Ok folks heres some pics finally , bring camera -check, good batteries- check = pics finally!
This is a pretty fast moving part of the river,  It's just great how the dogs charge across


Hurricane and Frank plowing through!

Edenei and Naboo leading the way
Black Dog and his daughter Odie

Well we are into the third week of training here at the new digs. Trail work has continued and I suppose will be never ending. One of the biggest trail updates is the use of this great body of water we have outside our living room window. With the moving of some river rock to define somewhat of a trail, we have a 1 mile trail loop that we can run that allows the dogs to cross the river here two times on the run. This is something that I have always wanted to do but could not do logistically. The water is pretty quick where we cross, and that's great! So how do you get a team across fast moving rapids? Well, start with some fearless leaders that love water, and they'll teach the others...boy is a good leader worth soooo much! Our first run doing this we took 6 dog teams for ultimate control and ran 4 teams (our pool is 24 dogs). Leaders were Frank and Cyclone, Cash and Hena, Edenei and Cleo, and Blackdog and Hurricane. So some older leaders paired with young up and comers, made for a good combination each run. We have a great pool of leaders to pick from each run and play musical chairs each run with all dogs getting a turn. It's all about instilling work ethic and manners in the dogs. Seeing the dogs charge across the current of the river, makes all sorts of good fuzzy feelings. Adversity and ways and means to overcome it is what it is all about. Crossing open water quickly and easily is a big adversity to overcome, and makes things go that much smoother during a race that may have open water or overflow. More over, teaching the dogs to do someting and do it with gusto when they do is a great attribute to have in the team. Tight, twisty trails, marginal down hill trails, steep uphill grinds, all are attributes of our new trail system. All are found during racing. I continue to forget the camera while doing the" River runs".. I'll get some photos ...(well Kate will get some photos) Trail work is done to connect to the 1700 rd, about 6km from the hwy. This was not imperative, but now we sort of have our own network of trails and won't have too much traffic in the fall. We have mapped out some 54 mile runs as well as 100 +milers, with the help of our lifeline here in Quesnel, local musher (and amazing custodian of musher history) Jeff Dinsdale. He has been so helpful and a great ambassador for the sport. Signing off for now, Warren

The “Quesnel Race” Rules The “Race” covers 200 miles and is working to be an Iditarod and Yukon Quest sanctioned race. Therefore, their rules apply unless otherwise stated. In addition, the Race 200 race has established the following rules to govern this race. 1. The purse has yet to be determined. Entry fees payable in cash. $ 300 until January 1st $ 500 after January 20th up to the musher meeting on January 28th Limited to 20 teams 2. All race entrants must be 18 yrs. of age at the start of the race. All entrants will be required to sign participation release forms provided by the race committee. IMPORTANT: QUALIFYING ROOKIES MUST FOLLOW THE RULES SET FORTH BY THE IDITAROD AND QUEST TRAIL COMMITTEE FOR ROOKIES. 3. The race 200 committee demands humane treatment of the dogs at all times. Race team size for starting The race is 8-dog minimum and 12-dog maximum. There must be 5 dogs in harness to complete the race. 4. Check points are considered dog drops. Musher must provide a chain or cable drop chain with a snap with each dropped dog. 5. Food drops must be provided to the race committee before the day of the race, in Quesnel .B.C before the meeting at 6:00 pm. Late food drops will be carried by the team. Straw/Bedding will be provided to musher at the checkpoints. 6. Food drops will be delivered to the Check points . All food drops will be in a "gunny" type bag and clearly marked with the musher's name. The “Race” 200 will start at 12 pm on Friday January 29th with 2 minute intervals Vet Check – 4:00 pm ThursdayJanuary 28th Musher meeting to be held in Quesnel B.C on Thursday January 28th at 6:00 P.M The teams will depart the starting line at 2-minute intervals, the time differential will be adjusted at a 4 hour mandatory layover, at CP 1 Race course “ The Race” 200 Course will be marked in its entirety with reflective markers, Start to 1st CP 50 miles 1st CP to 2ND CP 50 miles 2nd CP to 3rd CP 60 miles 3rd CP to Finish 50 miles Race start and finish will be in at 24945 Umiti Pit Rd Quesnel B.C Total Distance- approximately 210 miles Maps will be provided at the musher meeting. Rest – There will be three mandatory rests- CP#1 4 hour rest (this is where the start time differential will be adjusted.) CP#2 additional 6 hours roving rest at either CP 2 or 3 CP#3 Musher’s may take additional rest. Each musher must have the mandatory gear with them when leaving checkpoints. - Sleeping bag, Sleeping bag 5 lb - Axe 22'' long, 1 ¾ lb -Snowshoes (252 square inches min) -Dog booties 4 per dog -Cooker stove capable of heating 3 gallons of water - 1 lb of food per dog in the team - musher food 8. Drug use by the musher is prohibited 9. Passing: When one team approaches to within fifty feet of another team, the team behind shall have the immediate right of way upon demand. The musher ahead must stop his dogs and hold them to the best of his ability for a maximum of one minute or until the other team has passed, whichever occurs first. The passed team must remain behind at least fifteen minutes before demanding the trail. 9. Drug Use: No injectable, oral or topical drug which may suppress the signs of illness or injury may be used on a dog. A musher may not inject any substance into their dogs. No other drugs or other artificial means may be used to drive a dog or cause a dog to perform or attempt to perform beyond its natural ability Algyval is permitted for topical use. 10. There will be a pre-race vet check on all teams. Mushers will be required to present proof of current vaccinations, rabies from veterinarian; parvo, corona and distemper from vet or receipts if administered by musher. There will be a vet on hand to check over dogs prior to the start of the race. A race veterinarian will also be on hand at the race. 11.The honor rule of good sportsmanship will be observed at all times. Abuse of volunteers and officials will result in disqualification. The awards banquet ( location to be determined) will be held Sunday January 31st at 6:p.m If the musher is not finished prior to the start of the banquet, they will have a no finish time for the purposes of using the “Race” 200 as a qualifying race.

Geez this tractor is handy!
So we have a 250 International tractor, with a few different implements, one of them being a bush mower( at least that's what I am using it for...)
It will cut a 4ft wide trail pretty much anywhere I can drive the tractor, I have only broken a few sheer pins so far.
We have been busy the last week cutting wood for the winter and joining up some bush trails to some old logging cut lines and dicommisioned logging roads, This was not nessary , but we want to have a varied terrien and more options for running.
Now that we are able to upload mor pictures we will get some on the site, Sorry for the delay , who have been writing numerous times for the request!


Sam and I are headed out again this moring to finish bush mowing the last part of trail we cut , We'll get some more pics of that and update the blog tommorow.

Warren