I am Not a Musher Yet......

Running the Mid Distance Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Day 51 October 21, 2010
Team Buzzsaw / Stewart Taylor Printing

You are not a musher until you can handle a sled in the winter behind dogs. All I really know right now is how to harness dogs and clip them to the gangline, jump on my wheeler, give a couple voice commands and hold on. But, in the big picture, the most important lesson that I have learned is to love animals again. After putting my lab down 2 years ago I swore off being attached to "non-humans". I have changed. I even swerved to miss a cat the other day! I have new found respect for every living animal, all due to these sled dogs that I have come to appreciate. I am going to have a hard time leaving them after the race. I have learned other things like soaking food, baiting the water if a dog looks like it might be dehydrating, that scooping poop is a great time to converse with the animals, take wide turns, how to break up a dog scirmish and my favorite, reading my lead dogs.

Cirrus

is one of my lead dogs and he looks back at me when he knows it is time for a command. His look says; "What are we going to do here num-nuts?" It's amazing that, with just a look, he can communicate with me. When he gets the command, he goes, always doing the right thing. I have a lot to learn once the snow and cold hits, but with Cirrus in the lead, it will make my job easier.