Works Done, Back To Fun
Hi all. Sorry for the long absence, but with break-up in full swing, there hasn’t been a lot to report. We’ve just been doing our best to keep the dogs high and dry while all the snow melts and subsequently floods the yard. However, this past weekend we finally got out with the dogs for some much needed fun.
Cole’s birthday is this week, so we decided to celebrate it this weekend since it’ll fall during the work week. Being more the type of girl that likes doing things, over getting things, we got with some friends and a couple of the sled dogs and we headed out to the mountains for a fun spring hike.
The trails at the higher elevations are still pretty snow-covered, but under the warm spring sun, they softened up quickly making it impossible to travel without snowshoes, although the dogs could still run across the mushy stuff without too much trouble.
At this time of year, things can be four feet deep of soft mush, or they can be a slick of mud and melting goo, so not knowing what to expect, we only brought Metoo and Dunkel since they’re two of our best off-leash listeners. They were more than ecstatic to go.
We hiked to a giant waterfall about four miles into the wilderness of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. We saw one brown bear and the dogs got to flush a half-dozen grouse over the course of the day, but other than Metoo finding it a bit warm in the 43 degree sun after weeks of leading teams in minus 30 temperatures, they did great and we’re bushed afterwards. With all of their running back and forth, they probably did about 16 miles to our 8 miles of snowshoeing.
Anyhoo, onto the pictures. Enjoy. All for this week.
Above, Dunkel checks to make sure we’re seeing the view.
This was the brown bear we saw. Still with the long winter coat, but very lean from a winter burning off fat reserves while hibernating.
Just like in winter, Metoo insisted on being the lead dog.
As the sun came out the temperature got above 40, Metoo took lots of breaks to roll in the snow and cool off.
And finally, the view of Juneau Falls, still largely encassed in ice. We took lunch at an overlook facing the falls. It was very serene.
April 22nd, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Well hello. It’s nice to hear from you! I put a note on the fan page today that said I was about ready for a blog infusion. Thanks for touching base. We (or I) miss hearing from y’all!
I’m glad y’all were able to have some fun and celebrate Cole’s birthday. Happy Birthday Colleen! I love that she’s hiking with snowshoes on her back, boots and shorts. Truly Alaskan. Love it!
Have you been able to touch base with Robert Forto about the interview? I hope that will all work out.
Have a great week! Amy
April 22nd, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Hi Amy, yeah, Cole did a radio interview with Robert. We’ll put the link up when we get it.
April 23rd, 2012 at 2:13 am
Looks like you had a gorgeous, and fun, day. Happy Birthday, Cole!
April 24th, 2012 at 7:44 am
Terrific! Gorgeous! Fantastic! The bear looks sleepy. Hopefully your lens is a lot longer than mine! Cole in shorts, the dogs cooling off in the snow…has it not been a fabulous spring?
Those dogs are so handsome dressed in husky smiles and hot pink harnesses. Happy Birthday Colleen – that’s the best kind of present! Hi to everybody else here, too!
April 24th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Listened to the interview on Mushing Radio. You showed great enthusiam for your cause to adopt dogs. So true that it would take a while to build up strength & train an adult dog. Treat them like puppies, starting over is a good point. I hope some recreational mushers will take that to heart and look for the potential to be found in a rescue dog.
The word enthusiasm is the word I would use to categorize your interview. You obviously love the dogs & what you do. Enjoyed it.
April 24th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Here’s the link to the interview Ann mentioned. http://dogworksradio.com/2012/04/24/mushing-radio-presents-colleen-robertia/#comment-288
It’s a fabulous radio interview with Robert Forto of Mushing Radio.
Colleen was amazing. And I think Robert and his co-host was pretty impressed with her.
Oh, and by the way, even though Colleen is not on facebook, she does have a fan page. We’d love for you to join us and sing her praises too!
Here’s the link: http://dogworksradio.com/2012/04/24/mushing-radio-presents-colleen-robertia/#comment-288
May 5th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
I received my thank you today and completely teared up! I’m such a wimp. Penny sent me one of her booties from the race and that’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever been rewarded with. I may not wash it as it smells just like a dog bootie that went to Nome should!
Another team member sent me a dog tag from the race and that’s going in my car. I’ve never had a dangly rear view mirror thing but I’m going to have one now. There is a lovely card made of race photos, too. That goes on the frig – of course! It’s already covered with dog pics so they’ll all be in good company.
I’m very pleased that we could help in small ways. It takes a village to send a few dogs to Nome…