Winterization

I had some time off between trips and managed to fit in some skiing in over in Wisconsin, and happily spent much needed time with Kate. She hit the trail to Ely in middle January and came up for some 'winterization'.

After doing a small two day dogsled trip at Fortune Bay Casino's golf course for Wintergreen, Kate and I ventured down the famous 'Echo Trail'. This road serves as an access to several BWCA entry points and has a very wild and rustic feel to hit. As we drove in about 30 miles we came up to Moose River entry point and parked the VW diesel. Out jumped "Millie" our sled dog and we loaded up the pulk sled which would eventually be pulled by us. See, Millie is still somewhat of a puppy, so she's like a two year old on speed. Pulling was not in her interest that day. Though she was great and cuddling up with me and Kate later on.

So we booked it on our skis down an unplowed service road towards our eventual camp which ended up being tucked in the woods near the Moose river.

We were lucky to score a canvas wall tent equipped with a small wood stove which kept us warm during the brisk minus 44 degree night. Camp was fun to set up as we put up our wall tent, chopped and cut wood, and cooked over a fire. Millie enjoyed a nap on our bags while Kate continued her dominance in cribbage against me, we sipped wine, laughed out loud, and enjoyed a relaxing evening in 44 below.

When morning came around it warmed up to what felt like at least 20 below, so we decided on more cribbage, coffee, sausages, and burned bagels with butter in the comforts of our heated tent. Early afternoon quickly turned into late afternoon by the time we broke camp and started skiing out. Millie was feeling the urge to pull like a proper sled dog should and we scooted down the trail quickly.

So while we were out there camping in 44 below, Kate and I talked about my diesel car and whether it would start after a night this cold. I was convinced the gold golf would start, but Kate had a feeling, one that proved to be right....30 miles out of town, the only tire tracks on the road were mine for days,no cell service, and my car froze up like dog turd on the ice. Our option....ski down the road and hope for the best. But Kate likes an adventure as much as me so we stepped into our ski's, grabbed Millie girl and glided toward Ely. A few miles and hours later, around dusk, a car drove by and saved the day. Later on we enjoyed a beer, bucky burger, and a sauna!

Another successful day for Max and Kate.

Returning North

Well...I'm back, and way behind schedule on my updates. Guess I'll start from the beginning....

I arrived back up at the Wintergreen ranch December 27th and was immediately put on a camping trip with some kids from Mounds Park Academy out of Maplewood. 3 eleven year old girls, 3 fourteen year old boys, and one teacher ventured into the woods with Amy the other guide and me!

We hit the trails early in the morning and tracked our two 6-dog team camping sleds into the BWCA. We were fortunate this trip to bring our canvas wall tent with a small wood stove as rain and a wintery mix was in the forecast, which proved to be right.

After one night of "wintery mix", the kids moved into tents, and we spent the next few days trying to dry out. Conditions got cold and snowy after that and made for beautiful scenery as the snow stuck to the tree branches and created a scene out of Narnia.

For 4 days and nights we collected firewood, cooked around the fire, hiked and explored, joked around in the tent, but didn't do much dogsledding. The slush conditions were as bad as they have ever been and prevented us from cruising the lakes. (When it snows a lot, the weight of the snow on the lakes pushes the ice down, then water seeps through cracks and creates slush beneath the snow on the lake, which creates impossible travel conditions by dogsled.)

The final day attempted to cross South Farm Lake into Farm lake where we would rendezvous with our dog trailer and truck. We made about 300 yards in 6 hours in blizzard like conditions, as the slush froze our runners and prevented any good progress.

We pushed and pulled into the night, finally getting one sled out with 12 dogs around 8 PM. A long hard day that had 3 girls crying, one of which insisted on sleeping in the middle of the lake in below zero temps, the boys were collapsing in exhaustion after pushing the 7oo pound sleds through slushy snowy ice, and the dogs had about had enough. It ended with me and two guides getting the sleds out late into the evening while the kids enjoyed pizza in town.

That evening some other guides and me drank some beers and laughed about the impossible day, and stories of the past. It ended with whiskey yoga, led zeppelin, and finally a warm bed.

Just another good trip in the north!

Until the next one....

Sir Maximus Pittackleton