Hi From Alyeska Alaska

We registered for the up coming Junior Race on Jan.1st. Leanne is also registered in the Adult class on the second and third. To have such good racing two weekends in a row is excellent for us to have. This trip is really good for the yearlings. One more day of skiing tomorrow then back to Anchorage to prepare for the races. " races" for us means to participate with the young dogs. The dogs have not been prepared to go top speed for any week end racing while we are in Alaska. We just did not get the training in we needed for that. Ben and Rachel have been busy with other activities this season that kept them away from the kennel more that usual. We have lots of time before our first main competition. I am not sure what race that may be. We can come back here to race the World Championships in Feb. I hope there is some racing to do In Jan. somewhere. That is the news here in Alaska.

training

Yesterday we went to the tozier track in Anchorage. Track holds many popular races throughout the yr. Ben and Rachel hooked up and trained three dog teams all consisting of eight dogs. That took care of all on the truck. After our crazy tour to Valdez on our way to Anchorage Christmas day our dogs have been off schedule. Constipation, loss of appetite etc. Today they are all back to normal. Took a while to get them on a schedule. The runs Ben and Rachel had proved that the dogs are feeling better. The teams looked good and allot of poo to pick up around the truck.
After training it was off to Alyeska ski resort as promised. We are here at the resort now. The kids all went skiing last night and I am sure they will start again early this morning. Weather is perfect I am looking forward a good rest here

At home in Anchorage

What good friends we have here in Anchorage. They have been very helpful to us during our stay. their two girls Hannah and Morgan are dog mushers as well. They live right in the city of Anchorage in a 500o sq/ft. home up on a mountain side. Amongst many other dwellers. It makes it hard to believe that they are able to keep dogs. With so many people in the area and with all the fancy houses it just seems odd.
Deb and Nevin Summers are the owners of this great place. They are keeping 12 dogs. Their neighbors do not like dogs so they keep the dogs very quit.
Everyone lounged around today and then we are off to the race track in town to train tomorrow. We go to alyeska to ski after the dogs are done their training. This motivates Ben Rachel Morgan and Hannah to get their training done so they can ski. Great motivator. Dogs need to run in the morning so they do not get restless and start to misbehave. We are looking forward to that. Talk to you all later.

North to Alaska

What a trip so far. We left Christmas Day at around three P.M. We packed up and hit the road to Anchorage Alaska. We made it past the Tok cutoff. Leanne started to drive and missed a turn off. When I got up from my rest and started to drive I noticed we were somewhere I was not familiar with. We had a race for the kids on the 26 in chugiak alaska. This is just outside of Anchorage. When I started to drive the truck again I was heading down a steep pass. I did not recognize any of this area. Then I came to the bottom of the pass and I was in Valdez of all places. Leanne accidently missed the turn to Anchorage. It was six a.m. the morning or the race. I had but a few hours to get the kids to the race. The truck proved to be awesome and I managed to get to the race with a few minutes left. Leanne and I ended up for 36 hours by the time the racing on the day was done.
The point of the race was to get as many of our young dogs out as possible. which Ben and Rachel managed to do. Young leaders ran in lead through tunnels etc. The 27 found us back in chugiak to race the adult class where LEanne ran the four dog and the six dog class. Leanne ran more young dogs. Mission accomplished. It is unfortunate that we do not have any fast runs on the dogs yet this year. It is important not to run to fast even in these preliminary races. The dogs are so young yet and you do not want them to experience somthing that is not fun. So we took it easy on them and it was very warm during these races.
The dogs are off schedule as well after such a long drive. SO they are not running well nor eating and drinking well. They will come around soon.
This week will find us taking the kids to the ski hill where we will over night and ski.
We are staying with some very good friends in Anchorage and are enjoying their company. It is a great place to be such nice people. Anchorage such a nice area for dog mushing as well.
The dogs will get some training runs down at the track in Anchorage then off to the ski hill for three days. Races start again on the first of January.
Talk soon

TIME TO HIT THE ROAD...... AGAIN

Hi we are unable to race down south this dec/jan. One race has been postponed to next year. The one that was after this one. Taylor B.c was moved to March. We will be racing in the Arctic winter games at this time. Soo... We decided to head North to Alaska. We will go to Anchorage Alaska and stay with some really good friends. While we are there we will go to Aleska ski hill/mountain. SO Ben and Rachel will get to go snowboarding.
While we are there we will train and race as much as possible. The trails in Anchorage have tons of traffic and hazards so it is a good place to train dogs. We hope to race two races while there but do not know which ones yet.
The winter has been going good so far. The younger dogs look awesome this year. The older ones are right on pace some have retired this year. We are all excited to see how they are doing in comparison to other teams. All this preparation is for one race and that is the arctic winter games in Alberta this year.
I hope you are all following again this season. I have not been blogging much lately.
We have changed dog trucks from Ford to Dodge. The dodge is a great truck with awesome mileage and great amount of power. GReat dog truck and is loaded with all the comforts to make travel as best as can be.
Today we will train some faster runs. Depending on the trail conditions and the temperature. We will then watch our speed/average in the runs to see where the team is at and eliminate any dogs that are unable to make that speed. we won't have many that won't make it this year due to the young age.
Talk to ya later with the next update.

WOW am i ever behind on the posts. SORRY

I don't know where to start. The summer was good we were too busy. Meaning I don't think we spent enough time in the kennel. It is hard to spend the time the dogs need in the summer. We all enjoyed fishing boating and traveling.
Things are changing. Ben is 16 and talking about ending his dog mushing career. He is thinking of many other things and has a harder time staying focused on the dogs. We will see how things work as the season gets busy. It is easier to stay focused when you spend more time in the kennel and get in the swing of things. Rachel is 13 now and still likes to devote time to the kennel. I may have a musher here for quite a while with Rachel. We know that this year both will be racing again.
Our focus this year will be the Arctic Winter Games in Grande Prairie Alberta. These games usually gives us the best competition. We hope to go Alaska as well. It all depends on our budget and sponsors. The dogs do need to race as much as possible in order to get ready for the A.W.G. so we will do our best to get to the races.
We switched trucks this year. We bought a nice DODGE ram 35oo diesel from friends of ours Tom and Mandy Green. I have spent allot of time switching the dog box from the older truck to the dodge truck. It has a flat deck so it was pretty straight forward except the wiring and plumbing in the dog cooker. It is ready to travel now so we will be ready for our first trip.
Our first race will likely be in Taylor B.C. There will not be a race in Ft. Nelson this yr. we do hope to be in Ft. Nelson at the Steepers kennel to train at least. This way the dogs see other dogs and different trails. I hope to get at the blog more often again and get everyone update.
Talk to you all later.

Activities at home

  While we have been back home we have been busy. Ben managed to fall while snowboarding and has a green stick fracture on his collar bone. This has put him out of the action for awhile. We sure miss his help around here.

 Rachel has been harness breaking puppies. Mom and Dad help out to make sure the pups behave properly and to help Rachel to learn how to harness break the pups. It isn't hard to do but there are some things that we have always done that I would like to see Ben and Rachel learn as well. I think Rachel and Ben know pretty much how to harness break the pups but what you do early in life with them seems to stick for the rest of their lives. Doing it right the first time is pretty important for future runs. This litter of pups just took off running. No problems with running forward and pulling hard. One of the pups is so excited it bites the one beside it. Rachel had to stop and correct the dog for biting it's running mate. This happens often but you don't want to let it continue until puppies are fighting one another.  They are the best litter of pups we have had for a long time. These pups should have as many runs as possible on them before the snow is gone. This way it makes it so much easier next racing season to run them. The pups will already know how to behave. This makes the next season so much easier with the pups.

   Last years yearlings really came into their own this year. We have super dogs out of that litter. It looks good for the next four years. Raising the cash to keep racing is the problem now. 

  Rachel Ben and Leanne have been keeping the race dog in good shape as well. The family and kennel had a super season.  We will do what ever we can to get ready for next year.

  talk to you all later.