Simple Chorizo Appetizer

Back to the Yukon, or two weekends on the trail of sled dogs ... Hello

Hello everyone,

That the return of the Internet brings me back in the civilized world where you live .. .

Here, winter has trouble moving, temperatures are rather "soft" for the season between -10 and -20 ° C. Not a lot of snow between 30 and 60 cm depending on the location, just enough to make a few small dog sled rides.

So here I am properly installed, a cup of lemon tea in one hand and a box in Pepperkaker the other, trying to tell you my adventures of two weekends passed.

Sunday, December 6:

Rediscovery of sensations produced not a sledge downhill in Lake Bonneville!

I arrive at my friend Peter, online expeditions on horseback or dog sled, to go for a sleigh ride small to rediscover these forgotten senstions by these six long months of summer.
Around a tea I introduced her new handleur (the person who helps Peter deal with dogs, train them and feed the remaining dogs when the guide is shipping with clients). Alex, a young Quebec 19 years has been through all of Canada, Quebec City to Vancouver, over 8000 km bike in 7 weeks and lonely ... What a feat!

latter having arrived at "Shine Valley Yukon Sleddog" recently, he has only begins to learn about the world of huskies.
So we are all both in the direction of Lake Bonneville, a sleigh ride of about 20 km.
Me with a team of six dogs and her four.

The harness goes well, I have not lost their touch since I left Norway ten days ago that. I'm ready, go up on my sled and see Alex hang his last dog. Dogs are crazy jump into their harness, shoot everything they can ... As he puts on his gloves, snapping sound followed as soon as the fury of his departure empty sled. The rope that held him hanging from a tree just sold under the traction of the dogs. Alex was still dazed from watching. Unable to run after him, even with only four dogs, it goes much faster than us. Fortunately, Peter had his snowmobile turn to escort us on a few miles and I climb out of his new kennel, the ratrape a few hundred meters. I waved Alex has to take place on the second pad of my sled. This exercise is good when you have a minimum balance and a little practice on a sledge. But first we turn renverssons the sledge, I cling with all my strength to avoid the drop, but Alex falls down on me which makes me let go. And there I see my sled with my six dogs run at full speed on the trail. I'm mad! two winter dog sledding, I'm already taken quantities of bowls, but never, never, I squandered my sled! If you are deep in the woods has 100 km of the lower house and it's cold, you are simply dead, not having enough to eat, get warm (sleeping bag ...). And dogs do not necessarily stop any time soon. I have a friend who guide it happened (it was not only) and dogs have traveled more than 20en km before stopping.

I start running behind (knowing that calamity is useless) but at least give a hand to Peter who finds himself alone having to catch two sleds in perdition!

After a quick démmelage some dogs, we are off again for good.

few hundred meters on the Fish Lake Road in beautifull mounted to join a small trail that winds among the willows that we enmene Shine to Sun Valley, departure for Lake Bonneville. Pierre us leaves here and goes back to continue working on the new log cabin that he built to accommodate tourists.

After remaining in the bottom of valleys, the trail rises quickly jerks relatively steep. I remarked to Alex to try to memorize the course, curves, steep areas, ... For the descent it goes very fast and it lets you know where it is possible to stop if necessary ...

We finally arrived on set as the sun disappears BEHIND mountains. The lights are beautiful. When we arrive on a small overhang where the view is stunning I decided that it will be here end of our stroll. Night falls and Alex did not take his headlamp! I stop my team, is the anchor and return the sled over the way the dogs can not pull it out of the snow.

I tell Alex how to turn around and give him a helping hand to achieve. With four dogs is a breeze especially two. One remains on the brakes of the sled and keep advancing, the other grabs the dogs head and guides taking care to keep the lines taut to minimize the risk of entanglement. Everything goes well except that his fool head fake dogs refuse to stay in front of (my team then being behind them). After four or five unsuccessful attempts, I decided to go shoot my team first, to overcome the way Alex has before it to be that these dogs please follow me.

thing is done, turn back alone with six dogs, and it's funny when you know the point Takeoff of the anchor, in general we are on the sled before he leaves without you. I stopped in front of Alex, is the anchor and back again to be above the sled on it remains. Losing two sled in the same day it is already an achievement but does not attempt that here especially the third, person catches up with snow machine.

I was using his dogs back in order and look back to regain my sled. Surprise, more sled ... J'allucine literally! the second time in my life and the second in the same day. If you want two tips: Buy two good anchors and put them at the same time but most do not believe in ever and never leave your sled without it being secured to a tree or other solid suport.

This time I got into the sledge Alex, no need to renew the eploit an hour before we go to and pursuit. I hope catches up before the big raids, otherwise the little sledge dogs and return to hurt them seriously.

After a few km on the plateau I see my sled stopped in the middle of the trail, I hope there is one thing that dogs do not fight. This can happen when there is a big tangle and the dog was unable to get out. They believe it is their companions who tie up and fight for their to let go. But this only worsens the situation and we risk ending up with a whole team sausage and bloodied ... But no, when we arrive, the dogs are in order, wise ... It is the anchor in the back of a flying sleigh that eventually crashing into a clump of willows quite compact arresting the dogs in their race.

The descent that passes without problems for me then once there I will stop and wait for Alex and see if everything is in order.

After 5 minutes still has 10 good people! It is not possible, what is he doing?? There are 3 minute drive from the last time I saw him! Then I hear a little way off, crying "Matthew, Matthew, I desoin a helping hand ...". I continued on my way a few tens of meters in order to find a great big Christmas tree or hang my sled so that he stays there for good. It takes me five minutes later to join him in the middle of the descent. There he explained that he had a problem with his brake, unable to stop it left the trail in a corner. Nothing serious, just a few dogs tangled. Two three tug line has undo and everything is OK again. But the dogs refused to move! I change leadership is a bit better but still shy ... The two wheel dog seems scared. It is possible that the sled they were dark inside.

Finally, despite the steep descent, I am forced to run before to motivate the dogs. But after a few hundred meters there parrait nothing.

Returning passage through lakes Jackson and the rest of the route goes smoothly.

Once home, a small SNAC and a bowl of soup for the dogs by way to drink ...

Sunday, December 13:

The Pocker Run Race around Mount Mc Intire, about 35 km with 600 m of elevation gain.

The principle of the race is not to arrive first at the time but to have the best result among the six Pocker cards you will get during the journey. I

appointment at Pierre SUNDAY at 9am to pick up a super league team, namely: Eddy / Truck; Kluane / Cousteau; Toker / Mikey; Skookum / Indy. Eight beautiful little dog who has demendent courrir ...

I take 4 in the dumpster my stuff and Peter makes two front and two in his truck into the dumpster. Icy Waters descent which is the starting line.

Instale everyone is on a Drop Chain and Pierre walked away. A good little soup for the dogs given about 1h30 before departure to give them the necessary water. The kibble is just for flavor and few calories but also they will not have time to be digested completely before departure.

dogs are over-exited, they did not see abitude other team and then there are 25 other ... It barks across the mushers are busy, give a little secret soup, a little help in the pulp of a Ongue who just do not know where else to ... It is also an opportunity to see friends, discuss it on dogs but also fishing, hunting, ... The life of the yukon ...

Once everyone instaled, it's time for the draw of numbers. I pull the No. 21. I subscribe to this issue, I already shot twice last year. But that's it allows time to prepare cases and dogs have to follow the scent trail left by all other teams.

Departures every two minutes ... About eight minutes before whatsoever was my turn to leave, i start instaler has dogs on the line. Two volunteers give me a helping hand is very handy.

When leaving my position on the starting line, I draw on my quick release to drop the rope that connects my sled to my car to prevent him leaving. But the rope is attached to the end of the latter. I had forgotten that falait imperative to use steel rings and not a loop of rope.

Unable to defeat alone, the tension is too high and being let go of the sled with both hands would lead to the operation last week. Two people were not too much to get a slightly reducing the sled in order to reduce the attention and remove the loop. I arrive at the starting line just in time and completed exactly at the top without having to start stoper my team.

I catch the first flight at the map, now the goal is to finish in under 4 hours and stay on trail. I do not get lost, marking was done very well this year and plus I know the circuit by heart because it was one of my loops drive last winter.

The snow quality is exeptional, is just rammed it takes, the sled slides while keeping a perfectly good opportunity to slow down when needed.

In a 180 ° turn very tight, I'm coming too slowly and dogs cut the corner from the inside. They can skip the drift caused by the snow plow them, but not my sled ... My sleigh is thus found with an angle of about 90 ° relative to normal (ie prallèle ground) which makes me fall. But there is no problem, I did flirt on ten meters, just enough time to take a quick apuis and jump on it. Not even needed to stop the dogs. I started to regain my bearings!

The rest of the journey is without incident, under the magnificent lights when I take this opportunity to many photos.

I run a little to relieve mounted in dogs that have not raced this hugely winter. I was overtaken by some semi-pro teams of mushers who have dogs already trained with super Crispin Studer me double mounted so full that I run behind my sled like crazy and he does not even patina ....

Some cards and km later I crossed the finish line after 2.30am. It's not bad for dogs tourists not trained in the race ...

A bowl of soup for the dogs and go to the result to know the winner with the best Following poker.

Well it's not me today!

However, the best have only 1:50 to put the loop, Martine (a French friend up tilt) was second with this timing. "I'll just do courrir young dogs to see is that it gives" she told me on the start line ... Heee well is not that bad!

Reassembled dogs in the same way as for the descent, a good meal at Steve and Ingabritt and in bed after a great day.

you soon,

Matthew