We had a great race in the Alpine Creek Excursion (ACE) Sled Dog Race December 3rd & 4th. I am so happy with how well the dogs did in the less than ideal conditions we raced in. This is a fairly short early season race with about 65 miles of competitive racing out followed by a leisure run back to home base. We found temperatures as low as -35 F (-37 C). The wind was most unpleasant at the starting line and the following 20 miles. We outfitted the dogs in their coats and protectors and dawned our warmest gear to manage the elements.
The trail had anywhere from a quarter of an inch of snow to 5 inches. We felt safest running 9 dog teams. At times we were unable to stop or set a hook and found ourselves running on mostly gravel burning through 2 sets of runner plastic. Originally 40 teams signed up for the race and 10 more were on the waiting list. But come race day, the field shrunk to 6 competitors. Only 5 started. Mushers feared the weather forecast and lack of snow, while others were unable to reach the training miles required to run a 65 mile race on the first weekend of December. We raced against 2 very accomplished North American Champion sprint mushers. Always keeping the big goal of Iditarod in mind, we ran a smart race tying for 3rd.
The next race is the Gin Gin 200 on the first weekend in January, followed by the Copper Basin 300.
Our training trails are short on snow, but we are making the best of them. Mother nature has been generous dishing up the sub-zero temperatures. Regardless, we're loving every minute of it, as are the dogs!
The trail had anywhere from a quarter of an inch of snow to 5 inches. We felt safest running 9 dog teams. At times we were unable to stop or set a hook and found ourselves running on mostly gravel burning through 2 sets of runner plastic. Originally 40 teams signed up for the race and 10 more were on the waiting list. But come race day, the field shrunk to 6 competitors. Only 5 started. Mushers feared the weather forecast and lack of snow, while others were unable to reach the training miles required to run a 65 mile race on the first weekend of December. We raced against 2 very accomplished North American Champion sprint mushers. Always keeping the big goal of Iditarod in mind, we ran a smart race tying for 3rd.
The next race is the Gin Gin 200 on the first weekend in January, followed by the Copper Basin 300.
Our training trails are short on snow, but we are making the best of them. Mother nature has been generous dishing up the sub-zero temperatures. Regardless, we're loving every minute of it, as are the dogs!
