The leaves have turned yellow and fall softy to the ground. The cold hangs in the air. Frost clings to the grass. Summer has given way to fall, and all thoughts are on the winter ahead.
Many dread winter. The long dark months loom on the horizon, and bring with them bitter cold. Soon the trees will bend, heavy with frost and snow. The bears will settle into their dens, waiting for easier times.
Many dread winter. But not us. Winter is our time. Winter is the time of the sled dog.
I have never been in awe of another as much as when I see a sled dog in its element. Nothing matters but the trail ahead. Not the cold or the wind or the deep drifted snow. A well-trained team of sled dogs is an amazing force of will. Their relentless energy is balanced by fierce devotion. When the trail gets tough, they get stronger.
Living with sled dogs has taught me what it means to be strong. They have shown me that you must never back down from a challenge. They take things as they come, without getting lost in what is past or what may happen in the future. They continue to teach me every day.
When our guests arrive for a tour, they get to meet our dogs and share a few moments of their lives. This winter, I want to provide a glimpse of the life of a few of our sled dogs from the dogs’ perspective. We will follow them through the season, from the excitement of fall training to the daily grind of tours. We might even be running a mid-distance race this winter.
The first dog I want to introduce is Sol (pronounced soul). He is 4 years old and has an innate talent for leadership. A good lead dog is a musher’s best friend. They keep order in the team, find the trail, and take commands (gee means right, haw means left). While the musher’s job is to be the boss (or Alpha) of the team, the lead dogs are the team captains. All the other dogs look to them for direction, and they look to me. There must be an enormous sense of trust between us.
Next week we will meet Hawk, our big friendly giant, and Frog, our puppy-in-training.