Last week we saw a huge snow dump, extending the life of our trail for a couple more days, but it’s all gone now and we’re officially calling the mushing season over, here in southcentral AK. It’s been also a great time to go for a ride as the roads were nicely covered with snow. Now it’s gone as the snow plow came through and pushed all the white glory aside.
The days are getting noticeably longer and the trails are in pretty good shape. We are in full training mode as Nils has his eyes set on the Fur Rondy World Championship sled dog race again, from Feb. 25-27. Nils built himself a new sled and Lizzy also has a new sled as our friends in Nome, Conner and Margaret Thomas passed on a super sled from their daughter Maize to Lizzy. Now Lizzy’s all into mushing again and we spend the weekends going double sledding around a 6-mile loop.
OUT OF WILLOW— Diana leaving the startline on Jan. 28 for the 120-mile Don Bowers race.
What was to be my first 200 mile race was shortened to 120 miles due to trail conditions that deteriorated and left creeks and rivers unpassable. Continue reading Fifth place at Don Bowers race
EASY CRUISING- Nils took this photo of me yesterday as we went out together on a 35-mile run to Comsat. It's the easiest part of the trail, hence the photo op.
We’re so busy training that blogging falls by the wayside. We haven’t had snow in a while and the trails – the hilly up and down, around sharp corners and steep hills – are polished. Since we’ve been only doing this hill training as it’s on the trail accessible from our yard, the dogs are super strong and are in good shape. Diana is preparing for the 200-mile Don Bowers memorial race, Nils has set his sights on the Rondy again. We’ll see how training goes and make our racing plans accordingly. So far, so good.
NILS FINISHING— Nils rolled in with his ten dogs in harness to a great first race finish of the season.
BIG LAKE— We went to the first race of the season, a two-day 44-mile each day event starting from the Aurora Dog Mushers trail in Big Lake. Continue reading Alaska Excursions 120
Hats, hats, hats. The hats I made are the multi-colored Peruvian style ones.
The dogs are run, fed, curled up in their houses and we are inside, Lizzy’s in bed. It feels like it’s midnight and but it’s only 8 o’clock. Continue reading ‘Tis the season to felt!
Yummy— Lizzy samples a frozen salmon before it's ready for dinner.
It’s been snowing a bit more, temperatures are hovering around the freezing mark and we are running approximately 20 miles – still on the fourwheeler. With a little bit more snow we should be able to get on the sleds pretty soon.
READY TO GO— Feather, left, and Blue string out the team.
Nils drives his 14-dog team across the Montana Creek bridge on Yoder Road.
It snowed three days ago and suddenly winter is here. Still on the four-wheeler and it’ll be like that for a while until we get to break out the sleds. Continue reading Training on snow
SHISHMAREF ARTIST— Stacey Paniptchuk displays her intricately sewn hats, mittens and ornaments at last week's AFN convention in Fairbanks.
It’s this time of the year again when I get to go to the annual gathering of the Alaska Federation of Natives. This time it took place in Fairbanks. I ran into a lot of friends and acquaintances from Nome and northwest Alaska. At the arts and crafts fair, I was drawn to the intricately sewn sealskin hats and mittens at the Shishmaref crafter’s tables. I taped this conversation with Stacey Paniptchuk, originally from Shishmaref, and Carol Ningealook, also from Shishmaref, about skin sewing and how important it is to the Inupiaq culture.
SHISHMAREF DOG MUSHERS— Carol and Kelly Ningealook, Kuzi had to stay home with the dogs.
Click the link below to hear the audio. Runs about six minutes.
The art of seal skin sewing in Alaska
SHISHMAREF LEADERS— Mayor Karla Nayokpuk and vice-mayor Jennifer Demir.
Lizzy lost her second tooth. The tooth fairy came, too. And Lizzy figured out the tooth fairy’s identity. Aw. Next is Santa… But she says she loves the tooth fairy now even more. It’s been a nice cool but dry fall. Except for a windstorm that took out many trees in the area and left us without power for three days, things have been quiet here. Dog training is now in full swing and Nils has put in some 10-mile runs with two 14-dog teams.
Here they’re crossing Yoder Bridge over Montana Creek last week.
Here they are on Blueberry Trail.
