Heavy snow and high winds

The Cantwell Classic 200 turned out to be a pretty challenging trail. Originally, I entered the race as a fun race to put more experience on the dogs and myself. It turned out to give us more learning experiences than I could have imagined. We started off well, I drew # 25 and Jodi drew #26. With dual starts and Jodi and I being the last two mushers to start, I let Jodi go ahead and go first, then I casually hooked up dogs and took off in my own time. I really liked that!! NO PRESSURE! Since the first leg of the race wasn't timed, I wasn't worried about it. We took off and were flying!!! Andi came up from behind on his snowmachine and hollered at me to slow down. I was already on the drag, and the dogs were having a great time; but, then he yelled, "You're doing 20mph!!!" I said Holy cow and really laid onto the drag. I had to do that for the first 5 miles before the dogs settled into their pace. The trail was nice, but the wind was blowing. Still, with 30 degree F temps, it wasn't bad. Then, we hit the snow.

It snowed over 2 feet the night before the race, then we got another 6 inches during the first day/night. The trail was just powder and all of the dogs had to pretty much swim in it. It was also pretty warm. So, about 2 hours in, I stopped the dogs for a snack and just rested for about an hour. The dogs were peppy, so I petted and played with them, scratched bellies and just acted laid back. We took off again and when we'd hit harder sections of trail, the dogs flew! But, that would last for like 100-200 yards, then we'd plow right back into powder. I was determined to keep my team happy, so I stopped every hour for 5 minutes, making sure to pat the dogs and tell them how well they were doing. By doing this, it took us 8 hours to get to Big Su, 52 miles from the start. But, I wasn't alone. Even the top teams took at least 6-7 hours to make the run...and they did it straight through. By taking my time, resting and all that, I had a nice looking team up arrival, while what I saw around me wasn't so happy. Dogs were shutting down on the trail (passed a musher on the way in who was stuck, team refused to budge), injuries were just crazy! Lots of wrist and shoulder problems, due to the soft, deep snow. There were even a couple of dogs who overheated or worked too hard. The trail was just mentally brutal for the dogs and from what I saw, mushers alike.

I got the dogs fed, watered, and bedded down. They rested pretty well and all was going as planned until folks started talking about the time factor and how long it was taking to get from checkpoint to checkpoint. The dogs really had to get equal rest, because the deep snow and gusting winds were taking a lot out of the teams. It was brutal! Folks were talking about scratching all around me. I didn't like to even think it, but then, when race people said that race support would be pulled after a certain time and that Maclaren lodge was going to charge mushers for the night if they didn't leave that checkpoint by a certain time, I started to realize that I might not finish this race. I knew I had to be back at work on Monday, so when I started to do the math, I realized that I was going to have to cut my losses. However, all was not lost. I realized that even though we were going to have to scratch, I felt good, the dogs looked good (they went crazy when a team left the checkpoint...that team later scratched at Maclaren...and I had a hard time getting them to rest some more) and we were using this race as a training run anyway....so things weren't a total washout. So, the 6 teams that scratched at Big Su rested a full 12 hours, then we headed back to Cantwell.

On the way, wind blew so hard that it picked up my little leader, aptly named Feather, and she slammed into my big, hulking old guy, Torus. Then, the wind took me and the sled all the way to the edge of the highway, where I jumped on the left runner and pulled with all my might to keep the sled from going over the side (there was a gully there...yikes!). Later, I saw caribou playing, then even got to run with them! They ran up onto the highway and ran with me and the team for about a half mile before heading off into the tundra. It was an AMAZING experience that I will carry with me all my life. Where else but here in Alaska can you experience these kinds of wonders???

My team ran well, I had 2 sets of snacks for the run back to Cantwell (which we used), I rested the dogs for an hour on the trail, as Just and Tricky developed wrist sprains...but they were ok to finish the leg after a good rubdown with algyval and wrist wraps...plus, I kept the team slow. We ran all the way to the finish, 57 miles, and came in under the banner and lights to cheers and shouts of congratulations. When I told the checker that I had scratched, he said, "We know...but you still ran the trail all the way back...that was great!" I was so warmed by this support from people who didn't even know me!! I got the dogs to the truck, had a few looked over by a vet (a couple of dogs were a little dehydrated), got warm food and water into them, massaged them all and got them resting in their straw filled compartments. Jodi came in up at the start of the race, but caught a ride for her and her team back to the finish.

Upon reflection, I realized that I didn't have to scratch and could have kept going. I can't say that I don't regret the decision...I do. Looking back, I know that the dogs and I could've finished. So what, if it would have taken us until Sunday afternoon. Still, I had to think about plans for the rest of the season and I really didn't want to jeopardize my Quest 300 run or Manny's 200 milers in March. We have a small kennel and only 1 main race team. So, all in all, the decision was probably a good one....but it has left me with a new found determination and fire in my belly that I've never had before. Looking at the times, my team's speed was about 1/2 hour off of Lance Mackey's speed (the winner) and 20 minutes off of team Seavey's speeds (Mitch and Danny). I really can't complain about that. I also had several people tell me what a good team I have, how good the dogs looked, etc. A girl's gotta like that!!!

The Cantwell wasn't the only race to suffer from the weather (11 scratches with almost as many withdrawals...only 14 mushers finished)...the Copper Basin 300 took heavy hits with a LOT of scratches and very few mushers crossing the finish line (11 finishers out of 26). These two race trails were absolutely brutal on dogs and mushers alike.

Ok, I've gotta grab some food (still hungry, yikes! that race took a LOT outta me...and I was a bad sled dog..I didn't eat or drink well). Keep posted for updates on my preps for the Quest 300. The adventure never stops here at Running Swift Kennel!!! Keep on smiling!

-Tammi