russ-stickacres.com Blog

Wow…what a wild six days.

Zip has been a busy girl with 3 different kennel tours since Tuesday.

First stop – Karla and Danny Dann’s “Trail’s End Kennel”.

We caught Karla and Danny as they were getting ready for the annual Mackinaw Mush.

Bone chilling cold greeted us ~ don’t let the sun fool you. Single digits permeated clothing and flesh.

Jaz didn’t mind the cold.

Nor did Ruby.

Bandit scoffs at the temps.

The Siberians wonder why these “Streeper Hounds” don’t ever stop moving. Malcom is pure energy.

Four days later, in temps rivaling the number of year’s I’ve been on this earth, we visit “Serendipity Ranch” ~ home of Ellen Southern. (AC Ellen)

Upon arriving at Ellen’s, you are greeted by several loose dogs who stay close to the cabin, and even closer to Ellen. They are:

1 Mastiff
1 Doberman
2 German Shepherds
and…
1 Siberian Husky

And a couple kitties.

Visiting Ellen’s is always eventful. Today we meet her two new Seppala Siberians.

Possum

and…Wiley

More to talk about later…with an in-depth focus on both kennels.

But for now, back to “Dream Catcher Kennel” in Grayling.

Home of the working, and beautiful Siberians.

Dakota

Nanook

Dash.

Sunday afternoon spent by the bonfire ~ too warm for running dogs.

And yes, we finally got the sled hauled home.

More on our fun day…stay tuned.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Our dog, Aliy (named after you know who…), seems to be getting in the mode, as she tries to get her own harness on for a run.

With it being in the thick of a great dog sledding winter, I felt it was time to share the Aliy Zirkle “Checkpoint Tips” I learned while meeting Aliy several years ago at a Dog Sledding Symposium in Marquette, MI.

It was difficult to take notes while Aliy was talking, as she is so engaging with that flashy smile and quick wit. However, I’m glad I did.

Aliy Zirkle was the first woman to win the Yukon Quest, in 2000. (Click on her name and Yukon Quest.)

OK, take a deep breath because here we go!

Remember, up the gangline and then back down. No wasted movements.

Ready, set, go!

Take off parka and heavy clothes

Grab snacks left in the sled

Straw down

Snack dogs in the straw

Unhook tugs

Booties off

Start cooker

3 gallons H2O

Ointment

Algyval rub down

Blanket dogs

H20 ready – add fat and kibble

Give dishes

Feed leaders first

Give meds

Put snow in leftover food to cool

Collect dishes

Where next? How much to pack?

Pack sled with new food, etc.

Remove all garbage/gloves (put in pile)

Change runner plastics

Drop dog if necessary

Check race standings

Eat

Find place to crash

Change socks

Put watch in hat next to ear – actually 2 watches – in case one dies

Need hour to get sled back on trail

ONE HOUR BEFORE LEAVING:

Snack again

Booties on

Pack cooler

Parka and gloves on top of sled

Walk leaders on leash to pee! (This excites the other dogs too.)

Best of luck this weekend to all the racers in our backyard.

Cross-Country skiers at White Pine Stampede.

Mackinaw MUSH

M.U.S.H. at Luzerne.

Click on these events for further information.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Continued from Part 1 ~ (Scroll down)

As you may recall, we headed to Grayling to visit Dream Catcher Kennel.

Home of the working Siberians.

And Cash, the working Labrador.

Tim was a gracious host to RM Amy (pictured), three kidlets, and myself.

Cash was happy to have someone toss him the stick.

Invasion of the snowboarders.

Jordan winds up for the pitch, as Cash waits for the toss.

The sticks kept getting bigger, and bigger.

It was good to see Eden again.

Eden was in our kennel for many years.

She was originally brought to the U.S. by AC Ellen (Ellen Southern) and then came to our kennel from Ellen’s.

Amazing dog ~ never stops pulling ~ born in 1996.

Although quiet and reserved, upon hookup she explodes.

A favorite of the children. Eden has “stars” in her eyes.

Word has it that Wanda may be moving to the “puppy pen”.

Should know for sure any day now.

Gage (one of my favorites) will be the proud papa.

Young Dash is waiting to show what he is made of…beautiful dog. A new leader perhaps?

Try as we might, that sled was just not going to fit. (New sled for Last Chance Kennel tours.)

See these brother’s featured on a link below.

An article about Dream Catcher Kennel, written by Dan Sanderson, appeared in today’s Crawford County Avalanche. (Click on Avalanche.)

Stay tuned for Part 3 of “Dream Catcher Kennel” as we head back down this weekend to get the sled. This time, better prepared.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

These pictures were taken from our dog yard one night, several minutes apart, as I prepared to scoop.

I love to scoop poop. (Yes, Rustic Russ knows this. You can’t hold this secret over me.)

Why? You might ask.

You are outdoors.

You see your dogs.

You see their playfulness.

You see them content in their surroundings.

It’s like a mother or father tucking the children in at bedtime.

And, you see beauty all around you.

And by seeing the “poop”, you see how healthy and robust your dogs are, each day.

It is reassurance you are “doing right by the dogs”.

And, you get to see this.

Pink sky at night ~ sailor’s delight.

Life can’t get any better.

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman (Stay tuned for Part 2 of Dream Catcher Kennel)

What do you get when you pack in 3 kids, one very special dog and a gaggle of snowboards?

A full vehicle (a.k.a. Betsy) heading for adventure.

Destination – Dream Catcher Kennel – home of the working Siberians.

Myself and friend RM (Rookie Musher) Amy at the helm.

First stop, Mickey D’s.

Zip’s idea.

Destination accomplished. Grayling, MI.

Tim’s energetic, yet obedient, hunting dog, Cash, a working lab pretending the snow is water, just in a dense, colder form.

The homestead cabin and kennel sit on a scenic parcel that borders Federal Land.

Dream Catcher Kennel offers an immediate escape into the odiferous woods of Northern Michigan.

We head down the dog sled exit trail, Tim and Cash leading the way.

Jordan snowboards ~ sans dog power. Yes, he’s tried it with dog power.

Ryan investigated the deep woods.

Winter creek bed.

Tim’s father, Ralph’s favorite spot. His autumn deer blind is tucked nearby.

Pines adorn the trail.

Next year’s heat source ~ extracted from the deep woods by husky power, a sled and a determined “old school” musher, Tim.

“LuLu” ~ at home in the woods. At home with the animals. A true girl of nature.

…to be continued.

Until then, check out Tim and Michelle in Grand Rapids last week on January 27th for FOX 17’s “Tim’s Travels”.

Fun videos of their visit. (Click on videos ~ scroll to the mushing videos ~ be sure you see all three videos offered!)

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

Stay tuned as we head to Grayling, MI to visit with “old school” musher Tim Riley at Dream Catcher Kennel…

Until tomorrow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman

As most of you know, tomorrow, February 2nd is Groundhog Day.

Punxsutawney Phil will poke his head out and look for his shadow.

If he sees it, he will go back into his hole for the remainder of the winter. Six more weeks.

No shadow? He will declare it as a sign of spring!

OK, Western Pennsylvania is one thing. What about northern Lower Michigan?

If he were at Russ-Stick Acres, what would he see?

Shadows? We’ve got ‘em.

Yes, winter is long.

But we can hold on folks.

If I, without a shower or bath available can hold on, you can do it.

There’s another saying by American 19th century farmers. Groundhog Day – Half your Hay.

But seriously, summer is right around the corner.

You say you scoff at Punx Phil? Just a bunch of phooey?

Not so.

In 1986 he got to meet with President Reagan.

Punx Phil also appeared on Oprah in 1995.

So listen up tomorrow. Punx Phil knows.

Either way, we’ll be here.

Until tomorrow ~ Shadow or No Shadow ~ God willing,

Woodswoman