First training run 2010

The temp was around +35F with bright, sunny skies. Took out two teams with the 4-wheeler.

Team 1:
Muktuk & Baleen in lead
Bolio & Stubby in swing
Tanner in team
Shelby in team
Jasper & Hannah in team
Shammu & Gateway in wheel

Team 2:
Cheyanne & Sioux in lead
Patton & Panzer in swing
Shasta & Fred in team
Kivek & Dude in team
Kako & Zena in team
Sherman & Butternut in wheel

The teams each went about 3 miles tonight just to see how everyone is running. We have alot of 10 year old dogs that we didn't want to push out 4 or 6 miles on the first run. Tom had gone out yesterday and scouted out a new trail to get around the 40 acres behind us so we are not going right across the neighbors property. The cool thing is that the guy that owned this 40 acres prior to the guy that owns it now had cleared the full property line with a dozer and the trail is alot smoother than the usual trailer were using! It adds about a 1/2 mile or so to the run, but that won't hurt any of them! Just need to get a feeder trail in so we are not trying to take a 90 degree turn within the first 100 yards of taking off!

We kinda started this run out in the hole! We were letting dogs out of pens to hook them up and get harnesses on and Kia came out of her pen, ran down to the door to stick her head out and then turned around and was screaming and limping!! She appeared to twist something and just wasn't right. She was put back in her pen and left home for this run. Will have to figure out if we need to take her to the vet! Anyway, we got the first team harnessed and hooked up. Take off was pretty smooth. Tom had to get off and call the leaders down the new trail, but once we were around that corner we were off and running! It was a really nice trail! The first corner kinda threw Baleen for a loop. But, again Tom got off and showed them the way! Had to do that again at the next corner because Baleen & Tuk were going to create their own trail! From there is was pretty smooth sailing as they were on familiar trails. Everyone looked pretty good and were just glad to be out running again!

After the first team was home again and unharnessed, we got the second team dressed and as we were hooking them up the first 8 hooked to the line tried to take off with the four wheeler with out either of us on it! They were pulling the wheeler down the trail with it in gear and the brake locked as tight as it could be!! Tom held the team while I brought out the last 4 dogs! Then we were off. After showing the girls where the first turn was and that they were really suppose to go that way (they thought Tom was crazy because the trail we always use is right in front of them!!) we were off and running. They took all of the other turns up to the turn around without any help from Tom! It was a pretty smooth run all in all for this team!

Really need to remember to bring the camera with me! Will try to get pictures next time.

Happy Trails!