We went to Can-Am 250 with 10 dogs this year. Injuries from our Race to the Sky effort prevented a full team, and the dogs still weren't quite recovered from our Montana road trip. The goal for this year was a race run on solely the mandatory rest requirements, and at Can-Am, it's 14 hrs spread across 4 checkpoints. The schedule was 3 in Portage, 2 in Rocky Brook, and 4 + differential in Maibec, and the 5 in Allagash.
After a nice run to Portage, the dogs had good appetites, and we left with a very nice and motivated team on our way to Rocky Brook. At this point, the trail was covered in fresh snow, and it was DEEP. Not long after our departure from Portage, Bonzo got tired, and eventually needed a ride in the bag. This slowed us down, and added a significant increase in workload on the other nine dogs. The team got to Rocky Brook pretty tired, after an 8.5 hr run. At this point, they needed some sleep before they were going to eat and drink, and it took 2 hrs to feed and water. We left after 3.5 hrs of rest on our way to Maibec in 9th position, already well behind schedule.
The team moved along pretty good, but the last run certainly took its toll. The dogs were too tired for this point in the race, and I knew that I either had to drop 3 dogs in Maibec if I wanted to continue on mandatory rest, or rest for much longer and hope to take a bigger team out. Neither option was appealing - 6 dogs going to Allagash was not going to be fun, and letting the race go by wasn't either. I turned the team around and headed back to Rocky Brook. We passed the 3 teams chasing me coming back, and I scratched upon re-arrival to Rocky Brook. I knew we could finish the race, but I didn't see any reason to push at this point.
Attempting to keep up with the front runners was an incredible experience, and we learned a lot more from this year than we did from the last. The team, despite not being at full strength, was still better than last year's, and we're quite happy with our Can-Am effort. We got a glimpse of what's possible with better team management, and all that knowledge will be put into use for next year.
Now, some precious downtime and playing with puppies!!
Training wasn't going as well as I would have liked, and in late January, the decision was made to bypass Beargrease. It was a difficult choice, since we really needed that longer qualifier, but an honest assessment of the training saved me a disappointing trip to Minnesota. Instead, we took 10 dogs to the Eagle Lake 100. The unfortunate part was a blown wrist on the leg coming out, leading to a dropped dog, and a blown shoulder from a moose hole on the leg coming back. I don't think the times reflect the team that was in front of me. They did a nice job, and at that point, they had enough training for a longer race, so we decided to truck them to Race to the Sky in Montana.
Handler extrodinaire Jesse Price joined the mission to Montana. He brought his two wonderful dogs, Bud and Sikko, along for the ride. They were an absolute pleasure to have aboard, and contributed to what little sanity we managed to hold on to... I think we got a little more than we bargained for...
How do you define a miserable trip? Is it getting stuck for 10 hours on I-90 in a blizzard? How about a 600 mile detour through Iowa on roads completely covered in black ice? Driving the entire way straight through, banking on naps in the truck? 45+ degree weather? Dogs' appetites that were going straigh downhill? At some point, we wondered if there actually is a Helena, or if the road would stretch forever. We made it to Helena (in a daze) three hours before vet checks, well after we had planned on. Other than a hookup directly on I-90 in Wisconsin during the idle time, the dogs hand't been run for quite a while. The truckers were a little surprised when they were passed by a dog team on the interstate.
The race itself took a quick turn for the worse. Leaving Camp Rimini in very nice 8 degree weather, the climb over the Continental Divide put us into 40+ degrees and bright sun, in very deep trail. Hazel needed a ride in the bag, I shut the team down a few times for a breather and to offer water, and at Deer Lodge, Ninilchik showed a sore wrist and Turtle had a sore tricep. We started the continuous portion Sunday with 9 dogs, in 43 degrees and rain, on a very punchy trail. When the team got to White Tail, appetites were completely gone. Not a dog ate or drank anything. We stayed almost 8 hours to try and tease something into them. Same thing at Seeley. I dropped Mr. Magoo at Seeley Lake - he looked good coming in, but wasn't really up and about like the rest. He had a fever, and was left in Jesse's fantastic care. At this point, the trail was re-routed and we were sent on a 70+ mile leg back to White Tail, in the rain. I stopped three separate times for an hour, but sleep was tough to catch in the rain. At White Tail, the dogs were finally coming around from what was hitting them, and ate and drank well. I dropped Niklas because I though he was just getting so darn thin. He was quite annoyed when he was led away from the team. With 7 dogs, we left White Tail heading back to Lincoln and the finish line. In the rain, again. The dogs were looking quite good at this point, and we wish there was more legs to the race - appetites were back, and they were very happy to go. We ended up in 12th place, and earned the Sportsmanship award.
We were VERY happy to get the team across the finish line. Also ecstatic with the performance, given the horrid trail, the bug that was going through them, the warm weather, and the lack of training as compared to last year. Loke ran up front the entire race. Trotter did a tremendous job the entire race. Lev ended up leading half the race, and walked the team off the straw without any assistance at White Tail and right out of the checkpoint and over Huckleberry Pass. In fact, the team was uppity to leave every checkpoint, and never balked, despite clearly feeling down. They earned their finish, and we're very proud of them.
The race itself was quite an experience too. The views, the trail, and the climbs over Huckleberry and Rice Ridge won't be forgotten. But most of all, the incredibly friendly and supportive race staff, mushers, handlers, and organizers really made us feel at home, and really defined hospitality. We were very happy to be a part of the incredible Montana mushing community, if only for a week.
A HUGE thanks goes out to Jesse Price, who did an amazing job setting up the assisted checkpoints and taking care of dropped dogs, with unmatched enthusiasm. Jesse, we couldn't have done it without you!!!
Now, rest, stuff the dogs full of feed, and start shifting gears to Can-Am. We're looking at a 10-dog starting team, the 9 that started Sunday at Lincoln, and a dog we bought from Tom Thurston by the name of Leroy. We just call him Leroy Jenkins. He's a happy little feller.
It's finally cooled down, and we're in consistent training mode. No snow, but no problems. The dogs are working quite well, and showing me the value of their experience. Trotter, the youngest team member, has shown fantastic drive and eagerness, and isn't letting his older teammates steal the show.
“Whey they kick out your front door
how you gonna come?”
-Paul Simonon
... we're patiently working on that answer.
Idun's pups are now around 8 weeks old, and have turned out very friendly. They also constantly surprise me with their antics around the puppy pen. In short, they're a joy to have!
Idun had two pups, one male and one female, sired by Alaskan's Cowboy of Anadyr. Say hello to Texas and Omaha, the newest members of Team Ollie.
It's been a record-setting stretch of heat in New England. Hopefully it cools down soon. The dogs are getting awful antsy for longer runs.
September is upon us. The leaves are slowly turning, the dogs are getting restless... and it hit 90 degrees a few days ago. Training's been touch and go, but the dogs started strong. It's a good thing too, since Team Ollie is registered for both the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon at the end of January in northern Minnesota and the Can-Am 250 in Maine the first weekend of March.
We've got our work cut out for us, but it's a road I'm chewing at the bit to travel.
The hole cards look good, and the chips are in the pot. We're in the pipe, five by five.
A bout with insomnia led to a complete website redesign. Comments welcome, as well as letting me know what's broken. Debug was kept to a minimum, since that's the boring part.
On a side note, the Alaskan's Anadyr Siberians got a new look earlier this summer, and well worth taking a look at.
The two pups from the Loke and Ninilchik litter than were born on in April are growing up fast. The little buggers are awesome - high gear and no fear. One female - Chevelle - and one male - the Ghost - and both are bonkers.
No UP 200 this year. Time and money - didn't have enough of either. Went to Can-Am 250, and slogged through a foot of fresh snow from the night before. The 40+ degree weather on Sunday didn't help matters any. Finished, though, with 9 out of 11 dogs. Loke led every step. 17th place out of 30 starters. Hope to do better next year - but don't we all.
Ran the Eagle Lake 100 in Eagle Lake, ME back in January (and took a scenic detour on Maine's plowed logging road system). Took 8 hrs to go at least 70 miles, over 10 of which was with no plastic on the runners. Borrowed a sled at the checkpoint and got home in far less time.
Greenville, ME put on an incredible race 100-mile in February. Wonderful organization, really friendly crowd, awesome volunteers. Placed 8th out of 15. Passed three teams coming home, but couldn't catch the team in front of me - 28 second difference.