Snowflakes

When the snowflakes fall, the fundogs have so many enjoyable things to do:




Like skijor sastrugi.




Or pull over a snowbridge.




Biteneck at lunch.




or simply contemplating the snowfall.




Sunday in the Chugach.

Pupsicle

Oh boy, another trip to Mendeltna. 3 days of ski touring with the ski club out on the Mendeltna ski trails. Trails which couldn't have been better. Yippee! We had our own cabin where we could keep the dogs with us and dined from excellent cuisine of the lodge. First day great trails but new snow the next couple of days made skiing even more enjoyable. What a treat. Thanks Mabel and Russ!

Snownose

Temperatures down around -10 deg F (-23 deg C), a bit of lightly falling snow mixed in with a ski tour, we can see what the malamutes look like with snow nose. For sure they can handle the cold, its nothing for them and they love running along on a ski tour and would go again at the drop of a hat.

My latest snow job.

Here we go, another snow storm. 17 inches (43 cm) since midnight and it's still snowing. I did the driveway last night before going to bed, this morning before work and again this evening after work. No time to ski :(








Here's Valley's house snowed in.












Jago's house snowed in. I had just shoveled the door way yesterday.

















And their condo. I guess they've given up using that. The tip of the roof hits me about chest high so you can see how much snow we've gotten this season.
















And finally the back fence, lets hope they don't decide to climb it.

WooHoo!

Five years ago we brought home our first rescue. so afraid of life she stayed hidden in her dog house for well over a year. She left only when I sat on the ground, planted a foot on each side of the door and pulled her out to go out for walks and skijors. When she was out on the trail she'd crawl up into a treewell as far away from us as she could get and shake. She walked in back of us, as far as she could get, because feet made scarey sounds in the snow and they kicked rocks making even scarier noises. For several years Saint Nicki and I wondered out loud about her. but we knew if we let her go and gave up on her, she was gone for good, and she deserved better than that.

Christmas 3 years ago, her adrenal gland gave out. Too much fear. But that was the beginning of her sunrise. I guess she finally decided maybe, just maybe she could trust us. Since then she's never spent the night out in her dog house, hasn't wanted to.

Roll forward to this fall when she let me throw my arms around her for a hug. By now we've had her for 5 years and we were giving and getting our first hugs! Life is good. Until last night...when things got even better as you can see from the picture.

I am pretty sure I'd never gotten involved with rescue, volunteering at the local SPCA, and starting a malamute rescue group without Babe's assistance and her guiding light. Several phrases come to mind when I think about her, "you can only move as fast as the dog does" and "always stay with the dog, they won't let you down". There are plenty of people who've told both Saint Nicki and I what a wonderful job we've done. Maybe so, but I really think Babe was the guide. She was the one who led us onto better things. She's the one who started it all. We were lucky enough to have our eyes open and pay attention enough to follow.

Happy Howl-idays

Happy Howl-days and WooWoos to you! Our best wishes for a happy new year and healthy and prosperous year ahead.

Ski Club Skis

Once a month or so now, more often in the spring, we lead backcountry tours for the ski club. With winds approach 25 mph, cloudy skies but temps near freezing we headed up the South Fork of Eagle River. With days as short as they are, its nice to get out and enjoy the little daylight we have.


Looking up at Cantata Peak



Lunch!


Babe loves running free during the ski outings. A far cry from a year or 2 ago where she tried to get as far away from folks as possible. She now walks around them, taking handouts whenever they are offered.

Obligatory Skijor Picture

Everybody who skijors seems to have these kind of pictures on their blog. So I guess I better put one on her too.

Our latest foster malamute Kilitoq



I prefer looking at their face through, the backend of a dog really does nothing for me :)



Here's one of Valley, gotta get one of my crew in here LOL.

Skijor the fundogs

With fresh snow and warm temperatures, what's a funhog to do? Skijor the fundogs!

Clear and Cold

More Clear and cold conditions making some fantastic surface hoar. Fields of spikey and flakey surface hoar producing some fantastic touring conditions underfoot.

Letting Nature Run Wild

We are not getting much snow but we are seeing some nice surface hoar.

High Pressure Systems

High pressure systems are nice for sunshine, crisp snow, and great skiing.


Kickstep Mountain





Sunset over Turnagain Arm and Cooke Inlet.

What makes a dog go faster?

...The smell and sight of moose. Out for a skijor on a sunny and cold day but not many moose, not like yesterday where we had to peel them out of the trail to get by.


Babe pulling hard...



Nicki skijoring with Babe.



Ganik and Valley pulling me!


That's right, that's Ganik pulling. He seemed fine on an even or groomed snow filled trail while out walking, made us think of trying him skijoring again. Now he seems fine afterwards. Having him around gives Valley so much more confidence.

A chance to go ski moose

Moose rut hasn't finished and we decided to go ski some moose. You'll see they get upfront and rather personal.


Valley looking forward to moving upstream to see some moose.




This guy was pushed down on us by some folks trying to move down the trail. Pretty gosh darn close.



Slithered by her on the way back home. Stop, let her look at me, when she goes back eating...move, stop when she looks at me, when she goes back eating...move ... you get it, moved very slowly keeping her eating and not engaging with us. This is the size of the moose, no zoom on the camera needed...



Same moose, different view :)

All in a Days Hike

Out for a day hike, saw a bunch of nice critters. All in all 9 moose and 27 sheep. Its been awhile since I've seen sheep up so close down low.

5

today we celebrate our 5th anniversary with Babe. It might be five years since we brought her home but it feels like 5 dog years...well it has been 5 dog years but you know what I mean. I knew when she arrived in our home we were going on a unique journey, I just didn't know it both of us were going to grow this much.

Even a year ago I could have never said, "Babe booted St. Nicki off her 4 inch foamie while car camping making for a night in the pickup for St Nicki". I never thought she'd sleep between Nicki and I while we tent camped, at least she doesn't steal the sleeping bags out from underneath us. Who would have thought she'd push whatever dog I pet out of the way, plant her bottom down and insist I pet her? Her Perry Como sweet singing voice turned into a baseball announcer--play by play and color.

So here we go, embarking on another year, but first I need to get the pot roast with carrots out of the oven for her dinner.

Another Day at the Ballpark

When we go to the ballpark sometimes we get to chase the ball. Ganik usually get's there first :(



Damnit! I want the ball!



I can Fly! I can Fly! I love chasing that ball.



Get it! Get It!



Now What?

Season Opener

Enough snow had fallen at one of our favorite ski spots, it was time to venture out with Valley and see if we could enjoy the day skijoring. We found 2 feet had fallen, a bit too much for skijoring, so Valley accompanied me instead of trying to pull.

She's looking pretty happy at the start of the skiing. "Finally ski season is here", she seems to be saying.





Now that its snowing she is still looking happy. When I took the second picture, I am sure I heard her say, "Hey I like this skiing sport even if it is snowing".




Finally, we are in the pass, its snowing heavily and blowing pretty hard. She's kind of saying she doesn't like it here and would like to leave now thank you. Mouse Click the picture to really see what's going on :)


Everybody had a fun time, for once I didn't get hurt on opening day.