Even though we still have snow on the ground, the Kennel is in SPRING mode. We are starting to prepare for the summer tour season. Martin is working in the Visitor Center Building and Kathy's attention is turning to flowers, even though we can't plant outdoors until after Memorial Day (Alaskans planting Rule of Thumb).
Alan is preparing to race in the Kobuk 440 in Kotzebue to use as a qualifier for an Iditarod run next year.
Elliot is working on various equipment and getting the dog trailer ready to transport dogs to Juneau for glacier tours.
Rohn converted an enclosed snowmachine trailer into a dog hauling, camping rig for next winter and is diligently training puppies to run in harness while we still have snow.
We are excited to have a summer B&B host!! John Hutchinson, one of Kathy's former mentees and a teacher, will spend the summer tending the B&B guests. John is completing his 4th year teaching in Chevak, Alaska. He will surely have unique stories for the guests!!!
Martin is healing slowly but surely and he and Kathy will be headed to Hawaii for a week, where Martin will represent Intrado at a public safety convention.
The dogs are enjoying relaxing on top of their houses, soaking in the increasing hours of daylight!!! Life is good.
For an unprecedented 5th time, Martin was awarded the Leonhard Seppela Humanitarian Award for outstanding dog care along the trail. Chosen by the cadre of 42 vets and based on an elaborate scoring system, the award is highly coveted. Martin said he didn't live up to the expectations of his dogs this year in racing but he did as usual, put thier care first.
This years race was definitely tougher on humans than dogs and seeing the many large teams at the halfway point is a testament to effective dog care on the part of many mushers and veterinarians. The Iditarod is also in the fifth year of 0 dog deaths while racing. (One dropped dog died last year in a freak windstorm in the checkpoint of Unalakleet. Protocols were established to ensure that never happens again.)
When you consider the 1,100+ dogs that started the race, factor in ten days and weather extremes, you begin to get an idea of the stamina and endurance capability of sled dogs. No other animal can and likes to do what they do. We are priviledged to be a part of their lives.
Photo above taken by Jeff Schutlz at the Finisher Banquet.
Looking at the conditions on the Bering Sea Coast, with wind, cold, glare ice, no snow surely this Iditarod should be dubbed Mother Nature’s Brutality. Could it possibly get worse? Well yes it could. Coastal storms added to this mix and you’d think these teams were part of an Arctic Hunger Games type non reality.
Shaktoolik to Koyuk on the Bering Sea ice is 50 scary miles on a good day. Several of the IditaSport athletes on bikes and foot were blown back to Shaktoolik yesterday.
Martin is hanging in there, we all know doing his best by his dogs and trying to make everyone proud for the many years of support and help.
