Fly Fishing In Yellowstone National Park: MUSH ! (as it were.)

Monday, January 14, 2013

MUSH ! (as it were.)

ONLY AT -36° F

Village Goes To Dogs

top pups in nation run for fun

THE DASH FOR THE FINISH AT THE END OF 30 MILE FUN RUN

-------

.. Sunday morning dawned cold and clear after a night where the temperature sagged into record territory. None of the neighbors, (save one,) went fishing. He's probably still on Hebgen Lake with his drawers frozen to the ice.

LONG LEGS AND DEEP CHEST - FAST

.. Most of the neighbors were in town and ready to observe, (or help with,) the West Yellowstone Fun Run.
.. This is a 30 mile sprint for sled dogs and mushers. It's one of the last tune-up races in the training schedule for the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race, (IPSSSDR.) the largest sled dog race in the lower 48 states.
.. The start of the race was posponed an hour until 11:00 AM so that it could begin at a balmy -6° F. It went off without a hitch, (oops,) and was completed in a couple of hours with all the teams doing better than a 13mph, average.
.. The sprint dogs are specialized athletes. They are not the distance dogs, (marathon or load carriers,) that are featured in movies and T.V. ads. They are toned to a rock hard muscle tone. They have deep chests. They seldom have long hair. They are gregarious, happy, vocal, playful, and eager to run.

FLASHING FEET AROUND THE LAST BEND

.. These dogs train year round. During the non-snow season the teams occasionally drag a 4-wheeler around the trails in the woods. As soon as snow hits the ground, training with a sled, a musher, and some weight begins in all seriousness.
.. It takes special people and special dogs to produce a top international race event. The West Yellowstone Fun Run is one of the events that qualify.
.. The IPSSSDR is another premium event and will visit our village on January 27, 2013. The West Yellowstone segment of the IPSSSDR race covers 56 miiles and is the longest leg of the race. The total race length is over 350 miles. The purse for the race is slated to top $170,000.00.
.. Should you be in the neighborhood drop in and take a break from ice in your guides. OR - stay a couple of days and visit with the racers or take a ride in a dog sled.
RESOURCES:
>> SLED DOG CENTRAL
>> KLONDIKE DREAMS
>> IPSSSDR

-------