Kelley Griffin
Quinn Iten
Tracey Schaeffer
Karl Leissner
Tracey Schaeffer
.
Showing posts with label dog mushing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog mushing. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Kobuk 440 Photos From Ambler
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Kelley Griffin
Quinn Iten
Tracey Schaeffer
Karl Leissner
Tracey Schaeffer
.
Kelley Griffin
Quinn Iten
Tracey Schaeffer
Karl Leissner
Tracey Schaeffer
.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Day 1: 2009 KDMA Arctic Circle Championship
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Today was day 1 of the 2009 Arctic Circle Championship. The race follows a 20 mile loop. There is one heat Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Terry Streeper working on his sled before the race.
Joe Harris watching everyone get ready. Joe mushed dogs his whole life.
Buddoo's helper.
I sure like Buddoo's dogs. They are really friendly. You can walk by them without worrying that they are going to bite you.
Here is one of Luke Sampson's dogs.
Dog races give everyone a chance to hang out and chat before the action starts.
This is Bill Kornmueller and his eighteen dog locamotive.
Kornmueller Express
Cyrus Harris
Where'sWaldo Maija?
Luke Sampson
Terry Streeper needs a whole lotta help getting his eighteen dogs to the starting line.
Off he goes.
Buddoo Gallahorn
Bill Kornmueller
Terry Streeper
Paul Hansen
Cyrus Harris
Luke Sampson
Buddoo Gallahorn
Here is today's times. Day 2 starts tomorrow at noon. I may miss the start becasue I need to take photos of the snowmachine race which starts at 1pm but I should at least be able to catch the end of the day 2.
.
Today was day 1 of the 2009 Arctic Circle Championship. The race follows a 20 mile loop. There is one heat Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Terry Streeper working on his sled before the race.
Joe Harris watching everyone get ready. Joe mushed dogs his whole life.
Buddoo's helper.
I sure like Buddoo's dogs. They are really friendly. You can walk by them without worrying that they are going to bite you.
Here is one of Luke Sampson's dogs.
Dog races give everyone a chance to hang out and chat before the action starts.
This is Bill Kornmueller and his eighteen dog locamotive.
Kornmueller Express
Cyrus Harris
Where's
Luke Sampson
Terry Streeper needs a whole lotta help getting his eighteen dogs to the starting line.
Off he goes.
Buddoo Gallahorn
Bill Kornmueller
Terry Streeper
Paul Hansen
Cyrus Harris
Luke Sampson
Buddoo Gallahorn
Here is today's times. Day 2 starts tomorrow at noon. I may miss the start becasue I need to take photos of the snowmachine race which starts at 1pm but I should at least be able to catch the end of the day 2.
.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tracey's Kobuk 440 370
***My friend, Tracey Schaeffer, sent out this email describing her experiences during the Kobuk 440. She graciously gave me permission to repost it here*****
We took off in about 30 degrees with blowing snow from the east (right in our faces) which eventually became mixed rain and snow. Had a fast trip to Noorvik, which was a busy stop, lots of dog teams and people, lots of wringing out of soaking clothes. It was a bit stressful for my dogs and I ended up having a dog fight which fortunately wasn’t too serious. Took off for Selawik. The dogs ran really well, I couldn’t see a darn thing because the snow was thick and heavy and I was constantly wiping snow off my goggles and my head lamp so I could at least see some of my dogs. Got to Selawik and took care of the dogs, wrung out my clothes and tried to sleep a bit.
Next I took off for Ambler, a long stretch, 90 miles with one shelter cabin in the middle. The trail was wet, heavy and had been churned up by all the dog teams and snow machines that been in front of me. My dogs got more and more tired, but I was traveling with another musher, so I was cheering them on, kicking and running when I could. Finally, they just got tuckered out so we took a long rest and the other musher went on. After a long sleep they started to perk up and eat. We continued on the slow trail, resting when they needed and eating more and more. Finally the trail improved and we started moving better. We were winding through the trees and feeling good when we came upon a creek, full of water, slush and ice. Of course, the dogs (being far more intelligent beings than us) refused to go through. So, in I went, dragging the dogs a couple at a time across the water, which was up to my knees. Getting the sled out of the slush on the other side was tough, but eventually it came out, running a dog over in the process. My leaders that had fought in Noorvik decided that was a good time to fight again, so I had to break that up. We make it through that creek and the next one (I knew there were two). I change frozen dog booties and move along the trail…everyone was pretty perked up by this time! We then came to a small lake which, of course, was covered with water and slush. Got through that then I started noticing a lack of trail markers….hmmmm. I was seriously wondering if I had taken a wrong turn because it had snowed so much I had very little trail to follow. So I continued on and finally a snow machine came up and let me know that I was
9 miles outside of Ambler!!
In Ambler, I clomped around with frozen snowpants and boots (like everyone else), took care of the dogs, got a beautiful beaver cap for being the last musher into Ambler, and took a blissful two hour nap while all my gear flopped around in the drier of the bunk house we get to stay in. When I awoke I went out to feed the dogs and noticed that all the mushers coming back from the next stretch of trail ( a loop that leads back to
Ambler) were SOAKED again. Groan. I ate and took care of the dogs and was getting ready to head out when I got great news from the last musher to come in…. all the water was freezing. I was able to glide over the trail and see very clearly where everyone else had to plow through a couple of feet of overflow. Made it to Shungnak where I got a very cool neckwarmer for being the last musher in (sometimes it pays to be last). Headed to Kobuk where I got a really warm and wonderful reception, a great meal and headed back to Shungnak. My leaders were getting tired and confused, so it was a lot of stopping and going, but we finally made it to Shungnak ( much to the relief of the very tired checker!) and then to Ambler.
In Ambler, I see Ozzie and Bianca, two Norwegian girls that are working for one of my neighbors, the Itens. They are having leader problems and tired dogs, too and want to scratch. We decide to travel together, since we know by now we won’t make it to the finish line in time to be an actual finisher for the race. We travel though beautiful country on an amazing day (about 2 degrees, sunny and no wind) and get to the shelter cabin half way between Ambler and Kiana, where we overnighted, enjoying ourselves. We wake up in the morning to 20 below temperatures and head to Kiana. A snow machine met us about an hour after we took off with coffee and juice.
About 10 miles outside of Kiana Chuck pulls up and we visit with him and let him know we think we should fly home out of Kiana; my mom is only here for a few more days and the Itens are heading to Hawaii, so we all need to get home. Besides, we say, we are actually running the Kobuk 370, the Least Great Race. When we arrive in Kiana, Chuck had set up the charters and we had time to eat and get on the planes. We flew into Kotz where a friend was waiting with dog boxes to pick us up.
So while I didn’t finish, I did exactly what I wanted to do…I learned a lot about my dogs and dog care and myself. I also got to spend time with great people and their dogs, where as I spend a great deal of time alone with my dogs. So I’m happy, I’m proud of my yearlings that did a ton of growing up in the last few days and I’m very thankful for all the great help and support along the trail.
I can’t wait until next year!!!!
Tracey
***If you would like to learn more about Tracey and her family you may visit them at Iviq Adventures
We took off in about 30 degrees with blowing snow from the east (right in our faces) which eventually became mixed rain and snow. Had a fast trip to Noorvik, which was a busy stop, lots of dog teams and people, lots of wringing out of soaking clothes. It was a bit stressful for my dogs and I ended up having a dog fight which fortunately wasn’t too serious. Took off for Selawik. The dogs ran really well, I couldn’t see a darn thing because the snow was thick and heavy and I was constantly wiping snow off my goggles and my head lamp so I could at least see some of my dogs. Got to Selawik and took care of the dogs, wrung out my clothes and tried to sleep a bit.
Next I took off for Ambler, a long stretch, 90 miles with one shelter cabin in the middle. The trail was wet, heavy and had been churned up by all the dog teams and snow machines that been in front of me. My dogs got more and more tired, but I was traveling with another musher, so I was cheering them on, kicking and running when I could. Finally, they just got tuckered out so we took a long rest and the other musher went on. After a long sleep they started to perk up and eat. We continued on the slow trail, resting when they needed and eating more and more. Finally the trail improved and we started moving better. We were winding through the trees and feeling good when we came upon a creek, full of water, slush and ice. Of course, the dogs (being far more intelligent beings than us) refused to go through. So, in I went, dragging the dogs a couple at a time across the water, which was up to my knees. Getting the sled out of the slush on the other side was tough, but eventually it came out, running a dog over in the process. My leaders that had fought in Noorvik decided that was a good time to fight again, so I had to break that up. We make it through that creek and the next one (I knew there were two). I change frozen dog booties and move along the trail…everyone was pretty perked up by this time! We then came to a small lake which, of course, was covered with water and slush. Got through that then I started noticing a lack of trail markers….hmmmm. I was seriously wondering if I had taken a wrong turn because it had snowed so much I had very little trail to follow. So I continued on and finally a snow machine came up and let me know that I was
9 miles outside of Ambler!!
In Ambler, I clomped around with frozen snowpants and boots (like everyone else), took care of the dogs, got a beautiful beaver cap for being the last musher into Ambler, and took a blissful two hour nap while all my gear flopped around in the drier of the bunk house we get to stay in. When I awoke I went out to feed the dogs and noticed that all the mushers coming back from the next stretch of trail ( a loop that leads back to
Ambler) were SOAKED again. Groan. I ate and took care of the dogs and was getting ready to head out when I got great news from the last musher to come in…. all the water was freezing. I was able to glide over the trail and see very clearly where everyone else had to plow through a couple of feet of overflow. Made it to Shungnak where I got a very cool neckwarmer for being the last musher in (sometimes it pays to be last). Headed to Kobuk where I got a really warm and wonderful reception, a great meal and headed back to Shungnak. My leaders were getting tired and confused, so it was a lot of stopping and going, but we finally made it to Shungnak ( much to the relief of the very tired checker!) and then to Ambler.
In Ambler, I see Ozzie and Bianca, two Norwegian girls that are working for one of my neighbors, the Itens. They are having leader problems and tired dogs, too and want to scratch. We decide to travel together, since we know by now we won’t make it to the finish line in time to be an actual finisher for the race. We travel though beautiful country on an amazing day (about 2 degrees, sunny and no wind) and get to the shelter cabin half way between Ambler and Kiana, where we overnighted, enjoying ourselves. We wake up in the morning to 20 below temperatures and head to Kiana. A snow machine met us about an hour after we took off with coffee and juice.
About 10 miles outside of Kiana Chuck pulls up and we visit with him and let him know we think we should fly home out of Kiana; my mom is only here for a few more days and the Itens are heading to Hawaii, so we all need to get home. Besides, we say, we are actually running the Kobuk 370, the Least Great Race. When we arrive in Kiana, Chuck had set up the charters and we had time to eat and get on the planes. We flew into Kotz where a friend was waiting with dog boxes to pick us up.
So while I didn’t finish, I did exactly what I wanted to do…I learned a lot about my dogs and dog care and myself. I also got to spend time with great people and their dogs, where as I spend a great deal of time alone with my dogs. So I’m happy, I’m proud of my yearlings that did a ton of growing up in the last few days and I’m very thankful for all the great help and support along the trail.
I can’t wait until next year!!!!
Tracey
***If you would like to learn more about Tracey and her family you may visit them at Iviq Adventures
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Arctic Circle Championship Day 2
Today was day 2 of the Kotzebue Dog Mushers Association Arctic Circle Championship. I missed yesterday because I hadn't yet returned from Anchorage. This is a three day race, one 25 mile heat each day. The winner is determined by overall time over all three days. There is no dog limit.
It was a nice sunny day. The temp was 13 degrees and the wind was southeast at 23 mph. It was cooler than yesterday so the trail was harder and the cool air better for the dogs which reflected in the faster times today.
These are Bill Kornmuller's dogs.
There were a lot of people out to watch the start of the race. The dogs were excited and they were hollering...
...and leaping...
...and bouncing. The standings so far are......
Terry Streeper is 1st place over all. Day 1 time 1:14:18, Day 2 time 1:08:16.
Bill Kornmuller 2nd place overall. Day 1 time 1:16:49, Day 2 time 1:14:51
Buddoo Gallahorn 3rd place overall. Day 1 time 1:18:42, Day 2 time 1:15:01.
Luke Sampson 4th place overall. Day 1 time 1:17:28, Day 2 time 1:17:14.
Cyrus Harris 5th place overall. Day 1 time 1:21:43. Day 2 time 1:14:38
Paul Hansen 6th place overall. Day 1 time 1:22:14, Day 2 time 1:16:22.
Jay Cadzow is in 7th place overall. Day 1 time 1:58:12, Day 2 time 1:41:57. I don't have a picture of his team because he was 13 minutes behind the 6th place finisher and I gave up to go watch the finish of the snowmachine race. I will be taking pictures of Day three tomorrow and will try to catch the finish of some of the Kobuk 440 mushers. KDMA mushers banquet will be on Monday.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
A Day at Ed's
Last Friday, while we were out at camp, Uyaana and I decided to go over to Ed Iten's camp. The whole family had already left for Anchorage for the start of the Iditarod, but Ed's dog handler's were there keeping things going. They are busy taking care of the 70 remaining sled dogs, 5 horses, 11 chickens, 1 black lab, and one very spoiled, fat beagle.
Uyaana was very happy to go visit the girls. He had been there before and they had let him help feed the dogs and the horses so he couldn't wait to go do that again. First he helped them give the dogs fresh bedding. All the dogs in Ed's kennel are nice so I don't have to worry about them trying to bite Uyaana. They like him and he like to pat them.
Next we watched at they used a table saw to cut frozen sheefish into pieces to feed to the Dogs. Feeding programs are carefully researched and closely guarded by each musher so I won't disclose the specifics of the dogs diet, but it is well known that mushers in this area utilize sheefish so I don't mind talking about that.
One cut while the other loaded the pieces of frozen fish into 5 gallon buckets.
Then we each took a bucket and made sure that all the dogs had their share. Uyaana helped with her bucket.
We also got to feed the horses. These are Icelandic Horses. It seems that Icelandic Horses will eat just about anything. Believe it or not they really like fish...
......but like regular horses they also enjoy hay.
The girls are from Norway. They came to Alaska last August and will be headed back home at the end of April. After all the hard work they have put in at Ed's kennel they are certainly hoping that he wins the Iditarod....but I know deep down they must secretly be rooting for Team Norway. That's OK...we forgive them.
Uyaana was very happy to go visit the girls. He had been there before and they had let him help feed the dogs and the horses so he couldn't wait to go do that again. First he helped them give the dogs fresh bedding. All the dogs in Ed's kennel are nice so I don't have to worry about them trying to bite Uyaana. They like him and he like to pat them.
Next we watched at they used a table saw to cut frozen sheefish into pieces to feed to the Dogs. Feeding programs are carefully researched and closely guarded by each musher so I won't disclose the specifics of the dogs diet, but it is well known that mushers in this area utilize sheefish so I don't mind talking about that.
One cut while the other loaded the pieces of frozen fish into 5 gallon buckets.
Then we each took a bucket and made sure that all the dogs had their share. Uyaana helped with her bucket.
We also got to feed the horses. These are Icelandic Horses. It seems that Icelandic Horses will eat just about anything. Believe it or not they really like fish...
......but like regular horses they also enjoy hay.
The girls are from Norway. They came to Alaska last August and will be headed back home at the end of April. After all the hard work they have put in at Ed's kennel they are certainly hoping that he wins the Iditarod....but I know deep down they must secretly be rooting for Team Norway. That's OK...we forgive them.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Doggone Good Time
Today was the ladies turn to race. Not sure the name of the race or the distance, but I assume it was around 16 miles, the 2nd day of a 2 day event. There were only three mushers. It was a beautiful sunny day. The temperature was about -15F with a northwest wind at 9mph.
Here's Joanne giving her lead dogs some love while waiting for the start.
This is Uyaana's Ahna (grandmother) Lena. She said she was wishing she was out there running dogs too.
Joanne and Cyrus discuss last minute race strategy.
And there she goes.
Here's Auntie Allie getting ready for her start.
Her dogs are bouncing and ready to go.
Bye bye Auntie Allie.
Kaija watches the race while Uyaana climbs a mountain.
Margaret's son hangs on to her lead dogs while the official counts down.
They took off like a shot. Hang on Margaret!
Here's Joanne giving her lead dogs some love while waiting for the start.
This is Uyaana's Ahna (grandmother) Lena. She said she was wishing she was out there running dogs too.
Joanne and Cyrus discuss last minute race strategy.
And there she goes.
Here's Auntie Allie getting ready for her start.
Her dogs are bouncing and ready to go.
Bye bye Auntie Allie.
Kaija watches the race while Uyaana climbs a mountain.
Margaret's son hangs on to her lead dogs while the official counts down.
They took off like a shot. Hang on Margaret!
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