The year 2014 was a year of extreem highs and extreem lows.
The highs last year was all about some great times with the dogs of Miortuk. 
We had two new addition this year with the arrival of Kira and Roxy. 
Both dogs have adjusted to the kennel life here and are enjoying being part of their new family.
The training this year has been exceptional with many positive results. 
Many of the young dogs are showing great promise as team members and also some real potential as leaders.
On my Open Team this year, of the 12 dogs, 3 are yearlings. In the 6 Dog Team, 2 to 3 will be yearlings. One of the yearlings will be making its racing debut in SkiJoring.
The addition of Roxy, an experienced race leader, will be a big asset in training our future race leaders.
Over the last five years, Miortuk Kennel has transformed from a Distance Kennel to a competitive Sprint Kennel with help from Valerie & Laurent Gonsolin, Rosaire Peron and Samuel & Erik Laforce.
Also, Miortuk was been blessed with some great Handler/Trainees in 2014; Julia King, Lila Pratt, Tiasa Kushner and Cecile Hue. Cecile has become a very important part of the Miortuk Family and without whose assistance I would be lost.
A special thank you to our annual supporters from Switzerland. Your friendship and support is greatly appreciated.
We would also like to thank all of you who visit our website on a weekly basis and allowing us to share our adventures here with you.
Happy New Year!
Until next year.........
 

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AT MIORTUK KENNEL

 

 

It was the night before Christmas and all through the kennel

Not a sled dog was stirring not even Cannelle 

The pups were all nestled in their straw beds

With visions of Salmon treats going through their heads

The stockings and mitts were all hung with care

Close to the wood stove to dry in the warm air

I had just settled down to a long winters nap

No, I don’t wear a bedding cap

When in the kennel there rose such a clatter

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter

Over to the window, I flew with a flash

Tripped on a bunny boot and almost fell on my ---

What to my wondering eyes would appear?

But a miniature sled and eight tiny reindeer

With a little old driver so lively and quick

I knew in a minute, it must be Saint Nick

Over the moon lit lake, I seen him come to the chalet

He said “I have a big problem that will cause me a delay

My reindeer are to tired to continue my trip

Can I borrow your sled dogs”, I thought that was hip

So we hooked up Roxy, Bergen, Indigo and Perle in their red harnesses they sure looked fine

Followed by Blue, Frodo and with Willy, Lena  finishing the line

Then he called the dogs up and to my surprise

They rose from the ground and started to rise

As he flew away he said to me, as I stood on the snow covered lawn

“Don’t worry, I will have them all back to you by dawn!”

“SO, FROM ALL OF US AT MIORTUK KENNEL, I WISH MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!”

 

(Inspired by “Twas The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore – 1822)

By Stan Morgan, Nov. 25, 2009
Revised Dec. 21, 2014



 




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Post Title.12/13/2009

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"THE SNOW HAS FINALLY ARRIVED HERE IN THE NORTHERN FOREST!"

The snow finally arrived here this week. We received 12" plus on Wednesday and more on Thursday and again today for a weekly total of around 20". This was both good news and also bad news. First the good news: we now are getting a good base for running the dogs and the trails are looking great. Now the bad news: the lake only formed about an inch of ice before the snow and now with this amount of snow on the lake there is a danger it wont freeze good this year. The deep snow on the lake insulates it and makes it difficult to freeze good for safe crossing. The photo was taken the morning before the snow fall and shows pressure cracks on the ice. 
This was however a good week for training the dogs getting in another 4 days of work. Again this week two runs of 8 miles and two runs 4.5 miles. The dogs are doing great even with the deep snow on Fridays training.
The other activity this week was 3 days of plowing out the parking areas and the road entrance to the chalet.
The plowing is done, the trails are groomed and ready for tomorrows training runs.
Until next week........




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Post Title.12/6/2009

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"A DUSTING OF NEW SNOW, FRESH NEW STRAW BEDDING; LIFE CANT GET MUCH BETTER IN THE NORTHERN FOREST!"

Nanook is enjoying the new snow and fresh bedding of straw in her house.
This was a good week here weather wise, with fresh new snow on Sunday night into Monday Morning. It rained here on Thursday and then a dusting of new snow on Friday and more snow today.
The snow enabled us to get in 4 days of training through the week with 2 x 8 mile runs on Monday & Wednsday and 4.5 mile runs on Tuesday, Saturday. The dogs perforemance was great and they are retaining an enthusisatic attitude. The new feeding program is working out good and the dogs are maintaining their running weight without any problem. With the increase mileage and the colder temperatures, their diets are being supplimented nightly with a snack of lard after their evening meal.
To all my Swiss friends, I hope the Samichlaus visited you this weekend and not his infamous sidekick Schmutzli.
There is also a new video posted on YouTube of one of last weeks training runs.
Until next week........




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No, it wasn't Santa and his Elves, it was the dogs here at Miortuk.
This was a very busy and exciting week here with training.We got in 5 days of training preparing the dogs for their first race in January 2015 at Val Cartier.
Three runs of 8 miles, one run of 11 miles and one run of 4.5 miles.
The one run was a travelling sortie were we went to my friends Valerie & Laurent Gonsolin's to train a 14 dog team on their 11 mile trail.
This was a good experience for the dogs with travelling, running on a different trail and the team being evaluated by Laurent.
While we were out with the Open Team, Cecile and Taisa skijored with Sam and Cosmos to give them experience travelling and running on different trails.
After the run, we had a time to visit with Valerie & Laurent( without their help I wouldn't have the team of dogs I do today).
It was a busy and rewarding day.
We also trained again on Friday and Saturday with 8 mile runs giving Bergen experience at lead with Roxy in the Open Team. Her presence at lead set the pace for quicker runs and motivated Roxy to pickup her pace.
With the change in the Open Team, we placed Teal in the 2nd team, that, it wad is training for Cecile's 6 dog racing team. Teal has always run on the right side, her preference. However, with her to run wheel with Annie ( who runs better on the right) the runs on the 19th and 20th were to reprogram Teal to run on the left. It was a challenge on the first day, but she was very good on the second run. It will take her a few more runs before she is totally comfortable on this side.
Cecile returned to France on Thursday to spend Christmas with her family as she spent last Christmas here. I look foreword to her return on the 3rd of January. 
Taisa's family is to arrive here on the 23rd to spend the holidays here and experience the life here with Sled Dogs.
Also, the training is being scheduled around a poor weather forecast with the possibility of rain for Wednesday. Lets hope the forecast is wrong and we get snow here. 
The trails here now are perfect!
As I said, it was a busy week here in the Northern Forest at Miortuk.
until next week........

From no snow to plenty of the white stuff! 
This week, we received snow Tuesday evening, all day/night Wednesday and into Thursday. The result 10" of fresh snow.
So, this week was full with running dogs four days, plowing the snow and loading the dogs travelling boxes into the truck.
This week, Tepeu got more running time at lead starting right from the kennel.
She did amazing and exceeded my expectations for such a young leader. 
She seems to be a born leader! 
The above video shows here running Lead(left side)
The Open Team continues to perform well. They are very consistent with their performance.
Cecile and Taisa continue to do their skijoring with Cosmos, Sophie, Angel, Max and Sam. Sam had a great run on Saturday and Cecile was very impressed with her enthusiasm and focus.
Skijoring seems to be a big confidence builder for Sam.
Saturday, I got o use the new trail groomer for the first time and it worked great. Made the best trails that I have ever  made.
Until next week......

The snow returned on Tuesday night through to Wednesday leaving us with a 4" blanket of fresh new snow. This Snow fall was enough to cover the ice and leave a nice cushion of snow to soften the trail for the dogs.
We were able to train two twelve dog teams on Wednesday and Thursday doing 8 mile runs both days.
The dogs did great, especially with the long layoff over the last two weeks.
Indigo and Roxy did exceptional as they were the leaders breaking trail for the two teams. The soft snow was physically demanding for them, but it didn't effect their enthusiasm to run.
On Thursday, we placed Tepeu at lead with Cobalt for the last three miles of the run. 
Tepeu is incredible! She is a machine running with speed, drive and focus. Nothing seems to distract her performance.
Yaluk, Tepeu's sister, is equally as good running anywhere in the team. She also has shown leader potential. That breeding with Willy and Angel has turned out to be a supper breeding.
This week, I finished making the new trail groomer and just need more snow to test it.
Both Cecile and Taisa continued working with a few dogs at skijoring.
Until next week.......