Summer in Alaska has such a magical feeling to it. There is something about the fact that it never gets dark that makes you feel like you are in a fairy tale. The summer light paints the mountains and the clouds. It illuminates the world all night long. When I wake in the night it looks like day outside.
The extended light encourages you to stay up and stay out late. It feels like you have gotten away with something not usually permitted, like staying up extra late on a special occasion. The days nearly blend together as there is no break to differentiate them. It also feels too easy for life in Alaska. There is no struggle or preplanning needed to start the car. I can go for days without carrying firewood.
I also find the summer culture of Alaska captivating. Alaskans rush around working on summer projects, gathering food, and preparing for winter. But they also take a moment to recreate. To enjoy the splendor of the state in its summer beauty: climbing the mountains, traveling the rivers, and observing the wildflowers and wildlife.
With dogs there is always work to do. The extended daylight of an Alaskan summer pushes the work day. Keeping us up late and back at it early. Max has been doing his part to work this summer, with with the dogs and the tours. A few days ago, he overslept and we started the morning tour without him. He was so disappointed to be missing his time with the dogs and the guests that he had gathered his clothes and was sobbing at the window where he had pushed over a chair to see out at the action. He especially likes when kids come on the tour. He likes to give them extra time with the puppies. Max makes one dollar a tour. The other day I forgot to pay him and in the morning he told me, “Now you owe me two dollars.”
The puppies are growing fast. It is always amazing to watch them develop from birth when they are blind to eight weeks old when they are so capable. Watching the newborns you can hear them sniffing for their mother and food source. Their sense of smell and instinct to stay together for warmth drives them at this age.
At three weeks old Zazu’s puppies are beginning to interact with the world. Two of the puppies in the litter are grey, almost the color of a Weimaraner. While Alaskan huskies can be any color, this grey is unusual.
There have been a few dogs in my life with this coloring. So from the moment these two were born they brought back memories of the ones who came before. Gary Paulsen has a book titled My Life in Dog Years. I think this is very much the case for mushers. The dogs of different eras define different sections of your life. Iowa, Inca, Indiana, and Icarus, the pups who traveled with us to Alaska as newborns, are interwoven with our first winters in Alaska. Twain, Zazu, Hook, Hawkeye and Patton are forever blended with the first years on the Iditarod trail. Seeing characteristics of the dogs, both physical and in their behavior, inevitably brings you back to the days before and dogs with whom we have shared so much.
Zirkle’s puppies are now eight weeks old. They are getting pretty big to hold, but they still beg at the fence to be picked up when we are sharing puppies. There is one big dopey boy who I especially like right now. He is so eager for attention. So kind. Yet I think about the older dogs in the yard. The up and coming stars I am so impressed by: Muffin and Kingpin, Jackpot and Elvis. The dogs who ultimately are so impressive do not necessarily stick out in my mind as puppies. And it is my responsibility, as always, to make each and every dog feel they are my favorite.
Summer itself is racing along. We find our days flying by as we visit with guests, care for dogs and repeat. It has been a big help to have Max this year. He carries the puppies to share with guests and keeps us on our toes. The other day he told me that I had missed a line in my speech. It won’t be long until he can take over explaining the dogs for me.
We try to fit in a few moments to enjoy summer in Alaska ourselves. Luckily we can do much of this without going far from home. We find hidden spots for a picnic lunch, fish, and of course play with the dogs. At the entrance to Denali National Park there is a bike path. Max and I took his bike there for a ride. On our way back, we saw a jogger heading down the trail towards us. Given our climate and low population, there are not a lot of joggers in Cantwell. Max looked puzzled at the woman and asked “What’s her rush?”
We have passed the solstice, so the days are getting shorter. A couple times Max has asked me, ”Is this the night tour.” I kept thinking he was waiting for something that was going to happen at night. Much the same as a kid asking “Are we there yet?” It took a while for me to realize that he really was trying to figure out if it was night. Without the change in daylight how do you determine when day turns into night? By the next time I write, there will be more darkness and more adventures yet to come.
Until next time, I hope you are all having as much fun with your dogs as we are with ours. Mike, Caitlin, and Max