Growler 1-Mile 1-Pet Dog

Gibt mir die Schnauze. Who can resist a clammy black nose? Fabian and Wilson hook up to run.


Asha and Jonathan, who's all ears

Thanks to photographer Stefan Wackerhagen, timers Gene Ennis and Mel Bedard, and race sponsors Icy Waters, Yukon Brewing, Eagle Pack foods, Aurora Booties and Dazhaw Du Chiropractic Clinic. And special thanks to Jonathan and Laura Lucas for organizing a grizzly league!

Growler 1-Mile 1-Sled Dog

Bikejorers Irie and Wendy Morrison. Timers Gene Ennis and Mel Bedard at the Start Line. Go Team!


Dino and Jocelyn

Thanks for the pictures Stefan!

Growler 2-dog 2-Mile Pictures

Dino and Little Otis team up for Jocelyn


Crispin and his magic team - Banshee and Witch

Stefan Wackerhagen photos

Growler Formula One

Pia and Levi lead Dave's 10-dog Formula One team

Cruising through the backwoods. Check out Jonathan's tentacle toque.

photos by Stefan Wackerhagen - Thanks Stefan!

H Coyne and Sons Race Day - Looking Good

Yukon Brewing Copper Haul Twister League

Sunday 23rd November, Icy Waters Ltd, km 4.2 Fish Lake Rd, 

Registration 9.30am, Mushers Meeting 9.45 am, Race Start 11am-ish

1st Race - 12 mile CHT: skijor 2-3 dogs, sleds 2-4 dogs; mushers 14+years

2nd Race - 5 km Kids: skijor 1-2 dogs, sleds 2-4 dogs; mushers 5-13 years

3rd Race - 5km, 1 Pet dog: skijor, sled, run (feet), bike, scooter, whatever, so long as it's not motorised, and the dog is attached to you.

Exiting new "twist" to the CHT trail at the turnaround, watch out for the "pyramids".

Entry Fee all races $10. Cash Prizes from H Coyne & Sons; merchandise from Aurora Booties, Dazhaw Du Chiropractic Clinic, First Mate Dog Food, Yukon Brewing, Icy Waters Ltd.

Trail nice just now (Nov 3rd), watch this space for trail updates; thanks to Klondike Snowmobile Association fro trail grooming.

CHT & Dryland Rules Amendments

Yeah, yeah, I know, the boring stuff:

Absolutely no metal edged skis for skijorers

All dogs in all races must have necklines (unless solo class), harness, and tuglines attached (unless for veterinary verifiable reasons the dog had to be released from the tugline during the race)

Kids race is 5-13 years

Pet Dog is 14 years+

CHT 12 mile is 14 years +

Mushers Meeting - being late causes problems with the bib draw, is disrespectful of the sponsors and volunteers. Please be on time, this year the Race Officials will be tightening up on punctiality at the Mushers Meeting attendance. You perennial latecomers know who you are...

H Coyne & Sons race day, Sunday Nov 23rd, firepit and potluck BBQ, so bring some wood 'n' grub (Icy Waters Ltd splashed out and bought a BBQ, available to the race clientele).

More details to follow.

Dec 14th - Reach for the Sky and Take the Beer Poker run - Purse confirmed as $700 Cash + $400 Air North Certificates - all thanks to Yukon Brewing, Air North, and all you Drylanders (2008 Dryland entry fees of $400 in the cash pot)!!

Growler Race Report

I've slathered moisturizer on my sunburn and I'm treating snowblindness with soggy teabags after the season finale of the Hot Hounds Dry(snow)land Race Series.

Ten dog boxes pulled into our parking lot at 2 p.m. and by 2:30 the first teams let loose on the 1 Mile Pet Dog course. Jonathan took the award for outrageous headgear, from his jester cap and octopus toque to grizzly dog ears on his helmet. He also took first prize, over Wendy Morrison's fabulous ride on a a thin coat of cold fresh snow. "I fell once," she said and landed in the moss. "It was soft, thank God." Scooterman Fabian Schmitz took the red lantern on his first race ever.

Race veteran Jocelyn and running mate Valerie had an eventful 1 Mile Sled Dog run. Valerie's Dino is not a solo runner, so at the last minute Jocelyn offered to switch with Little Otis. Dino gave Jocelyn an uphill battle, while Valerie and Little Otis sailed by with ease.

Jocelyn's reward came in the 2-Mile 2-Dog. Together, Little Otis and Dino whipped around the trail tails up. Meanwhile, bikejorer Crispin and his ghost team Witch and Banshee, born on Hallowe'en, fishtailed in the corners and skidded around curves to post a finish four seconds faster than the motorized class.

Formula One drivers scouted the trail in a quick spin on their ATVs before the race that Dave Johnson won with 10 Streeper dogs. "I was going to take twelve, but after looking at some of those turns..., they're pretty sharp," he said in the staging area. Even so, they rocketed around the trail ahead of Laura Lucas and newcomer Christy Oullette.

Arctic Char and dogs (hot) were on the grill for the post-race pot luck with plenty of our sponsor's beverages. Thanks to everyone who brought a dish to share and our sponsors; Yukon Brewing for the Growler jugs, Dazhaw Du Chiropractic Clinic for the Traumeel - highly recommended by the Yukon Quest, Aurora Booties for the ever popular dog collars, and Eagle Pack foods. Without your support we wouldn't have a league!

And a special thanks to our perennial hosts Icy Waters where the Copper Haul Season opens on November 23. Timer Gene Innis reminded teams that races are planned for Rendezvous and we'll Reach for the Sky again this year. So, wax your skis and sew your booties; the dogs have a full winter ahead.
posted by Jessica Simon