Puppies, like children grow up with astounding speed. One of the satisfying moments as a musher is when the puppies start running in harness like the adult dogs. While it can be a bit chaotic getting everyone to face the same direction at the same time, once you begin to move, its impressive how quickly they run like they have been doing it for years. The puppies charge down the trail, undistracted by obstacles, finding their footing at varied speeds and terrain.
Skyhook, Sweets, and Skid Steer charging along with the big dogs.
Switchblade smiling after his run. Riggins chilling at his house.
Our bald puppy, Max has also started taking his turn running dogs on a sled. With two dogs he is dashing out of the kennel, up the mountain, cruising around frozen swamps, before descending back down to the kennel. As we escort him, I can hear him squeal with pleasure every time the sled bounces over a bump.
Not only has Max found freedom on a dogsled, he also has become an official trail- breaker. Mike acquired an old snowmobile with the right amount of power for Max to learn. Confident in a way I never am, Mike headed out of the kennel on his own snowmobile with Max following along behind. Around corners and through untouched power, Max drove like a pro. When I got a turn and immediately sunk sideways, Max yelled, “Keep pushing the gas, Mom.”
Big Trail Boss and Little Trail Boss
We are in a brilliant time of year. Gone are the dark days of winter. They have been replaced by days which already feel long. The sun a mighty presence, blinding in its reflection off the snow. It creeps into buildings, illuminating the secret dust of winter. It joins forces with anything dark colored, sharing its power of warmth and growing melted shapes and icicles. Even the air seems to magnify the light. The suspended ice crystals create remarkable rainbows known as a sun dog.
This is one of the best times of year to be outside. The snow is firm and plentiful. Cold nights dropping below zero give way to warm days, setting the snow up to play. While the heat of the sunny days make it possible to stay out for long hours.
A snowshoe hare that has made its home behind the woodpile this winter
Alaska is hyping itself up for spring. People emerge from the places they have huddled up for the winter and head to spring festivals. Based around the historic tradition of trappers bringing their furs to market, the events include fun competitions like outhouse races, running of the reindeer, and of course, sled dogs races. While the Iditarod is not officially a part of Anchorage’s Fur Rendezvous, its timing aligns with the excitement of spring. The race will start this coming weekend and like all spring festivals, gives a chance for people to get together and to celebrate the aspects of the Alaskan lifestyle that set this state just a little bit apart from 2019. I have always found the start a bit surreal. We spend days in the city leading up to the event, buying coffee from expresso stands, walking dogs on pavement. As the mushers leave the starting line, I find it difficult to adjust to the idea that they are going so far off the beaten path, for so long, in such challenging conditions. While the race experiences the long sunny days, it can be characterized by deep cold, down to 50 below zero, and severe winds which both rob your body of heat and bring visibility dangerously low.
A band of caribou behind the house
Our kennel is not participating in the Iditarod and as I talk with friends preparing for the event and feel some jealousy to be on the sidelines. However, as we advised one rookie about preparing her supplies, I felt relief not to have that momentous task on my plate. I also do not regret the hours our family is able to be at home together rather than separated by the thousands of miles and thousands of hours preparing for the race requires. “Cause they'll never stay home and they're always alone” speaks just as clearly about mushers as it does cowboys.
Despite the knowledge of all that this lifestyle expects as payment, I still find the draw of “clear mountain mornin’s" and so while Mike has told everyone with pride about how well Max can drive the snowmobile, I find myself super proud by the way he drives the dogsled. I watch him dancing his feet from the runners to the brake pad and back with ease as he travels up and down the trails. As a mom, I wish an easier life for him than to grow up to be a musher. But I can’t help but celebrate that he finds joy in the cold, the rhythm of the dogs, and the soft cushion of snow.
Until next time, I hope you are all having as much fun with your dogs as we are with ours. Mike, Caitlin, and Max