Break Up is Here!

The Nenana Tripod is Interior Alaska's sign that "break up" is official. "Break up", of course, means that the ice has broken up in the river and water and is now flowing down stream. This is actually a hugely emotional time in Alaska because it signifies so much more than that.

(left to right: the Tripod is there, the Tripod is gone)

It was not too long ago that we were traveling on these frozen rivers - using them as many Alaskans do: Freeways of the North. The river system in Alaska is somewhat like the interstate highway system in the Lower 48. I asked one man this Spring "How did you travel to get here?" He said "I took the Yukon to the cut off, went by the halfway cabin, and then got on the Koyukuk." That sounds a lot like driving a car to the grocery store in Houston (okay.. maybe change the Indian names to something more Hispanic.)

(The Red Team sleeping in the middle of the Yukon River - March 2013)

"Break up" is also emotional because it means the end of the mushing season in earnest. The snow is gone, the harnesses are hung up and the dogs are basking in the sunshine. The pace slows somewhat at SP Kennel. We are no longer mushing all day, readying for races, mending gear, fixing sleds, cooking fish, sorting booties, strawing dogs - all of this in a hurry to try and get to the next item and check it off a never ending "to do" list. Inevitably, this means that the 2012 - 2013 SP Kennel Crew is breaking up as well!

(The SP Kennel Team: Meghan, Aliy, Allen, Moira)

Moira has left the continent and is back down under in her home of New Zealand. She has left winter - flown a great distance - and stepped right back into winter. Her passion this season brought SP Kennel's communication with "Join the Team" members and SP Dog Sponsors to a new level. Moira fit right in to our happy, yet professional, Alaska dog musher lifestyle. Lucky for us, the internet is a global tool and she has agreed to continue to be a distant, yet integral part of the SP Kennel Team. We have not seen the last of Moira because she left part of her heart at the kennel with Rose, Spicy, Nacho, Willie, Chica, Scruggs ...

Meghan took a well deserved post season vacation. But, she has Alaska in her blood at this point and plans to stay in the land of the Midnight Sun for the summer. She brought her true love for dogs to SP Kennel this season. No matter what happened during the past six months, you always knew that Meghan put the needs of the dogs before anyone or anything. You can bet that we'll see Meghan, along with Charlet and Tina Turner, through out the summer months.

It's beginning to look a lot like ... Winter!

Much of the U.S. has had a late arrival of Spring/Summer and Interior Alaska is no exception. Low temperature records and late snow storms seem to be the norm. At the kennel, we had a light dusting of fresh snow last night - compared with 4 to 6 inches in the eastern interior of the state or perhaps feet in the Denali area - we got off easy!



The dogs are still dressed in their winter coats. Often we find them laying curled up on the frozen ground - insulated by their thick husky parkas. In late afternoon, when the sun shines at its peak, a dog might lounge around on the roof of his or her house. Basking in the cool sunshine.

Catching Up With Ranger

Danger! Danger! Danger!

Ranger is strong, agile and smart. And loud! If you ever see an SP Kennel team trotting down the trail and hear someone barking, chances are that's Ranger!

He's one of our main leaders and he proved to be an important part in Aliy's Yukon Quest 300 and Meghan's Sheep Mountain 300 teams. But for right now, he's just up for a butt scratch.

Ranger! Watch for him, or rather: listen.

Thanks to all the Moms!

Here at the kennel Mother's Day means so much ...

Thanks to all the Mothers (human and canine)! We love you.

ChaCha thinks Jacob is another one of her excellent SP Kennel offspring!

Catching Up With Rambler

Rambler really impressed us in 2012, he proved his toughness as he dominated the Iditarod and finished as a strong dog. He took that great form into the 2013 season.

His dedication to team work makes him a valuable dog in any position.

Rambler epitomizes the happy nature of the Alaskan Husky and will spend time playing with his neighbours Sissy, Quito and Izzy whenever time allows.

Local School Visits

Aliy and ChaCha made a couple of school visits recently to local schools in the Two Rivers and North Pole area and spoke with students from kindergarten to 8th Grade. Aliy spoke about the history of the Iditarod and Yukon Quest races and about the clothing and equipment needed to run the race - a lucky volunteer got to dress up in her boots, parka, hat and beaver mitts! She also spoke about the calorific input for sled dogs during the Iditarod (research tells us around 10,000 calories per day!) and compared this to every day "human" foods.

ChaCha demonstrated how she pulls a sled and we had a couple of relay races involving the students putting one piece of mushing gear on then ChaCha pulled them to the next stop where they swapped over. Much fun was had by all.

USS Anchorage "Dock at the Block" Party

Aliy, Allen, Dingle and Honda were a huge attraction at the USS Anchorage "Dock at the Block" Party in Anchorage last night.



The Dock at the Block party was a community celebration to welcome the crew and families of the U.S.S. Anchorage to the city. The Navy's new troop and equipment transport arrived at the Port of Anchorage during the day and will be commissioned in a ceremony on Saturday. The vessel is technically an "amphibious transport dock ship" and has 600 crew.

The fantastic team at Clarion Suites organised a booth for the SP Kennel crew where we had a sled and some equipment on display and gave out specially printed postcards for the event. Hundreds of people passed by the tent and chatted with Aliy and Allen, and Honda and Dingle enjoyed all the pats and smooches!

Catching Up With Boondocks

Let's meet Little Miss Boondocks!

Boondocks is a spitfire who is a leader all the time in her mind. She will happily tell anyone that will listen what is going on.

She tips the scale at a mere 34 pounds but she does NOT know she is a tiny little dog. Boondocks was an important part of Aliy's Yukon Quest 300 team and ran well for 800 miles in the Iditarod!

We LOVE this dog!


(This video was filmed earlier in the year, in January)

Iditarod 2013: "Aliy Cam" Blueberry Hills

The Blueberry Hills are nestled in between a frozen lagoon just north of the town of Unalakleet and a slough off to the southeast of the village of Shaktoolik. They lie along the coastline of Norton Sound in the Bering Sea. The ocean is visible when a dog team climbs to the top of one of the numerous steep hills.

The scenery is breathtaking most of the time, but was utterly amazing at sunset on a gorgeous winter evening such as this one:

Iditarod 2013: "Aliy Cam" The Western Coast

The wind is a constant companion on the Western Coast of Alaska. As a dog team travels across this land there is a "music" that is created by the wind, the rustling of the sled runners and the rhythm of the dogs.