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E-post: katy.meier@gmail.com

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 Dog treat bag (godisbag): 50:- SEK per stk.

 

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After a beautyful maj with temperatures up to 28 degrees (really PLUS) the "normal" summer came now to us. Temperatures round about 10-15 degrees and rain :( But anyway it was a nice time and there is still hope that the summer will return...

From the 17.06.2013 our normal webside will be closed. I have a lot of problems with the server and cannot come onto it anymore :( But the blog will still exist so we are not "out of reach" ;)

Springcleaning

Today I did some springcleaning in the kennel. The weather is great, sunshine and plus 23 degrees!!! The dogs are laying lazy in the shadow and we all enjoy the time without any mosquitos :))) But I can be sure, they will come soon...

 Taking out all straw from the huts and infront of them

 Sivtsov and Felice thought that they will not have two small huts, removed the wall between the huts and have now on big hut...Not that what we decided for them...

 Everybody wants to help ;)

Done :))) You can see the gras is still brown, but the lake is open and the leaves starts coming at the trees.

Springtime, Puppytime?

Not at our kennel :(((( I´m waiting and looking every day, but the girls don´t come in heat :(((( Hope really that one of the girls will come in heat soon, that we get at least one litter this summer.
Otherwise the winter is gone. Ok, snow is left and today it´s snowing. The highest temperature during the day are round about 5 degrees - but at least plus ;))) Yesterday I was out with ski for the last time, the lake is of course still frozen but it´s all very icy and slippery. The dogs are playing around and are happy about so much sparetime :)

Glad Påsk!!!

Finnmarkslopet 2013

Now the Finnmarkslopet 2013 is history. It went very well for us and ended up with a third place. We are very happy and satisfied with this result :)))
After mushermeeting, bankets and more we started finally out from Alta at saturday. I´m always happy when I stand at the startingline, this time with Didi and Fränk in lead. It´s always unbelieveable how many people come to the start to send us dogdrivers out of the city. On the river a lot of teams pasted us but I´m not worry about it. Most teams I will catch afterwords in the mountains. The way to Joatka went well, we passed most of the teams. About 15 km after Joatka I passed Elisabeth Edland and then I was alone in the mountains. The weather was fine, the trail was soft and deep. But it´s the same for all of us. Then suddenly and out of nowhere I stand in a snowstorm. I couldn´t see the markers anymore and the dogs start going with the wind. I tourned on my headlamp even if it was daylight. So I hoped to see at least the reflex at the markers. And so I could come from marker to marker. The last kilometers into Skoganvarre were easier, we came out of the storm and found the way.
Normally I stay about 4 hours in Skoganvarre. This time I was a bit concerned about the wind up in the mountains, and the 88 km from Skoganvarre to Levajok go nearly all the time in the mountains. So Jörg and I decided to stay 5 hours in Skoganvarre and wait until the first open teams went out of the checkpoint. And it was perfect timing, I had our dogs ready directly after an open team went out. It was Mats Pettersson and I drove all the way behind him to Levajok with Jaja and Sean in lead. I thank him a lot that he and his dogs found the way through the storm and that he brought us save to Levajok. On thet way there were a lot of teams around searching for the right way. If I looked back I saw a lot of headlamps behind me and teams coming out of nowhere. Sometimes the sight was so bad that I couldn´t see Mats who was driving only 5 meters in front of me.
In Levajok the weather tuned to be better and from there on we had beautyful sunshine. After about 5 ½ hours we went further to Karasjok and reached it in a good speed and mood. Fränk and Tchmil lead us there without any problems. There are always a lot of reporters around and asked questions. The most question was what my strategy was now and how I will try to catch up with Milos and Ole. My answer all the time, I drive my own race, and if the others are faster, so they are. I can not drive faster then the dogs are willing to go.
4 ½ hours later I went out of Karasjok with Jaja and Sean to drive the 65 km to Jergul. After 5 km Jaja was not willing anymore to lead the team. So Didi has to take over her job and Jaja became a wheeldog for the rest of the race. She has only 15 kg but as a wheeldog she rocks really the sled, unbelieveable :) The first 13 km are on the river and then it went up to the mountains. And then I stand suddenly in the dark...My headlamp went out and I had no idea why. After about two minutes I thought that Eline comes soon and then I have to drive after her that I find the way in the dark. Even if it was clear sky and awesome northern lights I was not able to see the trail. But then the headlamp was working again and I could move on with a little strange feeling in the stomach hoping the headlamp will hold into Jergul. Running behind the team uphills and the finally in the hundevidda. It was seldom so easy to drive to Jergul, clear weather and nerly no wind, maybe the first time for me :)) Eline catched up and I could see her headlamp and spoke a bit with her. So we drove in together into Jergul, btw my headlamp was working fine :)))
I was not sleeping until now and didn´t feel tired at all. But then in the car and warmness I felt into deep sleep for about 2 ½ hours. I felt refreshed and ready for the last 124 km ;)) Frederico had a bit swullen feed and I decided to set him out of the team. I would not risk to have him in the sled, even if he is a lightweight boy with only 20 kg. Making my dogs ready and off we went with Sean and Didi in lead. After about 30 km I change Sean against Fränk in lead. I had all the race some problems with Sean, she was in heat and were a bit confused sometimes. And she stops all the time to pie :( So now I get bored of her, thanked her for her great job and she moved into the second line. Now Eline gets very fast and I didn´t see her anymore. My team ran well and short before Joatka I got Eline igen :) We saw Ole all the time and decided that we try to catch him together. Out of Joatka my team was faster and I was in front, but clother to the river Elines team got faster. She trained often at that part and her dogs knew that they will be at home soon. Directly after Friluftsparken we got Ole. He had some problems with his leaddogs and so it was easy for us to pass him. Eline flies home and my team followed in good speed. So I crossed 3 minutes after Eline the finish line as number 3. The performance of the dogs was great and it was really fun to drive that team through storm and sunshine :)))
We wanna thank our sponsors:
ManMat for the best harnesses, blankets and dog equipment we can think. Especialy that we got a whole bunch of new harnesses before Finnmarkslopet :)))
Ägna AB, we had absolutely no wrist problems under the whole season because of their tablets.
Royal Canin Sverige for the best dryfood in the world, the recovery series worked great for us.
Vom og Hundemat, they delivered us the meat and snacks for the Finnmarkslopet up to Alta, many thanks for that, it saved us a lot of logistic!
Danler dogsleds who makes the best sleds in the world!

And of course I thank our beautyful dogs:
Didi, the girl who takes her job as a leaddog very serious
Sean, she was a bit confused this time because her heat. She had her mind more with the boys sometimes ;)
Jaja the smallest girl. She didn´t want to take the responsibility as a leaddog anymore but rocks the sled as a wheeldog :)
Fränk, he takes his job very serious, even if Sean running behind him in heat he didn´t care until we cross the finish line. There we had to hold him back ;)))
Tchmil the biggest dog in the team. A leaddog but he had mostly to pull the sled. Always happy and in good mood.
Pedro his first Finnmarkslopet. He surpirsed me with an outstanding performance.
Tony does his job always and in every weather. Kind of this dogs make a leaddog look good.
Frederico, I had to leave him in Jergul because of a swullen paw. I didn´t wanna risk more injuries at him or that I have to leave him alone in Joatka. For him I can say the same as for Tony, he makes the leaddog looks famous.

And last but not least Jörg :) Without him I could not even train one meter out of our yard. He prepares the trail and keep track of the training. And I really need his support at the checkpoints, he knows exactly what I need without that I have to say something.

So, now we have to think and plan about next season ;))

Only one day left :)

Today we went out for a 10 km run with our dogs. After a few days in the trailer it´s good for them to move the legs a little bit. Here a small film and some pics from today.



The white and green line is from the sun. And I don´t complain about it, we are happy to see the sun. Now writing this posts it´s a snowstorm in front of our cabin...

And because of the snowstorm Didi was testing her new goggles, they match perfect to the black fur she will wear during the race ;)))

So we spend our day today:

First we was at Roger Dahls place to pick up the meat from VoH and also cut it directly on Rogers meatsaw. Many thanks for that we could use it, it was very helpful!

Then we packed the depotbags and brought them to the car who drives it out to the checkpoints.

 Go handler, go ;)

 Jörg put the bags on the container. Look at his face, seems to be heavy ;)

And then we drove into Alta for the registration. Now waits 3 hours mushermeeting and then we are done for today. Tomorrow we will train the dogs a bit on the river. I will make some pics there too and post them.

 Today we did the last preparations before we leave tomorrow. Nearly everything is packed and the 8 dogs who don´t participate in FL and Susen are now at Veijejaur Huskyfarm. Many thanks Uschi that you take care of our dogs!!!
At thursday we visit Roger Dahl in Alta to cut our meat and and the snacks for the race. Normally we do that at home but Vom og Hundemat send all meat and snacks up to Alta as sponsoring. We are very thankful that we slip it to bring all meat up at our self - and the best thing, Roger has a meatsaw :)))) So it will be easy to prepare the snacks :)

The booties were counted and packed already last week. Only one of the thousand thinks we have to prepare. And every time the same question: do we have everything, the car seems so empty...

I received a package from Christina today with homemade woolsocks :))) Many thanks for that, they will keep me warm under FL!

Here the dogs we take with us to Alta: Didi, Sean, Jaja, Fränk, Tchmil, Pedro, Frederico and Tony. So mainly the same team like last year, we changed only Vino against Pedro. Vino has sometimes problems with his paws, so maybe it´s better for him to stay at home.

So, hope we find some time to make some updates in Alta, not during the race, there we have other things in our minds, hope you understand. But you can follow the race all the time under www.finnmarkslopet.no . And I should get a camera on my sled from the starting line to Joatka. So you can see it at the webside from FL later :) 

Thank you ManMat!

On friday we received a whole bunch of harnesses and colars for Finnmarkslopet :))) Thank you Jarda from ManMat and Jana for your support and best harnesses in the world!!!

Sandviken

We are in Sandviken :))) Saltdalens sleddogclub invited us to their clubmeeting, thanks for that :)

Today we drove 70 km, at the beginning it was blowing a lot and cloudy. But on the second half the sun came out and it was a really nice trip with two 8-dog teams. Here a few pictures and a small film.

 

 

 

Now we write a few words about the Tobacco Trail race last weekend. First, we are super satisfied with our dogs, they ran like expected.
It was very cold that weekend in Kiruna - it´s somehow always cold when we are in Kiruna with our dogs ;). During the start at the Jukkasjarvi Icehotel it was "only" about -18 degrees, but it was blowing a cold wind. The start went well and Jörg started out with 14 eager dogs, Fränk and Didi in lead. That stage was about 60 km in deep and soft snow. It was snowing the whole week before the race and it was not easy for the organization to make a good trail. Jörg came in first in Övre Soppero where he has to stay about 2 hours. He gave the dogs some snacks, ate and drunk a bit self and then he went on to the next nearly 80 km to Saivomuotka. Meanwhile the temperature fall down to about -26. The trail was also soft and deep but the dogs and Jörg managed it in good speed and they came happy into the checkpoint. There the dogs and Jörg got 6 hours rest with thick ManMat-Thermo blankets and warm food for the dogs and a warm car and food for Jörg. He was sleeping there about 3 hours. There temeperature dropped down to -32. Other dogdrivers who had a thermometer on the sleds told us later that it was partly -40 out on the swamps. Good that we invest in proper and warm clothings, so Jörg was not freezing at all during the whole race.
After the 6 hours rest Jörg went off with all 14 dogs and managed it nearly to drive over his doghandler (me-Katy), because he couldn´t stop the strong team or I was too slow, you can choose...
The trail back was much better because of the teams who ran over the trail and because of the coldness. After 2 km (!) Sivtosv began to slow the team down. She blocked the team who wants to run faster. So Jörg stood on the brake to slow the whole team down, he was not in the mood to load her. And it doesn´t matters that much if he had her in the sled or if he brakes the team down. About 15 km before Övre Soppero Jörg had to load Didi. She was limping and didn´t want to run anymore. So he came into Övre Soppero with 13 dogs in front of the sled and Didi sitting in the sled. So for her and Sivtsov the race was for sure over at this point. Pedro was not pulling like usual, Fausto was limping a little bit and Frederico puked a bit under the last stage. So Jörg decided to take them also out of the team. The other 9 dogs where eating well and rested good under their blankets, Jörg like ususal in the warm car.
After 6 hours he went of with his 9 dogs to the last 84 km, Roger Fossöy passed Jörg after about 25 km in good speed with his 13 dogs. Jörg drove his dogs without further problems to Kiruna on a 2nd place :)))
We are very happy how good the dogs run and this was the last really hard test for the dogs before Finnmarkslopet. Next weekend we drive into the mountains to Sandviken. Saltdalens sleddogclub invited us to their meeting :) There we will do one or two longer runs and then we decide who will be in the FL-Team. The mainteam is already sure, only two dogs we are not that sure who will be in the team.
Sorry that I didn´t do some pictures, but the camera died mostly long before Jörg came into the checkpoints. It was too cold! Hopefully it´s a bit warmer under FL that we can present at least a few pictures ;)
And last but not least, Tobacco Trail is always a journey worth. It´s a fantastic race, well organised and everybody is in good mood. So next year Jörg will stay for sure on the starting line - maybe with the free start again?

Sorry...

...that I didn´t do any updates during Tobacco Trail. I have a lot of reasons (or excuses?) for my delay ;)
But anyway, we are home again :) The dogs and Jörg did a great job and came onto a 2nd place. He crossed yesterday at 21:14 the finish line in Kiruna.
We are too tired to write more now. Only this, the five dogs he had to take out of the team in Övre Soppero 2 (Didi, Sivtsov, Fausto, Frederico and Pedro) are all fine again.
You will get more informations soon, promised ;) For the beginning a small film (and the only one I did) from Jörgs start in Övre Soppero 2 .

The last preparations before Tobacco Trail:

 Jörg cuts the meat 

And we got our higher handlebar for the sled and the bigger sldebag :)) Many thanks to Ernst Danler from Danler sleds for his support!

So tomorrow we must only pack all stuff for the dogs into the trailer that we can start on thursday. We will also visit the famous Jokkmokk-market on our way up to Kiruna.

Tobacco Trail

In one week even our real race season will start. Jörg will drive with 14 dogs the Tobacco Trail, a beautyful race in Kiruna over 300 km. Gira will stay at home for sure, now Jörg has only decide who else will stay here...Not an easy decision.
Jörg got bibnumber 10 and like last year (maybe every year???) he won the free start :)))))))))))
You can follow the race here  www.tobaccotrail.se and I will also try to make some updates here on our blog. So stay tuned ;)

Yesterday I was out with the adult dogs for a 105 km run. Fränk has to stay at home, he is limping a little bit. So I hook up the other 9 adult dogs who should make the Finnmark-team. The weather was great like you see on the pictures, only -10 degrees and a fantastic trail. Could I ask for more?

More videos ;))

Here a small film from Christina and her dogs who was also at the 555 race in Slussfors. Many thanks to you Christina to share it with us and that I can use it on our blog :)))))))))))

555 Race

This weekend Annette Kriller and Dave King invited mushers to their 555 race in Slussfors. This race was especially for newmushers to learn the checkpoint routine. I should be a type "mentor" to help the newbes to improve their routine. Jörg took the chance to drive all our 16 dogs under race conditions. Long story short told, the trainingsrace was perfect organized on a perfect trail. Annette, Dave and their crew from UK, Italy, France and South Africa (!!!) did a fatastic job to make this event possible. Henry Coronica from AXA dogequipment sponsored a few products so that Jörg came home with a new big snowhook :)))
The race was called 555 because of 50 km driving (5 mil) 5 hours rest, 5 mil driving. Btw, it was 55 km, even better for training :) I took the opportunity today to train the 10 adult dogs over the trail and really really enjoyed the fantastic trail in a spectacular landscape.
Everybody who had the opportunity and was not there should blame himself! Many thanks to Annette and dave for a perfect weekend!!!
Here a slideshow from the pictures Jörg made on the trail (and me at the start).