A New Addition to My Blog List

I've discovered a "new" blog that I just added to my blog list (on the left).  Here's how it happened. 

My friend Helen Hegener posted a link to a blog article on the Mushing Magazine blog that I found very interesting.  From there, I clicked on a link to Jeffery Dinsdale's Mushing Past blog.  After reading just a couple of articles I subscribed to an RSS feed to the blog, and added it to my list here.

Any serious student of history will find that most of his sources qualify only as tertiary (as opposed to primary) documentation, but the blog is well written and interesting.  Most importantly in my mind, is that Mr. Dinsdale DOES cite his sources, making it possible for one to evaluate the evidentiary value of sources and the validity of his suppositions.

I don't necessarily agree with everything he writes.  For example, in the Mushing Magazine article he wrote "There were sled dogs already present in this area (prior to the gold rush)….and good ones too. These dogs were the famous Mackenzie River Huskies, a mix of the Eskimo Dog, the Malamute and the “Indian Dog” described in the writings of Samuel Hearne. 

Since the Alaskan Malamute wasn't recognized as a 'breed' of sled dog prior to the 1930s, it is impossible to determine whether or not their ancestors contributed to the DNA of Mackenzie River Huskies and it's much more likely that the dogs present in the region were similar to the Hudson's Bay Company dogs observed by Robert Kennicott at Fort Yukon in 1860-61, when he wrote "The original stock has probably been some large, strong dog, and they have become hardier by a very slight intermixture with Indian dogs....  Half geddies (Indian dogs) and quarter geddies are often good dogs"

It's only natural that historians disagree over the interpretation of historical details, and my disagreement with Dinsdale's interpretations does not detract from his work in any way, shape or form and it certainly doesn't invalidate the information he presents.  

The historical information contained in the blog seems to focus primarily on dog mushing in the late nineteenth and especially early 20th centuries, considerably later than he time period in which I'm most interested.  I'm looking forward to reviewing Mr. Dinsdale's earlier articles and in following his blog.  I've no doubt it will be very educational and perhaps somewhat inspirational as well.

Misc.

It's Monday morning, and I'm easing into the day with a good cup of coffee.  Today I have to run a few errands in preparation of returning to my job, and of course there are is a plethora of stray thoughts rambling around in my head.

The dogs continue to be more testy than I'm accustomed to seeing.  During the past week I've had to intervene in more squabbles than in the previous year or more.  Chinook and Rose got into it in a pretty serious way, and Rose has a laceration to her muzzle to show for it.  Chinook is now housed on a post, making it easier for neighboring dogs to disengage.  Torus is in the pen with Rose, and they are getting along fine.  Last night I had to break up a squabble between Cassiopeia and her brother Midnight's Son.  They are still together in their pen and act as though nothing ever happened.

Puppy Innoko has also required some additional management.  He chewed a hole in the heavy galvanized chain link between two pens and when caught was half-way into the neighboring pen.  Maybe I should have named him "Jaws".  In any event, I moved him out to a post while I repair the pen and he promptly got into a very loud and rather prolonged squabble with Orion.  It was escalating to the point where I had to physically break them up.  For now, Innoko is also on a post, neighboring Orion and Chinook and I've added repair of that pen to my list of things to be done today before I have to dash off to work.

About the only dogs in the yard that haven't engaged in at least a heated argument are Selene and Beau.  That particular pen is nothing but love though last night Beau did snark at Selene when she was overly persistent in wanting to play.  Seamus and Just have been on good terms and I haven't heard anything untoward coming from Capella and Nels, who are also housed together.

I think what they really need is a good, long run.  Unfortunately the warm weather just doesn't permit us to safely go out on the trail.  Once the weather breaks we should be able to get them out and about some, which will almost certainly help.  A tired dog is usually a well behaved dog.  If time permits I may let give them a chance to runamuck in the play yard later today.

State Crack Down on Wolfdogs?

According to an article appearing in today's issue of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Alaska State Troopers have  cited 3 Southcentral Alaskans for the illegal possession of wolf hybrids without a permit.  Just a few months ago a Healy man received a similar citation, but the district attorney's office chose to not prosecute that case.

There has been some concern expressed by other members of the Hedlund Husky Preservation Project, as Hedlund Gray Huskies do have some "old wolf" in their background.  The most recent known breeding of a wolf hybrid in this line was at least 6 generations ago, and none of the current kennels involved in the project have any interest in interjecting any more.  I really don't believe this will be an issue for us. 

Fire Danger Greatly Reduced

Recent rains have allowed firefighters to get a pretty good handle on area wildfires, and they've been able to reduce the size of the crews working those fires.  You can read more about the reduction in status of the fires by clicking HERE.

More "Before and After"

I recently posted some "before and after" pics of my kennel improvement efforts, but I haven't posted "before and after" pictures of my musher improvement efforts.  As followers of the blog may be aware, I've been on a serious weight loss diet since November 1st.  Here are some photos to demonstrate the results. 

First, my appearance at this this time last year (at work):

Summer, 2010

Now, a photo I shot yesterday.

Summer, 2011

It's time for me to dash off to town to get my haircut, pick up drugs from the pharmacy, collect supplies for work, and talk to a man about a tractor.  See ya' later.

Swanny

More Improvements

If time weighs heavily upon you just put together a sled dog team.  You'll never again lack for something productive to do.  As of this evening I've checked several additional projects off of my list.  I've finished renewing the wood shavings to all of the pens and circles, I've built and installed a new tool shed to store and organize the various long-handled tools needed to maintain the kennel, and I've built and installed a new gate. 

Here are a couple of photos to show how the kennel is shaping up this year.

New gate and tool shed

Tool shed in service

Indoors, I hired the daughter of a friend who is a very good carpenter and handy-woman to install some new light fixtures in the entry hallway, replacing the old fluorescent tube fixtures with more modern and allegedly more efficient lights, and repaired a leak in the plumbing in my utility room. 

I only have one more task on my summer project list, which is to clear a bunch of black spruce trees away from the house.  That can wait for another R&R as this one is winding down.  I'm also waiting to decide whether I want to buy that tractor, which allegedly has enough power to knock most of those pesky trees right down.

Meanwhile, I've eaten my supper, taken some ibuprofen, and I'm hearing a hot shower calling my name.  There won't be any Saturday night on the town partying for Ol' Swanny tonight - the brain may be willing but the body just can't hack it.  My back is reminding me that I am not eighteen years old, and haven't been for quite a few years.

Testy Dogs

Yesterday was wet and sloppy, which means I need to spend time hauling wood chips from the big pile out front into the dog yard to try to control some of the sloppy mud that's making life uncomfortable to the dogs and their keeper.  I don't know if it is because of the wet, sloppy weather, the new kennel configuration, or just frayed nerves from forced idleness, but the dogs behavior has been challenging, and interesting.

The night before last the skies opened up in a regular Noah-style downpour.  As I contemplated the design of a boat large enough to contain at least two of each specie of animal, I stepped to my perch on the nice covered deck, where it was nice and dry, to look over the yard and wish the mutts a good-night.  Well, poor Chinook was all curled up in the mud, his house tipped over and useless to him.  I dashed out to fix the problem, slipped in the mud and slid face first into his circle.  I don't know which of us was more surprised, but I was definitely more muddy than he. 

Yesterday morning I was feeding when Capella and Midnight, living together in the same pen, decided to get into an argument over some stray bits of kibble.  Though more a squabble than a fight, it required my intervention to prevent it from escalating into injuries and vet bills.  It's VERY unusual for me to have to intervene in canine squabbles in this kennel, so that was rather startling.

Not so startling as the altercation that occurred when I was feeding the dogs their supper last night.  Grace and Innoko have been living in the pen that's attached to the house, and as I was delivering food they got into a squabble of their own.  By the time I made my way into the pen Grace was inside her house and Innoko was half-way in, pressing the advantage of his size.  Neither dog was injured, but it was again very surprising and unexpected, especially for a six-month old intact male to go after any female so aggressively. 

I probably should have been shoveling wood chips yesterday, but my back and shoulders still ached from my workout shoveling dirt, so I decided to go tractor shopping instead.  Our friends at John Deere are releasing a new machine that is basically a cross between a garden tractor and a utility tractor.  A small machine that can accommodate a loader, and with all the shovel work that needs done around this place, the thought of having a little loader seems pretty darned reasonable.

John Deere has been floating 'teasers' about a new series of subcompact tractors that I've been following with some interest.  They are basically slightly oversized garden tractors that can handle an assortment of small but capable implements such as a loader, snow-blower and so forth.  You can read more about their new mini-machine HERE.

Well, as I was chatting with the salesman at Craig Taylor Equipment and explaining the type of work I plan to do with a machine I asked about comparable machinery.  He pointed out that a somewhat larger tractor with heavier-duty implements and a tougher chassis built for harder work might actually be less expensive. 

I said "Huhn?  Really?"

I asked him to work up a quote, and sure enough the larger machine with the implements I need most (a loader and a dirt blade) came in a full $1,000.00 cheaper than the over-grown garden tractor.  That doesn't mean it's cheap, just cheaper. 

The larger machine offers some real advantages.  High on the list is a standard mechanical transmission rather than hydrostatic running gear.  That can prevent a lot of problems when it's very cold out and the hydraulic fluid runs as thick as half-frozen molasses.  The larger machine has a few more horsepower.  Most importantly, the larger machine can accept a wider variety of heavier-duty implements designed for agricultural rather than casual home-owner use. 

So, I am contemplating taking out a loan to buy the darned thing.  Whether or not I do so may depend upon how I feel after shoveling wood chips today.

I've Been Remiss

OK, I'll admit it.  I've been poor about updating my blog lately.  After a truly brutal 2 week tour at work all I wanted to do was come home, hang out with the dogs and accomplish some stuff here at home.  Heck, I even turned off all the telephones for several days, just to ensure some peace and quiet. 

But, I'm all better now so it's time to get caught up a wee bit.  

First, some very good news.  Melanie Gould has been found, alive and safe.  She hasn't released many details about how and why she disappeared, but you can read what is available HERE. 

Here at home, I've been focusing on my annual kennel improvement project.  There is ALWAYS something that can be done to make a sled dog kennel more comfortable for the team or more convenient for the caretakers.  This year I added two additional pens.  I like pens more than tethers mostly because they require less space.  The scientific evidence finds no significant difference in the behavior of sled dogs housed in pens versus on tethers, but it is easier for a dog to play with a companion if they aren't restrained by chains. 

In any event, here are two views of the kennel before I added the new pens:

Before addition, from my perch on the deck.

View from ground level, before additions

Now, here are photos shot from the same vantage points after the new pens were installed:

From my perch on the deck.

From ground level

Once the pens were installed I started filling in holes.  This required the purchase of 10 square yards of top soil from a local quarry, followed by hours and hours and hours of shovel work.  I just finished that job this morning.

I still have more projects to do, but this was the big one for this summer.  Now I have 12 of the 15 Stardancer dogs living in pens, and plenty of space to accommodate some puppies I hope to acquire this fall and winter.

Meanwhile, the newcomers to the kennel are doing very well indeed.  Selene is being just a sweetheart.  She's met several new people and I'm pretty sure she never met a human she didn't just adore.  Innoko is all puppy, even though he is clearly the largest dog in the yard.  His antics provide constant entertainment.  Midnight's Son seems to be having the time of his life hanging out and playing with his siblings and new friends. 

Update

It's a beautiful morning here at my workplace, and I'm anxiously awaiting my opportunity to go home for a couple of weeks and make some serious improvements to the kennel.  I miss my dogs when I'm away, and more than anything else I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with the fuzz-butts. 

In the news, musher Melanie Gould is still missing.  An Alaska State Wildlife Trooper in a helicopter spotted her truck at the end of a side road or trail off the Denali Highway yesterday afternoon, but thus far searchers have found no sign of Melanie.  If you are in Alaska, please keep your eyes peeled.  Her friends and colleagues are greatly concerned for her welfare. 

There are still a fair number of fires burning in the area.  The Hastings Fire, near the Chatanika River west of the trans-Alaska Pipeline in the one of greatest conern, but so far it has remained on the north side of the river, in spite of considerable spread to the northwest yesterday and last night.  Closer to my workplace, the Tatalina fire is being worked by fire crews.  I haven't heard any news from those fires that are closer to home, but no news is good news, it's an indication that they are not spreading to any signficiant extent.

The major impact of the moment from the fires is to air quality.  With thick smoke hanging pretty constantly it's hard on the respiratory system, and tends to result in a nagging headache that just won't go away.

BOLO - Melanie Gould

BOLO is an acronym used in the law enforcement and related fields for "Be On Look Out".  Please be on the lookout for Iditarod Musher Melanie Gould.  She was last seen leaving her workplace in Talkeetna on May 31st.  Her sled dogs are being cared for by neighbors, but those who know her say she would NEVER leave her dogs behind for any reason. 

From the Workplace...

Now I'll bet you've been sitting around thinking "Now, why don't he write?" 

Well, mostly it's because I've been at work, and there isn't a whole lot going on that I can write about.  After a while I'm sure y'all get tired of reading about the weather.

Speaking of weather, it has turned from break-up season to summer, virtually overnight.  The woods went from mucky to dry in very short order, and since Memorial day there are wildfires burning all over the region, most of which were ignited by lightning. 

Here at my workplace, we have 1 fire burning within 7 miles, and another only 12 miles away.  The State Division of Forestry is monitoring these fires, and if they pose even a slight danger will jump right on them.  Even knowing that the official government authorities are paying attention, this is NOT the view one wants to see when working at a remote petroleum-industry workplace.

Smoke Plume Rising above Living Quarters

I've been having a visitor the past few days.  She's a foxy little vixen who is apparently quite forward and bold, just elusive enough to make photography a challenge. 

Foxy Little Vixen

From my current perch, I can see a single pink rose bloom peeking through the foliage.  I expect it to be joined by millions more within the next few days.  When I spoke with Ted on the phone last night he said they aren't quite in bloom at the house nor out in Chena River State Recreation Area, but are poised to burst open at any moment. 

I brought my fly rod along to work, but still haven't wet a line. The only place near-by where I might catch a few grayling really isn't all that great a fishery, and it's been so darned busy on the job that by the end of my 12-hour shift, I haven't like doing much more than checking E-mails, surfing the web a bit, and then racking out. 

So, that's what's been happening the past week or so.  Not a lot of news to share, but it beats nothin' at all.  Once I get off duty next week I'm sure things will change considerably.  June is usually Kennel Project Month for me, and I have several projects to do this year, though none are terribly extensive they will all contribute to a more comfortable and convenient set up.