On the trail - Steward River - Stepping Stone
Coming
into Steward and all dogs looking strong I just decided in my mind
that I might as well keep up the pace and not go camping. It was great
to run with all those experienced mushers. Mike McGowan the Race Marshall
came up to me and asked me if my handler speak English. Yes, they
are Canadians so I guess so, I replied not quite getting the purpose
of his question. Than came the shock. „ Did they not tell you
that you have to get Brownie rechecked before you leave Dawson? „.
No they did not why? Well the vets thought that he has to be dropped
and you need to drop him here now. “. I hardly could believe
what I was hearing, Brownie came into Steward River in lead, running
just fine and his swelling being totally gone. Quite a bit of talking
back and forth happened. Mike actually seemed quite uneasy in the
situation himself, specially seeing me coming in with Brownie running
in lead. What was really puzzling to me is that the Vet on site, refused
to recheck Brownie and he did not want to overrule the Dawson Vets.
I really asked myself why he is there than, but that was beside the
point. I wondered what had happened. Dawson was fuck up, that was
for sure, but I did not expect it to hunt me down the trail. Who did
the Vets talk to, maybe mistaking my tourists for my handlers. Markus
would 100% have told me. Even more puzzeled me (and Mike) that my
Vetbook did not say that Brownie had to be dropped. Maybe the whole
thing was a setup, that also crossed my mind, but by who and why?
Mike was also getting time pressured as it was getting dark. His precious
time ticked by, but so did mine instead of properly taking care of
dogs, there we were standing and discussing. Mike came up with a good
idea. He would fly back to Dawson and tell the Vets what he had seen
and that Brownie looked good. If he’d call back with the message
that I could continue with him I could do so. If I would not hear
from him I’d have to leave Brownie behind. Thoughts were racing
in my head..... what now, if on my way to Pelly for whatever circumstance
Brownie does injure himself and I have to carry him into Pelly. Than
I would be in trouble for sure. Man what to do? I would have trusted
Thomas Tetz`s advise but he was behind on the trail. Well there actually
was only one choice to be on the safe side. To drop Brownie. Before
Mike left, I told him he did not have to call back, I would drop him
because I did not want to take any chances to get in trouble once
reaching Pelly. A relieved Mike left....... now I know the reason
why he had been there, in the middle of nowhere, just to talk to me.
I still had a strong 11 dogs, yes losing Brownie a good leader was
a loss, not a dramatic one. It just more occupied my mind than anything.
I had a hard time to concentrate, constantly thinking about what just
had happened. Well so far for may racing strategy. There also was
only one way to continue. To slow down till I find answers what had
happened in Dawson or if this indeed was some sort of setup. Thomas
came in, we discussed again, and I wasted all my time not sleeping.
I
way overrested the dogs, we stayed almost 10 hrs, but I could not
think clearly. If I would have left about Midnight, it would have
put me on a perfect schedule, it is an about 10 hrs run into Stepping
Stone, and I could have gotten there before the heat of the day.
Heat was definitely an issue now. Instead I fooled around till 3.30
in the morning. Even some mushers, Michelle and Kelly, I had not
seen since Central did catch up to me. Dave Daltons Team was harness
banging and barking to go when he left, all 14 of them, a great
sight some 650 miles into the race. When it got time to leave even
Wondar and Tang were making noise and I also had a great start.
After not sleeping I had a very very hard time to stay awake during
the run. The trail was in a great shape, I had heard many horror
stories about this section but the rangers and Wendall Carey had
done a terrific job to clean it up. Running all the way to Stepping
Stone was out of the question, I decided to run as long as it would
get too hot. One a sheet of ice I could see Coon slip and he started
to limp immediately, darn.... First time all race I had to load
a dog. I put heatpacks on his front left shoulder. He happily stayed
in the basket. I passed quite a few mushers resting, John, Frank
and Dan and finally found a good stop in the trees on the left side
of the trail. My morale was on a deep low. I felt my race was over
and wanted to scratch. Here I was in the heat of the day, having
a dog in the basket after just loosing Brownie. The dogs sensed
of course my mood. None of them ate when we stopped. Disaster was
there, just a few hours after having a great time. Luck can change
quick on the Quest. I felt there was only one thing I could do to
perk them up, turn them all loose, get them exited to move around....
it was a great sight to see them all curl up under 2 large spruce
trees. Fine we rest like this for now. I caught a catnap in my sleeping
bag. It was warm, definitely above zero. Frank passed by and I told
him that I was going to call it quits in Pelly. What an earful I
got from him, but I have to thank him for that, it could not have
come at a better time.
We left the campspot at 3.30 not an ideal time, but I wanted to get going. Coon looked better but I decided to leave him in the sled. It should not be too long into Stepping Stone, there he could rest some more. Indeed it was only another 2 hrs into there. Man if I would have gotten going earlier the night before, I kicked myself for letting that Brownie Episode to let me get of track so bad.
