This week was another week of Winter weather here with some warm sunny days and heavy, wet snow and today very cold, windy with some sunny periods.
It is a year that Winter does not want to end here.
Wednesday, had to shopping for supplies for the dogs and humans and as we progressed down out of the mountains, we arrived in true Spring conditions in Joliette where it was warm and no signs of snow.
What a contrast a 2 hour drive can make.
The same can be said on the return journey as we increased our altitude, we ran into a snowstorm.The photos above were taken the morning after the storm.
Although it is beautiful, it is time to go!
Even the forest animals who change the color of their fur to camouflage themselves are confused having turned from their Winter white to Spring/Summer brown. Now having already changed, they stand out in contrast to the snow.
This week, we also got Alex out for another sledding run with the dogs.
She is doing great!
Well the forecast is for more stormy weather with snow, freezing rain and rain for the next 7 days.
​Until next week.......

Yes, this was a week of snow!
With the exception of Monday, when we got Alex out with her Two Dog Team, it has been a week with dealing with SNOW!
After a couple of weeks of nice Spring weather and melt, we got blasted with several snow storms this week burying the the area in more than 50 cm of fresh, wet snow.
Love Winter here at Miortuk. But, this is getting too much for this time of year.
The forecast for the next 14 days is for more snow almost every day.
The above photos shows a timeline of several days with the snow here.
Other than it being a pain in the neck for clean up, the forest here is very beautiful!
However, we can count our blessings here after seeing the news about the accident in Saskatchewan that took the lives of 15 members of the Humboldt Broncos Hockey Team and leaving 14 others in the hospital when their bus was hit broadside by a transport truck while on their way to a hockey game.
The victims were all young men in their late teens and early twenties.
Our prayers and condolences goes out to their families.
​Until next week......​

This no April Fool Joke, today high winds and blowing snow and now sunshine.
Mother Nature is playing the joke on us!!!!
This week, we got out the two big teams on Monday and Alex with a two dog team twice through the week.
Alex is doing a great job working with her team and having fun.
The big teams still are remarkable to me with their enthusiasm and athletic ability for this time of the season.
They are as eager to go as on the first hookup.
​It is fun to watch Indigo running at lead on the second team and still able to run around 30 km/hour and she will be 9 years old this month.
Great athletes don't age!
Especially if they are well looked after!
By the way, the above video is of the Second Team!!!!
Next week, looks like we will be able to get some more running in as the forecast is for some more snow.
We will see!
Until next week........

Spring has arrived here bringing in some beautiful blue/cloudless skies and warm seasonal temperatures around +5c during the day and below 0 at night.
The above video was taken on the 21st of March, the first day of Spring.
We only got the big teams out one day this week due to the warm temperatures. In the Fall these temperatures would be great for running. But, after a long cold Winter, the dogs can overheat with these conditions in the Spring. Also, the sun is very intense here at this time of year. 
Great for sitting out soaking in the sun. But, a little too warm to run. 
Some of the dogs are laying down on the roofs of their houses soaking up the heat from the sun.
This week, we also got Alex out twice on the sled with the dogs. First on Thursday with Indigo and then on Saturday with Indigo & Bergen.
Saturdays run run was on a hard packed, fast trail with below 0 temperatures. This combination resulted in a fast exciting run for Alex!
She did great!!!
We celebrated with a homemade pizza with extra cheese to satisfy her French Paliet!
Yes, Spring is finally here! 
Until next week.......

​

Lilly is the next Super Star Leader here at Miortuk!
Lilly has always been the first to do things here right from a puppy.
She is full of energy and with an attitude to match!
Here is a video of her (right side) running her first real test at Lead.
ALL GO with no hesitation or distraction.
​She is from the Blue/Indigo litter that produced 6 super dogs.
This week, we got in two days of running two teams.
Very pleased with all the dogs here in the kennel showing great attitude and enthusiasm to run no matter what the conditions.
They are a real pleasure to hookup and run.
This week, we had three days of continuous snow plus wind.
Result, about 20+ cm of wet snow.
Now the temperatures have dropped making the trails here super!
Spring Time here in the Northern Forest!
​Until next week.......

After three weeks of icy trails, this week the snow returned.
Since last weekend, we have been receiving a few centimetres of snow every day through the week. This has resulted in excellent trails after grooming.
Finally, we got in three days of running two teams per day. We have gone on to a new schedule of running one day, a day rest, running one day, a days rest, running one day and then two days off.
Using this method and running only 4.5 miles, we were able to check the capability of the dogs to handle speed runs. 
Great news, all the 19 dogs handled the speeds without any problem.
The temperatures this last few weeks have been fairly warm and a welcome relief from the frigid temperatures experienced in January and February.
Alex has been getting some experience riding the sled and will soon be on her first run with a dog.
​Until next week.......

Looking back at some of my teams and Great Leaders!
It was not a very exciting week here running dogs due the crazy weather, so it interesting to look back at the fun teams I have had the pleasure to run here at Miortuk.
How quickly the time goes by.
The photos show my Distance Dogs and my conversion to the Hound Crosses (Sprint) to the present.
We did get in one day of running two teams.
Wednesday was 24 hours of snow leaving an accumulation of 25+ cm of wet/packing snow.
Thursday was devoted snow clearing here in the kennel and our access road. 
Busy weekend here from Friday through to today visiting with friends that came up to their chalets.
Party Time!
Next week, the conditions look good to get back to running the dogs as the trails here now are beautiful.
​Until next week......

Another week of unlikely weather for this time of year.
Warm temperatures and rain from Monday night through to Wednesday night. Thursday colder temperatures returned, turning the ground into a sheet of ice.
We were able to get in one great run with both teams on Monday.
We all enjoyed it! 
With the warm temperatures Wednesday, it was a good day to clean all the old straw out of the dog houses and replace it with nice fresh bedding.
The dogs loved it!
The long range weather forecast is for more March like temperatures with a little snow.
Hopefully, we can get back out running.
​Until next week.......

So what is the Olympic Experience here?
Like the Bobsled, Luge and Skeleton Eventings: ICE!!!!
Another crazy week here with weather dictating our activities.
Warm temperatures early in the week, mid week some rain and then freezing temperatures making the trail a sheet of ice.
All this resulted in only one day of running on the 14th, Valentines Day!
For that day, the gave us some LOVE with great/fun runs by both teams.
So now, we wait for snow and the forecast is not overly encouraging.
C'est La Vie!
Mother Nature has the control of weather and we have to be patient as the trails are just too dangerous to run the dogs.
THINK SNOW!
​Until next week.......

What a great way to start the week with a crisp, sunny day with a fresh overnight snowfall.
It was a great week here running dogs getting in four days of running.
Starting with 10 mile runs on Monday, 7 mile runs on Tuesday and finishing the week with two days running two teams 4.5 miles on Thursday and Friday. 
The dogs enjoyed the runs and especially the two 4.5 mile attitude runs.
Short and fast!
After the 10 mile & 7 mile runs, I realized that we needed a couple of short runs that were just fun!
This was the first week since the long layoff the dogs ran a 10 mile run as well as four days in a week.
We are taking it slowly getting the dogs back to training at their pre-layoff form.
Slowly they are getting their speed back.
The Monday run run was fast and enthusiastic after a three day layoff.
Dogs need their down time, as well as their running time!
Lance had his first run at Lead running with Kira. He did great for his first time and will be running Point for the next several runs getting him comfortable running upfront.
Also looking at the potential of breeding him with Kira this Spring.
They seem to have the same gait when running and could be a good match.
Time will tell as I keep evaluating.
We had some more frigid nights with temperatures in the -20's and -30's.
Now two days off and then back to running Monday.
​It is a lifestyle that I love!
Until next week.......