Race time.
We are in Glennallen, home of the Copper Basin 300, also known as the 300 toughest miles in Alaska. This time just getting here was a feat in itself. Ever since the Gin Gin 200 the last weekend in December, we have been living in a deep freeze. The thermometer is hovering between -50°C (-59°F) at night and -40°C (-40°F) in the heat of the day. That brought a series of complications with it.First the water froze in the cabin, not a big deal I am kind of used to that, having no running water at home. But once our oil monitor went down also, things turned for the worse. That was 10 p.m. on new years eve, about right the time when Gerry Willomitzer showed up for a visit. Not many people are driving around at 45 below in the middle of the night. Funny enough the same happened 2 years ago in Knik, the second Gerry showed up, our heater went out in the cabin.
Well instead of celebrating the new year, we were dismantling another heater in Audies Workshop, dragging it over to the cabin and trying to hook it up. With both heaters being different models, nothing would fit. Much cussing and swearing later we had some heat again at 2.a.m.. But with the heat came the exhaust fumes, from the ill fitting pipes. Instead of getting high on those fumes we turned the heater off. New years day was spend to make 1 stove out of 2 and getting the cabin warm again. Unfortunately that meant I had no time to prepare for the Knik 200 and opted to not run that race. The thought of driving dogs again in 45 below was not that appealing to me anyhow.
I drove to Knik with Mark, as I wanted him to run the Knik 200 to gain more experience. He wrote is own accounts of that experience. I had a huge shopping list. It did not only include a new oil monitor for backup heat , but also pipes and fittings for a wood stove. I traded the old Oil Monitor with Audie for and old wood stove. Screw this modern oil stuff, a stick of wood in the stove will always keep us warm. Talking about modern stuff. This morning my nice big Dodge truck did not start in 45 below, even with being preheated by a propane torch under the oilpan. O.K. I have to admit, the electric plugin came unplugged the night before without being noticed. But still, the good old 83 Ford fired right up. Same as to the Knik, we showed up at the Copper Basin with my old junker again, this time 2 teams crammed in there, Mark and mine.
Kris had enough of the cold and left a week ago back to BC. Some how I cannot blame him. He did not miss much, as within the last 2 weeks we only manage to do one 15 mile training run. The thermometer showed a warm minus 30, and we thought, yeah, lets hook up the dogs. 5 miles down the trail the thermometer on the sled showed 45 below again. Better turn back home before any dogs get frostbite. The weather frogs are calling for warmer temps. But each time I look, those warmer temps move away further in the forecast. It looks like another 40 below race. As the dogs really need some miles now, we prepared for the worst, with double blankets, belly warmers and fox tails for the dogs. Mark ordered some new funky handwarmers with are supposed to last 24 hrs. This will be their test. One more hour and the musher meeting is on.
If all goes well, I will fly right after the Copper Basin, to the Kuskokwim 300.
I split up my main dogs into 2 separate teams. My team for the CB 300 is:
Nemo, Popcorn, Grisman, Inuk, Stevie, Wendy, Happy, Yonder, Skunk, Finn, Saffron, Ricky
Marks team is:
Buckley, Kiana, Polar, Casper, Gas, Diesel, Franky, Libby, Ed, Simon, Hoss, Rosco
Cheers
Sab
Sab
