Nature's Kennel Sled Dog Racing & Adventures

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Friday, September 10th, 2010

Nature's Kennel

PO Box 5
McMillan, MI 49853
Tel: 1-906-748-0513
Email: info@natureskennel.com

Journals

Adventure Journals

Welcome to our life of adventure! Check out the latest kennel news, stories of your favorite sled dogs, and more!!
For more journal photos, click on the racing photo gallery.

Monday, May 31st, 2010 We need your help again with an on-line vote. We are fortunate enough to have a group of angels that live in our community to operate Luce County Pet Pals which is an animal rescue organization. Our county does not have any other animal control, humane society or dog pound so they do a lot! Here is the link, followed by some info: http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3 Help Luce County Pet Pals win a $10,000 grant!!!! Voting can be done once a day per computer. Remember to vote every day!! Voted started May 17 and will run through Midnight of August 22. The organization which receives the most votes will win the grand prize. Enter Luce County Pet Pals, Michigan as the state and follow the directions from there. Help make a difference for the homeless animals of Luce County!! The Copper Country Humane Society of Houghton, MI was the last grand prize winner. Luce County Pet Pals can be next with your support!! Thank You in advance! Posted by Ed

Sunday, May 30th, 2010 Baby Nate, aka Flat Stanley, had a great visit with Charlie and Sophia Ghayur (and Kal and Laura and Nana Barb Stark) in Boulder before heading home to the HOT Michigan weather. Wow, should have stayed in the desert where it was cooler! We have reports from the Alaska Crew that things area just about as warm in Skagway and Juneau but that the dogs are doing well. Jennifer called from the Skagway camp today to tell us that Caullie and Sprout are doing great as lead for her, but starting to get a little bored so they will get to run in the team for a while. She said the camp crew is awesome this year, she loves the job, and she's ready to go back next year already! Ryne and Jake are doingwell on the glacier, where it's been much more sunny than when Ed was up there four years ago! Sounds like this is just some very strange weather everywhere. I told everyone to send photos so hopefully we'll have some to share soon. While everyone is trying to survive the heat, Yooper is at home on Alabama on Opal Krout's bed with all his "lady friends"--Whistle Nikishka, and Oopsie. Sounds like he's living the good retirement life! Posted by Tasha


Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 Nate has been officiall been re-named Flat Stanley as we haul him around the country and photograph him in front of unusual places. We are in Durango, Colorado at the moment, visiting with Mike, Katy, and Tom Olson. This is absoutley georgrous country and we've been spoiled by Mike and Katy as they play "tour guide" for us. I'm not so sure grandma would approve of some of Nate's wild adventures (two tracking along the mountainside and climbing the ladder to Mesa Verde) but he's slept through most of the harrowing stuff! We are headed up to Boulder tomorrow for a visit with Laura and Kal (and Charlie and Sophia Ghauyer) before heading back to Chicago and then home. After being in the sunshine and hot weather out here I"m not so sure I'm excited to be back in the Michigan heat. A big thanks goes to Maliko for all the puppy and dog care at home. And, all the awesome facebook updates on the Nature's Kennel facebook page. It does make us miss the dogs! Posted by Tasha



Sunday, May 16th, 2010 Nate and I are back from our world travels, have done our laundry, visited with Ed, and now we are all (Ed iincluded) leaving early Monday morning for a school program in Moline, IL, followed by a trip to Chicago and then it's off to Colorado. It's a good think Nate is such a good traveler (he never made a peep on the plane)! We had a great visit with Krister and Molly and sled dogs turned house dogs Art and Harry. We also got to visit with Q-Tip who now lives with Krister's boss, Willy. All the dogs, and humans, are great and it was a really nice short vacation. Nate's favorite part of the trip was hearing Krister play the banjo and guitar, we are pretty sure he prefers the banjo as he really would get his feet stomping! Maliko and Ed survived just fine without us, and I can't believe how well the puppies are doing. They all love to run out and go to "school" where Maliko has taught them to sit. How adorable! Posted by Tasha


Friday, May 14th, 2010 Quick update before I get sassed by my Mother-in-law again(you know I love you Joyce): -All is beyond great! -Tasha and Nate flew out to New Hamshire to visit with our superstar Guide and good friends Krister and Molly. Nate did not make a peep on the flights. They return today with hopefully fun stories and some pictures to share. -Maliko is still absolutely wonderful with the dogs. She has the kennel dogs brushed, teeth cleaned, toenails trimmed and loved. She has the puppies happy, healthy, and already knowing how to sit and come when called. -The 20 yearlings that are at the kennel are learning manners faster than I expected. They pull like my a-team and are relaxed when they return from a run. We just have to get them calm before the run. -Momo, TC, and Hedgie the three amigo house dogs are fat and lazier than ever. -Kelsie, our helper for the summer, arrives June 7th. -Jake made a brief phone call and said the dogs on the glacier are doing great. He said that he has more than enough power to pull the guests around the icefield. He loves Carver but said that Leaky is driving him crazy because she sings at night. We are looking forward to hearing from Ryne when she returns to ground and getting an update on all of the dogs. -We have not heard from Jennifer in Skagway about how the dogs are doing there but I imagine she is very busy with the start of the season. -Firewood is mostly done, equipment is all repaired and ready for next season, kennel improvement projects have begun. Life is so good. Posted by Ed

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 A few quick pictures: a- Tasha and my Dad after splitting all of that firewood in a day. b- Enzo and her trainer Coach. c- Onyx showing Stinky how to lay down after a run. (We do not like our dogs being all crazy. Laying down and resting is an acceptable behavior.) d- Maliko teaching Bruny's pups to sit. Not bad after only three days of instruction. Posted by Ed



Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 (from Ryne) Juneau in May is wonderful. Contrary to what I was told, Juneau has been remarkably pleasant with balmy temperatures, sunny skies, and gentle breezes: perfect weather for any activity, including flying. Unfortunately, the tourist season is just starting, so flights to the glacier have been either completely booked or nonexistent, thereby, postponing my arrival on the Herbert Glacier. And understandably, Coastal Helicopters won’t send an aircraft up just for me, no matter how nice the views and weather. This leaves me to explore the ins and outs of the unique town (city?) of Juneau. Over the past five days, I’ve taken advantage of the lull in tourism to become better acquainted with the city blocks and hiking trails. Being of a scientific mindset, I’ll begin with some of my factual findings: - Juneau is a town of 30,000 people with a large Filipino population. - Not three miles out of town is North America’s fifth largest icefield, the Juneau Icefield. Its size is comparable to the size of South Carolina, and its annual snowfall exceeds 100 feet. - Juneau is only 45 miles from end to end, but has 130 miles of hiking trails! - Juneau is situated in a rainforest. - The Governor’s Mansion sits atop a hill overlooking the city center. Sarah Palin and her family resided in Juneau for no more than three weeks then chose to return to Wasilla, much to the frustration of the Juneau residents I encountered. On a more personal level, I’ve found Juneau to be an enjoyable, adventurous, and quirky city. Juneau has to be the only capital so relaxed that it lacks real airport security yet so fast paced that cars honk at pedestrians strolling across a crosswalk. Nowhere else are Extra-Tuff rain boots not only practical but fashionable as well (and I must say, I do prefer Extra-Tuffs to Uggs or high heels)! But probably my favorite aspect of Juneau is the intricate web of trails. Even with a whole summer, I doubt I’ll complete half of the trails within city limits. On my past three hikes my housemate, Crissy, and I have climbed cliffs overlooking the Mendenhall glacier, wove amongst towering trees and moss carpets, and walked on wooden planks across marshy meadows of skunk cabbage. With all the natural beauty, it’s no wonder the cruise ships choose Juneau to dock. Sadly, the same cruise ships that bring life and money to Juneau also tarnish its authenticity. The downtown is filled with jewelry stores and perfume shops catering to the cruise ships rather than locals. While waiting for the bus, I counted ten jewelry stores within just a few blocks! Apparently nothing says Alaska like a diamond necklace. Even with its faults, Juneau is truly a spectacular city with lots to offer. I’m excited to explore the city further, but first and foremost, I look forward to being reunited with the dogs and flying to the glacier! Hopefully the next update will be about glacier life and the wonderful dogs of Nature’s Kennel! Posted by Ed

Saturday, May 8th, 2010 (from Ryne) Traveling to Alaska- even better than a cruise ship! For many people, a continuous four-day drive sounds monotonous, long, and downright dull. For most, even a short, five-hour drive warrants an afternoon spent on the computer downloading podcasts and books on tape. I, on the other hand, absolutely love road trips, but four to five days in a car is long (although exciting) even by my standards. I must admit I was accumulating new music for the drive, thinking I’d need to some way to entertain myself for the trip. Oh, how wrong I was. Once we got started, it became blatantly clear. This would not be a dull trip. Factor into the equation 60 dogs, two border crossings, snow-covered passes, and the remote reaches of Canada and Alaska, and you have a road trip unlike any other. A “continuous four-day drive” does not even begin to describe our trek to Juneau, Alaska. On May 1, 2010 we left for Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. We began a day later than planned due to some unexpected mechanical delays. Although, by this point, truck and trailer problems have become expected delays, so luckily we had given ourselves a couple days of cushion. After a quick stop by the local auto parts store, Jennifer, Vanessa, 60 dogs, and I left Newberry with a plan to stop somewhere in Canada before the mountains to get the trailer breaks readjusted. Our first stop along the way was in Superior, WI where we acquired a hitchhiker: Muski the Siberian Husky from the Frekkings. We were going to give Muski a ride to his new home in Edmonton, Canada. I must say, it was a pleasure to have Muski along. He was quiet, unfazed by his excitable new neighbors and foreign surroundings, and friendly with everyone he met both human and canine. Several hours after picking up Muski, we arrived at the US/Canadian border with now 61 dogs and three people, one of which is not a US citizen. As many of you know, Vanessa is in the United States from South Africa on a student visa. And luckily for us, Vanessa has a German passport in addition to her South African passport. A little after midnight, we arrived at the crossing and upon inspection, were asked to park and come inside for further questioning. Unlike some foreigners believe, Canada and the United States are two completely separate nations. A US visa does not provide entrance into neighboring Canada. Even with all of Vanessa’s extra paperwork and documents, the Canadian government asked us wait until morning when a certified attendant could review our case. We were already a day behind, so staying the night was not an option. We racked our brains for other solutions, but we’d missed our opportunity to smuggle her in a dog box, and even athletic Vanessa couldn’t sprint past the border guards. Finally it dawned on Vanessa: she is German. And as such, she can freely travel into Canada. As the border agent said, “You are welcome in Canada as a German, but as a South African, we’d need to see additional documentation.” Lesson learned. Once in Canada, we proceeded across the western plains of the Canada. My friend, Micaela Cooley, described the area best during a geology research project of the region: “flat, boring, and old.” I happen to prefer wide-open spaces but two days of it can be slightly monotonous. Although, I must note, you can’t beat some of the sunrises and sunsets across the plains. In Edmonton, we arranged to leave Muski the husky at a Wal-Mart outside of town. Due to the prevalence of Wal-Marts, it is no surprise that we mistakenly chose one a few miles down the road from the planned meeting location. As a result, we waited for a couple of hours and dropped all 60 dogs in the Wal-Mart parking lot for dinner before we finally made the connection. It was quite a show for the locals in the area. After the short delay, Musky the husky was on his way to his new home, and we were on our way up to Whitehorse. Before we knew it, we were up to “the Forts” in British Columbia. We waited a few hours in Fort St John to adjust the trailer breaks, and then continued on. The exciting driving began shortly after Fort Nelson. We had encountered snow previously, but the snow on the pass outside of Fort Nelson was unlike any we had experienced thus far. A sheet of ice and slick conditions sent the truck off the road. I must say, Canadians are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. A fellow named Mark stopped, helped us shovel, acquired a chain, and recruited a semi to pull us out. What truly wonderful people. We were quickly back on the road, but decided to stay the night in Fort Nelson until the roads were in better condition. The rest of the driving was perfectly uneventful. Vanessa enjoyed the “American safari” as we saw black bear, grizzly bear, deer, elk, big horn sheep, moose, coyote, and buffalo along the way. Upon our arrival to Sebastian’s kennel outside of Whitehorse, it was hard to tell who was more excited, the dogs or us. Let’s just say no one slept well that night with the dogs’ noisy celebrations. The following day, Jennifer and 18 dogs left for Skagway while Vanessa, Sebastian, 54 dogs, and I left for Haines, AK. Once again, we had some trouble at the border, except this time it was Sebastian’s foreign citizenship. We patiently waited for the border control to check, double-check, and re-check all the paperwork before continuing on to catch the ferry at 3:00 A.M. On Thursday at 8:00 A.M. we finally arrived in Juneau, AK. By 9:30 we were loading dogs onto the helicopters for the Herbert Glacier. Vanessa left in the evening to return home, and I’ll be heading up to the glacier in a couple of days. I’m excited to see all the dogs back on the snow, and will keep everyone updated! Posted by Ed

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 "I can't take this very much longer I'm stranded in the sleet and rain Don't think I'm ever gonna make it home again The mornin' sun is risin'" Journey, Wheel In The Sky Ryne, Jen, and Vanessa made it to Sebastion Schnuelle's kennel in Whitehorse! The trip was an exciting one. Maybe a little too exciting for its participants as the truck and trailer spun full circle in the middle of a blizzard between Fort Nelson and Whitehorse, Yukon. I wonder what the Dogs were thinking. I think we have a guess as to what the humans were thinking. Jen will now take the "trusty" Ford truck down (yes, down) to Skagway, Alaska with 16 dogs for her summer adventure with Alaska Excursions. Ryne will head to Haines with Sebastion and 42 of our trusty sweetheart sled dogs for the ferry trip to Juneau. From there the Dogs and Ryne will fly via helicopter to their summer home on the Herbert Glacier. Vanessa will also take the ferry to Juneau and then fly back to the lower 48. It is a weird summer for us because Ryne has most of my main race team with her. While, back at the kennel, I am training Ryne's race team for next year. It is definitely backwards but I felt the yearlings that Ryne will race next season are currently a little too young to send up to Alaska for the hard pulling demands of the glacier. I hope to take a break from summer projects and visit my team in Juneau if the airfare prices drop some. Currently Chicago to Juneau is $800. Ouch! Posted by Ed

Monday, May 3rd, 2010 A call for action. For those of you who do not know Cliff Henning, he is the guy that makes sure my dogs, dog truck, and I get to Alaska every year for the Iditarod. The guy can fix anything. He once changed a u-joint on the big dog truck in a parking lot in the Yukon using a screwdriver, c-clamp, and a hammer. If you do know Cliff, there are some things you may not know though. He takes vacation time from work to get me there. He buys his own plane ticket home after driving up to Alaska. He does sled dog school programs in Wisconsin spreading the word for the sport and proper dog care. When Cliff is not helping us or talking with students he works as a Technician at the Whistling Straits Golf Course. He must be as good at his job as he is at getting me to Alaska because he is one of three finalists nationwide for Golf Course Management Magazine's "Most Valuable Technician." Cliff got this far in the process with recommendations from his co-workers and bosses but now it is up to us to get him the victory. If you go to this link, you can vote for him; http://www.gcsaa.org/gcm/mvt.asp . It is really easy, heck I even figured it out, and it takes about a minute. Thanks for helping. Posted by Ed

Saturday, May 1st, 2010 The girls and sixty dogs are ON THE ROAD to Alaska! (Although Maliko is in the photo, she wanted to be sure that everyone know she is NOT on the trip, she is not that crazy.) I'm sure we'll have a few stories from the road soon...but in the meantime, here are a few baby Nate and puppy photos. Nate has received a TON of baby gifts...the kid has cleaned up! It seems like every day there is least one package for him at the post office. He thanks everyone for all their gifts. The shirt he has on in the photo was made by Nate's cousin LeRue Werner and says "Iditarod 2028". How crazy is that...to think that he could run the Iditarod in 18 years! So, he's posing with a couple of his potential lead dogs from Vixen's litter of puppies. I had to include the series of photos because I swear in the first one both he and the pup are giving me the evil eye! Then, there's the smile...which he only gives very occasionally at this point, and then the "I'm thinking this is a crazy idea" look, and then there's the puppy yawn that is just way too cute! Thanks for being entertained by my baby! Posted by Tasha

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