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Post by musher on Jan 20, 2012 12:09:47 GMT -6
Fresh snow up to my knees. All will sleep well tonight. Click on it.  |
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Post by foxman on Jan 20, 2012 12:17:13 GMT -6
Looks like they're getting one hell of a workout! Wish we had snow. Just not that much lol.
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Post by claythomas on Jan 20, 2012 13:02:09 GMT -6
That's is just one of the coolest things ever. It's on my bucket list
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Post by Stef on Jan 20, 2012 13:12:19 GMT -6
I know...LoL Going shoveling GRRRRRRRR
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Post by trappnman on Jan 20, 2012 14:52:34 GMT -6
as a dogman, I like seeing dogs do what they are bred to do-
do you change lead dogs in deep snow like that periodically?
you ever just get the dogs running for pure fun by heehawing! or whatever gets them pumped?
you and "college boy" ever race each other?
seems like a man would have to do that once in a while on fresh snow..........................
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Post by trappnman on Jan 20, 2012 14:54:24 GMT -6
up to your knees/ Good God man, how short are you- unless those are BIG DOGS  |
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Post by Stef on Jan 20, 2012 15:00:33 GMT -6
Did the trails in my wood on my snowmobile and the Bravo was shoveling in it....LoL
Snow isn't good - loose down to the bottom
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Post by musher on Jan 20, 2012 15:12:02 GMT -6
There's a snowmobile trail under the snow. It's not very tapped as the ski-doo only passed once before Xmas. When I step off the trail I break through and am up to my knees. A little higher actually. The dogs are lighter therefore they sink less. For sure the lead dogs have nothing "solid" under their paws. By the time the wheels go through it's tapped tighter. The wheels outweigh the leads by a good 20 pounds.
College boy comes a couple of times a week. he follows. We each have 5 or 6 dogs but I always get ahead of him on the way home. It's the dogs I take because I outweigh my son by a good 35 pounds or so.
We never change lead dogs. Today I did 10 k. in about 8-9 inches of snow on a rock hard trail, then another 10 k in about 4 inches, then that loop of a k. or so to check 3 wolf snares. Scout was the dog taking us. He did really well.
I do yell to get them going. I'm giving them way more encouragement than I usually do in that short clip. We were only minutes from the end of the run when I had them veer to do the side loop. Those are tired dogs on the clip. When you take off you don't want to crank them up as they are already nuts to go.
Deep fresh snow isn't great. What's cool is an inch on a very firm trail. You can almost hear the sonic boom in those conditions!
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Post by bblwi on Jan 20, 2012 18:03:43 GMT -6
My son and daughter bought me a day with a dog team outfit in Northern WI about 6 years ago. We did two 5-6 mile runs. What a rush!!! Most of his dogs are rescue dogs he and his wife take from racing team outfits when the dogs are too old or worn out from racing. They seemed pretty lively to me. I got to pick most of the dogs, harness them up, pick my sled etc. Noisy but fun. Man when you are ready to go you better have the rope ""strong" rope tied to something that won't move because when they get ready to go the tension on the rope is really tight. I got my wedge out and grabbed a good hold and off we went. Most of the trail was a narrow trail through 330-400 acres of spruce, hemlock and other trees. What a great gift.
Always wanted to do that. Had talked about having a small team but getting to know this man and wife showed me the real time and costs involved and I am glad I had my day on the trail.
Bryce
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Post by thebeav2 on Jan 20, 2012 19:51:44 GMT -6
When I trapped In Canada my last week was spent on a dog team line.
I can remember the guys telling me when I went Into the dog yard to get a dog that I needed to take the dog out of 4 wheel drive. For you non mushers that means to keep the dogs front feet off the ground.
That was the neatest week I think I ever spent out of doors.
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Post by John Porter on Jan 22, 2012 10:28:15 GMT -6
Musher, do you have any leaders that can free run? When I was running dogs back home, I always had 2 that would go ahead of the pack and break a trail, these were my most experienced dogs and also the oldest...
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Post by musher on Jan 22, 2012 12:47:34 GMT -6
I have a small female that runs free but she runs beside the team or behind the sled. any time I've tried to run an old dog in front they have gotten run over by the team or started a fight.
I do have a really good dog that I just "retired" as he couldn't keep up. I might try him as a free runner. It was cold running today. I tried to film but the camera was frozen up.
The lynx are starting to mark and there are lots of tracks today.
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