Early Season Skiing.

We are in for a bout of early season skiing. Looks like another week with little or no snow. :( that's ok, we'll get out but it means finding this on your ski tips at the end of the day. LOL



Regardless the dogs have a great time. Who wouldn't its alot of fun to run and run and run.


Its amazing what running free has done for Valley. She really loves the stuff and her confidence has grown leaps and bounds. She used to be terrified of skis and now she runs up for a pet then charges off. Skiing, good for her, good for me.

Dawn Patrol

The first day of ski touring is always a good day, even if it is at Oh-Dark-30. Here's to the first day of skiing, only 99 more to go!

Why I like Malamutes

gotta love it when they go swimming with ice on the surface.

AMCA National Specialty

Last week we attended the Alaskan Malamute Club of America (AMCA) National Specialty in Denver Colorado. Before the event we visited with a niece who just graduated from College and started working. We then ventured to a [i]modern[/i] shelter in Longmont. Since we've been involved with the Alaska SPCA who drastically needs a new shelter, this was a real bonus.

Sunday we set up the Alaskan Malamute Assistance League (AMAL) booth to fund raise to help malamutes who need homes.

It didn't take long due to the generosity of many individuals for our space to overflow with gifts. Thank you for your generosity, each and every gift, large or small goes to support malamutes who need help. Whether you gave something to be sold at the booth, or purchased something, your help is very much appreciated.

I was lucky enough to spend the week with Lynne and Dan Anderson, who have to be some of the nicest folks a guy like me could spend time with. I had the pleasure to sit in the booth with Sharon from Polaris Alaskan Malamute Rescue of Colorado, Roberta of Alaskan Malamute Rescue of New Mexico, Carol of Golden Years Alaskan Malamute Rescue and Katy of Moonsong Malamute Rescue. Meeting these folks in person is kind of like meeting your favorite radio announcer, except I only know those folks through an email list serve.

There were also hundreds of malamutes. So many it makes the head spin at times. One of my favorite was Timberwolf who was part of the South Dakota malamute rescue over 3 years ago. This was a big rescue of nearly 20 something malamutes (if I remember correctly) who ended up in a shelter and needed help in a big way.

Timber won the regional and National Rally competition and earned his CGC.

For the past three years I flew down with Valley. At first I was told Valley would go into a crate for the event, but once they saw how Valley handled the affair, a crate hasn't been needed.


This is one of the rare moments when she was not flat on her side at the booth. Many folks couldn't imagine Valley could spend so much time laying still. Ha! At the Rescue Showcase reception, Valley got up on her paws and at least a dozen folk exclaimed "Valley got on her feet! Valley got on her feet!". Its entirely possible, that might have been the first time they had seen the phenomenon LOL.

The highlight of the week, besides visiting with Dan and Lynne, is the Rescue Showcase. Before hand, Sharon and Paul organized the "AMAL Annual Meeting" a tailgate party where they brought Beer! and food. It was a great way to meet the 16 malamutes, and their owners, who were going to be in the annual showcase.

I bet you can spot Valley in the picture :). All I needed to say to the owners was "What's your malamutes story", and I heard 16 great stories.

Here's the notorious Hoshi and the two wonderful folks she lets live with her.


Before long everybody lined up and Dan Anderson gave them instructions of what was going to happen.

With Katy's DSLR camera I took pictures of the Rescue Showcase, when I get those I'll post them here.

We were lucky enough to stay at a flophouse which graced us with rabbits on the lawn early in the morning and late at night. They provided lots of entertainment for Valley who loved to give chase. In the morning and after dinner we frequented the Sand Creek Greenway for long walks. We found gophers, deer, rabbits and geese. The ground hogs don't make the same sound as the marmots we have so they weren't so much a prey item as the deer and rabbits. Whoever trained the gophers to chirp in a low non-shrill voice, well Thank You! Every dog we met was on leash, now how about that!

Check those gopher holes out, you could lose a leg in there.

We left the Specialty early. Our malamutes need exercise and with two weekends without a good run, makes them antsy and difficult to live with. Saturday and Sunday, after the specialty, they ran good and fun.


Valley! For those folks who were excited about her getting up at the Rescue Showcase Reception, they'll love this :)






Thanks again for supporting Malamute Rescue. It was great meeting you and seeing you again. See you in Michigan next year!

First Snow

What a surprise, we were out hiking, the clouds dropped and we found ourselves in a snow storm. I can't complain about that.

Here are the first few flakes on Jago's head.


Fall colors first snow.


Lots of Moose starting to appear because of fall rut. One has to be more careful in the woods than with bears now. Moose Encounter of the 2nd Kind.


Moose Malamute Stare Down.


Moose Encounter of the First Kind. I had to run like crazy to get away from this guy. He just appeared out of the hemlock, then ran along side us as I trotted down the trail. There is no zoom on this picture.

Great day to be out hiking and enjoying the gift of our first snowfall.

2011 Calendar

After weeding the best 250 pictures out of thousands of photos I took last year, I finally picked 13 to go in this year's Fundog Calendar. It took 3 or 4 weeks of sitting at the computer to look through the years photos. Besides the great memories I have one sore rump. Now I have to figure out some one liners for each photo and we are ready to print.

If you'd like a calendar, email me. All the profits go to AMAL or the Alaskan Malamute Assistance League. AMAL is the U.S. national rescue organization for Malamutes and your donation funds veterinary care, emergency boarding and some transportation for malamutes who end up in shelters or the short end of the stick.


(click the picture to enlarge)

Last Weekend of Summer

We spent the last weekend of summer 2010 in neighboring Chugach State Park. The forecasted high winds appeared as we were about a mile from our destination for the first night. We were scoured by 40 mph winds and intense rain. While attempting to set up the tent we were lucky not to have it blown away, because several times it was squashed flat in the wind gusts. Nicki, myself, Rocket and Valley stayed in the tent. Jago decided she didn't want a part of it. Talk about tough as nails! This is the same dog crying murder because she was "stranded" on a rock in our last blog post LOL. Everytime the tent was blown flat Valley gave me this "Help Me" look. I petted and held her, letting her endure the storm sleeping between Nicki and myself.

We woke up in a cloudy drizzle with no wind. I had forgotten the cook kit so we couldn't heat up any water, meaning no breakfast, coffee or tea. That was enough for Nicki, so all of headed back to the trailhead and she stayed home. I picked up the cook kit and returned with Rocket to resume camping.

The second night we were afforded a beautiful sunset.


The dawn's light showed early fall colors down valley from our campsite, with the promise for some sun for the day.


The calm shown in the reflection of the lake we camped next to.


Before tackling the return trip for the 3rd day in a row we tried a day hike up to another pass.


Where he decided to go for a swim.


Then made a loop around the granite to dry off in the sun.




Returning to camp to pickup the backpack and start home, we encountered yet another group of Dall Sheep.

(Can you spot them on the knoll to the right of Rocket's head?


Tired boy, needs a nap at the rest break on the walk home.


and one more final shot before we drop down to the trailhead.

The weather doesn't always cooperate for our outdoor adventures, but this weekend we snuck in enough sun to dry off the camera and keep up the good spirits. Bring on the fall colors and some snow!

(you can always click on any picture to enlarge it)

Malamute Rescue Boat

Sometimes you get in a little bit of trouble and you need an extra hand getting out. Even if that help is a little late in arriving, better late than never.


For some odd reason they decide to climb out onto the rock, Jago leading. Maybe Jago said to Cody, "Let's go check the island for Ducks". That'd be all it'd take for Cody to get going.


About ready to jump up and explore their new found island and maybe some ducks.


the next thing we hear is a giant KERPLOOSH and both dogs are swimming. Jago is even swimming! We've never seen that before and in the excitement we yell, "Look Jago is swimming".

Cody crawls out.


Then Jago crawls out on near by rock.


Except she can't make it completely out and is screaming for help. In two feet of water she's stuck and everybody knows about it.


Saint Nicki goes to save the day.


But Wait! Rocket dives in, and he's going to help save the day. See? He has his water wings deployed. Better late than never I guess.


Alls well that ends well.

Another episode of camping with the fundogs.

Blue Lake

We woke up on Saturday with a blazing blue sky. I put it into overdrive and decided to head over to Blue Lake, a 16 mile hike for us funhogs and fundogs.

Heading out from the rig we leave Our Fair City behind us.


Right over the bump in the foreground is Blue Lake (commonly known as Long Lake) we'll walk around the lake and head between the two ridges in the foreground, over the pass, to williwaw lakes, down the Middle Fork of Campbell Creek back to the rig.


Rocket on the non-stop chase for marmots.




Valley at Blue Lake.


Heading up the pass near the end of the lake.


Up at the first lip


The lake right before the pass.


Rocket in the pass, with the large rock wall behind him. The Daily Downpour started right after we left the pass.


The lake before dropping down to the middle fork and what everybody thinks of as Williwaw Lake.


Nice shot of the creek running into the lake.


Looking back across the lake.


At the lip before we drop down.




Four miles back to the rig. She's looking better than my feet are feeling.


16 miles I figure in about 12 hours. A bit too rainy to get a nap in at the key point, but one of the most beautiful places I've been in the Chugach, particularly the pass between the North and Middle Forks. The camera just couldn't capture all the scenery.