Carmacks Siberians

This year’s Race To The Sky seemed to start off more relaxing then others. Our new place in Lincoln worked out really well and getting to run those trails before the race made it very nice, giving me a preview of what I might see out on the race trail. However, the weather was very unpredictable the whole week of the race and that made things quite interesting. I was so glad that our friend Marty Hovind, from Saskatchewan was able to come down and help us out, handling for us the whole week. But, the night he was to arrive was a little tense!! The snow was flying and we were really afraid that Marty would either end up in a ditch, or in one of the no-tell motels that dot these lazy Montana highways. Lucky for us, Marty is not only a very skilled dog handler, but an even better blizzard driver – he surprised us and made it in early!

Start

Camp Rimini is the first leg of the race, and at 50 miles, it’s a very respectable leg in good weather. Toss in some bad weather and you have ideal conditions for these tough Siberians. Marty and I drove to the Camp Rimini start where it was a balmy 8 degrees. However, after we got there, it immediately started to warm up and the wind started blowing. Snowmobiles were out on the trail trying to keep it open because the drifts were swelling so big that it seemed like we were climbing mini-hills at times. Even though the weather didn’t cooperate (and it wouldn’t for the rest of the race either), we really made very good time and the team was really getting into the groove – it was a great warmup. Already I could see some of the super stars on the team kick in – Bang, Wallace, Scout – all just leaning into their harnesses, even at the end of the run. It was a great start for us. I did notice that Rogue, who injured her rear hock at the Eagle Cap race, had some slight swelling in that leg and I decided not to start her the next day for the sake of preventing any permanent injury.

Restart to White Tail Ranch

In years past, the race route would restart at the Lincoln high school, and run right behind the trail at the back of our new house <hence the reason for buying the new house!>. But, this year, the race started on day 2 at the High Country Beef Jerky place, and proceeded to weave around close to the home, but never in view. This would prove to be my downfall, but not the dogs…always listen to the dogs right? Hmmm

I started in 8^th position and only one team passed me, passed me like I was standing still! I was chatting with my rider about the dogs and before we knew it, I had to drop her off and let the race begin. The dogs started to take off on the trail towards home, but I saw a few markers heading in another direction and this got me confused – especially since I was thinking that the dogs were trying to weenie their way into a quick finish into the Lincoln yard. Well, we ended up going the wrong way and before turning the dogs around, we ended up going an extra 10 miles out of the way. Once we got on the right trail, it was an easy run to White Tail Ranch and all 11 dogs were going strong and doing fantastic. Bang and Wallace led us out of White Tail Ranch.

White tail to Seeley Lake

Next stop – Seeley Lake. At 2:30 am, when I left White Tail for Seeley, the snow and wind were blowing so hard, I couldn’t see my wheel dogs and I just hoped that Bang and Wallace knew where they were going. That was followed shortly by the sunrise and with it, rising temperatures. The crazy weather on this race really made me think about preparing for everything! In fact, Bang and Wallace did know where they were going and they led us all the way to Seeley Lake with another very strong finish. At this point, I am so impressed with the dogs’ overall performance that I see an opportunity to use a real race strategy to move up in the race. I start planning to rest enough at Seeley Lake to position us to blow through the next checkpoint, rest out on the trail and get back to Seeley Lake for a longer rest.

To execute this plan however, I need everyone at their best and I noticed that Rico was having a tough time keeping up with the faster pace of this year’s team. He’s been a very good team dog for the past couple of years, but the team has now reached a point much past his abilities and so I decide to drop him here after having the vet take a look. Marty and Kathy were able to work on the rest of the team while I grabbed a bite to eat at the Seeley checkpoint. I hung out with Brooke a little bit who really seemed to enjoy hanging around all the mushers – she especially liked waking them all up!

By the time we got a good rest and started to leave, we got word that there was a problem with the trail. The race marshal informed the rest of the mushers resting at Seeley Lake (2 teams had already left) that the trail to Holland Lake was impassable. So much for my race strategy! The race officials decided to re-route the race up to Rice Ridge, a trail I had never been on before, and a 70 mile leg we had not planned on. We rustled the dogs up to get ready to go and we noticed that Phoenix was not coming around for us – she was very stiff and limping a bit on her front right foot. After nursing and working on it some more (we had already been icing, massaging, and wrapping Lexx’s knee to be sure the Eagle Cap injury didn’t rear it’s ugly head again), we decided then that Phoenix would be the next dropped at Seeley. So, I left the checkpoint with 9 dogs, a 70 mile trail in front of us, a good rest behind us, somewhat clear skies, and rumors of avalanche danger. Good times.

Leaving the checkpoint, I noticed that Magneto just wasn’t loosening up. He didn’t want to lean into the harness, he wasn’t digging in, and I had flashbacks. Magneto’s first experience in harness was not a pretty one. Stubborn, silly, and obviously not willing to ‘go with the flow’ this dog laid flat on his side and got drug for over 2 miles and came home with a nasty harness rub. So, I had visions of dragging him for the 70 miles over this unknown Rice Ridge and decided to turn around and leave him at Seeley.

Seeley lake back to white tail ranch

In all fairness, Magneto probably would have finished the race. He’s a young dog and I decided I just didn’t want to push him. I think I caught Marty and Kathy off guard when about 5 minutes after I left, I pulled back into Seeley. I quickly dropped Magneto with Marty and turned out to head back out. With 8 dogs and 70 miles to go, I actually regretted that decision just a little but the remaining 8 took the tough 70 miles back to White Tail like real pros. The last 20 miles into White Tail Ranch were extremely challenging and just before getting into the ranch, I decided to stop and water the dogs at a nice little stream. I stopped longer than I normally would but I’m glad I did because after we pulled in to White Tail, the dogs were eating really well, and ready for a good long rest.

Because the race course had changed, the White Tail Ranch had now become our wilderness checkpoint. This could be considered very cruel as most of us who have run this race know how nice the accommodations are at White Tail what with a nice warm kitchen and even warmer hospitality. But, for this checkpoint, it would be off limits! Cruel indeed! But, I was very happy to discover that Marty had stuffed a blue tarp in my sled bag which I used to drape over me and the sled to get a few hours sleep. I woke up about 2 hours before I wanted to leave, but it was pretty clear that the 70 mile trip over Rice Ridge took a lot out of them. I decided to stay one extra hour.

White Tail Ranch to the High Country Finish line (64 miles)

Bang had been one of my trusty leaders for almost the entire race. But somehow, leaving this checkpoint, things weren’t stacking up for her. I’m not sure what was going on, but something told me that I needed a little more experience to get me out of the checkpoint. Something else told me that Spot was up for the challenge. Spot is one of those dogs that you don’t always notice is actually there, but to her credit, she’s one of the most versatile and rock solid dogs on the team. She had come all 300+ miles without showing any signs of wear – no harness rubs, no sore feet, no sore joints, nothing! And, even though she’s not the fastest, or the strongest, or the stand-out performer that so many of the others are, she is still dependable and there she was, waiting for her chance.

So, I gave her that chance and she single handedly got us out of the White Tail checkpoint. From there, we headed into Huckleberry and things started to move a lot more smoothly. Towards the end of the run, Steve Madsen and I traded positions a few times until I finally pulled ahead of him and didn’t see him again until he pulled into the finish line about 10 minutes behind me.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Race to the Sky if it didn’t rain on us about 5 miles before the finish. We finish, but we finish soaking wet!

Super Stars:

Overall, I am so happy with the team’s performance in both races this year. Every one of them had their moments, but if I had to pick out a couple of standouts:

Scout is our freak of nature – we’ve said it all along and we’ve been told more than once that it’s a miracle this dog can do what he does. He’s built like a freight train in the front, and a greyhound in the rear. He knows absolutely nothing except to pull and he just wouldn’t stop pulling the entire race.

Despite her small little falter towards the end of the race, at two and a half, I’m so impressed with little Bang Bang. She led the team for nearly the entire race and she only has one season of training under her belt. I can’t wait to see what she’ll do again next year.

Wallace and Tommy seemed to be all over the team and that’s because it seems I can ask them to do anything. Although Tommy never led the team, both where in wheel going up Rice Ridge and when I wanted more speed, all I had to do was put them up closer to the front of the team. Both dogs are so happy to work and they always give me their all.

Race to the Sky 2008 - Restart at High Country

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