Another crazy week here weather wise!
Last weekend over 40 cm of new snow, a couple of beautiful days and then a deep freeze with temperatures during the day -20's celsius and into -30's overnight.
We got in two great days of training so far this week with the dogs dealing with soft trails and deep snow.
I was so proud of my young Leaders taking the Gee command onto a non groomed trail with no hesitation, as seen in the above video.
Saphir ran at Lead from the start for her first time and also first time for 7 miles. Very impressed with her.
Next weeks forcast is for more favorable conditions so we can get back to four days running.
​Until next week.........

The advent of a new year with many changes here at Miortuk.
A much needed newer truck, an addition of a new dog Saphir (Zoe's dog) and much more snow.
Between yesterday and today,so far, well more than 40cm of new snow and it hasn't stopped yet.
Luckily, we got everything done out of here on Wednesday, licencing the new truck, supplies for both the dogs and ourselves.
Today, back in the kennel to dig out the dog houses and change the straw taking out the wet and adding nice new dry straw.
We had a good week of training getting in three days of running two teams.
The last few weeks, we have been getting Saphir comfortable in her new home and surroundings.
We started her running in the Team Position and have had her up at Lead.
She is running right Lead in the above video.
Saphir is proving to be a real good dog with a great future!
We are fortunate here to have snow as many parts of Quebec little to none.
Happy Trails!
​Until next week.......

No matter all the challenges in life, they all disappear when running dogs!
Those precious minutes on the trail with a team of enthusiastic huskies makes life so simple and exhilarating.
The smell of fresh unpolluted air, the purity of the virgin white snow, the sting of the frosty air on your face, the beauty of the winding trails through the forest and the peace you feel watching your team performing the task they love.
Life can't get much better.
​Until next week.......

It was a difficult week with the loss of Libby.
However, there are her pack/team Mates that need to run and exercise.
So, the time for morning has passed and the regular routine here at Miortuk continues.
We had some nice runs and some beautiful trails with new snow.
The forest, the dogs and the simple life here heals all.
​But, Libby will live on in my heart.
​Until next week.......

There are so many joys of being a musher!
The peace, serenity, beauty  of the forest living in harmony with Nature.
The thrill of running dogs on picturesque trails in the Fall, Winter and Spring.
Waking in the morning to the serenade from the kennel of my canine family welcoming the beginning of a new day and in the evening saying good night.
The pride and love of seeing the newborns grow up  to be superior athletes.
The close bonding that develops between the musher and his team of devoted dogs in the kennel, on the trails and everywhere else we share time together.
The look of trust and love you see in their eyes as they stand on their hind legs with their front paws on your chest.
The excitement they exhibit when getting ready to run with their screams, digging in the ground or leaping in the air with enthusiasm.
A mushers care, devotion to their canine family and in return the dogs trust and dependence on their musher.
A mushers first love is the dogs!
Yes,  there are many joys of being a Musher!

                    And Then The Sorrow.

The most difficult part of mushing is losing the life of one of their pack.
With the passing of each and every canine companion, a piece of my heart is torn away!
Few can understand the heartbreak!
The loss of a trusted friend!
This morning at 4am, we loss a dear, beautiful little soul, Libby.
Libby was such a joy whether in the kennel, in the team or in the chalet.
She wa a sweet loving friend and supper athlete always enthusiastic to run and always giving her best.
She loved playing with her sister Lilly and the two made a great pair of running together at Point.
Libby loved to dig and was constantly excavating her territory around her house.
Saturday, Libby went off eating and vomited some clear liquid with little pieces of straw in it. The first thought was that she had eaten some straw, which is not uncommon, from the bedding in her house.
Normally there is no problem or the dog will go off its feed for a couple of days.
But as a precaution, Libby was brought in the chalet for the night and was treated with some honey (helps with nourishment and makes the dogs thirsty) which will increase the dogs desire to drink water for hydration until they get their appetite back.
Libby did drink some clear water on both Saturday and Sunday morning.
Libby was walking around and enjoying being in the chalet and getting some loving.
When she was brought in the chalet Sunday evening, she attitude had changed.
She was lethargic and wouldn't drink.
She spent a over an hour quietly laying with me on the couch, placing her next to mine.
When we took her outside to relieve herself before bed she had a stool filled with digested straw. Early hours of Monday morning, Libby was showing signs of pain and discomfort. She was given some Mineral Oil to help her pass whatever was causing a bowel obstruction and soon after with the aid of a massage passed a one inch in diameter stone the she must have swallowed.
After she fell into a peaceful sleep and seemed fine.
An hour later, she passed away sleeping.
Today she was buried in the forest next to the kennel and facing East so will face the sunrise every morning.
RIP my sweet little Libby........
​
Libby on the left running with her brother Lloyd

 

It was great week here for running dogs getting in four days of training!
We received a little fresh snow midweek adding a nice cushion on the trail.
Thursday & Friday, we ran the dogs at racing pace to see how they could handle the increased speed.
They handled the speed with no problem on the 7 mile run and then on Friday on the 4.5 mile run. On the Friday, they were very fast, hard driving and enthusiastic.
Soon we will increase the mileage to 10 miles runs and return to slower speeds until they get used to the longer runs.
This week, Louis had a run up at lead again and did a great job.
We switch him to lead position at the halfway point of the 4.5 mile run so he gets to run the homeward bound part of the trail. After a few more runs, we will try him from the start and do the whole 4.5 mile run at lead.
It is fun to work new dogs in the lead position.
​Until next week......

Crazy week here for weather with snow finally arriving on Wednesday. 
After 6 days without running, the dogs were crazy to go!!!!
We trained both Thursday & Friday and spent Saturday plowing.
On Thursday, we tried Louis at lead for the very first time.
He was absolutely amazing, he took the position with great attitude and was running with enthusiasm the whole way. 
He was hard driving and is proving to be a speed Leader.
He is in the above video running on the right side with Kira on the left.
They look to be an awesome pairing with each trying to outrun the other.
That "L" Litter (Blue/Indigo) has turned out to be a great litter producing two fantastic leaders and three more potential leaders.
Indigo at ten years old is still running lead and doing a great job.
Indigo's father was Brandy a top Leader was still winning races at the age of twelve here in Quebec.
Leaders produce leaders!
Right now of the 18 dogs in the kennel 11 are leaders.
You can never have enough Leaders!!!!
Until next week......

Every run here at Miortuk can be interesting with different challenges!
Tuesdays run tested the focus of the "A" Teams leaders, Venus & Kira!
Shortly after the start of the run a Partridge decided it was a good idea to take flight right in front of a charging team of 10 dogs!
Have seen other Partridge fly up at the side of the trail, try walking across the trail, but never fly in front of the team.
If you look at the video closely, you will see the Partridge (briefly) lead the team in it's daredevil stunt!
Due to the focus of Venus & Kira, the team never broke stride and continued their run as if nothing had happened.
It was so close to the leaders, I thought they were going to have a Partridge for a snack.
Lucky bird and great Leaders!
This week, we had a mixed bag of weather with warm temperatures, nice hard packed trails.
Friday was a different story with rain, freezing rain and then wet snow leaving the trails with thick undercoating of ice!
The result was only three days of running. However, we ran the 7 mile run on Thursday instead of Friday.
The dogs are handling the increased mileage without any problems and are finishing with plenty of enthusiasm.
The dogs are well conditioned and are now showing their speed capacity.
​Until next week........
 

Finally with the arrival of snow, we were able to get in four days of training two teams per day this week.
It was a fun week for the dogs running on the snow and able to open up with some great speed runs.
We also increased the mileage per run on Friday as the dogs are now well conditioned!
The ATV is now put away until next Spring and the Skidoo's are now in operation.
The trails here are now well groomed with a nice snow base.
The lake is now frozen across and with the cold weather will start to increase its thickness.
It is now a Winter Wonderland here at Miortuk.
​Until next week.........

What a difference a few days can make!
From warm, rainy weather to freezing temperatures and now snow.
It started snowing here on Thursday and basically hasn't stopped as of today.
This is the earliest that the Skido has been used!!
The lake has even started to freeze.
The dogs are enjoying the snowy trails and relaxing in their new straw beds in their houses.
We got in three days of running this week and the dogs are in great condition and are increasing their speed.
Soon, we will be increasing the mileage on their runs.
Yesterday, we put Lance up at lead on the homeward bound part of the run.
He had a little experience with lead at the end of last season.
This was the first time this season and he did a very good job running with Pearl.
He will be getting regular runs at lead to further develop his leadership skills.
​Until next week......