February Snow

Well, we lost all of our snow about Christmas.  It'd snow about three inches, and then the snow would go away.  Snow another three inches and then it'd go away.  Very frustrating.

Finally, February 2nd rolled around and we got hit with three storms in one week.  Fluffy, fluffy snow as all get out, but we have about 18" of snow now!  And the snowmobiles have been through so there's a bit of a packed trail.

Work was busy so it wasn't till the weekend (February 7th - first 2015 run!) that I could get the dogs out.  We broke trail from the kennel (hard work when the snow is knee deep!) to the snowmobile trail.  We did a short run, about a mile since it had been a month and a half and I wasn't sure how tired the dogs were from breaking trail.

Top: Doolin and Rogue in lead, Rohan in wheel.
Bottom: Rogue and Rohan in lead, Doolin in wheel.

-------------

We got another snow storm today, so instead of braving bad roads (we have a safe roads policy in VT, not a bare roads policy), I stayed home and took the dogs out for a run!

I even got brave and hooked ALL six dogs up.  Gambit and Doolin haven't been getting along, so I was hesitant to hook them all up on the same team.  But I decided to remember my Boot Camp lessons and go slow and if there was a major issue, Doolin could go back in the kennel.  Minor issues could be dealt with.

Probably the slowest hook up I've ever done, but Rohan and Doolin got to work on lining out while I harnessed a dog, hooked the dog up, harnessed the next dog and so on.  Well, till I switched Rohan out for Rogue.  Gambit was hooked up in wheel, second to last dog - so I could see how Doolin would react.  Doolin and Rogue were anxious to head down the trail and ignored Gambit.  Gambit made some noise about Doolin, but since he couldn't get to Doolin, settled back down.  Quin was the last one hooked in wheel.

The start off wasn't bad, but after crossing the brook, I tipped the sled and got dragged for a bit.  After the last time I was dragged with six super excited dogs, I decided to try getting up a little differently.  First thing after the dogs stopped, while still hanging onto the sled, laying on the ground, I grabbed the hook and tossed it away from the sled.  I was weighing my options for getting the sled upright when Turin and Rohan had a squabble about us not moving, so I popped up then while they were distracted.  We finally got going again.

I didn't peddle too much on the way up the hills...I was trying to wear them out so hopefully they'd be too tired to fight if Gambit got stupid.

Rogue and Doolin in lead.
Rohan and Turin in team.
Gambit and Quin in wheel.

The snow, while deep, is still extremely fluffy and iffy for hook-ability.  For the most part I could get the hook to set, after dragging it for tens of feet...

The only really issue I had with Gambit was when we did a come haw and Gambit had a better line of sight to Doolin.  Gambit started being obnoxious which got Doolin thinking about it a bit, but thank goodness for Rogue.  She got back on the trail and while Gambit was ready to rumble, Doolin was again focused on the trail.

Photo op!
Headed home.

The run was half easy and half trail breaking.  We'd gotten enough fluffy snow to start filling in where the snowmobiles had been going, so I figured the dogs had run enough after two miles...and my gloves were soaked, so it seemed wise to turn towards home.

Now if we can keep the snow till the end of March...!