Getting soft
Greetings from the Yukon. It is getting about time to write another newsletter. Along this way I also like to wish you a merry Christmas and all the best for 2010.
The past weeks flew by quickly, it always goes that way when things are busy. The race training is in full swing. Until the middle of November we were on the ATV, but also did quite a bit of training hooking the dogs up to the pickup truck. In one way, that is nice, its warm, music and a kind of comfy and we were able to put some long hours on the team, but than my truck got 4 miles to the Gallon and that was no fun at all. On November 16th we finally switched to the sled. Switching to the sled also meant driving with the truck to the South Canol Raod, a 120 mile drive one way. Training from home would be sure easier, but training on the Canol Raod is pretty hard to beat. Not only is there good snow, the trail is wide and safe to run big strings, and there are lots and lots of hills. We load up all 26 dogs in the truck and trailer, the sleds are pre-packed in the trailer. 
By now we have done many trips up that way, going a little bit longer each time. To go long enough, the trail needed to be punched in all the way to Ross River. Gerry was kind enough to let me take out his girlfriend, the fat yellow lady. He sleeps with her in the shop, his brand new Scandic super wide track. Subsequently I had to try the new trail on our last run, resulting in 3 runs of 12hrs each. Boy that is getting loooonnggg and a sure taste of what is going to come in the races. Thankfully Mark left me a lot of Audiobooks on my Ipod before he left. I am well into my 4th Harry Potter book and have to admit that I am hooked on them. A great way to let the time pass a bit quicker on the sled. Training has been next to ideal, the temperatures not too cold, not too warm. The trail sometimes a bit fast and hard for my liking, but as long as I go far enough, I reach trails less traveled. That is one other fun thing about the South Canol Raod, a lot of other mushers train there. Its good training for the dogs, training head on passes and passing, better said in my case being passed. I just had to get up and chase Nemo away from my kitchen counter, there is now only 3 hamburger patties left, the rest disappeared within seconds. I hate when that happens. Town day tomorrow anyhow. 
O.K. continue with training…. Another advantage of the Canol Raod is, that I can see what the other teams are doing, how long they run, where they rest. Same as last year I am running much slower than most everybody else and much further than anybody else. Time will tell if that strategy will work out again. This is for sure the most solid dog team I have ever driven. We started training with 24 dogs in September, than added 2 more dogs from my friend Martin Jahr in October, both fit right in my gang. The team is a mix of 5 people dogs this winter: Rick Casillo, Martin Mahr, Richie Beattie, John Little and some of mine. It is fascinating to see how which each run, each happy hour, each cabin night, the team is molding together stronger. In September the Happy Hours (all dogs loose in pen) where not necessary always happy. At the beginning I had to be careful of who is being hooked up beside who. By now, middle of December that is long gone. Anybody can run with anybody. They chase each other around the big pen and gang up in groups, but now with friendly intentions and not the jealousy games anymore. I wish people would learn that part as fast as dogs do. We have now logged 2330 miles since October 1st, which is even a bit more than last year this time of the year. Subsequently I will be able to take it a bit easier in the next days. 
I have some computer work ahead of me anyhow, as the Blue Kennels website has to be changed, which I cannot do before Hans the webmaster comes back over Xmas. The Cooperation between Sky High and Blue Kennels has after many unpleasant disagreements come to a complete end. This will open up some time and energy for new business endeavors. For the next few days I also do not mind not sleeping outside, as the thermometer has sunk to 35 below last night. I must be getting soft, as already after 1 hr happy hour in the dog pen today, I got cold and retreated inside. Some days I am still itching to run the Yukon Quest this winter, but than thinking about the cold has me come to my senses. It is a bit hard for me to sit out some of the preliminary races this season, but with the slow and long training, it makes so sense to show up at any fast middle distance races. The first race of the season , the Sheep Mountain 150 was cancelled due to not enough snow. I will skip the 200 milers, they are too fast for my team. I might sign up for the Kusko 300, but their snow situation is kind of marginal right now also. If they do not improve the first race will be the Denali Double Jeff King is putting on. After that of course Iditraod, the main goal this year. Most races have drastically reduced their purses and Iditarod being one of the worst ones. From 2 years ago, the purse has dropped by $430.000 or 47%. That sure hurts. Talking about hurting. One outstanding thing this season is, that the dogs are virtually injury free. Just the other day first time had to get out a bottle of Zalox to massage one of Nemo´s shoulders. Other than that, we yet have to see a sore wrist, sore shoulder or any foot problems at all. 26 of 26 dogs are still in training. I believe more and more in the slow but steady going. For the race fans of you who like to follow what is going on. There is a great new website offering videos of mushers and races: http://mushing.tv/?p=354, has an Interview I did during the Fairbanks Mushing Symposium. Well these are the Blue Kennels news from the Yukon, again I wish you all a merry Christmas and all the Best for 2010 and hope to hear or see you in the new year.
Happy trails Sebastian
Sab
