Snow arrived here on Sunday Evening through to Monday giving us beautiful trails to run the dogs.
The dogs really enjoyed the new snowy trails and they ran with great enthusiasm. The trails were good for the runs on Monday and Tuesday and then turned icy for Wednesday and Thursday. Luckily the snow returned on Friday and through Friday Evening giving us great trails for running on Friday and Saturday.
This week, we gave more lead time to both Tira and Yoda. Both got some passing experience with other teams, loose dogs and a snowmobile.
The Leaders did a supper job! 
Suzanne Morales arrived here on Friday Evening from France to start her six month vacation here in the Northern Forest to full fill her dream of experiencing the Mushing Life.
Welcome Suzanne to Miortuk Kennel.
​Until next week.......

Even though the temperature have been warmer than normal, we have been able to stay on our training schedule.
Thursday & Friday, we had to keep the speeds down due to the warmth.
However, the dogs are running great and we have been able to get Tira & Yoda some time up at Lead.
Both are doing great and showing good focus at the lead position.
Over the last few weeks of training, we have been having squirrels out performing their version of Extreme Sports. They seem to be having a competition to see who can cross the trail as close to the Lead Dogs as possible.Thursday, a squirrel ran, so far, the closest to the Leaders and just luckily for it and us the Leaders of Kira & Yoda ran right by it without breaking stride. If that had been Venus & Indigo at Lead, we would have been heading into the forest to chase it. 
It has been said that" Mushing is handling the unforeseen"!
Last week, we went supplies shopping leaving here at 7.30 am and returning at 5 pm. We only stopped at three stores to stock us up for a minimum of 2 months. The closest store to here where we shop is 2 hours away. 
Life of living in The Northern Forest require good planning to ensure the nothing is forgotten.
With my love for shopping and travelling into civilization, once every two or thee months is enough.
Now Sunday, we have to go back down to pick up 50 blocs of 50 lb each of frozen beef for the dogs. One more trip in December for meat for the dogs and we should have enough stock to last us through to March.
PLANNING!
​Until next week......

Even with the unseasonable weather, we were able to get in four good training days through the week. 
This week with all the upset going on here in North America, it is refreshing here to enjoy the simple uncomplicated life in the Northern Forest and playing with our Sled Dogs.
This week, we started to introduce new dogs to the leader position with Tira (Big Kira) and Yoda getting their first opportunities up front for this season.
They both did a great job and showing maturity over last year. Both dogs were very focused on running to the point that Tira prevented Venus from going off the trail to chase a squirrel that crossed their path. 
GOOD GIRL TIRA!
Today, we are experiencing high winds and chilling temperatures with the occasional snow flurry. However, the forecast for next week is again for warmer than normal temperatures.
This week, we also moved some dogs around in the kennel to make things here more efficient. Even little Kira got a new home in neighbors on either side, front and behind her. She is getting less shy everyday.
She is such a sweetheart!
Tira is the black dog leading the team in the above video along with Venus.
​Until next week......
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It was a great week here at Miortuk visiting with friends from Switzerland, great meals and of coarse running dogs!
It was wonderful having Franziska and Christian here on the final days of their visit to Canada. It was great catching up on all that has happened in the last two years since their last visit here.
This week, we had everything from snow to rain, electrical power outages, grey skies and on Friday a glimpse of the Sun.
The young dogs are steadily improving and fitting in with the adults on the training runs. Levi has learned how to pace himself, Levi's idea of pace is other dogs hard driving, following Willy. It is a lot easier to teach a young dog by running her/him with an adult that can be a good influence. 
The two teams of 14 dogs is steadily improving and starting to put in consistent runs. This week, we they also got practise with passing other teams (head on and overtake) as well as seeing both Franziska and Christian at the side of the trail taking photos. All these experiences will help them in races.
Now is the time, we start watching the long term weather forecasts to enable to maximise the scheduled runs on our training program.
This year has been more challenging due to the unusual weather patterns.
​Until next week.......
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