Hello,
The two were last weekend under the theme of the film last trapper!
The first, a little weekend with one night's cabin Coal lake (the cabin of old Alex in the film).
The second, a nice little tour of dog sledding through the Bonneville lakes to arrive at the hut Vanier (the main cabin of the film).
Quick summary of the two weekends!
Road to Coal Lake!
Check with Alex, not the old film, early last Saturday after noon. The wind blows like not allowed, but the "warm weather" about -10 ° C, mean that we are freezing too.
On the lake, almost any track of the storm and heavy snow the previous week.
In addition, no leader always correct, since Eddy was always convalesence.
But once left the lake, we find beautiful track fairly well groomed ... And we go fast enough to pass. The altitude is not bad, a good 300 to 500 m but only 3 or 4 miles long. Now that's stiff, and well laden with sleigh dogs as we have to work a little.
But nine dogs before me begins with hounds properly and pull us to the summit.
We'll sort through a canyon once rose above the tree line or only a few willows seems to survive, as well acrochés somehow the ground. But we find the wind blowing even stronger than at the bottom ... He tore the snow laid on the ground creating a kind of blizzard, but fortunately not very thick and warm.
Once at the pass, we descend on the other side ... Soon we get to shelter from the wind and fall is beautiful is sweet on a soft trail to a halt desire, all through a few clumps of willows. Pure happiness.
Suddenly, at a bend, I see as a wall, a cliff, across the runway. Short slope has almost 80 °, although 3m high ...
Dogs donned in, I brake everything I can to pass as slowly as possible but nothing was done ... With 9 dogs over 30 kg each ... Rapidly downhill it is almost impossible to stop, especially hastily!
So I cling to my sled with all my strength, sure I'm taking a flight to the reception and especially the unwillingness to let go my team no matter what!
I see the front of the sleigh plunged, dragging with him feel like a roller coaster and when I see the slope stops in front of the sled rush right into the ground. I expected him to explode under my eyes ... Suddenly a sharp jolt, and here I am a crack strech in the air. In my head, my sled that comes from this decay ... But no, once a land that I see my daughter on sled ten meters before falling into deep snow and s'imobiliser ...
Ouffff! It is not set! It was then that I realized that I hand the helm in his hands. She snapped to it and the other, a setting with the uprights. But otherwise the sled is not! Ouff!
I just have time to go back and save me running as Alex arrives looks great. I shouted to him to stop before the wall, which he has only six dogs, something that is difficult but possible given the conditions. But he does not understand is that I was told and only once its leader launched into the wall it struck. He could hit my sled ... But there reduces both with its anchor and the brakes and finally stop as hanging in the middle of the descent. His anchor was hanging in a clump of willows.
After a few minutes to This put the emotions, we start our descent which eventually leads to the cabin ... I continue taking my sled through the uprights, something not really easy with 9 dogs and beautiful downhill zig zag ...
A quarter of an hour later we arrive safely at the cabin ...
Now, fetch water, make fire, drinking tea and some good bread and Nutella ...
In dédicasse a Marine who has been deprived for a long time!! It is the bread! "
Then heat the soup dogs, slit the fish ... A nice programe that all the mushers connaisent!
But also find a way to fix my sled ... I do not see myself doing all the way back like that!
To repair is fairly simple in fact, I just ligated the trunk of a small pine (peace his soul) from both sides of the uprights giving a curvature corresponding to my old hand bar.
The result is not bad and at the conduct is even better than before, because it comes a little higher. In short, I am happy with my case!
Some nice steak american size later, good night and a belly bannock, here we go left for the tour of Mt Granger. A nice loop of 40EN km ...
But the track is not drawn at all, and leaders lack of mental ... After a few miles we meet up so the track the day before and let us go through the same path.
Remembering the Savoy passing this summer!
Around the hut Vanier!
Saturday, I got an appointment with Alexandra Nicolas and Nicolas "bis" one of their friend on dyke Fish Lake to go to the hut with them Vanier. There are two ski Nicolas and Alexandra, Alex and me sledding. For us the programe is to start by touring the Bonneville Lakes and then back across the lake and go to the hut Vanier to spend the night. Or thirty miles ... Nothing much worse but still with a good drop, but it is the opportunity to discover the area has never prized venue Alexandra's dogs here!
I take this opportunity to remake courrir Oumiack, my little white bitch ...
I'm a small team of ten dogs, Alexandra and Alex six each. What is difficult in this type of appointment and as I arrive at the dam dog sledding and they start from the same place. Coordination must be perfect! Otherwise the dog was going crazy waiting for the start!
And the timing is something that I know! Rarely less than two hours late! And it's a good day for being late ... I start from Icy Waters while Alexandra is almost already over the dam ... Fortunately I had to give him a call when I leave the dog yard, as it takes me a good fifteen minutes to get there.
In short we find on the front, not even need to slow down, she is ready and has launched our pursuit ...
The poor, she is standing on the brakes ... These six dogs are not the same caliber as ours. She has bought William Kleedehn, large Yukon Quest musher's who stopped the dogs this fall. Short of great racing dogs and well trained ... It exceeds
quickly but Alex has no choice but to follow me ... On the other hand it feels good to his dogs to slow down a bit ... He does not know what the Bonneville lakes mounted ... Has a unique sense of sled dogs. not possible to descend by the path of the mounted, much too steep ... It our Eagle Summit has us here!
The climb is going quite well, a few breaks in the middle to give the dogs time to breathe ... Once on the Bonneville Lakes, we see a dog running free has rated the team has Alex. I do not understand right away ... He has his six dogs before his sleigh ... Finally, getting closer we distinguish the pet dog of Alexandra ... It was supposed stayed with skiers ... But the call of the pack was stronger! The poor thing is half handicapped (one leg bent) and has never raced this winter ...
We keep it free for a while, but it's impossible! My dogs have one wish, go to kiss him ... Or maybe just eat it ... it follows the brief has left for a while, but the bazard to the sled with a leash. He puts on a harness so I had it safe and finished third weeldog. It pleases him, or give air anyway ...
But after a dozen miles, he began tiring ... And for good reason!
Small downhill fun in the end, almost enough to make the fear of his life in Alexandria who has virtually no brakes on his traienau sprint. But by winning the Tug lines of wheel dogs it is much faster.
Returning to Fish Lake, we come upon a track quite well dammée ... We Fillon rife with Alex and Alex does not see a little back who is obliged to take a break to sort out the dogs. When he looked up, we disappeared from his field of vision ... And he has no idea where or what is the shack las Vanier and is full of dozens of different tracks.
Soon enough, we note that we do not follow very closely, but I said he can not lose Lake ... Especially there are plenty of trail, it's true but they are all parallel ... They cross the lake in length ... It's just a story after track more or less hard ...
When out of the lake and back into the forest for the last 300 to which separates us from the hut, we decided to wait, because the output is not obvious to see.
After nearly an hour, still no Alex ... Or so but it may well be ... He followed us has entered the lake!
do I empty my sled concervant my sleeping bag, my change of clothes, a few granola bars and goes in the opposite direction to meet him. I fear that there was an evil course and be returned to Bonneville Lakes. I pass before the start of the rose, but saw it snowing lightly it is easy to read the tracks in the snow. No sled that passed by since our first few hours before Aupart. Suddenly, I found the middle of the lake.
He explains that he has lost sight, he followed our tracks for a while but seeing him make two calls from their lamp, it was us penssait ... On the other side of the lake. It was used over the entire lake by walking across to the dogs, they turning on each track damm they met. For this report that it was not us!
short, half an hour later, we arrive at the cabin ... Preparing meals, soup for the dogs ...
But where are the spaghetti to go with the sausages?? On the table in my kitchen ... Hooooo the ***! French thank you to the three for sharing their plate of pasta ... A little bit of red to improve the ordinary ... And a lovely evening.
I decided to sleep under the stars down to test a new -40 °. It is only -10 ° C! Not really a test. But this temperature is very hot!
During the night a dog Alexandra managed to escape. Exit down, run after him in pajamas ... Always a great time of fun!
Clock with day ... Petit dej bannock! Traditional recipe this time, apple / cinnamon / raisin / nutella! Always as successful!
always hard to leave this place so welcoming ... And it was around 1:00 that we leave.
Another great weekend spent!
you soon,
Matthew
Photos Dory Nicolas and Matthew.
Take a ride on his website, see the links.
Photos Dory Nicolas and Matthew.
Take a ride on his website, see the links.
