Mush, Baby

So, it’s been awhile. We’ve been skijoring here and there as the weather has allowed, but unfortunately it didn’t as much or more than it did. Like most of the country, we were stuck with temperatures that made it downright unsafe to do much of anything outdoors. One of the disadvantages to skijoring with non-traditional breeds is that their shorty coats keep us indoors on days that would be doable for a husky or malamute, but oh well.

Keeping these dogs from losing their minds while we’ve all been stuck indoors so much has been an adventure unto itself. We’ve been doing a lot of training tricks. We got an exercise peanut and have been doing a lot of work with that. Along with lots chewing material and a few things I allowed them to shred as sacrifices on the altar of my sanity (including whole rolls of paper towels and one pillow – don’t judge me, you weren’t here to experience my desperation), we made it through.

We did get out a few days before the vortex hit, and there were some odd random warm days peppered throughout it when we were able to get out there. This is a trail I’ve just started using this year which I quite like. It’s a bit narrow in places but on weekday mornings (my prime skijoring time) there’s rarely anyone else there. Also, there are amazing trumpeter swans and bald eagles at points along the river to see and hear.

Nice Line Out.

Love this nice long straightaway.

I even got Squash once out by himself when it was still just a wee bit too cold for Maisy “Chilly Buns and Feet.”

And yes, it actually was a bit scary, but in that roller coaster sort of way that you either love or completely don’t understand.

Today was the first day we got out since I think January 4th or so. The weekend was pretty warm, but since the dogs hadn’t been out for awhile I knew they would be a little bananas, so I opted to wait until I knew there wouldn’t be many people around – eg Monday morning. As expected, the early part of the run was a disaster as even Maisy seemed to completely forget what ON BY and LET’S GO mean.

But we worked out the kinks pretty fast.

And then once you get into a groove and you forget about all the heavy sighing and eye rolling you did like a half an hour before this because you’re in heaven.

Our first race is coming up the first weekend in February, the City of Lakes Loppet. So I’ll have to get Squash out by himself more between now and then in preparation, but the weather is cooperating and the craziness of the holidays is over so I’d like to get out at least 3 times a week (once with just Squash) consistently for the rest of the month. So hopefully I’ll be posting updates in a bit more timely manner!

It’s been a bit of a weird transitional time this week. The scooter has been retired to the basement for the winter, and the skis have taken their place on the back porch. Last week, it snowed right before I left for a long weekend out of town. Not enough to ski before I left, but too much to sneak a scooter run in. Then, as everyone knows, this happened:

(Actually, I don’t hate Florida. This country needs somewhere to store its alligators, giant bugs, and invasive pythons. And NIMBY, man. NIMBY.)

So basically nothing was happening on the Mush Puppies front this week, except for me trying to keep them occupied by more wholesome activities than dragging the futon couch around the room and get them some degree of exercise in weather where they attempted to simultaneously keep all four feet off the ground within two minutes of going outside. Added to all of that, I knew I would probably need a few solo ski trips to get my legs under me again, especially with my new skate skis this year, and… let’s just say it’s been a bit of a taxing week.

Thank god it’s warmed up enough for the dogs to run off some energy in the backyard, so I don’t have to feel quite so guilty about skiing without them for a few trips. Today, though, I slept in a little too late to go to the park before attending to the business of the real world. Still, I decided to at least try puttering around in the alley (where there is enough packed snow to ski on).

First, a moment. On the left are my new skate skis and poles. On the right are my touring (classic) skis and poles. You can see the skate skis are shorter and narrower, and the poles are longer. They are meant to be used in a completely different motion more akin to roller blading or speed skating, so you are pushing yourself with more force, than the classic back-and-forth of classic skis. (You can also sort of see that the dogs went BANANAS when they saw the skis, which makes me happy. I never want to feel like I’m forcing them to do this stuff.)

I love them. I love them so much.

I will need practice to get the rhythm down, but I can already tell that the skating motion comes far, far more naturally for me than classic skiing motion. Maybe because I have short legs… I don’t know and I don’t really care. All I know is that after only two trips up and down the alley I feel like I have found the skis of my people. Also, they are red. And I like the bindings a lot better. And the boots are amazingly comfortable and warm.

Did I mention that I love them?

Another curious but nice thing is that my intuition is telling me I will actually get the hang of them faster and better with the dogs (or at least A dog at first) instead of by myself. I think the motion will be easier to master with a little bit of speed already going. So hopefully I’ll get out with the dogs here before too long, and skijoring season will officially be underway!