Yes, that is a bit of a pun in the title!
It has been another week of weather flux including another 20+cm of very dry snow on Thursday. The forecast is for plus temperatures all of next week.
Hopefully, we will be able to pack the trail so we can get the dogs out running before the snow goes.
The beautiful photos above were taken by Thibault Souef.
Merci Thibault!
It is nice to see some beauty in this crazy world.
​Relax and enjoy!
Until next week.....

This week, we experienced an extreme mix of weather here at Miortuk.
From warm/sunny days, heavy/wet snow, overnight rain and then cold sunny days.
Although it has been frustrating not being able to run the dogs, it is the best decision for the health and safety of my canine companions.
Earlier in the week the trails were very punchy with the warm temperatures caused by the snow melt (a continuation of last week's melt and loss of 20/30cm of snow) with parts of the trail covered with water and other areas a sheet of ice.
Mid-week rain and then a temperature drop to below freezing made the trails now hard but icy.
However, the warm temperatures allowed us to continue to do clean up in the kennel after the extreme volumes of snow we experienced the end of February and the beginning of March.
​This time in the kennel was well spent giving us a great opportunity to spend more quality time with the dogs petting and interacting with them.
It is always fun playing, petting the dogs and enjoying each others company.
Hopefully the snow that is in the forecast for next week is correct and we can get back out running the dogs.
As far as the racing for this season goes, it is finished for us.
We didn't get to any races this year either due to cancellations or expected poor trail conditions at some of the races ran. The two races that had good conditions were missed due the weather here and the heavy amounts of snow that prevented us from getting out of here and then the lack of training to prepare the team for the race this weekend.  
The safety and the health of my dogs are paramount with me and racing is secondary.
Although it has been frustrating not getting to even one race this year, the season has been a great one.
I will recap more on the accomplishments of this season in future posts.
​Until next week........

There is mixed emotions here after the preventable tragedy that took place on the Iditarod Sled Dog Race in Alaskan where a drunk snowmobiler deliberately attempted to hit one team with his machine and then hit another musher's team at speeds of 80mph resulting in killing one dog (Nash) and injuring three others.
Most of us mushers have had problems with irresponsible humans while we have been mushing. They are only a very small percentage of the people we share the trails with. Being drunk is no excuse for a deliberate act of trying to hurt others. It is hoped that the authorities make an example of this individual showing that we will not put up with such lack of respect for the Nature and others.  
Now on a more positive note.
The warm weather this last week has caused a major thaw of the snow here.
we have in a space of a few days lost about 60cm of snow.
Unfortunately, this has caused problems for running the dogs due to soft/punchy trails earlier in the week and then icy sections of the 4.5 mile trail making it too dangerous to run the dogs.
The puppy loop was okay on Wednesday, so we were able to get out two teams of puppies. However, the temperatures dropped below freezing and with the melt resulted in icy trails.
On Wednesday, you can see in the video that the puppies got exposed to some ice, punchy trails and water. It is important that they get exposed to these conditions when they are young so they won't have problems later if they meet these types of conditions in a race.
We have been spending a lot of time working in the kennel digging the dog houses out of the snow.  
With the warm weather and the work done in the kennel, the dogs are enjoying the break from the sever weather we experienced over the last several weeks.
It looks like Spring is starting to arrive here.
Please take time to reflect on the tragedy that took place yesterday in Alaska, enjoy the Nature of the forest but at the same time respect all of its inhabitants. 
Until next week.....

There comes a point when you don't want to see any more snow!
This past week has just about clearing snow and looking after the dogs by digging out their entrances.
After clearing the road and parking area here on Monday with the overnight new 30+cm of new snow, we got buried again Wednesday with another 30+cm of snow. This time, I was unable to clear the road into here as there was no place to plow the snow of to the sides of the route due to the 6' snow banks.
Luckily, my friend John Vanderzon arrived here on Friday to blowout the snow with his tractor.
This is one of the reasons that you have several freezers of food for both the dogs and humans.
All this, plus the loss of Max, has made for a difficult week.
Two dogs have lost weight through this whole ordeal and are getting fed now twice a day and they sleep in the Dog Boxes in the truck for extra warmth.
Within only a couple of days , I can see a big improvement in their weight.
Luckily, the forecast is for a warming trend (above 0 during the day and night) and hopefully have seen the last of the -30's.
As I write this the sun has just made an appearance with nice clear blue skies making for renewed spirits.
Coming Monday, a new Handler (Thibault Souef)will be arriving here and we can get back to running dogs.
I would also like to thank all the beautiful condolences that I received after the loss of Max.
He had truly touched a lot of people with his work ethic and charming personality.
Too brighter days!
​Until next week.......
  

My Canine Family was quiet this morning as they mourned the passing of one of their comrades, teammates and most senior citizen here at Miotuk!
MAX passed away last night in his sleep!
​He was 11 years old.
It never ceases to amaze me the sensitivity and bonding of this family!
Max was super dog in all aspects; a super leader, a loyal companion and a great ambassador to the kennel.
Above is a video of his last run here training puppies on the 23rd of February 2016. He is seen at the start of the video at left Lead and later in the video at at left Wheel.
RIP my beloved Max!
​Until the next......