Races

Iditarod 2019 Aliy Cam: Episode 2 “ Rainy Pass 1”

May 4, 2019 by

Aliy took many short videos during her ten days on the Iditarod trail this year. We have complied them into short episodes that will be posted the next few weeks.

The Alaska Range is spectacular. I find that I can’t help but keep taking videos because the scenery seems to get better and better. However I controlled myself and only took three videos. This first one is about an hour out of the Rainy Pass checkpoint and still 5 miles from the actual summit. You can see both trail lathe and tripods marking the route. 

We hope that you enjoy the Aliy Cams.

Dogs | Retired

Lydia’s Travel Fund

May 1, 2019 by

Hi there! Guess what? I’m going on an adventure!

 

Moira has invited me to come live with her in New Zealand.

She has been a big fan of mine ever since we met when I was eight weeks old. Moira took me on my first race as a yearling in the Two Rivers Solstice 50 and has been there for most of my other races including the Iditarod, Yukon Quest 300s and Copper Basins.

We’ve hung out lots over the years, most recently I led her team up to the North Slope and navigated through glare ice, overflow and tundra. She was really impressed.

Since my “Official Retirement” is a kennel decision, SPK has opened this ‘Lydia Travel Fund’ page. Many dog fans and enthusiastic SP kennel supporters have enjoyed being part of my entire life – from Puppyhood to Rock Star racer – so why not continue to support me on the next step in my adventurous life?

Aliy and Allen have agreed to help me with the entire rigamarole of my emigration. It is rather exhaustive. What exactly will it take for me to get to NZ? The paperwork, vet checks, more vet checks, correct travel crate, even a Pet Carrier Company. There are a lot of health tests and vaccinations for me. NZ has very strict biosecurity rules and even through I know I’m fit and healthy, now we have to prove it. North Pole Vet is going to also help me with that. It will take at least three months to step through the process, including 10 days quarantine once I arrive in New Zealand.

I am sure that some of you would like to be part of my journey and help me get there. And since I hear it is quite an expensive process, I’ve had my people design some travel themed gear and have set this page where you can donate to my Travel Fund.

For different donation levels you will receive either an exclusive specially designed luggage tag, so I can travel with you day to day, or a travel mug for your favourite hot or cold beverage on the go.

 

For the maximum donation  Moira will post you a special Maori bone carving pendant from New Zealand. The design is the koru and it denotes “new beginnings” which is really appropriate as this is my new beginning. (It will be similar to this pic but each one is slightly different so this is indicative only.)

Over the next few months – May, June, July and August – I will update you on the details of my move and what steps I have left to go. Of course, I will let you know when I have arrived safely at Moira’s house. I know she is pretty stressed about this whole endeveour… but I think it will be a breeze! 

Thanks for your help. Whether you donate at the $50 “Thank You” $75 “Luggage Level”, $150 “To-Go Mug Level” or the $500 “New Beginnings Level”, please know that any amount means so much to me! I can’t wait to visit the famous New Zealand beaches, run around the tropical fern and palm covered parks and lay on Moira’s couch (and maybe even her bed). That’s what retirement is all about. My secret dream is to meet the NZ national rugby team… the All Blacks! Maybe someday. 

Don’t forget to go to the Travel Fund page and help me get to my new home!

The Kennel

What’s Ahead Over Summer?

April 25, 2019 by

Winter dog mushing season may be over, but we still have many things to look forward to right here!

Dog Fan Club

First up – we have decided to keep the Dog Fan Club open all summer! Our dogs are as special during the summer as they were during the winter. We realize that you want to be part of their lives… regardless of the season. So, we will continue to make random dog/ fan draws every 3 weeks through the summer. This will also give us the opportunity to share with you fans what the dogs do during their summer ‘down time’! The next Fan Club draw is May 13th. Check these fun dog cameos out:

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Join by clicking here or hit the “Become a Dog Fan” button the top of the SP Kennel website home page.

 

Aliy Cam

Aliy has been sharing video from the Iditarod for many years and this year is no different. She took several clips at various intervals on the race and we will post them here for you to enjoy as the summer temperatures begin to soar!

Or if you have more curiosity from years past, then look back through the website and watch some of her Aliy Cams from prior years. Comparing trails, weather and the dog team is always fun.

Store

Due to popular demand we are opening a SP Kennel gear store. We are starting small and will have available an SP Kennel ball cap and the iconic red “Aliy” fleece beanie. Keep an eye out for the the “Store” button along the top of the SP Kennel website home page so you can purchase your head gear all year round.

Exciting Canine Adventure 

Coming next week is an exciting opportunity for you to be part of a BIG adventure for one SPK dog. As you know, we like to follow our canine buddies throughout their lives and this little girl is about to embark on a grandiose move! Look for that info button along the top of the SP Kennel website home page as well.

Summer Activities

We’ll keep you up to date with any interesting summer activities involving the dogs. Summer time involves running around the trails that are frozen up during the winter, and lazing around in the sun but if anything other than that occurs, we will let you know!

Dogs

Driver wins Dog Fan Club

April 22, 2019 by

It’s Dog Fan Club Draw day!

Congratulations to Metta Canez who is a fan of Driver. We’ve been waiting all year for Driver to come up as a winner as we had a spare “Driver” mug – so we’ll send Metta the mug plus a glam shot of Driver and some other kennel goodies.

Driver’s had a great season! He is a strong, no-nonsense powerhouse of a dog who, when back in the yard, loves to play with his neighbours Peach and brother Iron. He ran in the Iditarod this year but finished a bit early due to some soreness that turn out to maybe just be a cramp. He also made the trip to Kotzebue to participate in the Kobuk 440 and, although didn’t cope so well with the heat of spring mushing, came away with more invaluable experience. He will enjoy the summer off.

Find out more about our athletes at the “Dogs” page. To join the Dog Fan Club you can hit the “Become a Dog Fan” tab at the top of the page or click here. We are keeping the Dog Fan Club open all through summer so it is never too late to join.

Races

Iditarod 2019 Aliy Cam: Episode 1 “The First Few Miles”

April 20, 2019 by

Aliy took many short videos during her ten days on the Iditarod trail this year. We have complied them into short episodes that will be posted the next few weeks.

This first video was taken only an hour and half after the restart on Sunday afternoon. You can se the dog team is moving along smoothly. This trail is a common use trail for many people; some by dog sleds, but more commonly by snowmachines also known as snowmobiles. It is a very popular trail, especially on the first weekend in March.

We hope that you enjoy the Aliy Cams!

Dogs | Puppies

Gravy In Harness

April 17, 2019 by

While 12 dogs were racing the Kobuk and 20 dogs were on the North Slope a few stayed behind with Karolyn to run in teams so the pups could get out again before it got too warm for them. Gravy had his first experience in harness and Karolyn captured his efforts. He is the dog running on his own, one up from wheel.

The first video is his very first few yards and you will see he was not quite sure which direction he needed to run in. The second and third were just a few minutes later and he had it sussed!

Also on the team for this run was Spark in single lead, Nacho and Cloud in swing and Habibi and Prata in wheel.

Dogs

North Slope Trip

April 11, 2019 by

It seemed such a shame to just hang up all the harnesses once mushing season was done in Two Rivers. So, twenty SPK dogs, four humans, an arctic oven tent and plenty of supplies set off from the kennel on Monday morning headed for the North Slope of the Brooks Range in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We thought it might still be winter up there!

Snow machines are not allowed within ANWR so the only way to get in is by dog team. After about 10 hours driving north we set down next to the road to set up the first camp while Aliy took a team to scout the trail for the next morning.

With the humans were Mismo, QT, McCaw, Peach, Chevie, Sanka, Barista, Daisy, Iron, Ginger, Gold, Lydia, Chena, Bruno, Dutch, Commando, Violet, Scooby, Razz and Bronze.

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Not surprisingly, as has been the theme for this winter in Alaska, spring has come early to that part of the world and the river trail was a little wet so we were in store for lots of overflow, slushy riverbanks, punchy open tundra and glare ice as we followed Aliy and Mismo’s trail to camp. The young dogs with us gained valuable experience with challenges they wouldn’t normally encounter on the Two Rivers trails. They waded, slid, ran cross country then camped in new territory.

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There was plenty of wildlife in the refuge – we saw caribou, ptarmigan and sheep and signs of wolves curious of our trail, but too wiley for us to see. The days were sunny and warm, the nights clear and cool and we were treated to an aurora light show once it got dark.

Here’s a quick video of our week.

 

Races

Kobuk 440: Race Wrap Up

April 10, 2019 by

The Kobuk 440 is like no other mid distance race as it travels along the Western Coast of Alaska – north of the Arctic Circle. The team had to travel nearly 3,000 miles – trucks, airplanes and even forklifts – just to compete. What seemed like months of logistics and planning ended with smiles at the finish line.

Bridgett and the dogs are now settled at home and have begun to unwind. The dogs are back at their SP Kennel houses where it appears more like summer than spring – we have very little snow and surprisingly, not much mud.

The extremely warm temperatures in Alaska during this mushing season have continued thru early spring and were persistent throughout this race. Constant sunshine and warmth are always a challenge for Alaskan Husky sled dogs, and the 440 had many warm days.

Bridgett has had many post race thoughts and has spent the last week thinking about every mile. Here are her words for the final miles:

“The last sunset was something out of a book; we ran west and toward it knowing what lay in its setting. We passed the shelter cabin, climbed the hills, which on the way back seemed much bigger than on the way out. Then the lights of Kotzebue appeared and were such a welcoming sight. I stopped, petted each dog and showed them, look guys, we did it, there are the lights.  They seem to know exactly what I was saying. We motored downhill. Before we knew it we were on the pack ice and rounding town. Junior and Chipper knew exactly where to go. Around 1am we passed the finish line, all smiles and a bit of relief!  It was a tough one. It was fun, then it was hard, but ultimately rewarding.”

The Team:

Junior-The brains of the whole operation

Chipper-Smart, fast and determined

Champ-Happy, big shoulders and ego

Five-big boy, strong, leader attitude at heart, tough

Clyde-Clinch hitter, closer, dependable, my go to man

Cayenne-team dog, likes to be up front and use her brain

Jefe-Silly, silly, silly, and extremely talented

Felix-consistent, steady, reliable

Decaf-Cheerleader, spirit leader, best attitude

Perky-Gave it his all, sassy and gets excited with Decaf

Driver-big silly boy, will do anything you ask of him

Kodiak-Wants to be the man in charge

 

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