Gang-line Gals - or - Going to the Dogs
Ely, MN : gateway to the Canadian Boundary Waters (BWCAW)
outfitter: Wintergreen (Paul Schurke- Arctic Explorer :owner)
Guilds: Max Pittman and girlfriend Kate
Gals: Mary Jo, Beverly and Me
Trip: dogsledding three days and two nights, camping under the stars in the Boundary Waters...
as recorded to my family via iPhone:
Monday 2/14/2011 : Fell asleep in camp under a beautiful moon in the Canadian Boundary Waters to an orchestra of wolves...cries answered by our tethered line of Inuit Canadian dogs. Tucked into to our -40 bags with bivy covers we managed to stay pretty cozy (key - hot water Nalgene bottle in sleeping bag about 20 min before you crawl in...).
Tuesday 2/15/2011: two skiers , one camping sled with 6 dogs , one light weight sled with four, gang line in order - we ventured out to explore. Vistas exposed many tracks - otter, moose, the elusive wolf... from the nights frolic. Waterfall lunch, hanging with the dogs ( who love people- but not always each other ). Sledding is WORK!!! Often you are on big exposed lakes but also through the woods on tight trails... Pushing up hill, " ready hike ", "haw" , "gee" " hike, hike, hike", "on by", "whoa" screaming down hills riding the break...trying to keep the sled from tipping and crashing into trees, breaking up dog fights ( you know how I love that). I have never worked so hard...another night on the tethered line for the dogs, another night of shared cries from primal comrades and sleeping under the approaching full moon .
What a ride
Well that's all from Ely.
Monday 2/14/2011 : Fell asleep in camp under a beautiful moon in the Canadian Boundary Waters to an orchestra of wolves...cries answered by our tethered line of Inuit Canadian dogs. Tucked into to our -40 bags with bivy covers we managed to stay pretty cozy (key - hot water Nalgene bottle in sleeping bag about 20 min before you crawl in...).
Tuesday 2/15/2011: two skiers , one camping sled with 6 dogs , one light weight sled with four, gang line in order - we ventured out to explore. Vistas exposed many tracks - otter, moose, the elusive wolf... from the nights frolic. Waterfall lunch, hanging with the dogs ( who love people- but not always each other ). Sledding is WORK!!! Often you are on big exposed lakes but also through the woods on tight trails... Pushing up hill, " ready hike ", "haw" , "gee" " hike, hike, hike", "on by", "whoa" screaming down hills riding the break...trying to keep the sled from tipping and crashing into trees, breaking up dog fights ( you know how I love that). I have never worked so hard...another night on the tethered line for the dogs, another night of shared cries from primal comrades and sleeping under the approaching full moon .
Wed 2/16/2011: woke to a bald eagle soaring over the lake and a crystal clear blue sky. A final song from our neighboring wild pack and our tethered line sings their response. Packed our camp, sleds ready we set out into the "hottest weather in MN" ( Ely was 60 ...their motto: "Ely the Coolest Town in America")... these dogs run best at about 15 and below. We had a good 12 miles to look forward to... missing a turn off we added another three miles... slush, ice, deep snow we moved along through beautiful country half dressed, heaving the huge camp sled ....up and over, through and around. Glorious sun drenched day glowed on the lakes, dwarf forrest of Aspen and Balsam provide relief... sorta. Wolf kill in the middle of lake leaves a story in tracts- more than likely a moose - we study while a bald eagle studies us from his perch above... the day moves to early evening the " we are on the home stretch " never seems true- yet the approaching full moon sheds a glorious glow to light the way ... fear of falling through the ice on lake abates- a bit...
Suddenly the deafening sound of the home dogs cry fills the air ( we are still at least a couple of miles away...) they know their companions are returning (how is beyond me) but the excitement fills the air for all. I have never been so exhausted ...up the hill from the lake the sight of the home dogs was exhilarating.
What a ride
Well that's all from Ely.
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