Winter is here! First run of the season ...

Let me tell you ... winter is officially here in Fairbanks Alaska.  And, we couldn't be happier!! We have been below freezing now for a few weeks and we have some snow to make it even better.  Just a couple of inches of the white stuff, but at least it's something.  And, today was below zero when we got up!!

We took teams out today on the first run of the season .... Here is how things shaped up ...

Team 1
Muktuk (in lead)
Sherman & Kako (in swing)
Rallie (in team)
Hannah & Gus (in team)
Marco & Zena (in wheel)

Even with old man Muktuk in lead this team did pretty good.  They went out strong and looked good coming home.  Muktuk is starting to show his age (10 years old) and I am just hoping he will make it thru this winter as he is our "main" leader now.  We took the teams out to the turn onto the main trail where we go around a small opening/meadow and come back home on the same trail we take out.   The funniest part of this run was went Kako about jumped out of her fur because a branch beside the trail touched her as she ran past it ... she jumped up with all 4 feet coming off the ground ... but kept going without an issue!  She is so spooky!!

Team 2
Shasta & Dude
Tanner & Baleen
Kivek & Rufus
Patton & Panzer

This team looked great! Shasta & Dude ran some in lead at the end of last season, but not enough that they would be considered leaders.  However, we are way short on leaders this year so they got a chance and they did awesome! Shasta, like her mom, Kako, tends to freak out at unknown things but she didn't really do that today.  The 4-wheeler sputtered and died about half way around the trip with this team.  We are thinking we have some bad gas (won't be getting gas at Badger Gas again this winter), as the wheeler did the same sputtering thing yesterday too while we were just dragging the trail.  Other than that giving this team a bit of a break, this team performed great and it looks like we have new leaders coming up this season!

Team 3
Jasper & Shelby
Muktuk & Hannah
Bolio & Stubby
Shammu & Yeti

We really had NO leaders for this team so we decided to give the fool crew of Jasper & Shelby a try.  But, we took Muktuk and Hannah as a back up in case things went wrong with the "new" leaders!!  However, there was no need to worry ... this team looked good too!  The leaders, well, they were actually AWESOME!

Each team did the three mile run in about 30 minutes and we were able to sort out the harnesses and get them all labeled so we know we have a harness for every dog that is running!  We thought we were going to have to buy some new harnesses!!  Very happy that we don't have to do that!

After running the teams, we cleaned pens.  The last thing we need to do tonight is feed them!!  Really hoping for a good night of sleep tonight and that this nagging, lingering sore throat, headache and stuffiness will go away!!  Me thinks it's time for an appointment with the doc!!  Will have to remember to call tomorrow!  Back to work tomorrow and hoping it's a good week!

Happy Trails!