SPK Dog Log

Hi folks! Just a really quick update for those waiting to know what’s going on! The halfway stop at the Chena Hot Springs Rifle Range checkpoint saw Aliy and the Red team in 2nd place just 16 seconds behind the leader with a run time for the first 53 miles of 4 hours, 21 minutes and 40 seconds. Allen and his Black team left the checkpoint in 4th position just over four minutes behind Aliy with a run time of 4 hours, 25 minutes and 45 seconds. Meghan’s runtime was 5 hours, 12 minutes, 44 seconds and she left the checkpoint in 14th position.

There are 23 teams in the 100 mile race and the expected time of the first finisher, whomever it may be, is going to be around 12.45-1am-ish. I didn’t get to see anything of the teams but did catch up briefly with Aliy, Allen and Meghan who all said their runs went really well and the dogs look GREAT!

My Yearling team did such a fantastic job! I am so proud of them – at this point in time the final positions are not posted but I believe we ran the 53 miles in 6 hours, 8 minutes (ish). We did get passed by A LOT of teams but we also passed a few ourselves! I will write a proper race wrap-up and tell you all about my team of superstars in the next day or two – I’ve just popped back to the kennel to put the babes to bed, feed all those left behind, unload the truck then I’ll head back down to Pleasant Valley Store shortly to catch the finish.

L-R: Meghan readies her sled while Pud, Waylon and Mismo watch; Chemo, Scout, Nelson and Quito wait.

By the time we get everyone home and to bed we will need some sleep ourselves so you may not hear from us for a few hours! Keep an eye on the Two Rivers Dog Mushers Assoc website for the results!

Four teams are racing tomorrow in the Solstice 100 or 50 mile race. Check out the team line-ups page for the full rosters and more information about each dog.

We’re very lucky to have Wes (of “Wes and Wendy” fame), Allen’s daughter Bridgett and of course, Allen’s right-hand-man, Ray, helping us out of the starting chute!

Aliy’s Red team will be lead by Quito and Scout, Scruggs and Scooter, Nacho and Boondocks, Mac and Chemo, Nelson and Willie with Biscuit and Felix in wheel.

Allen’s Black team will be lead by Chica and I.V., Schmoe and Sissy, Rambler and Beemer, Clyde and Puppet, Lester and Tatfish with Bonita and Izzy in wheel.

Meghan’s Red and Black team will be lead by Viper and Pud, Waylon, Ranger and Honda, Boris and Outlaw, Mismo and Fang with Pepe and Tug in wheel.

Moira’s Red and Black Yearling team will be lead by Dingle and Spoog, Junior and Lydia, Dutch, Iron and Driver with Kodiak and Sandy in wheel.

SP Kennel has entered four teams in the Two Rivers Solstice 100/50! Aliy and the Red Team, Allen and the Black Team and Meghan and her Red and Black team will run 100 miles. Moira is taking the Red and Black Yearling team 50 miles. It will be quite the logistical exercise to run four teams!

The course is on trails all our dogs know well and at one stage pass very close by the kennel (we’ll all have to HAW our dogs where they always GEE). The TRDMA committee and volunteers have worked extremely hard for the last few weeks organising the race and putting in the trails and staging areas for the race. THANK YOU all for the fantastic work you have all done under sometimes very trying circumstances.

There is a really strong field for both races – check out the TRDMA website for more information about the race, the course and the field.

We will post race line-ups on Friday night once they are finalised and a race wrap-ups on Sunday or Monday.

We’ve had a couple of cold snaps in Two Rivers so far this winter, most recently Sunday night and Monday when it hit 40 below. Even with husky coats, straw beds and big, warm meals the dogs expend a lot of energy just keeping warm at this temperature.

During the fall Allen and Meghan worked on the dog barn to “winterize” it with insulation and a door for this very moment! We’ve moved a bunch of dogs into the barn where they are double bunking with their mates and enjoying milder temperatures.

The dog barn is the perfect set up because each kennel has room for two dogs to comfortably sleep inside. As well, each kennel has a door to the outside. That way the dogs can use the bathroom “facilities” whenever required. The only glitch is that we’ve had a few dogs bumping into one another as one enters as the other one exits. Opps! This seems to be a small inconvenience for such comfort.

Thanks again to all of you who have joined our Dog Fan Club. We’re so excited that it’s proving to be a popular program and we have fans from far and wide: Alaska, the “Lower 48”, Hawaii, Canada, Russia, New Zealand and Australia!

The winner of Draw #2 is PAT LIKOS from Hawaii! Pat is a fan of DINGLE.

We try to make the prize topical for what is going on at the kennel and recently we had all the dogs inside; weighing them, cutting nails and checking feet. Of course, to get the dogs from their houses to the garage we use leashes so Pat wins an Alaska Dog Leash. We hope it’s useful Pat! She’ll also receive a certificate, glam shot and some other goodies. Dingle gets some extra treats from the Dog Fan Club biscuit bucket.

We thought you might like to learn more about Dingle:

The next draw is Sunday, December 29th and the names of everyone who hasn’t already won and all new members will be in the hat (when we say “hat” we mean they will be in “the spreadsheet that automatically generates a random number” but that doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.)

Click the button below for instructions on how to join:

Click this button below to take you directly to the Dog Fan Page.

Meghan and Moira recently had a flying visit to Anchorage where they stayed at SP Kennel’s “home away from home” – Clarion Suites Downtown. In a place of honor at the reception desk is a fabulous framed pic of Scruggs (who is sponsored by the hotel and their sister: the Quality Suites Anchorage) and outside is a six-foot-Ranger!

The crew is always treated like royalty when they stay, whether it be for a quick visit or for the longer stay during the Iditarod – it really is like coming home. It’s the perfect checkpoint! Thanks team.

Here are the “Glam Shots” of our two Superstars:

Ranger; Scruggs

The next drawing for the SP Kennel Dog Fan Club winner is Sunday, December 15th. If you haven’t picked your favorite dog yet… perhaps one of these two boys will do?

Click the button below for instruction on how to join:

Click this button below to take you directly to the Dog Fan Page.

Two River dog mushers have been fortunate this winter in terms of weather. We have had plenty of snow and it seems to keep coming. There are many dog mushing trails in the area and as the snow continues to fall, many of them need upkeep.

Allen took the SP Kennel snowmachine out several weeks ago and broke out the trail along a Fire Break Trail running along the ridges to the north of the kennel. Then Aliy went out and drug the trail south of the kennel along the Chena River slough. During this adventure, the machine stopped suddenly – which happens when you hit something – but Aliy didn’t. Oops. So, Aliy went through the windshield.

Aliy went out again yesterday with local mushers, Chase and Scott, in order to look at the trail for the upcoming Two Rivers Solstice Race. The trail was completely shut in some areas due to downed willows and trees. So, they broke out the trail and cleared it until Aliy’s snow machine misbehaved. This cut the trail work a little short because the machine needed a tow. (Perhaps Aliy and machines don’t speak the same language. Maybe this is why she sold her first snow machine to buy a sled dog.) Aliy took a very short video while out on the adventure. Here it is:

Many other folks have been out working on the trails. Eric broke out the Yukon Quest trail over Rosebud Summit. Rick and Sonny have been putting in more than their fair share of time working on the local trails. Derek has been out looking for new trails and grooming old ones. And Two Rivers trail boss, Greg, has been on the machine when he’s not at his full-time teaching job. There are more people out there putting in loads of time and effort. Thanks!

Let it SNOW!

Sunday afternoon the field outside the kennel was a hive of activity with neighborhood children, parents, supporters and, of course, dogs. Ryne (Olson from Ryno Kennel) organized the event and much fun was had by all.

Ryne’s dogs Stormy and Cartel along with SP dogs ChaCha, Honda and Dingle took the kids on a loop at some great speeds! There were a few spills but everyone did really well. Congratulations the mushers Myrica, Noah Jane, Sam, Isabella, Orion, Katlyn and Timber!

L-R: Ryne gives out the medals and prizes; The Mushers.