Meat the Dogs - Preparing for the Last Great Race

Teachers, Outward Bound Instructors, Wildlife Researchers and all around adventurers, Michael and Jen have been tending to and training dogs in remote Alaska for Iditarod Musher Ed Iten. Here are a couple of recent excerpts from their blog, as they prepare for the 2007 Iditarod, starting on March 3rd.

Feb 18, 2007:

I put my meat suit on (What the hell is a meat suit and why would you need one?), carefully slipping into the navy blue coveralls so as not to touch its tainted outer skin. I zip it up and button it as high as it will go in an attempt to conceal any exposed flesh. I originally bought the garment as a joke, as a costume item that I might wear out on the playa at Burning Man. But now, I think I understand the purpose of coveralls, and it is not about style or making a statement. I grab my warm hat that never ever goes to bed with me (anymore), the clear protection glasses, a re-breather mask, and an old bandana that serves to wipe the glasses clean.

The portable Honda generator sits on a little sled so that it can be hauled around to wherever you need it. I grab its sled leash and drag it out of the workshop/our front door, down the snow mobile tracked walkway that prevents us from slipping down the ramp when it gets icy. The green extension cord, once neatly coiled, now trails behind me as I fumble with my mask and fogged up glasses. The generator doesn't slide so well on the rubber track. I jerk it to pull it to the snow where it glides easier. Ten below zero today; shouldn't be so bad for cutting meat.

Finish this entry at "Meat the Dogs".

Jan 14, 2007:

Our lives up here have been full of all kinds of new things from all day darkness to sheefish and we have sent out lots of stories of those things. But really, it is the dogs that fill our days and our hearts. My Dad emailed after one of the updates and asked, “Why don’t we hear more stories about the individual dogs you guys are running?” Great question and here’s a little more insight into our lives with the dogs.

Well, we train the young dogs, the up and comers. So what does that mean? It means when Ed or his son Quinn are looking for a good dog to try out in their team they take it from ours. It means that not every dog we are training will someday make the race team.

Tofu. No we don’t just love him for his name. Poor Tofu was supposed to be Taku, but when he was little everyone decided that he was too soft and sensitive to be given a tough name like Taku and so he became Tofu, named for a soft little square that not many Alaskans are very fond of. He is a baby, but he’s coming around. When we first got here Tofu was so nervous we couldn’t even pet him. Now he loves to run and after a run he loves to get a belly rub and he smiles with his bottom teeth or a little crooked smile with his canines sticking out. When we go to his circle he tilts his head and sticks out a paw asking us to come over and give him some love. We have attached a photo with Tofu and Delta. Tofu is particularly living up to his name looking like a softie in his pink jacket and booties. He’s one of those dogs you can’t help but love.

Read on and Meet More Dogs.

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