Good Ol Trusty Kona!

Today the team and I joined Annalisa and her dogs for a run up Skalkaho. I loaned her our lead dog Okanogan and, the usual, powerhouse Tank. That left me with 5 crazy dogs to decide where to put into the gangline. I started with Paluk and Kona in lead (as Paluk knows commands), Isis in team by herself, and Tensaw and Shilah in wheel. Paluk quickly again proved to me she's not about speed but power as she was dragging. I slid her back with Isis and left my trust in Kona. Oh boy she did not disappoint, she did fantastic! Though she had trouble at the turn around, she wanted to keep going. I kept helping her turn the team and when I'd give her the command to go she'd try and swing the team back up the trail. Here was my mistake, I switched the line up that was working for me and we had a not so smooth run back down before I finally threw Kona back in lead! We'll be bumping up the mileage each week in preparation for the Stanley race!




Kona leading the team! GOOD DOG!



Still going!



Annalisa and her team when when we met on the trail.



About to head back out!

Who to pick

I am always very concerned about the health of our dogs. They’re very hardy dogs and rarely do we have physical health problems to worry about so I mainly am concerned on a day to day basis about their mental health. I try to keep them happy and fit and in the case of the Siberian husky (heck, really all animals, including us!) those two go hand in hand! But just running the dogs isn’t enough. They’re social and need free time and lots of human interaction. I’ll admit with both Cobey and I having full time jobs, a 2 year old son and another on the way, they probably don’t get the full attention they need, but we try! A big concern of mine is Paluk and Okie. Last year we bought them from a dog sled adventure outfitting kennel. The only time they were off their chains was when they were running in harness. We don’t want to run our kennel like that and so we’ve been letting them off the chains when we’re home and can keep a close eye on them. (….because Paluk got the nickname (about this time last year) of Ninja Dog because of an amazing skill she has. She can scale a 6 foot fence in seconds silently. We were standing a mere 3 feet away from the fence when she went trotting by). I believe this really helps them, it has done a lot for Okie who was very timid when we got her, but has opened up a lot in the last year. She still has a ways to go, though.

Last night, I had a very difficult time when choosing dogs for the run. I will not run more than 5 dogs with my cart (even then, that might be one too many). I originally had Okie, Paluk and Shilah as definites but was having difficulty deciding between Kona, Isis and Tensaw. Many factors kept bumping dogs on and off the team in my “mental line-up.” The biggest factor is we’re bumping up training so that by early March they can do a two-day 10mile/day race and I want all the dogs to be evenly conditioned for pulling. I almost always take Okie and Paluk because they’re on the chains so much but both had already had their fair share of runs early in the week. So, sadly, I had to bump Paluk off the run last night, keeping Okie for lead.

So the team was Okie, Kona, Isis, Shilah and Tensaw. We were flying; having a great run…until “the spot.” From our house there is only one safe almost car free run. This run is an out and back run but has the option to be a loop or have another ½ mile dog leg added on but that involves a lot of road running or dangerous intersections. This is not an option at the end of the day when everyone is coming home from work or it is dark, as in the early winter. So our early season runs are the out and back run that involves the same turn around. My BIG mistake is doing this over and over and over. Okie has gotten so in the rut of turning around at the spot that I can NOT get her to run past it. Last night, I was determined to get her past it. I put the brake on the cart and joined Okie in lead, grabbing one lead tug line; I slowly help Okie lead the team past “the spot” and onto the dog leg. Once past it she was fine and the run proceeded at the fast pace! I think I will have to help her past that spot for a few more runs and we’ll see if that helps.





A little blurry, that's how fast they were going ;)

A post from the youngest Williamson musher

This weekend was my first sled ride! Mommy tied my car seat in the sled basket and hooked up Okie and Blue in lead and Tank and Shilah in wheel. Blue doesn't run much with the team but it was gonna be a short run and she sometimes feels left out. We ran up Skalkaho, the snow was good enough (but not great). I was very focused while in the sled, paying close attention to my dogs. I had so much fun! On the way down we passed by daddy's team, Paluk, Kona, Isis and Tensaw! Looked like daddy was having fun too. Blue was starting to drag with the fast pace on the way down, so mommy unhooked her and she proved she wasn't that tired; it was all a show. But it actually accelerated the whole team's pace with Bluey flying by the team and running up ahead. Now I know why mom and dad keep dragging me out in the snow every weekend because that's a blast!!

Finally! SNOW!

...is exactly what the dogs were telling me last night!

Kona thought it was tasty.

Tensaw wondered if there was something to chase.

Okie was the most vocal about loving the snow.

Still telling me about it....

Shilah thinks it's absolutely beautiful.

Tensaw waiting to be let out to run around in it!

Paluk was frolicking in it.

The only ones in our family not appreciating the snow....were the chickens!

Flathead Sled Dog Days

We are currently driving back from our first flathead Sled Dog Days race. We ran in the 4-dog 4-mile race. The course was a icy but manageable and fun. I ran with Okanogan, Paluk, Kona and Tensaw. Both days went great. We were last by far but had a blast. As Cobey put it to someone after the first day we were 5 minutes behind in a 25 minute race. The dogs ran well and being there with all the other mushers and teams is a great experience. Doug Swingley was competing in the 12 dog 40 mile race and it was exciting to just be at the same race as him.

Annalisa came up on the first day and after all the races had concluded we ran the puppies (including her pups) with an awesome lead dog Aiyana Ferraro loaned to us for the run. We went about 7.5 miles and it was a lot of fun getting to have a long, enjoyable talk with Annalisa while I rode in the sled.

That was likely the last 4-dog race we'll run as our kennel has grown and can run farther distances. The Flathead Sled Dog Days next longest race distance was 25 miles and ort team is not in shape to run that distance this season.

Next weekend, the Darby Dog Derby!

Long drive but great snow

The 7 dog team and I joined Nicki's team today for a GREAT 8 mile run near Lost Trail Pass! Okie's been kind of in a leader funk lately but she showed her skill today. They all did great. I think snow and a new trail helped them all!








Took a spill into some soft snow but my knee took a beating on the sled runner smarted a bit. Mostly the pride as a group of snowmobilers were right there.

Sled went for a ride

The dog boxes are finished and the equipment is ready but the snow is pathetic. Fortunately, a fellow musher suggested a trail that might have decent enough snow to sled. With that inkling of hope, Nicki, Annalisa and I, as well as our teams, headed for Lolo Hot Springs/Fish Ck Rd.

To my surprise, there was snow, though just out of the drainage next to the highway there was none. I said, I'll take it! And we got the teams ready. Nicki and I both loaned a dog to Annalisa. Tank joined his brother Thor for an adventure. They took off, then I took the other 6 of mine and Nicki not far behind ran 5. I was told to take a left on Granite Creek Road but and quickly shown a map which indicated it would be the first left which I took. About a quarter mile in I was sure it was the wrong turn. I met Nicki on the way out who had also taken the turn. After battling punchy snow we got back out to the main road and continued farther down. Finally discovering the correct turn. It was a nice trail but the early long steep downhill had me nervous for the return trip. So at about 3.5-4 miles out we turned around. It was just right for them. They were tired but not too physically worn out. Tank on the other hand went farther than he should have 11-12 miles and you could tell. That evening he was a sore/cramped pup. He'll get some well needed rest.

It was a great first run, a fun trail, and I can't wait for more! Unfortunately that trail was a little over an hour away. We need something closer that good. But what we need more than that right now is SNOW!

(pictures hopefully to follow shortly)