The Road Goes on Forever

and the Highway Never Ends.

OK technically the Highway ends in Cantwell on one end and Paxson on the other. But while you are put there on the Denali Highway it feels like a glorious great expanse. And as we rolled along the chorus from that classic song as sung by The Highwaymen was rumbling around in my mind.

Spent a great deal of time there the last 2 weeks, and the extended training trips we have been doing out there are the main reason I have not been active online. But now we are home for a bit and I am very excited to share with you some of the beauty. Continue reading

Posted in Dew Claw News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Road Goes on Forever

Exciting Addition

Yep, it has been a long time coming.  When you have been at it as long as we have people start to expect it even. Our friends who have made the leap already ask us… when are you going to?

But you know it is a lot of responsibility, can really change your life, and we wanted to make sure we were really ready. It required a few adjustments to our living arrangements, but I think it will be well worth it.

Well the time is now –

And we are super excited to announce – Continue reading

Posted in Dew Claw News | Tagged , | Comments Off on Exciting Addition

Something smells a little fishy

FISH!

FISH!

Well lets be honest, something smells a Lot fishy, and that something…

Fish. Come on people what else has that distinct fishy smell that comes from freezing a thousand salmon in your driveway? Let me tell you the answer is, nothing.  Fish is the smell of fall at Dew Claw Kennel. Fisheries operate in the fall, and have to stop when the rivers start to freeze up, so you have a limited window of time in which to get your entire winters supply of fish. We were very fortunate, again this year, to get about a thousand fish for our team.

But nothing is ever that simple in my life, or so it seems.  And this fall fish was no exception, because right after getting over 700 of the fish home the freezer unit in our walk in decided it would be a great time to stop working. Of course it was NOT a great time to quit, I completely disagree with the freezer unit on this one. But after actually finding a repair person who would make the trek out to our place, and saying multiple prayers to the patron saint of major appliances, the freezer unit stubbornly refused to change its mind.

Which leads me to the explanation of why stinky fish were covering my driveway. Continue reading

Posted in Dew Claw News | Comments Off on Something smells a little fishy

Space Cadets in Orbit

Dawn says "looks at my new house"

Dawn says “looks at my new house”

Yes folks it has been a long time since we have updated y’all on the Space Cadet litter.

That all changes today.  They went into orbit last week, each with their own straw filled dog house. After some protests about the new living situation they settled in to life in the dog yard.  They look more like little dogs that puppies, and it will not be too long before they get to start learning about harnesses and ganglines. But for now they are still enjoying hikes and free runs. Continue reading

Posted in Dew Claw News | Comments Off on Space Cadets in Orbit

Speed dating with a dog team

Colony Glacier Dog Camp - an amazing place to spend the summer.

Colony Glacier Dog Camp – an amazing place to spend the summer.

When I asked my friends on Facebook what questions they had about my summer glacier experience I kinda figured people would be interested in the logistics. The mundane details of life – brushing your teeth, dinner, shoveling the dog yard as altered and accomplished in such an “out there” location. But what surprised me is how many friends were more interested in the guests who came and mushed with us on Colony Glacier. They wanted to know their stories and reactions, not the details and logistics. Which is working out great for me, because after an entire summer of working hard at details and logistics I am ready to done with that till next summer. But the people and the stories, now this is going to be fun. Continue reading

Posted in Dew Claw News, Q&A, Random Rambles, the mushers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Speed dating with a dog team

Good-bye Glacier

Spanky

Spanky

“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.”
? Frank Herbert

 

And for the 2015 Colony Glacier Dog Camp the story stopped on September 2 when 26 dogs and I flew down to the Palmer Airport and our season was officially over. The dogs came down in 2 trips on a fixed wing plane. Gear went back to the lodge by helicopter in multiple loads. Including some impressive sling loads. We had been packing and sending down as much as we could in advance to make the take down easier. But with 32 dogs and 2 people there was a lot of gear and supplies that we needed until the day we left.  In spite of that we made quick work of tear down when the time came.  My co-worker Gus Gunther and I were joined by our friend and fellow Iditarod musher Justin Savidis on the last few days and it was great to have his company and the extra help.

I am back on green ground with the dogs taking a break and relaxing before we start up with fall training. Continue reading

Posted in Dew Claw News | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Good-bye Glacier