Good Alaskan fun!

          This time of year, most dog mushers are gearing down from the long winter.  Dogs have been run hard all season and races are done for the year.  They are not run as much on these warmer spring days and begin to go stir crazy in the dog lot.  Occasionally, you've gotta just let 'em run!

         We had the good fortune to meet Lois and Eric Gnoble, who run Camai Kennel in Eagle River, Alaska and Tupper Lake, NY.  Lois is super friendly and invited us out to go mushing with them and their dogs.  The have 22 dogs in their lot and their daughter Alea runs a team through the winter at various races across Ak and the lower 48.  Wonderful family, and we took them up on their offer this last weekend.

         They pulled several sprint sleds out of the back of their truck and we began to harness and hook dogs to the sleds.   I figured the invitation had meant come along and ride in the sled, but as we got the dogs ready, it became apparent they intended to give us the opportunity to mush the dogs ourselves.  How exciting!  The kids were a bit nervous about steering the sleds, but once assured that the dogs knew where they were going, they relaxed.  And then, they were off!

          By the look on Jess's face, I think you'd be safe to say she enjoyed it.  Harriet was concentrating and encouraging the dogs.  "Come on boys, hike, hike"!  Griffin and I rode together on the sled with a few more dogs up front.

     There was also a smaller loop that the kids got to go on by themselves on a smaller sled with a single dog.  All the time talking to the dogs, encouraging them, and kicking a leg behind the sled (like a skateboard) to help them up the hills.  They were both naturals!

Often included in the bigger sled dog races around the state are smaller races for the younger folk and the Gnobles offered to let Harriet and Griffin run their dogs in a few of the events next winter - something to look forward to!