Camping with Sled Dogs

This was a spur-of-the-moment trip. As we were driving up the Glacier Lake Road, Bryan said, and I quote, "I am not sure how much propane we have but I think we will be OK. I was going to bring the other stove but forgot it."

Needless to say, we had NO propane. Bryan invented a Dog-Bowl Cooker.

Emmie was NOT impressed. It was her bowl. I was impressed we had excellent cheese steak sandwiches. But we decided it would be easier to drive home to make coffee in the morning.

A Two Hour Trip - NOT

Wednesday the initial plan was to take the Honda 90's and ride the Morrison Jeep Trail in the Beartooths. After driving to Roberts to buy Wyoming Off Road Permits, it was brought to our attention the trails in the Beartooths were probably not open. Brad at Power Sport was correct. Nothing is open on top.
So back to the drawing board.

Plan B: The Pryor Mountains

Step 1: Beartooth Ranger Station - Direction and Maps
Step 2: Take the long way to Bridger because of road construction. We took the Joliet/Fromberg Road for the first time. That is a neat area.
Step 3: Wait in line for a significant period of time at the Maverick station to gas up.
Step 4: Take wrong turn on Pryor Mountain Road but think we can back track and we could but...

See the road on the other side. That is were we need to be. So all the way back around. Finally after driving for 4 hours on interesting dirt roads we arrived at the trail we wanted to ride. Only to find that my battery was dead. The great thing about 90s is you can push start them but that means you never want to let them die in a flat area.

Step 5: Ride down beautiful, steep trails for an hour.

Step 6: Get lost on the way back to the van. Ride DOWN steep washed out ravine. Get scared by something in the bushes. Ride UP steep washed out ravine.
Step 7: Arrive at van after 3 hours of riding with busters on my throttle hand. Did I mention my throttle sticks?
Step 8: Drive two hours home, taking all the right turns.

Even with a few extra adventures we had a great ride.

Dog Days of Summer

Addicted To and Distracted by Fiber

As some of you know I started knitting last Fall. My whole driving force was that you can make yarn out of dog hair and goodness knows we have an ample supply of dog hair. I haven't learned to spin yet but I have taken classes in almost everything else. I learned to knit with more than one strand of yarn, make socks on the magic loop two at a time, crochet, and needle felt. I love it all. I love buying and stashing yarn. I love that I can take a project in the car. I love that you can watch a movie or visit or listen to an audio book and still be working on a project.

If I am not knitting or crocheting, I am probably on Ravelry, looking at what other people are making or searching for more projects. The problem is I have so many projects that I want to do that I don't get all the other things done. I haven't read a book all summer. I know I should be ashamed. I haven't blogged about the family adventures and we have been on many. If you ask Bryan and the dogs, all I do is knit. I would disagree. I still kayak, garden, and am a sled dog mom. But I have to confess that just today I was looking for a vacation where I could go without dogs and sit in an air conditioned area and knit or maybe crochet.

Still Pulling

I had to check the calendar when we got home from ski-joring Sunday. It really is June and I think this should be the off-season or the free run season. Bryan and Kim seem to have different thoughts. The Beartooth Pass has recorded snowpack. The road department has been unable to get the road open so it is still ski-joring season.

Please, notice my line is tight! I do pull! But I am not a sled dog.

We did get to do a little free running. 

We're Back

Willow here. I don't know if we have enough followers to have anyone miss us, but Kim was on special assignment from the middle of January until yesterday. She was working with an amazing group of Special Education Teachers. They did 15 reading trainings in 90 days. That might not sound like an accomplishment but you have to times that by six groups. 15 x 6 = 90 3hr trainings. Kim loved every minute of it but it was pretty intense. She logged the fewest ski days in 10 years, couldn't run 3 miles if a bear was chasing her, and hasn't blog a thing. The sled dogs and I have given her a bit of a break, but now it is time for her to get back on track.

The sled dogs and I had a good season, with some ups and downs. A down was the lost of our friend Walla Walla "sled dog". Walla really started the whole sled dog obsession at the Busch house.  She was an amazing sled dog. We all miss her.

Walla was such an amazing sled dog, Bryan decided it would take two dogs to fill her harness. Bryan went to the UP and brought home Emmie and Sprout.

Emmie adjusting to house living.

Sprout

The TEAM after their first run and a very happy Bry.

Ski-joring West Fork Road

Beartooth Pass in the Winter

Our trip to the "Top of the World"

Ice fall on the WY side of the Beartooth Pass

Unfortunately (or fortunately) all good things have to come to an end.
Spring has been long, wet, and sloppy.
Sled dogs are NOT rain dogs so we all have spent a lot time in the house.
We have also went hiking at our favorite spot, "Sled Dog Canyons".
It was hot!

Handsome!

Bryan and his "babies"

See Kim was there.

I need a break!

March Madness

 Well, it’s that time of year again…March Madness. No not college basketball - sled dog racing season. I know that for you organized sports enthusiast this is a bit of a down time – between football and baseball. Let me invite you to join me as a spectator of the Last Great Race, The Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The Iditarod has all the thrills and chills of all other sporting events including amazing athletes and down to the nose (literally) finishes.

But…the Iditarod is so much more. The Iditarod has things other sports are missing, a focus on treating other how you want to be treated, putting others first (your dogs), girls can do anything boys can do, and be proud of yourself. The most treasured award in the Iditarod is the Humanitarian Award, given to the musher that the vets vote for best dog care through out the race. There is also a Sportsmanship and Most Inspirational Musher Awards for being a good person. Unlike other sports, men and women compete on the same playing field - no ladies’ tee box. The first musher to arrive in Nome is greeted by a cheering crowd but so is everyone else, right down to the last one - the Red Lantern Winner. Each finisher gets the cherished Iditarod belt buckle.

This year’s field will start with 62 teams of 16 dogs. You do the math, that’s a lot of dogs. Lance Mackey, is trying for his fifth consecutive win, which would tie him with Rick Swenson for most wins. I was going to list the teams I would be watching but I decided my list was too long. I will be watching the front, middle, and back of the pack.

To my knowledge it NOT on ESPN or ESPN2 but neither was the National Finals Rodeo. People just don’t know what they are missing. I think it is only fair that I warn you; The Iditarod can be highly addictive. You might find yourself getting up in the middle of the night to check the GPS tracker or watch the last Iditarod Insider video.  Just remember that it is not over until the last musher gets to Nome.