Part of writing this blog is for the selfish reason to create a journal. Often times the local mushers will make comments about what the season was like the year previously. It is hard to recall and very few of us keep journals or even milage logs. Maybe this will help. This last Thursday we had a bitter cold wind out of the west and before that we had a few inches of snow. The conditions were ripe for mushing and this may have been the last run of the year. This time of the year is great to get out and not see any other people signs; that is snowmachine tracks. On a weekday evening you have the backcountry to yourself. The other great thing about Thursday night was the tracks laid down by the local game in the fresh snow and drifts. Our snowshoe hare popluation is starting to grow and along with the prey comes the predator. I am starting to see more lynx and the coyotes tracks. Mushing has become my release this year. In the past it was about training and getting ready for something. But since I took on a masters degree I abandoned the thought of racing and just got out with the dogs. This was also the first year I realized that I will only be mushing for two or three more years, because the dogs are getting older. Several times this year I was hit be a sadness of not mushing any more. But, I would snap back to reality and appreciate the present. This season was great. The snow was plentiful and the temperatures were cool for Homer. For the rest of the year I will be anticipating and interested to find out what the next mushing season will bring.
Siz
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