Happy Five Year Anniversary

Happy Anniversary!

Today, Eric and I have been married for five years. Three of the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs (Zoe, T-Bone and Sobo) were participants in our wedding on the Eastern Shore of Maryland five years ago. Since the wedding, we've added Okemo and Acadia. During the past five years we've done a lot both together and individually: I left the practice of law at DLA Piper; we started our own business, Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC; Eric made tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor at the University of Delaware; we almost moved to Minnesota; and we purchased a cabin in Maine. What's next? Who knows, but as long as I have my "sweetie," I know we will make it through it. I love you sweetie.

On the dock right before our wedding

T-Bone was the honorary best man

Sobo thought my bouquet might be tasty

The three dogs that were in the wedding: T-Bone, Zoe and Sobo

Eric with T-Bone, Okemo, Sobo, and Zoe in Lubec, Maine (August 08)

The team in January 2005

Okemo was adopted in February 2006

Okemo hides in the grass after a swim

Acadia joined the family in August 2008

Acadia December 2009

The team in February 2010

The team in Farmington, Maine (February 2010)

Eric in June 2005 at our wedding

Eric (February 2010) traded in his tux for Carhartts and a Trans Alaska parka

The cabin (December 2009)

Adventures in Maine Dog Sledding: Breaking in the New Dog Sled

Looking across and down the power line trail

One of the goals of our recent dog sledding adventure up at the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures cabin in Maine was to break in our new Outlaw dog sled and "put it through its paces." This sled was purchased specifically for its exceptional steering abilities and, hopefully, its ability to survive the trails surrounding our Maine camp.

Pulling hard down the trail: (l-r) Acadia and Zoe in lead with Okemo and Sobo in wheel

While gorgeous, these trails are not for the faint of heart, require an adventurous spirit, and are twisty, turny, and sometimes narrow. But they are oh so worth it once you've mushed along them under crystal clear blue skies and taken in the panoramic views.

Curvy trails ahead

Getting ready to head down the power line trail

We are happy to report that despite somewhat less than optimal trail conditions (icy with light snow cover), the Outlaw dog sled survived (as did the mushers) and in some instances even thrived.

Stopped along the trail: Zoe and Acadia in lead with Sobo and Okemo in wheel

Starting down the tie trail from camp

A little further down the tie trail

Killer turn: This is where the exceptional steering comes in handy

Whew, we made it around that tree and through the "killer turn"

Big wheel dogs Okemo (left) and Sobo (right).

After a killer "gee" turn, up the power line trail we go!

Another gorgeous day on the trail. What could be better?

100 Mile Wilderness Sled Dog Race: Greenville, Maine

The Start: Dog trucks galore

On Saturday, February 6th, Eric and I along with the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures sled dogs spent an enjoyable day socializing with other mushers at the 100 Mile Wilderness Sled Dog Race in Greenville, Maine. Unfortunately, due to poor trail conditions, the 100 mile race was canceled but the 30 mile mid distance event went off as planned.

Eric waiting for the teams to come back in.

Alaskan Husky team coming back in

Siberian Husky team (one of twins from Kelim Siberians I believe)

Another Siberian Husky team

Alaskan Husky team

Alaskan Husky team

Corina Alexander, Kiana Siberians

Scott Alexander, Kiana Siberians

Dog Sledding in Farmington, Maine

Crackling Ice

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Eric and I along with our southern musher friends, Ruth, Nick, Linda and Kevin headed over to Farmington, Maine for an 8 mile run on the multi use trail. We've enjoyed running on this trail, the Whistle Stop Rail Trail, in the past.

The "sled dog widowers" Nick and Kevin

Ruth and team followed by the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures team

Running in lead were Zoe and Acadia followed in wheel by Sobo and Okemo. This nice and easy trail is a great place for a low key run. Along the way, we worked on fundamentals with the dogs such as "gee over."

Zoe and Acadia in lead followed by Okemo and Sobo in wheel

Ruth and team

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)