The Mudflats

Here’s the third installment in our series of Iditarod and dog mushing posts from Mudflatter LoveMyDogs. I’ve added to it some pictures I took at the Iditarod start in Anchorage nine days ago. Many thanks to LoveMyDogs for these wonderful insights that add so much firsthand knowledge and really enhance our knowledge and enjoyment of the race.

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The Leonhard Seppala Award
by LoveMyDogs

“In Alaska, our dogs mean considerably more to us than those ‘Outside’ can appreciate, and a sleight to them is a serious matter.” ~Leonhard Seppala, patron saint of dogsledding

Sled dogs are amazing animals. They run for the pure joy of it. They are not a specific breed (in fact they have many different dogs bred into them: including Border collie-or so they say- and more recently hounds and German Shorthaired Pointers). Some are bred for speed, most for good appetites and tough feet as well as good attitudes. Some people breed Siberians for racing because they are beautiful. My first two “sled dogs” were Malamute-mixes (not fast but big, strong, very beautiful and extremely stubborn—not necessarily good traits for racing dogs). A “sled dog” is really defined by the “work” that they do. They belong in the “working dog” group, along with herding dogs, hunting dogs, etc. But they are not specifically a “breed” and not one of them would make it into the AKC (except the purebred Siberians and Malamutes). If you have ever owned a “working dog” you will know that they can go insane (literally) without a job.

~Run Baby, Run!

My Malamute-mixes and I never raced. We never needed to. The most precious times were running under a full moon. No headlamp needed. It is the quiet and the beauty in the cold of winter that I craved. Snow machines can get you there but dogs get you there in a more primitive and more meditative way. The only sounds that you can hear are the sounds of the earth, the wind, the sled runners swishing on the snow and the sound of breathing (yours and your dogs’). If the moment is truly magical, your breath becomes one with those of your dogs. At that moment in time, one realizes how big this earth we live on really is and how we are here for this one moment in time and you and your team become truly connected: Connected with the earth, the sky, everything around you and each other. To connect with another being (that is not human and does not speak your language) is a gift. And how can you help but want more.

“I would see a thing of beauty when running them, or many things, the pictures like frozen jewelry, and there would not be so much beauty when not running them. So I ran them because I wanted to see the beauty again, find the wonderful places they could take me.” Gary Paulsen ‘WinterDance’

Sled dogs are addictive. But what better addiction could you have? The problem is that one gets addicted to their speed and their power. It is truly amazing to pull the hook and feel the sled jerk in your hands as you are whisked away into that silent world of wonder. They speed up when you go around corners-just to see what is on the other side, I guess. You can spend hours watching their tails, their heads, and their ears. They will tell you what is ahead. If they really speed up it might be a moose and you had better be on your toes, or maybe it is just a smell that only they can identify with their finely evolved noses.

~Musher Michelle Phillips’ lead dogs

Then there are the “lead dogs”. A lead dog is special. Not all dogs can handle the mental work of running in front. Most dogs would prefer to chase something. Leaders set the pace and have to be fast enough to stay in front of the rest of the team but not so fast that they burn everybody out. They have to be smart and trainable because theirs is the demanding job of understanding the stupid human’s commands and following them. They are not necessarily dominant dogs but they are always incredibly loyal. They love without question even when the stupid human does something stupid. You can teach most dogs (not all) to lead, but a true leader will do it no matter what circumstances you are in. They have to know how to pull a whole team past another musher, either from behind, or sometimes head on. They have to be confident that they can do it. They are generally given the best spot on the couch or in the truck. They often get first treats. They are the kings and queens of sled dogs. Veteran leaders will teach younger dogs if they are side by side by nipping them on the neck when they start clowning around or getting out of line.

Every sled dog has a different personality. Some howl, some don’t. Some like to play, others are shy. Top teams often have mushers who can put a team together like a basketball coach. I have watched some of the more elite mushers go by our house at night and it is amazing. When they come over a snow berm, there are 64 legs trotting in unison (perfectly matched gaits) and then the sled comes over with a huge plume of snow blowing off the runners. There are 16 sparkly breath clouds above each head and then one, higher up, from the musher’s shrouded face. And then they are gone. It is beautiful to watch, but far, far better to be along for the ride.

Sled dogs are fed like kings (far better than their owners-who often subsist for months on Top Ramen or mac and cheese). They are fed the best meat, fish and fat sources that their owners can buy. They are generally fed twice a day. They get their shots every year. Their feet are tended to as if they were all Paris Hilton. Every toe nail is cut, every split is tended to. The shadow of a limp is cause for immediate concern. They are massaged and stretched. They have special shoulder coats with little pockets to put hand warmers in to keep muscles warm while they are sleeping. There are leg wraps, wrist wraps and any number of liniments, supplements and ointments that go with having sled dogs. Taking care of more than 5 is a full time job. The dogs should always eat before the musher does (even if it is just a snack).

~Musher Aliy Zirkle and one of her lead dogs

The most amazing part of having sled dogs is that they become family (often more important than the musher’s human family). Mushers often eat, sleep and even pee with their dogs. I like howling with mine. On the trail, you are family. You depend on one another for everything. The very air that you breathe is one and the same after all. They can heal you after a bad day at work or a fight with your spouse with one look over their shoulder as if to say “Are you there? We are here.”

For all of these reasons, the Leonhard Seppala Award for exemplary dog care is probably the most coveted.  It is awarded by the veterinarians on the trail and, unfortunately (my opinion), it tends to go to the front runners.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Here’s hoping your day is festive, and a celebration of all things Irish.  Remember, wear green or you might get “affectionaetly pinched” according to Wikipedia.  Then again, maybe you might NOT want to wear green.  I suppose it all boils down to personal preference.

And if you do indulge in the traditional green beer or two or three, remember to call a cab or bring a designated driver!

While we’re in a festive mood, I thought I’d do a little cross post from the Events page.  There are so many things going on this week, I thought I’d post them here, and remind everyone that the Events page is always there, and you are welcome to send me an email with an event, or just invite me on Facebook (AK Muckraker) and I’ll post it.

Events!

Cook Inlet Historical Society presents “Alaska Far Away”
Wednesday, March 17th, 7:30pm at Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, 121 W. 7th Ave., Anchorage, AK

Fundraiser for Keli Booher & Paul Honeman for Assembly
Thursday, March 18th, 5:00pm at 5063 Heritage Heights Drive

Open House: Bob Poe for Governor Anchorage Campaign HQ Reception
Friday, March 19th, 4:30pm at 207 E. Northern Lights, Suite 111, Anchorage

Alaskans for Peace & Justice and Students for Social Equality
Saturday, March 20th Noon-4pm at UAA – SSB Room 118
Panel Discussion to mark the anniversary of the Iraq War and discuss effects on the economy, the soldiers, the environment, etc.
Panelists – Diane Benson, Larry Weiss, Steve Heimel, Diddy Hitchens, and Cezar Martinson.

Anchorage Democratic Caucus Convention
Saturday, March 20th, 9:00am at UAA Lucy Cuddy Center

UAA Film Night – “This is What Democracy Looks Like”
Monday, March 22nd, 7:30pm at University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage Assembly Meeting***
Tuesday, March 23
Assembly Chambers – Z.J. Loussac Public Library – Come one, come all to hear Harriet Drummond’s resolution to have an independent investigator examing Sullygate!
5:30pm

Celebrating the Power of Women’s Voices with Diane Benson
Tuesday, March 23rd, 7:00pm at Schaible Auditorium, UAF Campus, Fairbanks

An Evening with Candidate for Governor Bob Poe
Wednesday, March 24th, 5:00pm at The Hangar Ballroom at the Wharf in Juneau

A Tale of Two Disappearing Women
Thursday, March 25th, 1:00pm at UAF Alumni Lounge, Constitution Hall, Fairbanks

Girl Scouts of Alaska Lunch
Friday, March 26th, 12:00am at Dena’ina Convention Center

Gospel Benefit Concert for the Haiti Relief Fund
Sunday, March 28th, 4:00pm at 855 East 20th Ave. Anchorage

Ben Masters’ First Solo First Friday Show ‘Just Pressure’
Friday, April 2nd, 6:00pm at Katie Sevigny Gallery

A Food Bank of Alaska Promotion Like No Other
Saturday, April 3rd, 8:00pm at Elixer’s–the bar out by Merrill Field on 5th, Anchorage

And of course, every Thursday night, you can attend the taping of Moore Up North, Shannyn Moore’s TV show!  You’ll want to get to Bernie’s Bungalow on D street between 6th and 7th Ave. at 5:30 sharp.  Enjoy a pomegranate martini, or a ….  well, I’m sure they have something else, even though I’ve never tried it.  And they also have great food, lots of space, and a bunch of people you’ll enjoy hanging out with!

This past weekend, almost 400 Coffee Parties took place across the U.S.  Each one was different, had its own agenda, and asked its own questions.  The people who attended were those who recognize that something is wrong in this country, but they don’t think drawing a Hitler moustache on something is the way to fix it.

Awesome and engaged Mudflatter ‘Valley Independent’ was our Boots On the Ground at the Coffee Party in Wasilla, Alaska.  She tells me she’s feeling more energized about politics than she has in a long time.  Here’s her report.

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from Valley Independent

The Coffee Party is off to a good start here in Wasilla.  The attendance wasn’t huge, but pretty darn good for short notice.  Thanks to Jay for organizing it, and to AKM and Shannyn Moore for helping to get the word out.

The Metro Cafe is a warm and sunny place on Lucille Street, a very busy north-south corridor in Wasilla.  I have been wanting to visit since they opened this summer, so this was a great excuse to do just that.  Their website is here.  Carmen and her assistant were lovely, and make great coffee.

It was fun and exciting to see some familiar faces from around town, and also to have the opportunity to meet several new people, all of whom are willing to work constructively on the challenges that face us on all political levels.

Several good suggestions were brought forth – we’ll be working on those at future meetings.  Speaking of future meetings, our next meeting will be at the Metro Cafe at 10 am Saturday, March 20th. This is a non-partisan event, so anyone who wants to engage in civil discussion about the issues and be a part of finding solutions is not only welcome, but encouraged to attend.

Phil Munger has a post with pictures on his blog, Progressive Alaska, found here.  Bill Hess also stopped by and is working on something for his blog, Wasilla, Alaska by 300, which can be found here.  Thanks to both of them.

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Mudflatter ‘lovemydogs’ is having a busy week.  She’s caring for the kennel of Iditarod musher Colleen Robertia.  Love my dogs commented on the day of the race about Colleen and her kennel:

Some of them are [rescue dogs] and some of them are children of retired + rescue dogs etc. Her kennel is very mixed in terms of where the dogs come from. But she is definitely an advocate for rescuing dogs.

Her lead dog Penny was the smallest dog to start the Quest last year. She finished the race in lead. They are very careful about breeding and most of their dogs are spade or neutered. Joseph is constantly bringing dogs home from the pound. They also have a Golden, a pug (both rescues), a German Shepherd and numerous dogs with various health problems (a “wheezer”, a sled dog born with a liver shunt, etc.) who inhabit their home. The German Shepherd was Colleen’s before they ever had sled dogs. One of her goals is to be competitive with a small kennel of dogs that may not come from top bloodlines. I was standing in their house last night and looking around at all of the dog beds and dog food bowls and laughing because there are more places for the dogs to sit than humans. Their Golden thinks my lap (wherever it is perched) is the only chair in the room.

Lovemydogs has kept us all up to date with frequent comments on how the team is doing on the trail, and how she is doing back at home base. Colleen’s husband Joseph also has a blog he’s been updating with information on the team.

Colleen’s team is one that I picked to follow, before I even knew about the connection with Mudflatter ‘lovemydogs.’ Serendipity.

I asked her to contribute as a Voices from the Flats writer. Here is her first contribution. Thanks lovemydogs, and here’s to a successful run for Colleen and her dogs.

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~Robertia’s team at the Iditarod start in Anchorage wore jackets that read, “Until There Are None, Adopt One.”

The River
by lovemydogs

It’s -40 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s dark. You’re alone with your dogs. You haven’t slept more than 3 hours for days. You cut your own sleep last night/day to massage the shoulder of one of your best dogs.
And now you are seeing things. Was that a big gigantic barn that I just drove my dogs through? What is that doing out here? And why wasn’t it warm inside?

You come into a checkpoint thoroughly demoralized and wonder why everyone around you seems to be drunk. Your dog might be hurt but you can’t leave her with these people. You think about putting her in the sled bag and carrying on. You need to feed your team and get them bedded down somewhere where they can use the calories to recover. You decide to stay. You do your chores. You call home. You cry. You get mad at your husband. He tells you that you are tired and everything will look better after some sleep. You yell that he isn’t being supportive and he doesn’t understand. You hang up. He goes back to his chores at home and his own private world of insanity where he can do nothing more to help you.

The river is one of the biggest mental obstacles in this race. It is HUGE, it is long and it is boring. Running for hours on what is essentially an ice road that never seems to end. The dogs don’t like running in the middle of the day but they need to retain calories to run and not burn them to stay warm. Getting them and yourself out there from every checkpoint is a gargantuan test of will. Once you get going they warm into it and then you have to stay on the drag to keep them from going too fast and injuring themselves.

This is the river.

Colleen said during the Yukon Quest “If this doesn’t throw you into adult onset bipolar disease, I don’t know what will”. Being a friend, handler or significant other of the musher is hard. They come into some checkpoints ecstatic and joyful and others as down as a person can be. You try to tell them that their attitude infects the dogs (because musher and his/her team are as one by now). Most of the time all you can say is, “I love you”, and hope that it gets through. Aily Zirkle once tapped Colleen on the forehead and told her “It’s all up here”. I think that she is right.

Joseph, Colleen’s husband, is going out of his mind. He sits in front of his computer and watches her GPS tracker incessantly because the updates of the standings are hours behind if you aren’t at the front of the pack. He gets frustrated because he wants to see more news coverage of her. He thinks she is beautiful and brave and running this race with the right ethical philosophy. I don’t blame him.

Most of the coverage is of those at the front or the back of the pack. There are 71 people who started this race with their dogs. Each and every one of the mushers left is racing as hard as they can within the limits of their dogs and themselves. Every day is a test. As one of my friends said to me today “Every one of the people who finishes that race is a hero”. Personally, I have no idea how they do it. Lance’s wife used to tell me “they’re all psycho”.

I’m cheering Colleen and Penny and all of her little family on with all of the positive energy I can send her. I’m trying to help Joseph keep his mother hen instincts from causing him to have a nervous breakdown. “It’s the river” I tell him.

~Emilie, a dog handler gets some pre-race love from a member of the team.