Well...greetings from a glacier! (with pics)

I just wanted to drop in for a second to update everyone. First of all, the board has some nifty new sections! Haha I guess this is the perfect section for my update This is only the second time I've had interenet since April 30, so I'm wayyyy behind on all the fun board info and event happenings, but I'm trying to catch up! Looks like everyone is having a great summer so far. I'm really itching to start at the top and read through each section to see what I've been missing out on Connor and Elsie are back in MI, probaby getting fat and being boring house dogs. I miss those mutts like crazy!!! Connor would love it up here. Ah well. It's been awesome up here! I have tons of pictures, but I came to this little cafe to get online and I forgot my camera cord back at the appt . I still have one more day off though, so hopefully I'll be able to add a few pics of my new team. Everything is crazy busy up here. We're feeding dogs by 630 am, human breakfast at 730am, "go time" at 830am, first tour at 9am. Four tours before lunch (aroun 2pm) and then "afternoon go time" at 245pm. Four tours (the last at 6pm), then dog dinner and human dinner at about 7 or 730. Back in our tents by 830 or 9pm and asleep by 1030 or so (unless you draw a night chore...like dishes...which I hate haha). By the way, I don't have spell check right now on here, so bare with me! Haha but anyway, I have today and tomorrow off. I fly (via helicopter) back up on Sunday for another 6-8 days working before I get my next 2 days off- that's how it'll be all summer. It's a good time though. The sun is stronger up here than it is in Florida; you guys should see the awkward, massive tan line I have from my sunglasses. All in all though, it's a really good time so far. On May 30th, I will have been up here for a month.....3 more to go! I hope everyone is enjoying their summer!!

Here are a few pictures. I have a ton more, and if anyone is interested, just check them out on facebook. I'll have quite a few albums by the end of the summer. Enjoy!


We had two trucks this big. We hauled 210 dogs 800 miles.




Teekona- one of my little females



Running towards Mt Guardian

nice pics

That's awesome Annie! I am very jealous... lol.

What is your facebook link? I'd love to see the rest of the pics.

Totally awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a way to spend to spend the summer

That's awesome! Color me as jealous as Kel!

I have tons of pics from the race I vetted his summer, but I don't know how to post them here. Image code, I'm guessing? Yup. Image code. Looks like most aren't in my photobucket so these guys will have to do. Glad you are getting to do this, wake!

Great pictures.

Congratulations, Annie! I'm looking forward to more pictures in the future.

MaraLee

Maralee, these are JUST FOR YOU!! Are you ready? GLACIER BABIES!!! They were shipped off last Thursday so these pics are from their last night with us. Enjoy, everyone!
(PS- these are Lance Mackey pups....so maybe one day they'll be Idit/Quest champs Look for their names in distance races in the future!)




From the left: Chopper, A*Star, Rotor (get it?....it's a helicopter theme and we, the staff, got to name them)



Here's Rotor! Haha he was trying to sneak out!


Lovin' the babies!


And THIS is the "puppy pit." We had to re-dig it nearly every day because the edges would melt down. That's one of the reason they had to be flown down; they kept getting out and we were afraid they'd get in the kennel.

Annie
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are adorable. I will take them ALL!!!
You are living a dream!!
I hate heat, and would love to do what you are doing,
But I don't think the Goldens would make good mushers :-(

*dies from the green of envy*

So happy for you, 'wake!

Too cute! Your mom showed me the other pics at Premier... I am still very, VERY jealous!

Thanks guys, I'm really enjoying my time up here!
Jim, I'd be glad to whip the Goldens into shape and make them a matching team for you
And Kel, my mom said she talked to you at Premier. I was going nuts that whole weekend- I was up on the ice trying to imagine EZ Ups, equipment dealers and the sound of dogs hitting the water. I told her bottle up some pool water and pour it on Connor for me . From all the pictures of Premier that were posted though, it looks like everyone had a blast.
I've had more than one guest that has been curious about Ultimate Air.....and one of them was a Tiger's fan....so he vowed to stop by an event
I have tons more pictures from up here of "my" team and stuff if you guys are interested. I go back up today (which has turned into "tonight"), but I'll try to add a few every time I'm down. Anyway, thanks for looking! I love to share all of these pictures and stories.

Annie,

Those are awesome pictures, I love the scenery in the first two. As soon as I saw them them it cooled me off too!! Thanks for that!! It's been hot here in lower michigan.

What everyone's been saying to you, it's obvious you are having the time of your life and I am envious as well!!

Those are the cutest pups I have seen in a long time, I am sure they will be great dogsledders.

Roger

Labwake wrote:I told her bottle up some pool water and pour it on Connor for me .

LOL. Too funny.

Labwake wrote:I have tons more pictures from up here of "my" team and stuff if you guys are interested.

Of course. I always like seeing lots of snow and sled puppies! Heh.

Here are a few more for those of you (ahem, Kel!) who don't have me on facebook......

A big smile from Gadget


Cute little Doty


Cheyanne and Marla just passing the time


Noppers (weird name, I know!) was yawning


Swimming amongst the ice chunk of the Mendenhall Glacier. I mean, c'mon...I'm from Michigan- I MUST SWIM!


12-Gauge hates the rain....but maybe he'll think twice about eating his doghouse next time. Haha poor boy. He looked so pitiful that I couldn't resist this picture. He was just begging me to bring him in my tent....always the teddy bear.


Charlie and his goofy ears


This is Denali. I run him in this harness for a few reasons, and I really like this type. I'd recommend this style.



Who wants the story on this one?




Alright, hope you guys like those (by the way, this is day 2 of being weathered in down here in Juneau.....here's to it clearing up so that we can get up to the ice tomorrow and relieve the "stranded" crew- they'll definitely be ready for a break!)

Hi Annie, Fantastic pictures! Thanks so much for posting them so those of us who will probably never get to Alaska can see what it looks like and dream of going there! The dogs are just way too cute! I must say you are very brave to swim between the glaciers! The water had to be freezing cold! You remind me of my 25 year old son who swam in my Uncles cistern in PA in cold mountain spring water! You posted the last two pictures. Of course we want the story on what is going on! Give the pups a hug for me and keep sending the pictures. They are fantastic. Have a great day,

Well about those last photos, since the the area around the dogs looks pretty clean...

What is the pole for- mixing in good microbes that eat the, um, you know what?

And about that harness... what is the style called? I'm assuming you like the fact that there is no pull down on the dogs' back end as there can be with the traditional style. Does the strap crossing the dog's chest and the front of the shoulder seem to rub or restrict the full shoulder movement at all? I guess that is the main reason I prefer the siwash. There is a newer version of the siwash I'd like to try that puts the pull mostly on the dog's side- cannot remember who makes it right now. Have you tried it?

I miss being around a crazy husky. Someone once described them as lovable scoundrels. When they're not keeping you on your toes, I'll bet they keep you in stitches! Please do keep the pictures and stories coming!

Hahaha okay, those last two pictures are of me "pounding poo" in all my glory. We keep the yards clean throughout the day by scooping the poop into buckets. We aim to be very low impact, so everything has to be flown off. Welllll, after it's collected in buckets, one must drive poop down to the "sling sight" and dump buckets at a time into the funnel to make it go into the barrels. If the funnel is too full, you have to literally pound the poo with the pole to smash it into the barrel. The object is to get all the poo in the barrel so that it can be flown off. And you should see how fun it is when we're doing it with HUMAN waste. (true story)
And Angela, yes, I prefer that harness because of how it pulls. That certain dog crabs horribly at slow speeds. Of course crabbing doesn't really DO anything to him, but in a regular harness, the pull is so awkward that I can't stand watching him work. I've been putting him in one of thsoe so that he can once again get a proper angle. There's another dog who I run in one of those because he has such a long back. I have wondered about the front strap hindering leg movement, but I think that harness might be a size too big anyway....so the chest should probably fit a little tighter. I wouldn't suggest it for any reallllly heavy pulling (like for slooooow runs) seeing as how the dog can't bend forward as well as with a normal harness, but in a team situation, where the dog isn't hunkered down the whole time, it allows the dog a free range of movement.
And I would think this type would be especially good in a city environment. It's versatile and you can still pretty much keep control of the dog's head/upper body.

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm really enjoying living your journey vicariously!

Very cool pics.

Poor 12 Gauge... I agree, he looks so pitiful! That's a whole lot of dog house to eat...

That's so cool!

Beth

Wow annie Just found the thread looks like you are having an awesome summer...Like Jedivet i am very envious. Congrats

Thom

Here are a few new pictures!


View of camp at night and day





Leaving the chute with one of my teams (I had 9 dogs).



Little Doty wondering where the top of her dog house has gone......(it was camp move day and I hadn't put them all back together yet!)



This is Wofly.....Mr. Favorite



THIS is the boat I've been driving all summer. It's pretty much the Crown Victoria of dog sleds. Seriously...the biggest sled in the world, I swear.

The first one looks like a postcard shot.