Dog Sledding

I am currently training for the Elkford Wilderness Classic Dog Sled Derby. I love dog sledding. I think it is the most amazing sport! If you love to spend time with dogs and enjoy the outdoors than this sport is for you.

Today I am hoping to take my two leaders (the dogs that run up front) on a short down hill sprint. I will be racing four dogs in the four mile race. This race should take less than twenty minutes.

My last experience at Elkford was rewarding but it was not the best scenario. I decided to be tough like my friend Craig who is immune to the cold. Craig told me that gloves are pointless because when your dogs get into a tangle or fight you have to throw your gloves off. So why wear them in the first place? This is flawed logic my friend.

The Elkford trail is pretty much straight for two miles, turn around, come back. There are ups and down but it is a wide straight trail. The theory is this should be a perfect race for the inexperienced musher. Wrong again. There is head to head passing so when the said inexperienced musher can't convince her team to run on the right side of the trail so other teams can pass... Well, let's just say head on passing becomes literal. Four dog teams flying down the trail straight at your team who is on the wrong side of the trail. Equals cowering lead dogs who keep turning around to follow the passing team. Oh and remember our inexperienced musher (me) has no gloves on.

So my hands were in the snow, wet and cold a lot. The ending result was me getting frostbite. It was such horrible pain that I kept blacking out on my sled. It was NOT fun. Thank goodness my lead dog Yamik, bless her heart, decided to take me back to the starting line.

You would think that all the other mushers who were flying down the trail trying to complete the race would have had some words for me as I stood in their way with my cowering team. The only words they had were words of encouragement and offering help. Seriously this is why I love this sport so much!

I came in 3rd out of three. :) There were about 15 teams in my race but only three of them were purebred teams. Needless to say I won some money. When my name was called to come receive my prize everyone clapped and the officials gave me a big hug. I think they felt bad that I had, had such a bad experience. It was my own fault I really should have known better.

Anyways I am hoping that my experience this year is much more positive. I am still praying I get to borrow two dogs from my friend Craig so I can compete. I hope he pulls through soon the race is only a few weeks away.

I also hope to compete in Bootleg Sled Dog Race. I will post pictures of the dogs, my previous races, and my run today later.

Thats all for now.