Wild Weekend

DOGS APLENTY

A Live Music Welcome

a little wet snow for the trails

HAND CRAFTED SPRINT SLED

--------

YEE HAW

.. The top 21 sled dog teams in the world visited West Yellowstone over the weekend.
.. They were welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce and Wild West Pizzera, including a night of live music.
.. The International Pedigree Stage Stop Race completed it's first cross-country stage yesterday. The race leader is world champion Buddy Streeper.

READY TO GO

.. West Yellowstone resident Charlotte Mooney finished the stage in eighth place with an average speed of  12.1 mph for the 56 mile stage that ended in Ashton, Idaho.
.. Jenny Gregor from Bozeman finished in twentieth place with an average speed of 10.3 mph.
.. A volunteer force of our neighbors took over the duties of staging the teams, weighing the required equipment to be carried, directing traffic, setting course markers, notifying teams of starting position, and general go-fer duties.
.. Fisher folks in the crowd of well wishers reveled in the fresh wet snow that lubricated the nicely groomed trail. It is much needed for our snowpack and is a cause for some back-slapping and rib-digging hijinx.

QUICK SNOOZE BEFORE THE RACE

.. The start of the race, after the evening's festivities, went off smoothly and all teams finished the stage in good shape.
.. This race is the largest stage race outside of Alaska, (over 350 miles.) Entries this year included teams from Sweden, Wyoming, Montana, Minnesota, Canada, Alaska, Oregon, and Michigan.
.. The neighborhood kids had a grand time checking out the license plates on the team rigs. Seldom seen plates from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and Alaska were the subject of much posing and picture taking.
.. The purse for the race is $170,000. Stage money includes over $800 for first place, over $700 for second, over $500 for third - - etc.
.. The major sponsor of the race is Pedigree Dog Food. The company also donates a year's supply of dog food to a local shelter at each stop along the race trail. We're looking forward to next year's event.
.. Now our attention is turned to the ice fishing tournement. Blue buns galore!

-------

MUSHERS AND DOGS HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY

 

WORLD CAHMPIONSHIP RIG - NICE PERQ

 

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

-------

AT THE APEX OF THE LAST CORNER - FINISH LINE IN SIGHT

 

ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AT FULL BORE - JUST A WALK IN THE PARK

 

RELAXING - MAKING SNOW ANGELS - AT THE END OF THE RACE