tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203882612023-11-16T04:57:01.719-08:00Sun Dog Express Dog Sled ToursWe are a dog sled school, sled dog boarding facility and sled dog consultants in interior Alaska - Fairbanks. We race, train and travel with our faithful canine companions. Thanks for stopping by.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-3196667974576088712020-02-28T16:53:00.000-08:002020-02-28T16:53:12.279-08:00The Sun Dog Express Story
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Our lead sled dog guide and musher, Elise Miller, tells the story of the start of our company. She always says you'll learn everything you need to know from an old lead dog. </b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
Sun Dog Express</span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
story begins in 1985, I was living in downtown Anchorage attending
the University of Alaska, Anchorage. I was bored one Saturday
morning in March and decided to walk a few blocks over from my little
house to the corner of 15</span></span><sup><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></sup><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
and Cordova. I watched as large teams of up to twenty dogs roared
down the street at top speed starting out on their 1049 mile journey
to Nome.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
watched as Susan Butcher went by, </span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">yelling
things to her handler that stood on the sled she towed behind her.
They were working to control many dogs on grainy snow. I didn't
know then what I know now - that her snow hook didn't stand a chance
of holding in the unpacked snow atop asphalt streets. She was
basically out of control and hanging on with as much dignity as she
could muster.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Libby
Riddles went by</span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">,
her brake making the snow arch up as she descended the steep Cordova
hill into Mulcahey Park. She wore fur and looked ready to spend a
few weeks out on a trap line in the remote wilderness. Her dogs ran
smooth and strong but the thousands of people lining the street made
them nervous.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
didn't know it </span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">at
the time but I was watching two women that would turn the male
dominated sport of mushing on its ear. I caught their spirit that
year as they passed me standing on that street corner. I thought to
myself, I've been born and raised in Alaska and if they can do it, so
can I. Thus began my passion for dogs and what we mushers
affectionately call "the sickness".</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
next year found me back in my home</span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-town
of Fairbanks attending the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. I lived
in a remote cabin on the outskirts of town with no running water and
an outhouse. Out my back door was hundreds of acres of undeveloped
state land with miles upon miles of trail. I acquired three young
pups. A husky-malamute mix named Miler, a Chesapeake-lab-husky mix
named Hunie and a pure bred Siberian Husky named Royal Hawaiian
Kahuna. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
hook</span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">ed
this group of young energetic dogs together on a home made sled of
two by fours and plywood. I figured with age comes wisdom, so
naturally I decided that my leader would be the oldest dog, Hunie,
who was a little over one year of age. Miler would run lead with
Hunie because he was the second oldest and Kahuna would run wheel
because he was the youngest of the bunch at seven months.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After
</span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">several
attempts to put the harnesses on my young team of wiggling,
enthusiastic dogs I got them hooked together for their first run.
Climbing on the back of the sled I took tight hold of the drive bar,
in anticipation of the jolt the dogs would give me as they left the
dog yard at top speed, and yelled, "Mush!" </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My
loud command startled Miler</span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">,
he turned around to stare at me, tail tucked and ears back as if I
was mad at him. Hunie wasn't as affected, he found an interesting
pile of yellow snow within reach to sniff. Kahuna had the best idea
of them all, as would be characteristic of him throughout his life,
he stood still insulted and bored, if he had been human he would have
been rolling his eyes and sighing at how stupid I was.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Frustrated
that my team wouldn't leave the dog yard I huffed back inside my
cabin. </span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
read the newspaper to try to calm myself. My eyes went straight to
the mushing column in the want ads.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Old
Sled Dog</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Runs
Lead </i></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>$50.00</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
looked out my window at the three young dogs </span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">chained
in front of their dog houses. "We definitely could use some
help!" I decided.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFBlOZkTD49uua5CMjv4L-cIN4QzNFPiLA4LmYuTz4YRlRTcJpuDslSqLLcC0yUgWzuOuoLVctgjWlMFAH9Eq4F2IeMa3pLKLLpDQ4fwlXXzYGAPsqtevQPZRIn-1x5yiv9jmpQ/s1600/Lead+Dog+Deoge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="394" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFBlOZkTD49uua5CMjv4L-cIN4QzNFPiLA4LmYuTz4YRlRTcJpuDslSqLLcC0yUgWzuOuoLVctgjWlMFAH9Eq4F2IeMa3pLKLLpDQ4fwlXXzYGAPsqtevQPZRIn-1x5yiv9jmpQ/s320/Lead+Dog+Deoge.png" width="184" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deoge. The only picture we have of our pioneering lead dog. It was dinner time and he was happy dinner was on it's way.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-x77_cZjXe4_gKLa2uvpfOUgZ_2Nunj1MDT_e_2WDYbeLm2JOxedy2RmRhhmVkvYafN2h2dF9H9xjTbK14bB0x5b1x5lYalc6ZupwWXj2buk70kstcUz-NU-3YsDLZHp50l32w/s1600/Hunie+and+Miler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="829" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-x77_cZjXe4_gKLa2uvpfOUgZ_2Nunj1MDT_e_2WDYbeLm2JOxedy2RmRhhmVkvYafN2h2dF9H9xjTbK14bB0x5b1x5lYalc6ZupwWXj2buk70kstcUz-NU-3YsDLZHp50l32w/s320/Hunie+and+Miler.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miler and Hunie (respectively). Yearlings that later became the leaders for many a Sun Dog Express Dog Team.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
</span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">made a
call and that afternoon went to meet the lead dog with no name. He
was mostly black with some brown markings. A black wolf looking sort
of dog. "He's somewhere around twelve years old and he used to
run in Denali Park for a Yukon Quest musher." Was all the
rotund lady could tell me. "He has a little bit of arthritis,
nothing that an aspirin, now and then, won't cure. He don't got a
name but we've been calling him D.O.G. (Deoge). Get it? Dog?"
I nodded politely, gave her fifty dollars and loaded him up in my
"dog truck" which was my Honda civic.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Doege
seemed happy to move from a dog yard filled with fifty plus dogs to a
dog yard of four. He was </span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">a
quite and thoughtful dog. When I would play hide and seek with all
four dogs, the three young pups would run around wildly looking for
any sign of me while Deoge wouldn't break a walk as he calmly and
methodically followed my scent to my hiding place.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
put him in </span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">front
of my young team the next time I attempted to leave the dog yard by
way of my make shift sled. I told him to go and he went, pulling the
bewildered puppies with him. I asked a lot of the old dog that first
mushing season and he came through without a complaint. He had those
puppies pulling hard after only two lessons. But I have to say it
took me much longer to learn the tricks of the trade. I have an old
lead dog to thank for everything I know about dog mushing….. that
is everything of real importance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Lucida Bright, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many
of the older dogs in the Sun Dog Express dog yard have learned from
Miler, Hunie and Kahuna, who all ran lead for me in their older
years. These older dogs in turn are in the process of training the
younger generation in a never-ending cycle. Sadly Doege, Hunie,
Miler and Kahuna are no longer with me but their legacy lives on in
the Sun Dog Express dog yard.</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-7162790919542290022019-03-04T17:13:00.001-08:002019-03-04T17:13:21.882-08:00Ruby Sue - A Chip Off The Old BlockSome of my posts on this blog contain stories of the best lead dog I've ever had, here at the Sun Dog Express Dog yard, Dudley. Dudley was an absolutely amazing sled dog. Very loyal. He always tried to do exactly as I asked him to do. He was what dog mushers refer to as a Gee/Haw leader. The kind of leader that every musher dreams of, but not every musher is lucky enough to get in their mushing career. Dudley passed away about two years ago, here at Rainbow Ridge Ranch. He died at the ripe old age of 13 of sudden heart failure. It was an extremely sad time, given the thousands of miles he pulled me, many visitors and my team down the trail. We'd done many races together and taken many thousands of tourists on the cold and snowy trail and shared our love of adventure with them.<br />
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Dudley fathered one litter of puppies in his life with another lead dog name Jiminy Cricket. Cricket had five puppies. Mushers, traditionally, keep a theme when naming sled dog litters. In this way it helps to keep each puppies lineage straight in a dog mushers mind. We named them the "Rock Litter". There were three males and two females. The males were Lava, Granite and Garnet .Females were Jade and Ruby (Sue).<br />
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Ruby Sue is the only surviving puppy of this litter. She is now 12 years old herself. Not only is she the image of her father and looks very much like him, she has the talent of a gee/haw lead dog. Her ability to guide the team exactly where I need them to go is nothing short of amazing. Currently she is my main lead dog for training all the other dogs in the yard. She is hard working and dedicated. Always willing to try her hardest to please. She likes raw fish and lots of snuggles.<br />
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<br />Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-1651915364428668612019-02-04T18:21:00.000-08:002019-02-04T18:21:03.999-08:00Pause for Grief<b><u>Monday February 4, 2019</u></b> - We are starting to post here again. July 2, 2015 was an awful day for the Sun Dog Express crew. We lost our main handler and dog lover, Alex. When you loose someone so special, it stops you in your tracks for a time. We all but shut down the dog sledding business (for 3 1/2 years) , trying to cope with the devastating pain of his loss. We are slowly getting going again. We still train the sled dogs daily, but we just don't have the heart to share it with visitors. So we will do our best to share it here. Thanks for your patience and understanding.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-57310588793366292612019-02-04T18:00:00.001-08:002019-02-04T18:00:04.550-08:00Close Encounter Of The Moosy Kind<div>
***Haven't been on this blog in a few years. Just found this in the drafts. So I thought I'd publish it. Enjoy*****<br />
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November 14, 2009 - Training the dogs always presents a challenge but on some days it can be down right hazardous. Today has been a rough day out on the trail. Not a typical day but a tough day. I had the worst encounter with a mad moose that I've ever had in my mushing career. I didn't see this one coming AT ALL until it was (and I kid you not) two feet in front of my face.<br />
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I had just gotten done with a tour. It was the first one of the season. I'd sent the two ladies from, Denver on their way and I hooked up a 3 dog team to go out and work on the very rough trails in hopes of getting some of the longer trails open. We were moving out at a pretty good clip with an empty sled when a moose popped out of the brush just as the dog team was passing her location. </div>
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We had been down this trail no more than 15 minutes prior with no sign of a moose anywhere. So I was being a little less vigilant than usual. When I have guests in the sled there is constant chatter and I am watching the surroundings carefully but when I'm alone and have just been on the trail (with no danger detected) I'm usually deep in thought.<br />
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The dogs were already by her when she made it to the trail and that left just me and the sled to take her wrath. I'd estimate she was about 1700 pounds and a very tall girl. She stepped on my little taboggan sled. The bed of the sled is plastic and VERY slippery when it's cold. Her dinner plate sized front feet slipped out from underneath her and she fell flat on her slid crushing the sled underneath her and throwing me off. I'm pretty sure my ice hook stabbed her side. </div>
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She staggered to her feet, ears penned and hackles up ready to resume her attack. My 3 sled dogs, sensing they could pull the sled free, jerked into forward into action making a run for it down the trail.....without me. </div>
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It was just me and a really BIG ANGRY moose. I had been knocked flat on my ass. I had full mushing gear on including bunny boots. I scrambled to "crab walk" backwards to distance myself from this angry creature. My mind was racing......could I get to my feet fast enough to make a run for it? Where was a big tree to put myself behind? Could I run away from this angry animal fast enough to make her realize I didn't want to fight her? (One always runs from a moose.....not from a bear). The closest protection I could think of was about 200 yards behind me at an office building that had a big dumpster at the back I could hop in. I knew I wouldn't make it.<br />
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Fortunatly for me when the moose fell on my sled and the hook stabbed her and the dogs ran away (the object of most of her anger) she decided I wasn't worth the effort and spun around making a run for the woods. <br />
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The moose gone I realized my prized sled dogs where running off without me. I yelled the name of my faithful (I know that sounds very corny but it's so true) lead dog, Dudley. He turned his head to look at me as the dogs ran away from me at a full gallop. I could tell from his look that he was surprised to see I wasn't on the sled. I watched as they ran to the fork in the trail. Going "gee" or right would take the dogs to the 30 mile network of trails we use and I would have a heck of a time finding them because chances were they would tangle somewhere far out on the trail and have to wait for me to find them. While going "Ha" or left would bring the team back to me. </div>
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I've lost the team before and I know if Dudley is in lead he will do all that is in his power to bring the team back to me (this isn't typical behavior of any sled dog). They were at the fork and Dudley pushed the other leader hard to go left- she was pushing to go right. He was bringing the team back to me. I began to run (with my heavy boots) back toward the dog yard. I heard the dogs in the yard bark as Dudley brought the team back through the yard. But since I wasn't there to anchor them in Dudley had to keep on running and find me walking the opposite way on the trail. He found me.</div>
Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-30520967050353109042015-03-26T16:43:00.000-07:002015-03-26T16:43:41.072-07:00Spring Is Here!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am always extremely happy to see spring arrive and am always very thankful for another safe season of running sled dogs. Things can get pretty dangerous out on the trail, at times, and I'm always glad we arrive on this side of winter safe and sound.<br />
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The longer days and warmer temperatures are so welcome after the cold and darkness of an Alaskan winter. Record warm temperatures should be "stalled" north of the Alaska Range for the next few days, bringing with it massive melt off of what little snow we did get this winter. <br />
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Spots on the trail prone to the phenomenon of overflow will be filling up with the slushy, cold mess. Thus the trail is no good for sled dogs and dog sleds. We begin to pack away our equipment for next season and make long lists of things we will change and do differently next season.<br />
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Summer projects begin to come to mind: building new dog houses, terracing more area on our hillside ranch to make a more level dog yard, puppies (the start of our racing bloodline), mending and repairing all the gear and organizing the many trips to summer fish camp to catch the best sled dog food that God ever created - salmon. This list will become long.<br />
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Caring for sled dogs takes year round planning and doesn't stop with the storing of the dog sledding equipment for the warm months. The work continues 365/24/7. Every dog musher will tell you they continue on with the work of caring for these great athletes because they love the dogs. When you recognize how great it is to train, travel and work with sled dogs, how can one help themselves?!?Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-17105941203272362522015-03-10T17:51:00.001-07:002015-03-10T17:51:44.300-07:00Iditarod Fairbanks 2015Wow! Once again Iditarod restarts in Fairbanks. After 12 years the Last Great Race returns to the Interior of Alaska. It was wonderful to see all the super stars of the dog mushing world; Mitch Seavey, Martin Buser, Jeff King, Aliy Zirkle, Lance Mackey and, of course my favorite, Dee Dee Jonrowe. Great dogs on their way to Nome!<br />
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Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-91471645859244907872015-03-06T16:54:00.002-08:002015-03-06T16:59:45.015-08:00A Push For Change<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><strong>You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream - C.S. Lewis</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">It's been a while since I've posted on the blog. Many changes have taken place at Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours in the last year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">At the end of the 2014 season, my family and I began to reevaluate Sun Dog Express Business plan. What was its reason for existance? What are our goals? After 30 plus years of dog mushing and 16 years in the tour business it was time to take a good hard look and think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">We came to the conclusion that our current direction wasn't suiting us. We didn't start Sun Dog Express with the idea that we were an exclusive "sit your butt down in the dog sled while the dogs drag you in a circle" tour company. The dog sled comes to a stop long enough for one person to hop out and another to take their place....and the cycle begins again. Not only does this bore the dogs but it bored me to tears too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">I must confess that the trail had become so mundane that I would hear a voice telling dog sled passengers about the trail or dogs and realize that it was my voice. I could make up my grocery list, think about my favorite t.v. show or daydream while giving a tour and not even remember what my guests had talked about the entire ride. I had done so many tours.....I was on auto pilot. Sad thing is guests had no idea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Our location at 1540 Hayes Street has a quite place when we first opened in the fall of 1998. The road wasn't maintained in the winter and there weren't any neighbors. The dogs were in residence all winter (with summers back at our ranch) behind the Beaver Sports Outdoor Center without anyone giving them any mind or bothering them. In the last 16 years that atmosphere changed greatly. It became a much less safe place for sled dogs to be in residence at any time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Thus we made the agonizing decision last spring to close the 1540 Hayes Street dog yard. For the first time since 1991 there would be no sled dogs in residence behind The Beaver Sports Outdoor Center.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">We are still doing tours and schools but on a very limited basis. We have become a mobile dog sled tour company - meaning we have to hook up a trailer, load up sled dogs, drive to the trail head (18 mile round trip) at our 1540 Hayes Street dog yard, unload sled dogs and sleds, hook up sled dogs, <strong>go for a tour or school</strong>, load sled dogs and sleds back onto the trailer, drive home, unload sled dogs, equipment and dog trailer. It's pretty labor intensive and takes a minimum of three hours to complete for even our shortest tours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Since I've always worked a year round regular job in addition to the dog sled tour company, adding a 3-9 hour dog sled tour/school/clinic isn't possible very often. Not when I have all the other ranch animals and chores to complete after my return to the ranch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">While the trails at our 1540 Hayes Street location go for miles and miles and are flat as a pancake (which are great for tours), we have been running the same trails since 1991. </span><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Angry moose became an issue on many of our training and tour runs. The area was flat and full of underbrush that moose found irresistable and tasty. These behemoths found the packed dog trail "plush" and they were remiss to give it up when a dog team approached (especially after a cold spell). They would prefer to charge/stomp/fight for the trail rather than walk in deep snow. A fight that sled dogs, unfortunately, always lost.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">It is my objective to explain to you what this push for change in the last year has brought to the sled dogs and staff of Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours. While many of you have found it frustrating that we are no longer available, at a moments notice, to take your loved ones and friends on dog sled tours and schools, we appreciate your patience while we change for the better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New;">Stay Tuned!!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Courier New; font-size: large;">You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream - C.S. Lewis</span></strong>Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-73455287625150592042012-10-31T16:44:00.001-07:002012-10-31T16:44:58.083-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Morning sun rise is so beautiful this time of year (at the ranch - the sled dogs summer home). Snow is being illusive this winter. The ground is covered in white but still not enough to run a sled over, much less put weight in the sled. Long range forecasts say it's coming. Cross your fingers......and your toes! <a href="http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/" target="_blank">Back to the Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours Home Page.</a>Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-7300750157694345412012-10-20T08:22:00.001-07:002012-10-20T08:22:56.415-07:00Fall training has started once again. It has been somewhat of a challenge due to the rookie leadership the team has this year. We had many very good leaders "age out" last season and will be unable to keep ahead of the young fast talent in the team. We are working hard doing runs with the four wheeler. Our directional commands are rough and need a lot of work but I think we'll get there. <a href="http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/">http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/</a> Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-81990023042486639852012-07-03T13:15:00.001-07:002012-07-03T13:15:57.115-07:00Dog days of summer 2012It's the dog days of summer. Although we've not had much heat to speak of this season. It's been very rainy here in Fairbanks. We at Sun Dog Express decided to close the summer demo's for the 2012 season. Looks like fishing, ranching and my "real job" work schedule will make it somewhat impossible to gather sled dogs and transport them to the winter dog yard for such activities. The Sun Dogs are comfortably settled into their summer dog yard. Digging holes and scheduled howling sessions seem to be the norm. All too soon the snow will return and we will be back to running the wilderness trails of interior Alaska. <a href="http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/">http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/</a> <img alt="Photo: Sled dogs busy working on excavating a stump in the summer dog yard. Chummy supervises. The hole under this stump is actually several feet deep." class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="403" src="https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/401852_10150902766084006_1046896362_n.jpg" width="403" />Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-69298161499957708352012-03-03T14:52:00.002-08:002012-03-03T15:00:41.682-08:00Spring Is Just Around The Corner!Days are lengthening in daylight and getting warmer. Thoughts can't help but turn to spring and summer. We've got just over a month of good dog sledding left before we'll have to park the sleds and get the shorts and gardening gloves out. As always March won't disappoint with some of the best mushing weather yet to come.<br /><br />This is our busy time at Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours. We've got tours, private lessons and dog mushing schools going on daily. People can't get enough of those "crazy to run" sled dogs. Don't be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">disappointed</span> and get your reservation in early for the tour or school of your choice! Give our office a call 907-479-6983 or <a href="http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/">http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/</a> . We're always happy to see you!Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-33218162525844184212012-02-08T16:30:00.000-08:002012-02-08T16:51:43.836-08:00Dudley The Lead Dog RetiresDudley the lead dog has retired. It's been hard and sad for me to leave the best lead dog I've ever owned at home each time we run. His body is weak but his spirit is still so willing. This season looked so promising for this 12 year old dynamo. <br /><br />Late this last fall Dudley was leading a small 5 dog training team. Hard charging through some fresh snow, as is his custom. Suddenly he couldn't support any weight on his leg. His ankle pressed all the way to the ground as he tried to get around. He was more confused than in pain. I loaded him in the sled, a completely <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">foreign</span> experience to a dog that never has had a sick day in his life. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Hyper extension</span> of the joint. Without surgery to insert plates, he was done. <br /><br />An agonizing experience to subject an old dog to extensive and painful surgery or let it heal on it's own and let him retire without the stress of recovery. It has been my experience that regardless of a mushers best intention, surgery on an old dog most times does more long term harm than good.<br /><br />I'm glad I made the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">decision</span> to just let him heal. For the first month we casted his leg. Then took it off for two more months of "bed rest" (sled dogs don't really do bed rest very well). He gets a daily dose of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">glucosamine</span>. Currently he gets a nice long walk every other day.<br /><br />His goals for the future.....to lead my team of retired sled dogs. I've got two others (14 year old and 12 year old) that can still run and pull pretty good......just not very fast. His days of leading the race dogs is behind him now. I miss him everyday I'm out on the trail. <a href="http://www.mosquitont.com/~sleddog/">http://www.mosquitont.com/~sleddog/</a>Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-50449463852283789062010-11-13T20:52:00.000-08:002010-11-13T20:56:25.902-08:00Fall Training 2010Temperatures are getting colder again and there is a small bit of snow on the ground. Dogs are up to running 4 miles a day with the 4-wheeler. They are happy to be out on the trail again. Snow is falling as I type this so hopefully we will soon be out on the sled......no engine noise! <br /><br />Puppies are now 4 1/2 months old and are doing laps on the ranch (horse/mule) cross country course by chasing the 4-wheeler or snowmachine. They show that running is deeply seeded in the blood of a sled dog.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-12464272994005936442009-03-03T21:05:00.000-08:002009-03-03T21:17:07.958-08:00The Sun Dogs Are On You Tube!!Leslie visited us in 2007 and just posted these great videos of her 1.5 mile trip with us on her You Tube channel. Check them out at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/benjamine128">http://www.youtube.com/user/benjamine128</a> The four clips are titled "my dog sled ride starts", "dog sledding and passing a beaver dam", "dog sledding and spotting a moose" and "dog sledding". Thanks Leslie for these great clips!Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-15433239833798505762009-01-28T17:50:00.000-08:002009-01-28T18:06:18.077-08:00Alaska Dog Mushers Challenge Series Race #1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIybkWhJvdAYS8Rnhd8a_lISybGrEPcGU_VnkAq6N28_x0HXJXZIzBh4aLkXEmwcSaCpx3KMrGDtzLnOEqkbNBl_UsUPKhhkr7VagJbikgW_bzuqsHMzWX1cP8iASuJFKznhZMQ/s1600-h/2009+Challenge+Race+%231+016.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296530994803368946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIybkWhJvdAYS8Rnhd8a_lISybGrEPcGU_VnkAq6N28_x0HXJXZIzBh4aLkXEmwcSaCpx3KMrGDtzLnOEqkbNBl_UsUPKhhkr7VagJbikgW_bzuqsHMzWX1cP8iASuJFKznhZMQ/s320/2009+Challenge+Race+%231+016.jpg" /></a><br /><div>January 25 ,2009 11:45 AM. It was 2 degrees <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Fahrenheit</span>, great for racing dogs!! The trail had a light layer of new snow to give just the right amount of grip. We ran a team in the six dog class. They finished in fifth place in a time of 23 minutes 31 seconds - thats just under 4 minute miles. Leo and Kate ran lead and it was the first time these guys ran solo without my other main leaders there for them to "fall back on". Tinker Bell and rookie racer Ruby Sue ran swing. Making sure the sled steered well was my wheel dog sensations Jiminy Cricket and Baloo.</div>Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-83234989725731433192009-01-26T21:24:00.000-08:002009-01-26T21:49:49.235-08:00Answer To Question - How Fast Do Sled Dogs Race?How fast do sled dogs go? This is a question I hear often. The speed at which a sled dog races depends on the distance it is being asked to complete, trail conditions, terrain and the load in the sled. Touring dogs, distance race dogs, middle distance race dogs and sprint race dogs "run" speed is very different.<br /><br />Tour dogs tend to be the slowest because they are being asked to pull the heaviest loads (i.e. people or cargo). These dogs are usually bigger in weight because they are being asked to pull hard. They are like the "draft horses" of the sled dog world. Their speed is well under 10 miles per hour, usually. They don't go for any real long distances.<br /><br />Distance race sled dogs are your <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Iditarod</span> and Yukon Quest types - the ultra marathoners. They can be asked to run up to and beyond 100 miles in a 24 hour period. They can eat well over 10,000 calories in a day (I'm not kidding - they are the epitome of the word "chow hound"). Usually these guys aren't hauling an excessive amount of weight in the sled - hopefully under 200 pounds. They are hauling sled and musher over some of the roughest terrain in the world so their speed is not always <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">consistent</span>. They average between 5-15 miles per hour over the course of the entire 1000 mile race. The speed is averaged with rest breaks included.<br /><br />Middle distance racing sled dogs are the marathoners. They go distances, 100 to 300 miles, over the course of a long weekend. They have considerably less weight to carry in the sled, because they aren't going as far. The musher can use a lighter weight sled and the speeds are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">consistently</span> faster than the long distance sled dogs. They are averaging about 8-15 miles per hour over the course of the race. Many middle distance dogs are just in training to be long distance dogs, anyway, so many are just kept to a long distance pace.<br /><br />Sprint dogs are the fastest of the entire bunch. These guys are the "sports cars" and run at high bursts of speed for not more than 30 miles in a day. They can average 15-20 miles per hour for up to 30 miles in a day. The sleds are lightweight and EMPTY.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-38451053936661972042009-01-26T21:22:00.000-08:002009-01-26T21:23:31.201-08:00Don't Forget To Dress Warm - Yes, This Is A Repeat!Alaska cold can, at times, be unforgiving. Wear layers of loose fitting clothing instead of one heavy layer to better regulate the amount of insulation. If you get warm shed a layer or add a layer if you get cold. A steady flow of warm blood is essential to keep all parts of your body heated.Wear breathable fabrics and avoid cotton. Damp clothing and skin can cause your body to cool quickly leading to frostbite or hypothermia. Your footwear is subject to more exposure and moisture. Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not provide enough insulation. You should wear either mukluks or rubberized insulated boots.At least two pair of warm socks are recommended. Pull trouser legs over top of boots to keep out the snow.Mittens are warmer than gloves, they allow fingers to be in direct contact with one another. Warm gloves are a must however for our mushing school students because the fingers need protection while working with the snaps of the dog lines.Most of your body heat escapes through your head. Wear a hat and bring a scarf, neoprene face mask or neck gator to cover your face from wind.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-74176442520871139012008-11-22T08:59:00.000-08:002008-11-22T09:12:55.231-08:00Off and running :)Another season has begun here at the Sun Dog Express Kennels. We have enough snow on the ground to do very short tours. The long trails are too <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">treacherous</span> to attempt with more than an empty sled. Lot's of big holes to "bridge" and overflow on the trail. Once we get more snow the trails should smooth out and open for all tours. We are busily planning our racing calendar for the upcoming season. We'll keep you posted. Don't forget to check out the first post on how to dress for a dog sled ride - very important to stay warm!!! Happy Trails. Head back to our website <a href="http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/">http://www.mosquitonet.com/~sleddog/</a>Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-7994666278150558802008-09-29T22:38:00.000-07:002008-09-29T22:44:43.375-07:00Fall Training TimeThe first snow has arrived. With those initial white flakes of winter comes the anticipation of a whole new dog mushing season. The first wild runs of the fall have taken place in front of the 4-wheeler and the dogs are settling in to their "base" training time. Still a little hot to ask too much of these furry athletes but they are happy to get out for a run.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-5126557932954181342008-02-24T21:14:00.000-08:002008-02-24T21:37:13.745-08:002008 Race Season Update - GEAR CHANGE!!!We've had a few hick-ups with our race season this year. Not with dogs, or equipment or training but with the actual races themselves. The two races we had planned on doing BOTH got cancelled. The Interior Stage Race a three day event of 25 miles, 45 miles and 35 miles was cancelled due to .....we don't know what. Our second choice the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chatanika</span> 100 (100 mile race) was cancelled due to lack of volunteers.<br /><br />Three weeks ago we were looking at the prospect of not doing any races at all this season. We took a look at what was available in the Fairbanks area and decided that this years races would have to be sprint races or nothing at all. Sprint it is then!!!<br /><br />For distance dogs to change gears and go from a long distance trot to a short distance lope can be a difficult, but the Sun Dog Express crew seems to be up for the challenge. We will only be doing the six dog class in the Alaska Dog Mushing Associations Challenge and Limited races. Some of our tour dogs are too big to be asked to run that fast and it frustrates them to do so. We have a few rescue dogs that have some sprint dog blood in them. We are going to see what they are made of.<br /><br />So far the dogs really seem to be enjoying the high energy of sprint racing. In Challenge Race #4 we finished 4<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span> and finished "in the money". Not bad for a bunch of distance/tour dogs out of their element. As always our main focus is to have fun because that is what we do best.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-1169355530119829622007-01-20T20:13:00.000-08:002007-03-19T10:07:55.379-07:00The Descision To Race Does Not Come EasyAs the title states the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">decision</span> to race does not come easy. Racing sled dogs has always been an unattainable dream for me. Before I had my two kids I dabbled in a little sprint racing - meaning very short, fast races. My career as a sprint musher was never at a fast speed because I have always had "hand-me-down" dogs and we always finished last. There was a reason these dogs didn't make the race teams in their kennels of origin and it usually meant they liked to stop and smell the roses or yellow snow as the case may be.<br /><br />When my two children where born my priorities took a swift change. My love for running sled dogs was still very very strong yet my loyalty to family was stronger. I couldn't spend the hours required to train up a team to race. I regret to say that some years dog sled training was maybe once or twice a week. My children were babies and toddlers and they required hours and hours of care. Along with children comes more expenses thus the need to work a full time job. Full time jobs and intensive training of sled dogs have an impossible ability to co-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">exist</span>.<br /><br />As financial concerns and time constraints began to tighten around my family I would often discuss with my husband giving all my dogs away and getting out of sled dogs all together. But as the old dog mushers will tell you once sled dogs are in your blood - they are there to stay. I would always pull out my sled, go for a run and once again become invigorated to "hang on" for a while longer. I always rationalized being able to buy my next 50 pound bag of dog food. That would last me another week or so (I had a four dog team at this time). When the endless work got to me, dog mushing became my time for peace and tranquility - if that can be obtained when dealing with wiggly, screaming to go, busting at the tug line sled dogs. I squashed my dreams of being an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Iditarod</span> or Yukon Quest champion. My priorities were with my husband and children. Dog mushing became a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">luxury</span>.<br /><br />As my children grew, money became tighter and tighter. I didn't want to be forced to give my sled dogs up. Thus Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours was born. It was a shot in the dark but I had to figure out something to keep my sled dogs fed and with me. I wasn't sure how my "racing dogs" would take to hauling heavy loads in a sled and dealing with lots of people. I was truly amazed and humbled by my "guys". Work is work to a sled dog and comes in many forms. Hauling people around and being friendly is work and sled dogs are working dogs. They had a definite <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">sense</span> of happiness and accomplishment on their faces after every tour. They felt needed and wanted. They know each person that walks into the dog yard is there to see them and they love it!!! Not only did I discover through doing the tour business that I could support my motley crew of sled dogs but that I could also meet interesting people from all over the world and share my love for some of the best animals that God put on this snow covered earth.<br /><br />My children are now teenagers. The intense demand on my time is still there but I can now rationalize with the two youngsters I have in my home. They help me as much as they can. I made the decision two years ago to follow my dream to return to racing. This time it will be middle distance racing. Middle distance is defined as anything longer than a sprint race yet shorter than the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Iditarod</span> or Yukon Quest. Middle distance still has many of the benefits (seeing lots of pretty country) of long distance racing but without the money and training time demands. I couldn't hold a full time job and train for long distance without taking a lengthy leave of absence - that wouldn't go over well with my boss.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-1161631655199004372006-10-23T11:42:00.000-07:002007-03-02T17:14:00.403-08:00Rollin, Rollin, Rollin!!! Four Wheeler TrainingWhat do you do with your sled dogs in the summer or when there is no snow? I get this question on a weekly basis from visitors to my dog yard. For me summer training doesn't exist. This is the time my athletes get a little down time and the opportunity to catch a sun tan. We had an excercise pen set up (five foot high fencing stretched around the abundance of towering birch on our ranch) but we live on such a treacherous hill side that it can sometimes be a death defying act to wrestle a really excited sled dog down a steep hill and convince them to go through the narrow gate into a pen that they just run circles - sled dogs don't really care to run circles - it's very boring. <br /><br />After five years of working at this form of summer and fall excercise I finally gave up. My back has had the best summer ever! I took the fencing down to remove dead trees from the yard and decided to not put it back up, but give it to my husband for the start of his miniature cow operation.<br /><br />Usually letting the dogs run in the pen all fall I would then go to sled training. This worked very well for me until recently. We did all our serious training on a sled because snow was always on the ground in good quantity by mid October. But each year our snow fall seems to be getting later and later. In 2003 my first trip on the sled was October 12, in 2004 October 20 and in 2005 it was November 20. I have no idea what it will be this year, but as of this writing we might have an inch or two of snow on the ground. Not near enough to run a sled over.<br /><br />We've owned a four wheeler for a few years. We use it to plow our road and driveways, haul a trailer around to clean out the horse and mule pen or haul wood. I've seen other dog mushers use four wheelers to run huge strings of sled dogs and I wasn't sure I wanted to attempt this. But with my fence being gone and snow getting later and later each year arriving, I knew this year would be the year I would have to start training with the four wheeler if I want the dogs to be in some sort of physical shape by race season.<br /><br />Sled dogs always amaze me with what they are willing to put up with so they can run. Once again our hill is too steep to run a huge string of dogs out in front of the "wheeler". I put a four dog hook up on the front and left it in gear - so I could help them out at all times. Since we live in a pretty built up area there are no trails around the ranch, just dirt roads. I hooked up four of my leaders, two in lead and two in wheel. They were excited, as usual. I started up the engine and while it gave them a moment of pause they resumed their barking and jerking at the lines forthwith. <br /><br />Since I have never run my dogs from the ranch, but only out of the winter dog yard several miles away, they had absolutely no idea where they were going. This was the perfect opportunity to work with them on their "Gee - Haw" directional skills. I had scouted out a 1 1/2 mile loop down country roads to a little circle turn around between two roads. There are many forks in the road and intersections along the way were the dogs have many choices of where to go. They followed my verbal commands almost perfectly. Pretty good for having a whole summer off! Rollin, rollin, rollin, keep them doggies rollin!Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-1147577019312148922006-05-13T20:20:00.000-07:002006-05-19T04:31:48.873-07:00Dressing For A Winter Dog Sled RideAlaska cold can, at times, be unforgiving. Wear layers of loose fitting clothing instead of one heavy layer to better regulate the amount of insulation. If you get warm shed a layer or add a layer if you get cold. A steady flow of warm blood is essential to keep all parts of your body heated.<br /><br />Wear breathable fabrics and avoid cotton. Damp clothing and skin can cause your body to cool quickly leading to frostbite or hypothermia. Your footwear is subject to more exposure and moisture. Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not provide enough insulation. You should wear either mukluks or rubberized insulated boots.<br /><br />At least two pair of warm socks are recommended. Pull trouser legs over top of boots to keep out the snow.<br /><br />Mittens are warmer than gloves, they allow fingers to be in direct contact with one another. Warm gloves are a must however for our mushing school students because the fingers need protection while working with the snaps of the dog lines.<br /><br />Most of your body heat escapes through your head. Wear a hat and bring a scarf, neoprene face mask or neck gator to cover your face from wind.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-1137696601429812252006-01-19T10:36:00.000-08:002006-05-11T05:17:28.453-07:00Running Dogs At -40FInevitably, if you live in Fairbanks, Alaska and like to run sled dogs you will have the opportunity to do so when the mercury plummets. Those of us who are crazy enough, will don every bit of outdoor gear we own and faithfully hook up our howling sled dogs for a run.<br /><br />The cold only makes the sled dogs more happy to run because they don't overheat. Actually they are crazy to run at ANY temperature, they can just run farther and faster when it's really cold.<br /><br />It is entertaining to me when, completly unprovocated on my behalf, many of my relatives in the mid-west states take great pains in telling me how their state gets just as cold as Alaska. "You really don't have it that tough", they like to say. It's national news if the temperatures fall below zero for muliple days in their area of the country. The temperatures return to normal quickly and their cold spell is over with out too much inconvience - normal being "right at freezing". Tropical by Alaska winter standards. January in interior Alaska can be brutal and deadly. This type of cold sits, not for just a day or two but for weeks at a time. Rendering everything brittle and breakable. Flesh freezes in a matter of moments when exposed to the air. Ice fog (pollution) hangs over populated areas making it hard to breath.<br /><br />When the sky is clear and sunny it means cold, cold, cold. When the clouds come it means relief and a little warmth. The days are short and the darkness almost absolute making the illusion of warmth that much more difficult to grasp.<br /><br />Running the dogs at -40F can be a real challenge from the human perpective. You must cover every exposed part of your skin. My eyes are the only thing that can be "touched" by the outside air. I can't seem to use ski goggles with out them fogging badly. My eye lids freeze together as we rush down the trail. Mushing with eyes frozen shut is not a good thing. I remove my naked fingers from a warm glove to press them to my eye to thaw the eye lash temporarily releasing one eyelid from the other. I must blink my eyes quickly to let the eyelashes freeze apart. I can hear them making a "tink, tink, tink" noise as I blink the newly frozen eyelashed together - but at least I can see.<br /><br />Alaskans talk of the snow being "slow". This refers to the cold making the snow more abrasive thus creating drag on the runners of the dog sled. The dogs have to work a little harder to pull the sled but the cold makes them happy to do so.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20388261.post-1137093168013799722006-01-12T10:54:00.000-08:002006-02-27T00:51:18.136-08:00Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours First FilmI created Sun Dog Express Dog Sled Tours in the summer of 1998. Disallusioned with working as an advertising manager for Beaver Sports Inc. of Fairbanks, Alaska. I decided to see if I could get paid to work at my passion - dog sledding. I sold my shares in Beaver Sports to make myself a cushy little nest egg, quit my job and began to put flyers around town and brochures at local hotels.<br /><br />I was able to secure a small area in a large warehouse at the back of Beaver Sports to establish my office. Just so happens that Beaver Sports is located off some of the best dog mushing trails in Fairbanks. My sled dogs spend a few months of the year at this "winter" dog yard and the rest of the year is spent at my ranch - getting a sun tan.<br /><br />One of my very first customers was a film crew from the BBC. They were doing a documentary on global warming called "Arctic Warning" and wanted the film to have a broader appeal. I was the only person included in the film that didn't have a docterate degree. It was interesting to be wired with a microphone that they could pick up voice on for 1/2 a mile. <br /><br />The reporter, Julien O'Hallaron, asked me to run my very excited dog team around a one mile loop many times so they could get just the right shot. My dogs were happy to obligue. We went to Creamers Field Wildlife refuge to film. As I recall the snow was still pretty low for that time of year so the trail was bumpy. Fences on the trail, usually open during winter months, weren't open yet so it was interesting getting a six dog team through little openings between the pilings meant for a person to squeeze through. The sled just barely fit and it was a task to keep the team slowed down enough to get through the tight space without taking the sled apart.<br /><br />We were successful and the film premiered three months later in Great Britian and on the Discovery Channel.Sun Doghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15029586899949477932noreply@blogger.com0