Running on Snow
Here in southcentral Pennsylvania, we don't often get to run on snow, bikes, scooters, and wheeled rigs are more common. When it does snow, we're in for a treat! Several local parks have great trails, including the York County Rail Trail. For some runs, we had deep fresh, light powder, or a fairly packed trail broken by skiers and hikers (faster than fresh powder). If it rains and freezes, or melts and refreezes, ice can make for tricky or dangerous conditions. A crust creates "punchy snow", hard on the dogs. The best sleds are lashed together and are flexible, but they don't steer like your Flexible Flyer! You hop, lean, and lurch the sled around, or tilt it over on one runner to follow the dogs back onto the trail. Mostly it follows the dogs, easier with a slightly larger more powerful team. A sled like these needs at least two Siberian sized dogs, three is better, four is great... more is... well, you better have some serious experience and trail help! We can't use snow hooks (an anchor for the team and sled) because we don't get deep enough snow; so like the old sailor's caveat says "one hand for you and one for the ship" (never ... let .... go...).
Pinchot Park 2014.01.22: Four Dog Team
I team up [with Nichole and willow to create a four dog team ( I have only driven my three till now). I had posted some pics on York daily Record's photo gallery of earlier runs, an editor from YDR called me in the midst of Tuesday's epic snowstorm to ask if we were going to go "mooshing".
Yup. Sure were. Pinchot had plowed their nice level entrance road. I took off with four dogs, trailing a reporter and photographer. These small sleds are not made for adult passengers but we put the lean and wiry photog in the basket for a short run, on a straight stretch to shoot video. I got lost at least once, but Leggy found the trail. I also found I could jump off and correct the leaders when they went astray, without losing the team (one hand for you, one for the ship)( never let go of the sled or gangline as you run up to the dogs and back). I discovered the usefulness of the drag mat or drag brake (often a piece of snowmobile tread, dropped between the runners; you stand on it to slow the team).
Later, we broke up into two teams of two dogs each. Then I took Max the Hobbit Husky for a brief run with Leggy and Denali.
Yup. Sure were. Pinchot had plowed their nice level entrance road. I took off with four dogs, trailing a reporter and photographer. These small sleds are not made for adult passengers but we put the lean and wiry photog in the basket for a short run, on a straight stretch to shoot video. I got lost at least once, but Leggy found the trail. I also found I could jump off and correct the leaders when they went astray, without losing the team (one hand for you, one for the ship)( never let go of the sled or gangline as you run up to the dogs and back). I discovered the usefulness of the drag mat or drag brake (often a piece of snowmobile tread, dropped between the runners; you stand on it to slow the team).
Later, we broke up into two teams of two dogs each. Then I took Max the Hobbit Husky for a brief run with Leggy and Denali.
