Some days are just like that.

The runs have gotten longer and it just doesn’t make sense to run two 10 dog teams any more. For the last week I’ve been running a single 20 dog string. The power is awesome! Wednesday dawned cool and damp – it was literally freezing when we got to the track. Everything was wet from the rain the night before. First time it’s been under 40 when we ran and the dogs were pumped, even after running Monday and Tuesday. They started screaming with 14 dogs on the line and by the time I had all 20 hooked up they were foaming at the mouth and throwing clods of dirt into the air. When I released the snub line it felt like I’d been kicked.

About a mile into the run the dogs had almost settled down when we came around a corner and there was a huge cow moose standing across the trail 50 feet in front of my leaders. I slammed on the brakes, locked up all 4 wheels and started to skid on the mud. The moose looked up at me and wondered off into the woods. Whoa. Whoa. I’m trying to stop the team and give the moose time to get away. The dogs pay me no more attention than they do the occasional spider web across the trail. I finally give up, get off the brake, call the team up and get out of there. On the way back I see 30 feet of skid marks. Thank heaven that was a nice moose.

Five miles later there is a branch down across the trail. I stop the team and get off to remove it. Just then they surge and start to pull the 4-wheeler with the brakes locked. They pull the quad part way up the side of the trail and it rolls over. I’m running up making unkind comments and begging for cooperation. Catch them and roll the quad back. Minor damage – the speedometer housing is broken and the throttle level sheared off. The bad news is it isn’t my quad, but one I borrow from a friend on the days she isn’t using it to train my team. Luckily she is a very good friend and very understanding. Now I’m looking for Yamaha parts.

Eric