January 22, 2008

got some sleep last night. I think my head must have barely touched the pillow (if that) and I was out like a light. From the cold temperatures and me running the dogs last night at -20C something, my face & eyes are all swollen this morning. I always look a lovely sight when I have been mushing. It is eerie when you don't quite recognize yourself in the mirror the next morning.

Another beautiful clear and cold day here. It was -22C/-7F when I woke up this morning, The sun is coming up and shining on the mountain whose trails I ran with the dogs last night. Gorgeous view.

I am tidying up things at work before I leave, although I am actually working as well as running a team on the event. This should prove to be interesting. If I don't blog for a few days after I get back, don't worry. I have a bunch of stuff I have to do the second I get back too for my work.  I have like 4 things I am doing all at the same time this weekend. 

My friend called and she is in BC now and will be here in a day or so. Tomorrow I think. She will call to update me. I am getting all my gear and dropping it in the livingroom as I get a spare second here and there. That was just this morning. I have not even had a chance to start packing my gear (or washing it). For the trip I also need to pick up more dog meat with less bone and also groceries for me and my friend.

I have a husband & wife team who are coming to stay to housesit for me. 'Cyrus' & I need to haul 3-4 days worth of wood down for them. With the cold weather they will be going through a fair bit. With luck if I get done with my work on time, I will run my team again this afternoon and go out for a 4 hour run. I will run them again tomorrow, give them a break on Thursday. Then the event begins.

Evening Update:

I stole two hours late afternoon after work and ran the dogs 15 miles in about 2 hours. I was very happy with my team of 5 and tomorrow I will get the 6th dog to work the whole team. 'Cyrus' ran free and actually kept up pretty darn well. I stopped my team every couple miles to let them catch their breath, but they were not even panting, they were 'hammering' in their harnesses to run. They may be in better conditioning than I thought.

I failed to take my camera and left it in the truck. At the 5 mile mark, on the hill was a moose. It was almost black. It was huge. We warily passed by (practically under it) within 30 yards. It never moved a muscle or twitched an ear. It was standing where the scent of it was allusive to the dogs and they never picked up on it. I swear that I didn't blink and it just melted away. There and then suddenly not there. Or was it really there in the first place? It was.. the dogs picked up its scent on the way back, but it was long gone.

Silence...

Sunshine...

Cold...

It was -22C/-7F while I was running them. The dogs frosted up and so did my eyelashes & hair. I was smart and wore my face mask and trappers fur hat this time. But my upper eyelids burn tonight. I might have gotten them a wee bit frostbit.