Boy Scouts: Klondike Derby
aches and pains, sleet, ice, rain, punchy snow: be prepared
I was asked to do a sled dog demo for the Boy Scouts. Not an hour program, which I have done with art classes, wildlife rehab lectures, other dog demos and at least one scuba talk...
Nope, a day in the freeze as a checkpoint on the Klondike Derby Trail.
Boy Scouts build their own dogsleds (probably with help from dads and leaders, or they might inherit an earlier year's sled). The scouts pull them from checkpoint to checkpoint and are judged on various elements of how well they've got their mushing act together. The sleds have both skis and wheels, just in case. There are lots of great youtube videos on how to build one yourself. They ranged from PVC pipe and plywood to carefully lashed creations that pretty much looked like the real thing.
A couple of friends and I brought a sled, wheeled rig, bike, scooter, regular sledding harness, ski-joring and canicross gear and other goodies, as well as four dogs.
Snow was icy crusted and punchy (you punch through it, not good for dogs). The roads were ice, but we got in anyway. We got a spot alongside one of the roads inside Camp Tuckahoe, and worked out of our vehicles, much easier and more secure for the dogs. Especially for those of us who are of an age where we need to sit more and Iditarod less.
Dogs were thrilled at the attention. Rev was given one too many beef sticks and tried to pirate more once he realized Humans Have Gold In Their Pockets. No one could really run due to the conditions (though Denali pulled the sled a few yards up and down the road with some help, and Rev did too... with brakes). The scouts got to pull the real sled as a team, and ride the runners to see how it worked. In contrast to theirs, a regular dogsled has a claw brake, a drag brake, is flexible, is lighter, has a bridle attaching the gangline to half a dozen stanchions to spread out the force of the pull (so the sled doesn't break), and you ride the runners.
One of my runners cracked as I choked down the tie-downs to lash it to the van's roof. It was only the plastic "shoe" over the wooden runner, and, like the scouts, I was prepared... with duct tape. I also had food, water, straw for the dogs to lie on, crates to secure them when we went for lunch, and extra clothes. The temps stayed above freezing, the rain held off until afternoon when it drizzled briefly, and the scouts adored the dogs.
Thanks to Holly (with the Boy Scouts) as Trail Help, Dave as Photographer and Trail Help, Nicole and Willow and Luna as the other team, for making this a fabulous day despite the weather!
Pics by me and Dave Tristan...
Nope, a day in the freeze as a checkpoint on the Klondike Derby Trail.
Boy Scouts build their own dogsleds (probably with help from dads and leaders, or they might inherit an earlier year's sled). The scouts pull them from checkpoint to checkpoint and are judged on various elements of how well they've got their mushing act together. The sleds have both skis and wheels, just in case. There are lots of great youtube videos on how to build one yourself. They ranged from PVC pipe and plywood to carefully lashed creations that pretty much looked like the real thing.
A couple of friends and I brought a sled, wheeled rig, bike, scooter, regular sledding harness, ski-joring and canicross gear and other goodies, as well as four dogs.
Snow was icy crusted and punchy (you punch through it, not good for dogs). The roads were ice, but we got in anyway. We got a spot alongside one of the roads inside Camp Tuckahoe, and worked out of our vehicles, much easier and more secure for the dogs. Especially for those of us who are of an age where we need to sit more and Iditarod less.
Dogs were thrilled at the attention. Rev was given one too many beef sticks and tried to pirate more once he realized Humans Have Gold In Their Pockets. No one could really run due to the conditions (though Denali pulled the sled a few yards up and down the road with some help, and Rev did too... with brakes). The scouts got to pull the real sled as a team, and ride the runners to see how it worked. In contrast to theirs, a regular dogsled has a claw brake, a drag brake, is flexible, is lighter, has a bridle attaching the gangline to half a dozen stanchions to spread out the force of the pull (so the sled doesn't break), and you ride the runners.
One of my runners cracked as I choked down the tie-downs to lash it to the van's roof. It was only the plastic "shoe" over the wooden runner, and, like the scouts, I was prepared... with duct tape. I also had food, water, straw for the dogs to lie on, crates to secure them when we went for lunch, and extra clothes. The temps stayed above freezing, the rain held off until afternoon when it drizzled briefly, and the scouts adored the dogs.
Thanks to Holly (with the Boy Scouts) as Trail Help, Dave as Photographer and Trail Help, Nicole and Willow and Luna as the other team, for making this a fabulous day despite the weather!
Pics by me and Dave Tristan...