Alaska Dog Mushers Association had their annual symposium in Fairbanks this weekend. There were lectures on a wide variety of topics. We spent a portion of Saturday and all day Sunday enjoying the talks and trade fair. In addition, both Allen and Aliy were presenters. Allen and Cim Smyth discussed … Read More
Who is that musher in black? While in Nome this past week, one of our friends and sponsors, Jim Harrison – owner of Northern Outfitters – came out for a visit. He was in Alaska talking to various clients about his arctic gear. Last year, Jim came to visit us … Read More
CHECK IT OFF THE LIST: Build 20 New Dogs Houses I am excited about our accomplishment today! The goal was to make sure that our dogs have luxury accommodations for this coming winter. It was obvious when I walked through the yard, that some of our older dog houses needed … Read More
Now that training is just around the corner, I have been going through our dog mushing gear. It certainly isn’t winter yet, but it is nice to see what I have to wash, mend or throw away before the snow falls. I came across these: Some of you might remember … Read More
Aliy was overhauling her racing sled in preparation for the Copper Basin 300 Sled Dog Race this weekend, and called me down to the shop to show me the items you see here. When she told me the story, I thought you might like to hear it too: On the … Read More
We’re packing the trucks and loading the dogs, getting ready to head to the GinGin 200 Mile Sled Dog Race this weekend. So, the pace at the Kennel is at full speed! We will be running three teams, with Aliy, Allen and Bridgett mushing ten dogs each. The GinGin is … Read More
I can tell you from direct observation — and some participation — that operating a large kennel, caring for the dogs, training and racing requires an astonishing amount of work. In the entire time I’ve been around Allen and Aliy, I’ve never heard them complain. Not about the hard work, … Read More
With Bridgett — Allen’s daughter — and her husband Scotty coming down from Nome for the Thanksgiving weekend, Aliy and Allen decided to take advantage of their combined mushing abilities to head out on the first long — over 100 miles — two day training run of the season. Running … Read More
I left Two Rivers several days ago to fly to Nome and then on to Unalakleet. I was away from both computer access to this site and sleds to examine because I spent a couple days in Nome waiting for the right time to head to Unk. Thus, no reports … Read More
While working on one of Aliy’s toboggans yesterday for a trip to the North Slope, the one she used to win the Yukon Quest International Dog Sled Race, I started thinking about the number of broken sleds in this year’s Iditarod. Broken sleds are nothing new. Trees frequently jump into … Read More
