This & That

NOTE: I wrote this post yesterday, but due to internet complications I'm posting it today

The snow is blowing, the wind is howling and the dogs are fed. Good day to stay inside, pop in a movie and work on fixing torn, chewed, and broken harnesses from last year's season of mushing.

A few photo updates:

Middy finished the puppy pen the other day.
The pups think they are being tortured.

Another difference in sled dog care in the village opposed to the road system is the availability of straw for the dogs to lay on and keep warm in the winter. Middy will be shipping some bales of straw out, but it's very expensive to purchase straw and ship here in Alaska.

So instead of using straw the entire winter, we supplement by going out and collecting grasses that are just like straw:

These guys keep me company and entertained (when they're not messing up my freshly cut piles of grasses) while I work.

I took Kiana for a sunset run on the beach a couple nights ago. Although she will not get within a 5 foot radius of my 4-wheeler, she loves running along with me. 

I clocked her at 30 mph while she was chasing a raven; I was impressed.

As you can see from the photos, the snow has fallen and most importantly: is sticking around!

Unexpected happenings

Much has happened since my last post. In fact, Siku Kennel was put on hold for a little bit, and for very good reason.

Paul Johnson (a.k.a. Uncle Putty to most here in Unalakleet), brother to Middy Johnson and fellow Siku Kennel musher, was unexpectedly taken home to be with our Lord in heaven last Friday, October 14th, due to complications from a routine surgery. A very sad time and big loss here in Unalakleet.

I did not know Paul well, but I do know he was a man of God who lived his life according to God's will.  Paul was a great man who touched many lives - generous, unselfish, patient and very kind. I was greatly looking forward to working with and learning from him the ways of dog mushing. Paul ran the Iditarod sled dog race in both 1986 and 2011 with plans to run again this coming year, March 2012.

Last Wednesday the village of Unalakleet and others from all over the state came together to celebrate the life and faith of Paul. It was a blessed time of sharing each other's memories and honoring his life that he lived for our Lord. It is a comforting thought knowing he is no longer in pain and rejoicing in heaven.



On another note, the temperatures have been staying below freezing and the fluffy white flurries of snow are flying. This winter of mushing will be different than expected with the passing of Paul, but that does not change my excitement for what is yet to come.

Lost & Found

This past Spring, Middy expanded his dog lot (and I'm not talking about alllll the puppies). He bought 28 of Iditarod musher, Matt Hayashida's, dogs. Most of these dogs have run and finished the Iditarod multiple times.

About a month ago, one of these dogs went missing: a leader and pregnant female, High Noon, ready to burst with puppies any day. Middy went out one day and discovered she was missing. He searched, but was unable to find her. He sadly concluded that she got loose and died giving birth.

A couple days ago while out on his boat, Middy spotted the elusive High Noon ... with 7 pups in tow. She and her pups were across the river, taken in by a local who found her wandering the town.

Needless to say, Middy rounded her up and 6 of the 7 pups (one he was unable to catch and it is still with the local who took in High Noon on the other side of the river). 

High Noon is now safe and sound back home with most of her litter. They are a little small, but both babes and mom were healthy - probably feeding on fish for the last month.

High Noon

Happy and relaxed pups

These pups have attached themselves to me and LOVE to be held and cuddled - oh darn :)

Now our puppy population has increased to 23 ... with more on the way! 

There are still two pregnant females. 

Transition, Siku Kennel, and Seals

Currently I'm sitting in my tiny, but adorable, abode listening to Inupiaq hymns on KICY. 

My little house that I am renting from Matt & Tera Roesch. The little man on my porch is Kael, a boy I babysat while I lived in Unalakleet previously - a now frequent visitor to my new home :)

I'll post pictures of the inside once I get everything organized and put away

My stomach is full from two dinners. My new neighbors, Sam & Nita Towarak, invited me over for halibut/crab stew. I then headed over to another friend's, Karl & Karen Erickson - parents to Kael, house where they offered me spicy Indian food and cranberry upside down cake for dessert - I couldn't resist.

I was filled spiritually last night when I rejoined the women's Bible study and reconnected with so many friends. It will be a wonderful winter of focusing on the word of our Lord with such beautiful women of God.

Needless to say, I am well taken care of here in Unalakleet. It has been a wonderful transition thus far and I'm enjoying every moment.

Now to get down to business: sled dogs.

On Monday I started my work for Siku Kennels

View of the dog lot from the road just outside of town across the bridge

I will do individual dog profiles as I continue to work with them ... and actually learn their names

Siku Kennels, owned by Middy Johnson, consists of 38 dogs and 17 ...

... puppies!

Puppy pile, the only way to take an afternoon nap

Working for a village musher is definitely different than for a kennel on the road system. For one, basic needs such as fresh water are not readily available on site. It must be hauled in from town in buckets. Luckily, Middy is letting me borrow a 4 wheeler for the winter so these tasks are easier to accomplish.

So what do sled dogs in the bush eat? Well, Middy just received his shipment of kibble for the winter. However, high performing, athletic dogs need much more than just kibble to remain healthy. At DeeDee's kennel, she received shipments of pre-ground beef, pork fat, etc. Since starting work for Siku Kennels, we have fed donated pink salmon, white fish, whale, and seal. The fish we can throw in whole into the cooker.

The cooker at the dog lot where we prepare all the meat

Donated white fish

The seal and whale meat on the other hand had to be cut up into chunks. That is where yours truly comes in. Daniel Soxie, an elder here in Unalakleet, caught a seal and cut off the blubber for himself to make seal oil. The rest of the seal he donated to Middy to give to his sled dogs. Middy called me up, told me to pick up the seal carcass and then proceeded to show me how to butcher it. My Wednesday afternoon was spent cutting up a seal and then boiling it for the dogs' dinner.

For those of you who don't believe me (especially those in California) this was me after the butchering of a seal. Sorry, no pics of the seal or actual butchering.

Today Middy and another musher in town got a small whale and a seal. So what did I do in the afternoon today? Yep, butcher another seal and this time threw a whale into the mix.

Seal meat, whale meat and seal blubber chunks all cooked up and ready to feed to the dogs for dinner.

By the end of the winter, I will be regular seal and whale cutting pro.

Next week we will begin training the dogs. No snow is on the ground yet and there won't be for a little while still, so we will train the dogs with 4 wheelers until the snow accumulates and we can switch to sleds.

It's going to be a busy winter, but I am loving the experience and am anxiously looking forward to everything yet to come!