We weren’t planning to start “getting into” the upcoming Denali Doubles for another week or so. Partly because we don’t have a lot to say about it yet, but mostly because we don’t really feel like we have it all figured out. But, many of you seem quite keen to “get after it” so we’re inviting you to play along!
If you click on the image to the left, a PDF of the complete Denali Doubles Race rules will open in a new window. Most of it is pretty straightforward “race stuff” but if you read carefully you will see a number of details that are different for this race.
Your mission — should you choose to accept it — is to put everything you’ve learned here on the Dog Log to use and develop your own race plan: What would your run/rest schedule be? What supplies would you carry with you and what would you pre-position at the supply depot in Paxson? What kind of sled configuration would you use for two mushers? How would you design your dog team in terms of experienced veterans vs. youthful rookies, speed vs. steady, etc.? Would you pre-plan to “leave” — not “drop” — any dogs along the way to pick up on the return? Would you pre-plan to “drop” any dogs in Paxson? So many factors to consider!
To help you out a little, I’ve put together a pretty good map of the race course which you can see in full size by clicking the image below:
If you would prefer to see and/or print a higher quality PDF version, you can open one in a new window by clicking here.
What else have you got to do this weekend? Get after it! And if you come up with something you’re really happy with, send us a copy: SPKDogLog@gmail.com
Hang on… we need more info!
What are your goals? Are both teams racing to win? How long do you feel comfortable running the dogs without a rest break? Do dogs usually come out of drop sites ready to work immediately?
I love that you've posted this, BTW.
If the winds blowing from milepost 17-9 and it's pavement showing, 20 dogs might be "a little bit to handle"… (isn't it 42 miles from Mac to Pax???)
What is the topography like in between the checkpoints? Hilly or flat?
If I read rule #18 correctly, the team will need to carry their food for the first 2 checkpoints and reload in Paxson for the return trip. Can you confirm if this is correct?
What is the weight of food and snacks required to feed 20 dogs?
How much weight can a sled safely carry?
So many details to learn about! LOL
An armchair musher trying to make a good game plan. :>)
Who are the second mushers? Won't their ability effect the sled design?
I love this challenge idea! It is going to be hard to get report cards finished AND plan the race, but my wheels are turning!
Figuring Allen will be kicking and poling anyway, I'd throw him a rope and a pair of skis! Run to Mac and rest 8, then thru Pax back to Mac and rest 8. Then to the finish with 80 paws on the snow.
This is fun, but a little complicated. Can I ask about the maximum time Aliy and Allen usually run dogs? Cantwell to Alpine is 68 miles, and I was just wondering if that could be done in one leg…I noticed that in the CB300 Chisto to Tolsona (finish) was 74 miles, and the schedule said run for almost 10 hours…did that include a break/snack for the dogs?
Whoa, whoa, whoa… I knew the moment I pushed the "publish post" button it was like poking a stick in a hornets nest for some of you…
I applaud and admire your enthusiasm and intensity… I would also encourage you to keep this "mission" in perspective…
My intention was simply to give you a first-hand sense of what all is involved in race planning… Like everything in life, it's one thing to hear about something and/or see it, and another to give it a go yourself…
So, with that said…
Please do not try to work up a plan for SP Kennel… There are too many things you don't know — cannot know — about all the variables here. Plus, I cannot answer many of your questions about our goals, etc., because that would divulge our strategies. So, you really can't do an SPK race plan…
What you can do is imagine you have your own kennel of dogs… let's say 30 or so dogs — all of mixed age, experience, ability, etc… Looking at the topography, how would you prioritize speed, power, stamina and experience? Does it look like a difficult trail with lots of hills that need power, or a flat-ish course that needs speed? Does it look like an easy course to follow, or one that requires a lot of savvy leaders? We'd all love to have all perfect dogs who can do it all, but that's not reality. Imagine you have a good, solid mix of abilities… How would you prioritize?
Assume your dogs can do normal "long-distance dog" runs… You know about the 50-50's we do here at SPK… You know we do 80's on long runs… You also know that the run/rest ration has to average something near 1-to-1 over the long haul… How would you break up the route? Certainly, you can do Cantwell to Maclaren in one run… But do you want to do Maclaren-Paxson-Maclaren non-stop right after it? There's one mandatory 8-hour rest at Maclaren, and 8 hours is a great rest… But Allen has shown you that doing 4 — or even 2 — can do wonders for the dogs' speed. Do you think that fewer longer rests are better or worse than more shorter rests? Just think about it… That's the point of this mission…
Also, it's great to think you'll hook up 20 dogs at the start in Cantwell and unhook 20 dogs at the finish in Cantwell… But, is that realistic? Look at the rules to see where you CAN drop dogs if you have to… and where you would have to carry in the sled the extra weight of any dogs you maybe should have dropped when you could have dropped them… What plans might you make for dropping dogs where and when you can?
Any supplies you will need for rests at Alpine and Maclaren must be carried by you in the sled… Everything weighs something… You can have supplies waiting for you in Paxson… Maybe using them there and not having to carry them back along the route is a good idea? How would that affect your ideal run/rest schedule?
I honestly don't think you need to worry about "how much the supplies weigh" for right now… Just be aware that stuff does have weight and think about the tradeoff of carrying weight to fit a particular run/rest schedule vs. running empty on a less "perfect" schedule…
Okay? I suggest you not sweat the details right now. Just lay out a rough plan and then consider the pros/cons of it… Think about what options you have, and what the trade-offs are of each.
All I wanted to do with this exercise was to "concretize" some of the stuff you've seen on the Dog Log. If it has gotten you thinking about all that goes into racing sled dogs, that's fantastic… If it's gotten you to have a few moments of panic about all the stuff you feel like you don't know… Well… So much the better! 😉
haha, I love this line: There is a $75 fine for whining
hmm I think the first leg, I'd run 7 and rest 2, then on to Alpine, rest 5, then 8 hour layover in Maclaren. Leave dogs in Mac that I know would not make a full Mac-Pax-Mac run-through and still finish the race, rest 5 at the return to Mac and pick up dogs, run to Alpine, rest 8, run 7 rest 2 then on to the finish. I think it would be important to move that last 8 hour to Alpine for the final push.
I'd start with that plan and adjust it to cover all those things I don't know. I'm pretty new to all this though, so that gap is quite a bit.