2016

Back at it

Sarah · January 18, 2016 ·

The cold has returned and with it the trails. I’m still working on my 2016 Copper basin 300 story but I thought I would still share the going ons that occur day to day.

It’s been strange reemerging myself in cabin routine. We took a break from running dogs to recoup and recover. I visited friends in Anchorage, I gave the dogs lots of rubdowns, and mostly have tried to sort out all that is left to do between now and Iditarod. There’s still so much to do. So much training, so much packing, so much for preparing that at times the thought of it can be overwhelming.

On any given day, it seems as though the easiest thing to do is simply run dogs. Ignore the world. Ignore the phone. And in some instances, ignore the people.

To be honest, the last week has been hard. Racing was such an easy, wonderful distraction. There’s nothing quite like being out on the trail with your dogs from mile after mile after mile. Knowing that you don’t have anything to worry about, except the next time that you were going to stop and rest.

In Anchorage, I took good care of myself. I leisured in the joy of running water and electricity. Working for rent late to start updating my blog. I wrote three posts, one on my team, one on Wyatts team, and one on Justin’s team. It was fun, but telling the true tale is what I look forward to most. That part, is still coming along slow. Hi showered and hot tub I let my sore muscles relax. I got a haircut and died my hair pink. Something I had been wanting to do for months and finally, did.

So much of who we are is wrapped up in how we look. I don’t know if a tiger can change it’s stripes, but I can sure try!

Sarah Stokey after having her hair done in Anchorage after the 2016 Copper basin 300

We enjoyed the company of friends. And I enjoyed the fact that I could clean the cabin, and get reorganized. Today I went out with the dogs. I was so happy to see how well they did. The sugary conditions of the Copper basin we’re so different then the trails we’ve been training on.it was nice to see how well my team bounce back. They look better than they ever have today.

Sarah Stokey and her dog team training for the 2016 Iditarod

I love this time a year. I love the way we gain light. The soft pale blue greens that fill the skyline and the muted yellows. Today, was one of the first times I hoped up and ran my entire run during the daylight. It was fun. I enjoyed watching Denali as I weaved through the swamps. At one point, I took a trail I didn’t now. My headlamp that I had packed was pretty dead in terms of batteries so I ended up calling the dogs Gee off the trail we were on and across the swamp. We forged our own trail, Using the mountains and the powerlines as reference points. I was so impressed with how spot on my leaders were.

With the swamps as icy as they were, we could travel practically anywhere. The idea of following a set Trail was somewhat ridiculous because everything was hard and fast. After the soft snow of the 2016 Copper basin 300, my sled dogs seemed to enjoy the challenge of going off trail.

Sarah Stokey right before taking off with the 14 dog sled dog team in Willow Alaska

It really was a magnificent run. I followed the sunset home and chase the last the daylight. It was my first run wearing a new helmet and goggles my mother had sent me. I felt a little ridiculous, because not a lot of people wear helmets in the sport. I have to admit though, I forgot how warm wearing a helmet was. I enjoyed the goggles immensely because the last run I’ve gone out on that was this cold, I started having problems with my eyes getting too cold. I read about Brenda Mackey in the kusko 300 and I’ve decided that I better get used to mushing with goggles. The one time I froze my eyes was brief, but immensely painful. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain of frostbite.

I got back to find that the oil stove went out. I’m sitting in the cabin now, using my headlamp for a light, and waiting for the cabin to fill back up with heat. My hands and toes are so numb that I may as well be back out mushing. Six dogs keep me company in the cabin. Lying on my feet or on my chest as well as three cats who mostly stay upstairs but have now wandered down to try and find a little bit of warmth.normally, the cabin would be warmer. But I was gone for several hours and I left the windows open so that the dogs would not overheat. The stove must’ve gone out shortly before I left while I was outside still hooking up. I have it on and running now but it certainly is not at full blast.

As I do whenever I face something that is less than ideal, I remind myself that this will toughen me up for Iditarod.

Well, I guess that’s it for now. I want to get back to working on my Copper basin 300 right up. I haven’t gotten very far. I suppose that’s mostly because I’ve gone into such excruciating detail so far. I hope it will be a good post. For now, happy trails!

Justin’s Team Recap

Sarah · January 16, 2016 ·

Justin’s team

Justin had an impressive rookie Cooper Basin 300. The dogs worked great and despite catching a bit of a stomach bug were still able to perform strongly. Justin finished with 11 dogs in a time of 40 hours and 54 minutes.

Here is an overview of Justin’s team! We are very proud of Justin’s accomplishments and the excellent vet care he had along the trail.

Flo 2 years old, female,

We knew Flo had heart because when she was four months old she almost died. In fact, everyone expected her not to make it including the vet. But she had the heart of a champion and an unyielding determination. Somehow, she made it.

Now, just over two, it was a real treat watching this little girl compete on Justin’s team. Justin reported that Flo was incredibly bouncy and energetic and ran in lead for the first 100 miles of the race. She ended up developing a sore wrist and because she is one of the top dogs’ in contention for Travis’ Iditarod team, Justin chose to drop her. She was a real asset while in the team and we look forward to a very bright future for this young lady.

Fergie, 2.5 year old,female

Forget was absolutely incredible on this race. She ran the entire race in lead – 200 of those miles she ran alone in single lead. I can still remember her as a young puppy sleeping in my file cabinet as I did my paperwork. It was really awesome seeing how great of a race she had with Justin. Justin reported that she ate every meal on every run and was always eager, upbeat, and happy. You really couldn’t ask for more from a dog.

Mongoose or “Goose” as we sometomes call him

Mongoose, 2 year old, male

Mongoose is a terrific athlete. Last year he was one of the few young dogs to make Travis’s Iditarod team. He only made it about 600 miles in Iditarod but for young dog that is still a remarkable achievement. During this race, Goose, as he is affectionately known, ran the whole race in swing – which is the position right behind the lead dogs. He drove hard up the hills and was a fantastic eater. Justin reported that whenever he whistled The team up mongoose was the first to start driving hard. He was very loud and all of the checkpoints and was always one of the most eager dogs. With his loud high-pitched bark he has a very distinctive eager cheer that helps rouse teammates.

Krum, 3 year old, female

Krum ran and finished in the 2015 Iditarod in 11th place with Travis. This was not her strongest performance as she got sick. Despite not feeling well, she powered through. Her performance was still admirable and even though she had a bit of a stomach bug she always ate every meal. We are really proud of Krum for pulling through and working as hard as she did.

Teddy, 3 year old, male

Teddy was another dog that finished on Travis’s 11th place 2015 Iditarod team. on this race, Teddy was the invisible dog. By that Justin meant that Teddy was always happy, he always ate, and he always moved smoothly – Justin never had to worry about him. Because of his strong performance, he was very easy to overlook. He performed well and fit in great with the team. Teddy is always a strong performer and a great eater. Justin reported that it was very nice having a dog is capable is Teddy that he did not have to worry about while racing.

Kip, 2 year old, male

During this race, Kip was ravenous. He got a little soreness in his wrists but with the vets help and good dog care, Justin was able to work him through it. In Sourdough, Kip got a little tired leaving – this wasn’t too surprising as he was 150 miles into his second race. He quickly warmed out of it and as the race progressed he became one of the most energetic dogs. Leaving the final check point, Kip’s loud yodeling wail could be heard as Justin exited the checkpoint.

Bruce, 2 year old, male

Bruce was a very rowdy and a very happy dog. Although he got a little sick, he was still very energetic. He was one of the main cheerleaders in the team and always helped other dogs get excited. Throughout the race he kept a very tight tug and never slacked. He had an impressive performance and is in contention for Travis’s main race team.

Cuervo resting in the Nome dog lot after finishinf the 2015 Iditarod with Travis Beals in 11th place

Cuervo, 4 year old, male

Cuervo joined our kennel 2 weeks before the 2014 Iditarod from Dallas Seavey’s kennel. He has finished the last two Iditarod’s with Travis. His best finish was 11th place last year. Justin described him as a “mini-tank” as well as the horniest dog in the team. We weren’t surprised. Cuervo has always worked hard in the team and has worked even harder chasing down the ladies. Cuervo was was, according to Justin, another one of those invisible dogs that you simply never have to worry about – unless he is around a girly dog. Cuervo does his job and always gives 100% of himself to the task at hand.

Thunder, 7 years old, neutered male

Thunder is an older dog with lots of racing experience. His best Iditarod finish yet was with Pete Kaiser in the low teens a few years ago. He had a great performance and was barking up every hill. Thunder was sort of the oddball on this particular team as he had not trained with this group of dogs before. He had primarily been training at a slightly slower pace with many of Sarah’s dogs. Because of this, we weren’t surprised to see that he got a little tired the last 2 miles of the race. He had a little trouble with his feet but otherwise was great. One thing about Thunder is that he likes to roll. Anytime he thought the team was not moving fast enough, he gave some great motivational barking.

Thor, 2 year old, male

Thor was great. He’s really come along way since his last race, the Knik 200 in 2015 where he also ran with Justin. Last year Thor was easily distracted and not the most mentally tough dog. He often would stop pulling for miles on end and would need a verbal “wake up” call to get back with it. Justin was really happy to report that for had a very great race and was really on point. He pulled the entire time, had great energy throughout the race, and was steadfast and happy. We are very pleased with Thor’s development.

Wrangler resting in the Nome dog lot after finishinf the 2015 Iditarod with Travis Beals in 11th place

Wrangler, 4 years old, male

Wrangler has finished every Iditarod with Travis. He was the hardest worker in the team and ran in wheel the entire time. He was, without a doubt, the powerhouse of the team. He was one of the few dogs that never caught a stomach bug and was always eager, excited, and working his butt off. Justin voted him the team MVP. We can understand why, as Wrangler has always been one of those dogs who just gets it done.

Marlow, 2 years old, male

When Marlow was a puppy, I knew he would be special. That’s why I named him Marlow. I had to name a dog I knew would make the team because it was a tribute to one of the dogs that permeated my childhood. Growing up, my best friend and his family owned a huge blue Great Dane and she was named Marlow. She was a beautiful dog and her tail used to thump with excitement on kitchen cabinets and could be heard throughout the house. She was not “my” dog, but I spent so much time growing up at my friend’s, that I loved her like my own nonetheless. Honestly, I would have never thought to name a dog after another dog, but this somehow just felt right. I gave our Marlow, big shoes to fill.

So far, Marlow has lived up to the expectations I placed on him. He has been great in tours, training, and performed exceptionally well during his second race.Justin never had a problem the entire race with him.

Justin never had to worry about Marlow and he was always ready to go. Anytime Justin would approach the team, he reported that Marla would pop up with excitement hoping to get back on the trail even if the rest of been relatively short and there was still more rest to take. At the kennel, Marlow is a quiet low-key kind of dog so we were surprised when Justin reported that he was very loud and excited out on the trail.

But this doesn’t surprise me either, his name sake was a rather mellow dog until she got excited too. Kindred spirits, perhaps?

Justin

Justin reported that some of his highlights were were simply being out on the trail and learning a lot of new vet care. He enjoyed watching the team recover from being sick to healthy and how that affected how they raced. His favorite part was the checkpoint hospitality, where he was always able to get a great meal. Justin said he really learned a lot and was very pleased that he was able to take such a capable teen out on the race trailer full of seasoned veterans with a few younger dog sprinkled in. Some of the tougher moments for Justin was his time coming into Sourdough when he made the decision to unexpectedly camp for an hour along the trail. It was only a 40 mile run from the previous checkpoint, but the dogs had not been feeling well and have been moving very slow. They seem to have recovered well and Justin finished on a real strong note with a team of 11 barking and screaming dogs.

Wyatt Suchecki’s 2016 Copper Basin 300 Team Recap

Sarah · January 15, 2016 ·

We are so proud of our handler, Wyatt Suchecki, for his incredible performance in his first 300 mile race. These are his thoughts, written (and in some cAaes expanded upon) by Sarah.

Wyatt finished in 24th places with a total run time of 41 hours and 8 minutes.

Granger, 3 year old, female

Granger was the 16th dog on Travis’s 2015 11th place Iditarod team. She only made it about 300 miles on Last year’s Iditarod, but Travis was happy with that as she was a last-minute addition and didn’t have quite the amount of training as the rest of the team. During the Copper basin 300 this year, Granger ran 300 miles in lead. In otherwords, she led the entire race. She was a very forward oriented dog and Wyatt ran her with no neckline. Wyatt was ecstatic to have had Granger done so well with him in part because they work so frequently together last year. Why it was one of the driving forces behind Grangers development as a lead dog. It must’ve been a very special moment for him to hook her up at the start of the race and lead and an even more gratifying moment when she came in at the finish line.

Fidget, 5 year old, female

Fidget has ran and finished every Iditarod with Travis. Wyatt described her as the rock of the team. We are not surprised by this description as Fidget has always been one of the most reliable, hard-working, energetic dogs in the team. Wyatt said that whether or not she was in lead, she was clearly the backbone of the team. She ran 150 miles of the race in lead and was the team cheerleader. Fidget was a great dog for Wyatt to have as she is one of those dogs that don’t require much attention, always works hard, and helps keep the dogs around her happy and motivated

Cricket, 2 year old, female

Cricket has always been a spunky dog. As a puppy, when we let her loose during free play, we always had to keep a close watch on Cricket. She is a very sassy little dog and thinks the world of herself. Although she may be small in size, she makes up for it inheart. Don’t be fooled, the small dog packs quite the punch.

Cricket ran 150 miles in lead during the Copper basin 300. When she wasn’t in the lead, she ran in swing. Going over the hump, the big mountain in the second leg of the race, she was one of the loudest, most eager dogs going up hill. Wyatt described her enthusiasm going over the hump as a real highlight for him during the race. This is one of Cricket’s first races and one of her best leading experiences.

Although she occasionally got a little distracted upfront, whenever Wyatt moved her out of lead she always resumed her hard-working attitude. We are excited to see what this little lady and her spunky attitude will bring to the main race team this year.

Tamere, 6 year old, female

Oh Tamere. Tamere, Tamere, Tamere. So much could be said about this little princess. To me here is one of those sassy dogs that always has to get her way and always has to be in charge whether or not she is leading the team. She is a total glory hound – she loves to bark with excitement and enthusiasm in front of a crowd, even if she is dead tired.

This race, Tamere ran exclusively in swing. She also really reminded us why female dogs are called bitches as she is always very haughty to the dogs around her sa and loves keeping other dogs in line. She is a real miss manners. As a swing dog, she thoroughly enjoyed reprimanding the lead dogs whenever they started messing around. Tamere simply loves being the goody two shoes. Tamere has been on all of Travis is Iditarod teams, finishing twice and making it about 700 miles in last year’s race. We expect another big performance from Tamere this year, although she will likely be on Sarah’s team instead of Travis’ as Travis has grown tired of dealing with her princess antics.

Zeus, 15 months, male

Zeuswas the young gun of this team. The Copper basin 300 was his first race. He primarily ran in the middle of the team. When he was on point, he was on point – working hard, cheering loudly, and busting butt. As a young dog, he occasionally got A little mentally fatigued but he never got physically tired. He met our expectations for his age and we were happy to see that he made it to the finish line. Zeus is going to be a real all star in our kennel in the years to come. He is a very hard-working dog, who are shown real potential of being a leader, and often runs upfront and training. He is beautifully gaited and is a real joy to work with. We were thrilled to see him finish the Copper basin 300.

Gremlin, 4 years old, female

Gremlin is one of those tiny little females who has really come along way since she joined our kennel as an 8 week old puppy back in 2011. She and her sister Goblin have proven to be steadfast loyal hard-working dogs in our kennel — and many of the dogs in our race teams are Gremlin’s nieces and nephews.

Gremlin finished on Travis’s 11th Place Iditarod team last year and swing. For this race,Gremlin was the smallest dog on the team but she was also the dog who had the biggest heart. She was loud, reliable, and steadfast in her work ethic. Wyatt said that she was the dog he worried least about on the race trail. Gremlin simply did her job and did it well.

Star, 8 years old, female

Star has consistently been a member of Travis’s main race team over the last four years. She ran as part of the 11th place Iditarod team last year although she did not finish. On this race, she was Wyatt’s favorite dog to watch. Although she was one of the slower moving dogs and the team, she helped with her incredible strength. Why it wisely used her as the pacesetter for the team, traveling at a speed that was comfortable for Star. Star ran in wheel and one above wheel it was a real team player. Throughout the race, she willingly ran next to any dog and was always happy to do her job and eat her snacks.

Ray, 10 years old, male

Ray is one of those dogs who just keep surprising us. Last year, we couldn’t believe that he made the Iditarod team. We were even more surprised when he finished on the 11th Place team. Despite his age, Ray still has it! He is a smooth moving dog who loves to eat and is notorious for being pretty lazy. This race was no exception.

Wyatt reported that he was the laziest dog on the team, ate everything, and loved marking his territory whenever given the chance. In other words, he was typical Ray. Ray was a very rowdy always happy and always ready to travel further – this is pretty usual for Ray and is partially due to the fact that he knows how to pace himself so well. Despite his age, Travis and Sarah are duking it out to determine who will get Ray for their Iditarod team. Well done, old man!

Monroe, 7 years old, male

Monroe was the 17th dog last year though he has previously made Travis’ other two Iditarod teams. He was the slowest dog on Whitestine this year, but also the loudest. He ran with Ray, as usual, and they were the real cheerleaders of the team. Although slow, Munro was a consistent hard worker.

Aldawin, 2 years old, male
Alderman was routinely the best dog in Wyatts team although he got sick. He ended up needing to ride in the sled for approximately two hours during one of the runs but then performed even stronger. His weakness seem to be more mental than physical. Why reported that he was the dog that he watched most carefully because he got sick. He had a strong performance and we look forward to seeing Aldawin as an athlete.

Havoc, 3 years old, female

Havoc ran in a wheel for 220 miles of the Copper basin 300. She was dropped due to a slight wrist and shoulder injury. Until that point, she was the most impressive dog. She was also the biggest surprise because it was her very first race. Normally, we have seen Havoc be somewhat weak headed and lack the mental focus needed for a real race dog. Despite that reputation, Havoc was anything but. Haven’t really worked hard during the race because that she was one of the biggest surprises. Wyatt wished he did not have to drop her but did it because she is in contention for an Iditarod slot.

Wyatt

Why reported that his highlights were going over top dome, The infamous hump on the second leg of the race. The straight up vertical challenge was fun for him but the best part was seeing how excited cricket got going and leading up to hell. He really enjoyed being able to run with Justin and have Justin near him throughout the race but also not really running together and having alone time out on the trail. He had fun being with his team, watching and learning from other mushers, and seeing and mushing next to the infamous Alaska pipeline. One of his true low lights of the race was when Nick Petite went to pass him and Wyatt tipped his sled over. He felt a little dumb about this but Travis and I have both assured him that we have tipped over and phone many times ourselves. On this particular race I think I tipped my sled over some two dozen times so I could really empathize with how Wyatt was feeling. For Wyatt, the hardest run was leaving sourdough and heading to Mendeltna as the run seemed to take forever. His spirits were slightly bolstered by seeing my cousin, Andy, twice who encouraged Wyatt to keep going and that he was almost there.

Great race Wyatt and team!

Thank you to Dre Langefeld for some of these wonderful photos of our dogs.

Sarah’s 2016 Copper Basin 300

Sarah · January 15, 2016 ·

Before I talk about the race itself, I’d like to talk about my dogs that made my race what it was. They defined my Copper Basin race and everything they accomplished was an absolute marvel. We were not the fastest team out there but I guarantee we were one of the youngest of not the youngest. Besides my two 5 year olds, Madori and Bud, the average age of the 10 other dogs on my team was 22 months as in they were not even two years old. In that light, I think that makes everything we did miraculous. Regardless of how we placed, I believed I was driving champions. Now, for some info on my team.

Coda, 2 year old, neutered male If you had told me back in the fall of 2013 that Coda, a hellion of a pup would be leading my team in the Copper Basin 300 I would have laughed in your face unapologetically. You see, Coda was a terrible puppy. He picked fights with everyone: older dogs, younger dogs, dogs twice his size — it didn’t matter. He got his ass kicked on more than one occasion but this didn’t seem to stop him. What finally did? A trip to the vet. In May of 2015, tired of his perpetually grumpy attitude, we had Coda, as we as his brother Bensen, neutered. It completely morphed Coda. Within a few months he had gone from being a hell raiser to one of the sweetest dogs in the kennel. Instead of picking fights and trying to size himself up to other dogs, he spent his time trying to befriend as many people as possible. To be honest, Coda has stepped up more and more as the season progressed. This race, he led approximately 150 miles in lead. He took commands flawlessly and at the one instance of overflow he charged fearlessly through. His performance was more than great — it was outstanding. He was always on his feet ready to go and really thrived up front. I am so happy to see how much this dog has grown and especially love how close he and I have come. In 2013 I was ready to give Coda away I found him so obnoxious but today I don’t think I would trade him for all the money in the world.

Madori with a big grin on her face. Sled dogs love their job!

Madori, 5 year old, female Madori was the oldest and most reliable dogs on my team. When the going got tough, Madori got going — she helped rally the team behind her endless enthusiasm. On hills, she pulled unbelievably hard and her work ethic really rubbed off on her teammates. I was really impressed with how hard Midori worked and loved that I knew I always had a reliable leader and her. As my oldest and most experienced dog, I really relied on her. As a dog who is frequently had problems with muscles in her back end she also relied on me. I checkpoints are usually spent 10 to 15 minutes working on her back to make sure to alleviate any stiffness, soreness, or tightness. I was really happy to see Midori finish and to finish so strongly and so smoothly. After the race, I quickly made an appointment with the dog chiropractor because if anybody deserves a professional work down, it was her.

Dolly screaming with excitement before a fall training run.

Dolly, 2 years old, female Dolly was one of my most consistent younger dogs. She is an exceptional leader and ran about 50 miles in lead. She ran a lot and lead during the summer because she is so reliable so throughout the season I have really tried to give her a break from being upfront. Whenever I needed her, there she was. Whenever we stopped, and I told the team that it was time to get going, she was one of the loudest most eager dogs. As a smaller female, she doesn’t take much food and so by comparison she was a little bit pickier than the rest of my dogs. But when she needed to eat, she did. I was really impressed with her camping skills and I’m excited about taking her on Iditarod with me this year. She had a really great performance during this race and I was really pleased by how eager, determined, happy, and tough she was throughout this race – which was her first.

Varden the sled dog with her tongue hanging out during fall sled dog training

Varden, 2 year old, female I think Varden was one of my biggest surprises on this race. It’s not that she has an impressed me during training, it’s just that she brought so much extra oomph to the team during race mode. I haven’t really seen her ever give this extra sort of effort before. Like her sister Dolly, she was very eager. Without a doubt I would say that she and Midori were kind of the team cheerleaders. Once Varden got barking and jumping the rest of the team had to follow suit. Martin ran in both swing and whell throughout the race and was. Happy to be in either position. She did a really great job eating whatever I put down in front of her. All in all, Varden went from being a dog I really hadn’t considered for my Iditarod team to one that I don’t think I would dare leave behind.

Athena during Fall Training 2015-2016 sled dog racing season

Athena, 15 months, female At the start of the race, I was definitely worried about how young Athena was. There were times when should stop pulling and get distracted. I talked to her and she’d start pulling again. If you’d asked me at the second checkpoint if I thought she’d finish, I would have said probably not. But Athena has a heart of a champion and she definitely proved me wrong. Despite her age, the further we went the stronger that she became. Even though my team got a little sick, and I knew Athena wasn’t feeling the best, she was always eager not only to pull, but also to eat. At the start of the race I had determined that taking such a young dog on Iditarod might be fool hardy. Her performance on this race however, definitely has me reconsidering. I will be keeping a close eye on the stellar little lady in the weeks to come because she shines exceptionally bright on this particular race. I am extremely proud of how well she did on her first race.

Lena, 1.5 year old, female At the kennel, Linda is one of those small meek females who might be easy to overlook. I had real doubts about taking her but her brothers who I had really consider taking, both came up a little sore when it was time to load dogs so I took Lena. To say she did great would be an understatement. Lena was a dog I never really worried about – which is very surprising considering how young she is. This really surprised me. She had an effortless gate, A voracious appetite, and a love of running that I would’ve expected to see in a much older more experienced dog. Although she definitely got tired a time or two, she always kept working. She had a great attitude and part of the reason I decided to add so much extra rest to my race was because of how hard-working she and my other 15 month old dogs were: I wanted the race to stay fun. Lena is another dog who will definitely be contending for a spot on my Iditarod team. I was really happy with how well she did. She surprised me, and to be honest, I think she surprised herself. Well done, Lena!

Crazy, 15 months, female I was really on the fence with crazy for the early part of fall training. She was kind of a pain in the butt. She frequently got tangled, ended up on the wrong side of the gangline, and loved to lean into her partner – traits that are pretty annoying when you are out on the trail. Midway through the fall however, things seemed to click. Her gate really smooth out and she started pulling harder. When she ended up on the wrong side of the game line, talking to her quickly remedied the situation and she would talk back under. Crazy did not feel well on this race. She ended up pretty dehydrated coming into the second checkpoint. The vet said I should probably drop her but given that I was taking a six hour layover I delayed the decision. I got three solid waterings into her. By the time we we’re ready to go, she was much more hydrated and the vet said that they thought she could make the 40 mile run without difficulty. She worked her butt off. Although Quiet and meek, crazies power could really be felt throughout the team. I was really happy with how well she ate and how hard she worked. The vets were really impressed with how she bounced back and gave me some pretty big compliments on my vet care – stuff that is always really nice to hear. Crazy did well. At times I considered putting her in lead, but never did. I will probably be going to work with her upfront in the next few weeks as another potential leader for when I’m out on the trail. She had a very strong performance and I was really happy with how she did. Hoover, 2 years old, female Gosh. Hoover had a great performance. But man, was she annoying. Hoover seemed to get tangled or wrap herself up at any available opportunity. I frequently had to stop because somehow she would manage to get her legs through her partners harness, or wrapped around the neckline, or who knows what else. I’ve never seen a more awkward dog. Despite that, she was extraordinarily hard working. During the toughest runs she ran and swing right behind the leaders and help the team Summit the big hills that we had to climb. She was definitely the strength of the team, especially once I dropped Bud. All in all I was really happy with her performance, but in the coming weeks we are definitely going to have to work on her ability to stay detangled because it is going to be a long 1000 miles to Nome if she keeps getting herself wrapped up.

Penny I was surprised by Penny. She started off strong and ran in lead and did very well upfront running for about 150 miles as a leader with Madori. I put her in wheel when she wasn’t upfront and for the most part I was really pleased with how she did. She had a very smooth gait. Or energy level, more than any other dog and my team, really seemed to wax and wane. I haven’t really been able to determine why that was, if it’s just because she’s young and this was her first real race experience. Unlike the rest of the dogs in our kennel, she ran a lot less this summer because she ended up needing stitches in one of her legs after somehow managing to cut her wrist badly open. I honestly don’t know if this it was a contributing factor to her fatigue or not but every other dog was consistently run throughout the summer. Despite feeling tired, Penny was always willing to get up and run. She always held her tight tug and ate well for the most part. At home, she’s generally one of the loudest most eager dogs I have. It was surprising to me that on this particular race, she was fairly quiet. She ate OK but not as well as she normally does at home. I’m going to watch her carefully in the weeks to come she had been a real sure but for my Iditarod team but I will be monitoring her closely to see how she recovers, how she eats, and how she performs on the rest of the races we have slated for the season. Pippa, 15 months, female The smallest dog on my team, Pippa was one of the dogs I was most eager to see finish. Unfortunately, due to a wrist injury, I ended up having to drop her at the last checkpoint. She was a huge part of the reason we traveled a little slower. This was her first season training and her very first race, like many of my dogs, and I wanted it to be a very positive experience. She did have quite the miles that from the other dogs and my team did so like Penny, she got a little tired at times. It was a fantastic eater and did really well running in wheel. I think her age, and her maturity of sort of knocked her out of contention for my Iditarod team though if I do end up taking her I won’t be disappointed. She is a fun, Peppy little dog to have around and always seems to make me laugh. Last year, she spent the first 10 weeks of her life living inside she was the only dog in her litter. Despite not finishing, I was really proud of Pippa and how hard she worked. Check, 15 months, male Check was one of those dogs I thought for sure would finish. His body, however, had other plans. Check ended up getting pretty sick and had a lot of diarrhea – enough that he wasn’t really able to maintain a good level of hydration and I dropped him out of an over abundance of caution. I think he’s going to make my Iditarod team regardless so I didn’t want to push him and force him into having a bad racing experience. For their first race, it’s always very important that the dogs have fun and come off of it feeling good. While Check was in the team,he had a strong drive and really helped propel the team up the big hills. He’s a fun dog to watch because of his smooth trot. I expect some really big things out of him in the years to come. He made it about 150 miles into the race and I was happy with that. I was really excited about his great attitude and his willingness to get up and go. If it had been up to him, he would’ve stayed on the team. But that is why, we as mushers, are in charge and not the dogs.

Bud, 5 years old, male But is known at our kennel as the tour dog. He is one of the strongest pulling, hardest working, best eating dogs in our entire kennel. The problem is, but doesn’t have a lazy bone and him and, unfortunately to really succeed as a distance dog, he needs to work a little less hard. But had a phenomenal race despite not finishing yet again. On the truly vertical pitches going over top dome, Bud was the reason we made it up at all. That dog, knows how to work. In the summer, we joke that you don’t need any dog and your team but Bud because he can pull an 800 pound cart and 9 people by himself. Once again, blood work himself too hard and ended up with a slight shoulder injury. I am hoping we can sort Bud out and figure out a way so that he can become a true race dog because he really adds a lot to the team. He has a flawless gate, a great appetite, and a fun happy-go-lucky attitude. Even though you didn’t finish Bud, I really appreciate your hard work. I’m not sure we would’ve made it to the summit if we hadn’t had you working so damn hard. In review. This team finished in 37th place with a total time of 57 hours and 7 minutes. Given their age and inexperience, we think this was very successful. In the following posts, we will write a recap on Justin and Wyatt’s team. I am also working on a blog post about the race itself, not just the dogs!

If you are able, please consider donating to my Iditarod fundraiser: www.crowdrise.com/sarahstokeys2016idt/fundraiser/sarahstokey

Dog of the Week: Penny Lane

Sarah · January 13, 2016 ·

We heard the same thing over and over again this summer from our glacier guides.

Penny is lazy.

Penny doesn’t pull.

You should find a home for Penny.

Travis wanted to find her a home. In fact, we had one lined up because the winter prior she had spent with our friends and had been a skijoring companion. On more than one occasion, they had told us if Penny didn’t work as a sled dog she was always welcome back with them.

But despite everyone saying she was lazy, I knew Penny. I also knew her mom, Fidget, had been lazy and unfocused when she was a young dog before sky rocketing herself into top-dog position.

She just needs time, I kept saying.

For a few weeks this fall, I wondered, however, if I had made a mistake. Still, I was determined. As a puppy, Penny and her litter mates had been some of the quirkiest dogs I’d ever raised. I loved them dearly for it. I knew she had it in her to succeed. It was never about her being lazy; it was about her being unable to focus on her job.

I will never forget bringing about 15 puppies inside to watch Harry Potter with me. Penny Lane always started the chorus of ferocious barking whenever Voldemort came on screen. She has always been a funny dog.

Now, it seems, she has finally matured. Like her mom, she’s discovered that one of her favorite places to be is at the front of the team. Like her mom, she has seamlessly mastered commands and appears to gain confidence with each run we go on. When not in lead, she jumps up and down almost non-stop with excitement. If the team is traveling too slow, she may just have to pop up and bark to show that yes she does want to be here.

She likes to bark at people and often hiwls when we pass other mushers. She has no problem with their dogs but feels she must announce herself to every human so they don’t try to get to close.

During the summer time, Penny did her fair share of sulking. Why are there so many people here? And, more likely, why must they insist on trying to get me to come out of my dog house?

She could be coaxed out by few which I always thought funny because this is a dog that thinks everything is fun. Everything, apparently, but meeting strangers.

Nonetheless she is working on her social skills as she continues to charge fearlessly down the trail.