|
|
FIRST
TRAINING RUN OF THE SEASON
by Dori Hollingsworth - Nov 2006
CHIP &
DUTCHESS |
You know, the run that starts off
your entire season ands sets the status of what the year will be
like. We always like this run to be close to perfect so pick the
best leaders and try to set things up just right. We pulled up to
the airstrip to see that Rick Tarpey was already out running. We
like to plan our runs together so we can get some passing practice
in. We got a bit more than we bargained for on this day however.
We start on an airstrip and then drop down onto a low road that
is sandwiched between the RR tracks and some woods. It's always
muddy with lots of big puddles. We did a head on with Rick just
after we dropped off the airstrip. He was shut down and the pass
was clean, but he yelled something to us as we went past. We should
have paid more attention to what he said. Ahead was the first puddle
and Chip & Dutchess didn't even hesitate at the edge. The puddle
was a bit longer than normal, but we didn't think too much of that
until the water started creeping up the four wheeler, the dogs,
while still going forward, were moving slower and the four wheeler
was starting to choke a bit. Finally Chip dropped under water &
came up swimming. He swam to the RR tracks & climbed a 6 foot
embankment with the rest of the team following and Daryl & I
trying to keep the ATV upright. We struggled along the RR tracks
until we were past the puddle and then I led the dogs back down.
They didn't seem affected by the experience though as they took
the next puddle head on.
Coming home I just led them up to the tracks from a better spot
and then ran with them until we could get back down. We had three
teams to run & I got more exercise than I had planned or wanted
by leading all the teams coming & going. On one of those trips
we again passed Rick and I looked back to see him completely bogged
down with Chris in up to his waist and pushing the four wheeler
out of the water. We had to write that portion of trail off our
training charts and 2 months later it is still unusable. Chris was
especially happy to be using a different trail.
|
|
| WE
NEED YOUR
STORIES |
If
you have a mushing story you'd like to share on the Chugiak
Dog Mushers web site or mushing photos send them to the Chugiak
Dog Mushers attention webmaster or
e-mail us Share your kennel ideas, training techniques
or a funny trail tale. We look forward to hearing from you! |
|
|
