It feels like I was just writing last season’s wrap up post, probably because this season flew by without much snow and few steps towards our big goals. Looking on the bright side, there were some things we improved upon.
We attended two training campouts this season. I returned to New Hampshire to run dogs with the North Country Mushers and we also camped here in NY with the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club. Both events were great opportunities for the dogs to practice getting back into the swing of things: traveling in the truck, hanging out on the drop line, camping in the dog boxes, and most importantly, sharing the trails with other teams of dogs. Faye got acclimated to the experiences and she fit right in.
We attended three races! After two seasons off from racing (COVID, lack of snow, and other complications), I was finally back in a bib behind the team. Our first race was a dryland fun run (Paws of Thunder) in western NY with the Siberian Husky Club of the Niagara Frontier. Next, we returned to the NJ Pine Barrens, where I first learned to mush, for the PSDC’s Jersey Devil Dryland Challenge. January and February rolled by with a disappointing lack of snow and an abundance of feeling crappy (I caught mono)—so we didn’t get any snow races in. We did return to NJ for the spring edition of the Jersey Devil Dryland Challenge and even managed a podium spot: 2nd place in the six dog pro class (and overall)! While it wasn’t the season I was hoping for, I’m proud of these dogs.
Faye joined the team. Just as we welcomed Atlas last season, this season we had little Faye start running with us. She even ran in the short fun run class with Denali at the last race of our season. Although she’s the smallest member of the team, she’s very confident and smart, so I expect great things from her.
Photos by Andrew Comoletti
