Rock Stars

We started our run like rock stars in their prime and finished like a rock star ends their career, alone and miserable.

We headed out to the trail head late enough on Sunday evening that I grabbed my headlamp just in case we had a slow run and were still on the trail when the sun went down.

When we arrived, I almost moved on to a different location as the lot was full of vehicles. I noticed that a large group of people snowshoeing were just coming off the trail, so the trail was probably not as busy as it looked.

I parked and let the dogs out. This drew instant attention. The snowshoe group coming off the trail flocked to us. Soon they were all around us offering assistance and asking all kinds of questions. We also had snowmobiles slowing down as they past to see what was up.

We were able to get someone to hold Nemo in line-out position while I hooked the other two up and got on the sled. I put Blizzard in lead with Nemo, but left the neckline off as Nemo would have surely cased a fight in front of this crowed. I didn't think that would go over well with the unsuspecting helper holding him. Nemo is just too impatient.

We took off without incident with lots of thanks from the crowd for entertaining their questions and allowing them to be apart of my taking off down the trail. As well I thanked them for their assistance, as I faded off down the trail.

Not a quarter mile down the trail we came across the group of snowmobiles who had passed us in the parking lot. They apparently stopped to watch us go by after seeing us getting ready. I waved and smiled as we flew past.

The first two-thirds of the run were great. It is always a fun trip when you're skidding sideways around turns cause you're going so fast the the dogs are all pulling. I was smiling the whole time.

The last third wasn't as spectacular. Nemo started veering off the trail to investigate smells in the woods. After I stopped to put the neckline on Blizzard, she didn't help the matter at all with her curiosity.

I eventually tired of the distractions and decided to demote Nemo and move Flurry up. Flurry decided to use her renewed authority to hunt up some horse crap to nibble on while trotting along. Yuck! Then she too lead us off the trail.

Since Nemo was at least pulling more in lead I moved him back up. We started moving along fast for a while until I saw why. There were two dogs ahead (on leash thank you very much responsible owners). There was one on either side of the trail so Blizzard and Nemo stopped to chat with the big one and Flurry greeted the little one. I did not greet them, but ran up to keep my team moving without any incidents.

Not too far from the end of the trail all three suddenly veered off to the left side of the trail and out popped Nemo with the prize they were all after in him mouth. Upon realizing this prize they all wanted was some kind of animal, I jumped from my sled and flew on top of Nemo as a dog fight was a probable next step over such a treasure.

In a blink of an eye, I ended up with Nemo pinned the ground between my legs and had the neckline off of Blizzard with her pushed back behind me out of the way. I then proceeded to pry what I learned was the back half of a old dead rabbit carcass out of Nemo's mouth. Yuck again! I had to get it out twice as the first time I got distracted by Blizzard approaching around my side. The second time I got it lose I flung it towards the woods to prevent anyone from getting it again.

I got everyone untangled and back on the trail moving. Thankfully the end of the trail wasn't far as I was exhausted from all the activity and running hills to keep us moving at a nice quick pace throughout the run. We made it back to the car before dark.

Back in the parking lot, alone and miserable from the last mile or so, I was just getting to the car and getting the back door open when the eminent threat of a loose dog came over us. As I heard the owner calling behind the dog to no avail, I realized I was about to be the sole human among a four dog encounter and all I had was a grip on the neckline of the front two dogs to keep the peace. As the dog ran toward us I quickly clipped two dogs to the car just before the dog made it to us.

The owner of course stopped trying to get his dog and left me to handle all four. The initial greeting was fine until Nemo got a bit overzealous and I had to pull him back. The owner of the dog finally got back to his car and called his dog. Some people!

The dogs had some water while I packed up the sled and we made it safely home that night. Despite the crazy activities of the end of our run, we had a great time and the dogs did a wonderful job.

We had two fun runs this weekend and even saw some other people heading out to sled with their ten dogs. However today, after a whole day of sitting at work my joints are tired and stiff. I really need to stay more active on the Mondays after these busy weekends. At least the dogs are still tired out.