Carmacks Siberians

I learned several good lessons in my trek to get to this race: I must say that it should have gotten off to a fantastic start after such an awesome race at Eagle Cap.  That really did feel good and perhaps it did give me a false sense of security.  Following Eagle Cap, I had to concentrate all my attention to the K9-Challenge - no small feat I might add.  And, finally, I was a bit distracted by looking at property in Montana.  All of these things were essentially added to a boiling pot of trouble and cooked up something that was less than fantastic.

Before I continue I don't want this post to sound like a list of excuses - I learned some very valuable lessons; ones that I am glad that I learned now rather than later when I make it to the Quest 300.  Following the finish at Eagle Cap, I was rushed head long into planning and organizing the K9 Challenge race that we host here in Logan.  I really wanted to put on the best race possible and that meant that the week prior to the Canadian Challenge, I had to put the dogs up and we did not get out for a single run.  I thought that would be okay - not ideal - but okay since they needed a good rest. 

Next, I have to explain that Kathy and I have decided that the best thing for us long-term is to move from our home in Utah.  We would like to get a place where we can run from the property and leave the 'suburbia' that is creeping in around us.  So, we put our home up for sale and almost 10 months later, it sold!  Great news right - and perfect timing because I thought that on my way up to Pince Albert, I would spend a couple days in Seeley Lake Montana and look at some property.  I left the house on the 29th with very well rested dogs and decided to take a detour to Seeley Lake for 2 days.  The start of the 6 dog Canadian Challenge was not until Friday which meant (for anyone doing the math) that the dogs have now rested for almost 14 full days, almost half of which was spent cooped up in the truck, rolling down the road.  And their first run in 14 days was going to be the Canadian Challenge.

Once arriving at Prince Albert, I was so early that I enjoyed the banquet for the 12 dog mushers and I was even able to see the 12 dog start the next day.  Then, it was off again to La Ronge. I arrived in La Ronge 2 days before the 6 dog start. Even though I knew the dogs had been cooped up for a long time, I really wasn't too worried until the day just before the race when I was dropping dogs.  I started to get the feeling that the dogs were in a routine of just getting in and out of the truck. 

When we started the Canadian Challenge it was the first time I ever even witnessed a mass start, let alone actually raced in one!!  It was very exciting and I was really proud of how the dogs handled it.  I was without Kathy so the race provided me with a driver, Tom, owner of the local Ford dealership in PA.  The dogs took off like a shot! and my plan was the same as Eagle Cap (1st mistake). I totally got caught up in the moment and as I look at the times we were keeping up with Alaskans for the 1st 30 miles.  So, as you might expect, the 2nd 30 miles, it was as if we hit a wall.

Why did I scratch when I did?

This race really doesn't give you much room to develop a race strategy - it's 150 miles with 6 dogs and at the first real check point (Weyakwin) 60 miles into the race, you then continue on to Anglin Lake for another 60 miles.  Then, you rest again, and it's 30 miles to the finish.   After I had realized all the mistakes I made early in the race, I kept thinking that if I'm going to scratch at all, it would have to be at this first checkpoint because wow, would I be sorry not to be able to finish that last 30 miles!!  I should mention that Karen Ramstead was able to call Kathy before I could really give her the full picture and WOW, was she disappointed!!  She explained to me later that I should have given the dogs time to find their rythm and push them with confidence that I had put in enough training to finish that race.  Honestly, now that I think about it, we probably could have finished.

In the end, what really defeated me was my own brain - I had made up my mind that running the smaller team was really not what I wanted to do at all.  I mean, once you run a full team of 12 or more, what's the point?!  It was definitely not fair to have denied the dogs their chance to finish that race, we probably should have pushed harder, but the bottom line is, I don't see us doing this race again unless it's with a bigger team.  I enjoy running a bigger team of dogs and running alot farther than 150 miles so that I can really work a strategy.  I enjoy camping out at the checkpoints and not sleeping in my truck, and I enjoy the remote trails better than running alongside the road!  Call me crazy if you want!!

This was the  2nd time that we decided to go to Joseph Oragon to race at Eagle Cap, however it would be in the 100 mile instead of the 200 mile. Kathy and Brooke remained at home, so I  loaded up and was ready to go.The race organizers were providing Host family to stay with, and the way that the race was laid out  I was glad to take them up on the offer. I couldn't have gotten a better host family, they treated me like I was long lost friend right away. The race is very unique because everyone that puts on the race donesn't actually mush! and there's a lot of folks that help out. The vet staff is outstanding, many of the vet's have participated in Quest and Iditarod. The whole town gets involved at the vet checks, Joseph closes the main street in to town and they have all the trucks line up to get the vet checks done. There where several school buses unloading kids when I got to my spot.

At the start of the race things were looking as if we were going to have a great time. We got off great, and where on your way. The dogs that I took were, Wallace, Topaz, Batiste, Lightning, Piper, Spot, Rico and Scout.

I was detrimened to stick to my race plan (which was to let the dogs go and have fun). The trail  to the first check point was for the most part all groomed trails and the elevations not too bad. we made it there in great time getting there one hour ahead of what I figured out in my head. Once getting at Olycott check point I was getting dogs taken care of and noticed a few dogs had web cuts on the way over, I gave them some attention and noted to myself that I would have to bootie on the back. Once I got the dogs fed and bedded down, I crawled in one of the two teepees that the volunteers had put up. I was unable to get the fire started and decided to get a few hrs of sleep. There was a manitory of 5 hrs, thats all I was going to take. I was the only one in the teepee at the time. I was awakened by two men getting in from Search and Rescue and they proceeded to start the fire. The only problem was that who ever put the teepee up decied to put alot of hay for bedding ( I wasn't complaining I was very toasty) however with the now roaring fire and the 3 tons of hay (you do the math) we all looked  at the exit at the same time! there wasn't a problem but a few scares now and then and for the most part it was 4 star living at Olycott. I got up right on time and got everyone hooked up and ready to go. I was leaving just behind one of the 12 dog teams which was having  problems getting out. I was really proud of my guys because I was able to just say 'let's go' and off we went. The return trip added a loop they call "loop 200". After it was all said and done, I would say that the return trip is harder than Race to the Sky. The elevations are steeper and more of them.  This was the first time I had Wallace in lead at a race, and at a check point, he is becoming a real asset to the team. My plan was to just run the race and not push just let them go. We had the training and on a great pace so i just stood and watched. When we started to come to the end of the race there were a few times the dogs were getting excited like we were chasing another team, I looked down at tracks and to my amazement it looked like we were going to catch another team! But at this point I had know idea where i was in the race, I was guessing around 4th and that's where I wanted to come in. The last 10 miles I started to call the dogs up and see if we could get close.  but, I was a little disppointed when I I never did actually catch anyone.  But, when i got in I asked where did i come in? They told me like I already knew - well, 2nd!!  And, I was blown away.  It turned out that all the dogs Qualified for Sled Dog titles for the first time EVER for us - it was a great feeling.

Things have been quite busy around here, getting prepared for my clients Christmas party and taking them out to see a basketball game, from making perparations for the K9-Challenge, to Christmas, and O'yes running dogs! I took the dogs up over Danish Pass on Christmas day

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It seems like snow comes later every year, but its finally here! I went through and compared my training mileage from years past, and we're right on track.

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With the end of October the dogs are looking good, everyone is working well together. I remebered the camera and took a few shoots from the ATV the other day.

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