Expeditions
Annual Spring Brooks Range and Arctic Expedition
Expeditions are a large part of my training. I feel like the more time I spend with the dogs out in the elements in remote locations the better we will be as a team on the race trail. In the beginning I spent April living and mushing out of a camp in the Arctic of Alaska, at the base of the Brooks Range. It was the most amazing thing I had ever done. Spending every day every minute with the dogs for weeks on end just existing out there is some of the best training for both the dogs and myself. Many days were spent just cruising the treeless landscape that rolls on for miles and miles. Breaking trail is something that my dogs just do, always have, always will and they love it, the Arctic is a great training ground for this. The accommodations were pretty amazing considering we were 350 miles north of Fairbanks by road and 13 miles off the road by trail. In 2006 we had 3 tents with Woodstoves, 2 large Solariums (3 sided snow structures that capture the sun and its warmth), 34 sled dogs, 1 pet dog, 4 loose pups, 3 permanent camp residents, 20+ visiting guests and our token Cat, kenevel. In 2007 we upped the comfort by adding a new 12x20 living tent 2 more sleeping tents and 20 more dogs.(bringing the total to 54) Our camp is on a low ridge above a lake which we drilled a hole in for water (the most pure water a person can ask for). We ate like kings and queens. My camp manger and great friend Thom Walker prepared meals to die for and we snacked on his baked goods all month long. Throughout the month the dogs and I did many runs to the road picking up visiting friends and carrying heavy loads of supplies, we also did long fast runs chasing caribou across the frozen tundra. It is the best of both worlds for a dog musher and his dogs. Spending this kind of time with the dogs is something that cannot be done in town, for this reason. I have spent every spring exploring the arctic and other areas of the north with my dogs. With the Exprerience that we gained in the early years we are now Guding Dog mushing expedtions in March and April. With help from my good buddies and Guides Josh Horst and Thom Walker we have turned what we love to do into a Job... if you can even call it that. Our biggest client is a Norwegian dog mushing school who brings 15-18 students every March for a 10 day 200 Mile expedtion to Iniakuk WIlderness lodge in the heart of the Brooks Range!! The trip invovles over 80 dogs, 14 sleds and some of the most amazing country Alaska has to offer. We nailed the first trip with lots of obstacles to overcome and proved we had what it took to pull off an Expedtion of this kind. The Second year we refined our systems, simplified things and worked together with the School to make the perfect trip. and it was just that! I guess perfect is a relative term.. Bottom line is we have fun guiding these trips and Hope to continue working With the the Norwegians and hope add a few more trips a year with other schools or guests. All of our trips are custom, tells us what you want to do and we will design a trip of a lifetime! For more information please email me directly.
Check out the slide show and links below for pictures and videos from our past trips and expeditions.
Iniakuk Expedtion 2011 CARIBOU!!
Iniakuk Expedition 2011 Camp 2, Dogs Singing
