Spring Has Sprung

Spring Has Sprung
Mar 8th 2010
wolfmoonsleddog
Midwest
Location: Finland, MN
Time - 7:21pm Central Standard Time
Temperature: 30 degrees F (-1 C)
Conditions: Clear, unseasonably hot, muddy
Forecast: Drizzle tonight, rain showers tomorrow. Highs in the 40s, lows in the 20s

Above picture shows how things look behind the cabin. Instead of our nice snowy path we have…a lake. That’s Jen trying to avoid stepping in the water.

Spring has arrived with a vengence. This past week temperatures have soared into the fifties and our snow is fast disappearing. The 10-dog, 130-mile class of the Wolftrack Classic was cancelled because of this. It was 52 degrees and the trails were nearly snowless. The right decision was made in calling the race but I really feel bad for the organizers because they put so much work, effort and dedication into bringing the race about. It has to be a blow.

I mentioned earlier that we have been introducing the “puppies” to the big yard. This morning I went out into the yard to clean and discovered that one puppy, Bones, perhaps in protest of the warm weather, had somehow pulled the insulation out of the roof of his house and proceeded to shred it all around his circle. So I spent some time picking up chunks of pink foam from his circle.


Bones


The insulation

The snow around the yard is getting punchy and rotten. Where we have been walking all season, we are suddenly sinking with every step into an icy substance that can hardly even be considered “snow.” And our yard (not the dog yard, fortunately) has become a mud bog. All the melting snow has to go somewhere. Fortunately the dog yard is holding up.


Kim’s boyfriend, Jake, with Chime


Violet, one of the usual suspects on my team this year.

We did do some fun running since we didn’t do Wolftrack. Lori, a part-time handler, Jen and I started some of the puppies in harness and went on an 18-mile run with the usual suspects (yearlings). The sun was beating down and the trail not-so-great but it was still a fun run. Hard to believe this season is drawing to a close though. So much has happened and I have had some amazing experiences. Today was just a good day to be. To relax and enjoy the moment.

Team above is as follows:

Fiona Susan
Violet Bonnie
Mattie Rose
Urbana Inga

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3 Responses to “Spring Has Sprung”
Dave Lukosik on 08 Mar 2010 at 8:48 pm # edit this

Sorry to read the Wolf Classic Race got cancelled. It has suddenly warmed up to the 60’s here in Eastern NC past couple of days. Just last week there was still ice in the water buckets in the morning. Now is the time that those Muck boots come in handy with Spring Breakup! Bones is a good looking boy who has that look of “I don’t know how that pink stuff got there!” Nice 1 minute video of Blake on the Iditarod Insider recently posted. There is always the chance of some unexpected snow the rest of March. Best wishes to you all.

Aurora on 09 Mar 2010 at 11:31 am # edit this

Hmmm…. Well maybe Spring will feel just how unwelcome it is in your part of the world and continue heading south I am wearing a tank top today and loving it, though my pasty white shoulders will most likely be a little pink by the end of the day….

As far as the gaint puddle goes, I don’t want to hear it. I live in the middle of a swamp. Literally. Ten minutes of rain and we have to break out the rubber boots. Your Dad would love the bird watching possibilities though.

Much love. A & R

P.S. I think Bones and Rowen could have a lot of fun chewing on things together

wolfmoonsleddog on 11 Mar 2010 at 8:44 am # edit this

Yeah, we were all bummed about the Wolftrack but I saw the trail and it was just bad. There was no way the race could be safely run. The 6-dog, 30-mile race ran and I heard from mushers that maybe 25% had snow on it.

There are good pictures of Blake online, and some good videos on Insider and on YouTube. I will try to post them today.

Aurora - I miss you! But I must say, I still think our mud-bog yard trumps your swamp!! Maybe I’ll have to come visit and compare. Hah!

Bones (or “Bone-Bone” as he has been nicknamed) is a real goofball. He recently went on his first sled run (5 miles). He is one of the Punto/Domita puppies and is going to be a big boy!

A