New Dog Sled

Our new Outlaw mid distance dog sled

Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC's new Outlaw mid distance dog sled arrived just in time for our next trip to our cabin in Maine. The Outlaw is a lightweight, high tech sled featuring great steering. In other words, perfect for those twisty trails surrounding our cabin.

Curvy trails ahead

We're looking forward to giving this sled a work out on the trail this coming weekend for the Katahdin Iron Works (KIW) 30 dog sled race in Brownville, Maine and on the trails surrounding the cabin.

Drag mat, bar brake, Critterwoods snow hook

Okemo and Acadia had to be crated to contain their delight at a new dog sled

Studs on the drag mat (and laundry in the back ground)

The sled comes with a special sled bag that snaps on

Snow!

Cabin in the woods

While we would like to get more snow at our primary residence here in Maryland, we also love to see snow reports for our cabin (Mainers call it a "camp") up in central Maine.

Snow covered trails surround the cabin

Today's snow report is a good one:

Issued by The National Weather Service
Portland, ME
4:45 pm EST, Tue., Jan. 19, 2010

... WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST WEDNESDAY...

A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST WEDNESDAY.

TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS THROUGH NOONTIME WEDNESDAY WILL BE 5 TO 9 INCHES.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT... FOOD... AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

More Information

... MORE PLOWABLE SNOW ON THE WAY...

.LOW PRESSURE FORMING OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WILL SLOWLY ENTER THE GULF OF MAINE THIS EVENING. THE SNOW WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ADJACENT AREAS OF WESTERN MAINE THIS EVENING.

THINGS GET A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED OVER CENTRAL AND MIDCOAST AREAS IN MAINE. THE SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS EVENING'S SNOW WILL ENTER THE GULF OF MAINE TONIGHT. IT WILL INTENSIFY AS IT APPROACHES NOVA SCOTIA WEDNESDAY MORNING. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL IN CENTRAL AND MIDCOAST AREAS.

LOOK FOR 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW TO ACCUMULATE OVER NEW HAMPSHIRE... ADJACENT AREAS IN WESTERN MAINE AND THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS OF MAINE. MORE SNOW... 5 TO 9 INCHES... WILL ACCUMULATE OVER CENTRAL AND MIDCOAST AREAS OF MAINE BEFORE IT TAPERS OFF AROUND NOONTIME ON WEDNESDAY.

ALLOW EXTRA TIME IF TRAVELING THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

Clearing skies: The road to camp with the mountains in the distance

Lucky for the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs, we'll be headed back to Maine in less than two weeks for the KIW 30 dog sled race. Until then, we'll just have to keep track of the snow up at camp.

Snow laden trees

Looks like we could be doing some more snowshoeing (and dog sledding)

Dog Sledding in Maine

Returning to the trail head after 14 miles of hills (Acadia, Lumos in lead, Peeps and Weld in team, and Okemo and Sobo in wheel)

Our second to last day in Maine, we hit the trails with several fellow mushers, Maggie (Bray Hill Siberians), Kasey and Carol (Fort Illio Kennels), and Ray, and Sue (Late Start Kennels) in central Maine, about 30 minutes north of the cabin.

Teams went out ranging in size from 12 dogs to 4 dogs. I ran three Bray Hill Siberians together with three of the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs for approximately 14 miles. With all the hills, we were happy to have the extra dog power.

Below are photos of all of the doggy adventures. (Kasey and Ray were gone so fast with both of their 10-12 dog teams that we didn't get a single photo of them).

Dog trucks all lined up

Maggie and Bray Hill Siberians coming in with the first of two teams

Sue returning to the trail head

Carol returning to the trail head

Relaxing and Dog Sledding in Maine

Nine mile training run on the Whistle Stop Rail Trail in Farmington, Maine

Yesterday, Eric and I along with the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs enjoyed a nine mile training run on the multi use trail in Farmington, Maine, the Whistle Stop rail trail. Our dog sled trip was followed by a delicious lunch at the Homestead restaurant in Farmington.

The sign says it all: Relax

In lead for this dog sled excursion were Zoe and Acadia with Sobo and Okemo in wheel. Along the way we passed a warming yurt and restrooms provided by Franklin Hospital and made several small road crossings. The dogs ran well with Zoe making several critical on bys at key times. Temperatures were in the upper 20s and the trail was fast and hard packed.

Tuesday, the sled dogs will get a much needed day of rest and on Wednesday, Eric and I along with the sled dogs will head out bright and early to meet up with our friends from Critterwoods for a training run in Brownville.

Chloe, our cat, likes to hang out on the cabinets "relaxing" (relaxing cat style is sleeping 24/7)

Happy New Year

Exploring new trails

Eric and I along with the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs, Zoe, T-Bone, Sobo, Okemo, and Acadia want to wish everyone a very happy new year!

Retired sled dog, T-Bone, "recovering" from his big New Year's eve shindig

Okemo and Sobo slept in on New Year's day

Over the hills and through the woods

We spent New Year's eve taking the sled dogs for a short five mile run on one of the local trails surrounding the cabin. Running in lead were Zoe and Acadia and following in wheel were Okemo and Sobo. Exploring new trails is always fun for the sled dogs and musher. Frequently, "training opportunities" arise on new trails and this run was no different. Along the trail, we had to practice doing several "come haws" due to musher error and missed trail connections. We also crossed several icy patches and had to dog leg around a not quite finished bridge to cross a frozen stream. Along the trail, there were also many opportunities for the sled dogs to practice their gees and haws. The dogs also practiced running in wide open fields, something the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs rarely get to do. Later in the evening Eric and I headed out in the snow to the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club's annual New Year's eve potluck at Critterwoods. While at Critterwoods, we picked up a new Critterwoods snow hook for our new Outlaw dog sled which is on order and we hope will be delivered soon.

Running in wide open fields was a training opportunity

Four dog team: Zoe and Acadia in lead with Sobo and Okemo in wheel

Trail signs

New Year's day, Eric and I headed out in the snow (yes, it was still snowing!) with wheel dog, Okemo, to explore a new trail, directly accessible from the cabin on snow shoes. All told, we snow shoed about fifteen miles and saw some gorgeous trails that we are now anxious to explore with the dog team.

The cabin connector trail out to the main trails

Snowshoe Adventure

Eric and Okemo

Usually New Year's Day is spent watching a college football bowl game or two (or three or four). Since the cabin does not have television, the only "bowl game" that Eric and I watched was the Eagle Pack (gotta have a corporate sponsor) Get to the Bottem of the Bowl which Okemo won by a landslide.

Another stretch of gorgeous trail

Today (Saturday's) forecast is calling for approximately a foot of snow and wind so in addition to snow blowing the drive (Eric managed to get the carb on the snowblower repaired), we are planning on taking the sled dogs on a run on the trails surrounding the cabin and then enjoying a quiet afternoon and evening relaxing by the wood stove. This just in: Eric ran the dogs six miles on gorgeous trails surrounding the cabin. Running in lead were Zoe and Acadia with Sobo and Okemo in wheel. Eric reported that all dogs ran well including up the big hill at the beginning of the trail.

This afternoon's activities will include snowblowing the driveway, shoveling the porch and taking a nap (sled dogs and humans).

Our home away from home