NO SNOW

This weather sucks!

Everyone around me is loving the warm winter we are having and enjoy telling me how wonderful it has been, always adding a sorry to the end of their sentence.

I've been feeling just so darn depressed.
There would have been a time when the lack of snow (on the roads) and the warm spring jacket weather would have put a smile on my face, but now?
I almost want to cry.

My poor pups are lacking in miles this year and with the roads covered in ice we can't even use our dry land rig.  I tried walking the dudes but that is tough with ice since they don't walk on a leash very well, it's more of a pull.

This year would have been a great one for dog sledding.

I was invited two separate times to bring dog sledding to the kids at school with a co-worker bringing in her snow machine to put trails in.  NO SNOW.

I've been helping train a friends long distance dogs and although we have gone on some pretty interesting trails the last couple of weeks I don't think any of those are left due to warm temperatures and NO SNOW.

I was going to head to the Yukon with Randy again as a handler but the trail conditions made training harder so he decided to withdraw this year.  NO SNOW.

Instead he has chose to attend the Canadian Challenge and I was invited to come along as his handler.  I'm very excited for this adventure as I know a lot of the mushers attending.
This weekend I read this on the organizations Facebook page,...

Just a note: we;re keeping an eye on the trails after the warm weather -(plus 7 yesterday) - we have lost a lot of snow in the past few days and although it's cooking off a bit, not much snow in the forecast.  Glare ice to walk on!  Unless we get some good snow in the next 3 weeks, we may have to consider the unthinkable.  Don't panic yet, but stay tuned"

NO SNOW!

This morning I read this article from The Alaskan Dispatch which talks about lack of snow threatening the Yukon Quest this yea. Did you see that?  NO SNOW.

This above zero crap and lack of snow can stop anytime now.

Besides my yard is a big muddy mess and the dogs are no longer allowed in the house which means we all just hang outside.  No couch cuddles until it either dries up or it gets cold again.  IT SUCKS!

Okay I'm done whining now.
I'm just tired and not feeling myself these days.
Could have something to do with NO SNOW.

Where is one suppose to train dogs if the trails all look like this? (and this is a picture of one from the North too!!)

 

 

New Year Challenge

It's been awhile since I've been on here, but not because I haven't wanted to.

One computer is upstairs in the office, which may as well be in a different world with how much I want to be sitting in that room... another computer (lap top) I accidentally spilled water on the key board which left me alone with my phone which is good for playing around on cyber space in crackbook and other waste my time social media sites just not so good for blogging.

Now here I sit with a new lap top and no more excuses.

So much has happened and although there are some fun stories I could share I'm not going to make you sit through any of those.

Instead I want to look forward.

This was to be the year that Randy went back to finish that which was left undone in the Yukon at the Quest.  I was to be heading up with him to help support his journey.
However things have changed since I've been here in blog land.  Randy has made the wise decision to not attend this 1,000 mile race as his training wasn't at the mileage it should be which could put his dogs at risk.

Randy has decided instead to attend the Canadian Challenge.  This race is a 320 mile qualifying race for both the Quest and the Iditarod running from Prince Albert to La Ronge Saskatchewan.
I have been asked to be his handler here and am excited for this new adventure.

Not knowing what Internet coverage will be up there I will do my best to journal the adventure and if need be it will be posted once the event is complete.

Randy and team Controlled Chaos will of course be my main priority while up there but I will also be able to follow the race of not just one friend but a few, if they will allow it.

Rick Wannamaker a local musher I know and who has been a mentor for both my son and myself.
Steven Laviolette and his daughter Laquasha from Quebec have been someone I follow on social media and am quite excited to meet them both.
Another musher who I follow on social media and have had the honour of meeting is Anna Bolvin, who will be running in the 8 dog.


So in 53 days follow us here for a new adventure in handling for Controlled Chaos once again.

In the meantime I will work hard at keeping you entertained with the antics of Outback Huskies, and as is mentioned in my title, confessions from an empty nester wannabe musher.

Until then we want to wish everyone the very best that the New Year and 2015 can offer.

Hope it's perfect.