including the stops to correct things. I am so proud of my dogs! The hard work and effort paid off. Driving three times a week up to the Uintah Mountains, spending 4-5 hours each time, driving home in the dark, and sometimes looking and feeling like Frosty the snowman after mushing through a major snow storm seems minimal now. Feels good to finally accomplish a goal I set for myself years ago when my son Michael wanted to get a sled dog and give it a go. Now...onward and upward...the Sinks/Logan race...8 mile sprint??? 28 mile mid distance??? We will see!

Nothing could be finer that being out in the solitude of the mountains where the only thing you can hear is the snow swooshing under your sled runners and the dog paws crunching ahead. The only person more excited to go out for a run than me, is the dog team. You've never seen or heard more excitement before. They know they are going as soon as I start getting ready, and the anticipation grows as more equipment gets loaded in the truck. Then, they see their harnesses, the howling begins, and the whole neighborhood knows we are going. The inclement weather doesn't slow them down, in fact the colder the better according to the dogs!! The only thing that they like better than a good run is when their musher gives them a tasty treat for a job well done, or a nice juicy bone to chew on when they get home.