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<title>Serum Run News</title><link>http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/index.html</link><description>Hot News&#x21;</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>Duncde@aol.com</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2009 Don Duncan</dc:rights><dc:date>2009-08-14T16:25:32-07:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:30:10 -0700</lastBuildDate><item><title>Von joins the team</title><dc:creator>Duncde@aol.com</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-08-14T16:25:32-07:00</dc:date><link>http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/0e7a90240fd20b60213663880e26fa6b-7.html#unique-entry-id-7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/0e7a90240fd20b60213663880e26fa6b-7.html#unique-entry-id-7</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Currently he is in the process of publishing a book detailing the events of the 1914 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, better known as the Shackleton Expedition, as seen through the perspective of one of the heroic sled dogs named Shakespeare. 

...Striking a deep chord in Von was the fact that while doing research for his book, he flew to Alaska and spent time with Norman Vaughan one of the few survivors of the expedition era.  

...Like Margaret, Von&rsquo;s time off work would be limited, just enough to do the Serum Run and make the drive to and from Alaska.  ...  A huge hurdle was crossed when we got permission to do a shake down run here in Washington State and save Von the trouble of having to go to Alaska a month early. 


...In lucky years we get it early in November and are on sleds by Thanksgiving.  2008 was shaping up to be a bad year, I actually mowed my lawn around Thanksgiving, not a good sign!  ...  December 18th a series of storms lined up off the Washington coast and by Sunday December 21st I had 12 inches of snow at my house and the entire Puget Sound region ground to a halt.  ...  Of course it was with 4-dog teams, running a 2 mile out and back down a dead end road, but it was sure fun not having to truck the dogs for our first snow outing.


...The only thing worth mentioning is we had to delay the shake down as incoming storms over New Years included more snow and sustained winds up to 60 miles an hour, so we postponed it to the MLK holiday weekend and switched locations to Elk River, Idaho.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>One week countdown...</title><dc:creator>Duncde@aol.com</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-02-15T14:01:31-08:00</dc:date><link>http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/f14faf2f31bc46eb8f056a9bb7a086e9-6.html#unique-entry-id-6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/f14faf2f31bc46eb8f056a9bb7a086e9-6.html#unique-entry-id-6</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Beginning weeks before the first of the year, each day&rsquo;s demands seemed to consume most of my waking hours leaving hardly a moment to spare and it will continue this way until we return home.  


...Morning snow created a semi whiteout drive for the first half of the next day and it seemed at least half of each days drive was under adverse conditions climaxing in a broken trailer leaf spring 150 miles North of Fort Nelson, BC.    Since there was no damage to the trailer or dogbox, it must have happened on the severe washboard and potholed road around Lake Muncho, just as we were making our overnight stop at Northern Rockies Lodge.    We lost a days travel while I removed the broken spring, made the round trip to Fort Nelson for parts, spent 6 hours in laying in the snow installing two new springs, followed by about two hours in a hot shower reestablishing blood circulation.  


We arrived at Scott Brown and Janet Sweeny&rsquo;s house Friday evening and they were kind enough to bring home hot pizza so we could drop dogs, relax and visit without having to try and feed ourselves.  ...  Ann and Al Stead from Minnesota were also going to stay in the cabin as Al is going to compete in the Open North American Championship in Fairbanks, but the poor road conditions had extended their trip from a Friday to Monday arrival.  ...  Sharing Scott and Janet&rsquo;s cabin for three days, it was great to get to know Al, Ann I had known since 2000 having met her at mushing bootcamps.  ...  Jamie has a spare dog lot and we were able to move the dogs out of the trailer onto drops and hook up and access the trail from the dog lot.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Unending Challenges </title><dc:creator>Duncde@aol.com</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-07-21T13:57:16-07:00</dc:date><link>http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/50de167c540b190fb70dff067e927068-5.html#unique-entry-id-5</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/50de167c540b190fb70dff067e927068-5.html#unique-entry-id-5</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Due to poor training conditions the only organized run we did was the Gold Rush Trail Mail Run from which we brought home a case of kennel cough and the finish to our sledding season.  ...  Before going to work every Monday and Wednesday and also on Saturdays we&rsquo;d travel an hour and a half to the foothills of the Olympic Mountains and run a shady gravel road that offered plenty of spring fed water stops.  ...  I usually take vacation in the fall and when we finished training camp at the end of Sept, they were up to 15 mile runs and all evidence of their leisurely spring had vanished. 


...Included in this were things like servicing the trailer wheel bearings and brakes, later I would learn I should have replaced all the leaf springs too; designing and fabricating a rectangular aluminum replacement to the round bucket style cooker that hogs vital room in the sled bag; inventorying and ordering enough booties to meet the needed 1500 to be sorted, packaged and sent out in drop bags; calculating dog food and snacks; procuring 50 salmon to be cut and packaged for trail snacks; and filling out the detailed Serum Run application to be submitted by the October 1st deadline; the tasks seemed endless.    Another to do was added when an inspection of my sled revealed lots of worn parts that could not take the pounding of another trip to Nome.  ...  When the parts arrived, and to my surprise, it was only necessary to drill a couple holes and all replacement and existing sled parts were transfered to the new runners without a hitch.  


Getting time off to do the Serum Run would not be a problem for me as I am entitled by contract to take an annual leave of absence.  ...  As it worked out, she was able to skip the meeting but spent the entire drive to Alaska and all free time between packing drop bags and training runs writing a grant.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Reflections</title><dc:creator>Duncde@aol.com</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-07-19T13:55:59-07:00</dc:date><link>http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/5f8b746aed8c83f8dd9ca3d2e6e0e219-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/5f8b746aed8c83f8dd9ca3d2e6e0e219-4.html#unique-entry-id-4</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Vague in its definition, Rule 36 was designed to provide officials a means to withdraw teams not proceeding along the trial in a timely fashion.  2009 has seen a rewrite of rule 36 with more precise language and defined measurable time increments for enforcement.  ...  Ironically the individual to whom Rule 36 was originally targeted, longed for a return to his early days when Iditarod was a camping trip across Alaska.    In 1997 he envisioned a commemoration to a far distant time when twenty mushers and their heroic dog teams relayed diphtheria antitoxin to quarantined Nome, a frozen outpost in the far reaches of Alaska.    This vision became The Norman Vaughan Serum Run 25&rsquo; and would offer non-competitive mushers and their teams the ability to follow the original serum trail and fulfill a dream of running to Nome.


...The journey was steeped in apprehension, euphoria, spectacular scenery and a humbling awe towards the dog&rsquo;s ability and willingness to proceed through some of the most extreme weather descending upon Alaska in decades.  ...  In the aftermath and throughout the 2007/2008 mushing season I felt a great sense of loss, the soul and passion were absent and running dogs was just an exercise in going through the motions.. 


...It would have been torturous to be sitting at home knowing teams were lining up at the Nenana Railroad Depot awaiting the arrival of ceremonial serum and the start of their trip to Nome. 

...Comparing the 2007 and 2009 Serum Runs would be comparable to doing the same with Apollo 11 and Apollo 13 even down to Astronaut James Lovell&rsquo;s famous line &ldquo;Houston we&rsquo;ve got a problem&rdquo;.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Packing up</title><dc:creator>Duncde@aol.com</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-01-24T12:50:46-08:00</dc:date><link>http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/3483ed20f1bcc4fba69d7f112d88a7e2-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/3483ed20f1bcc4fba69d7f112d88a7e2-3.html#unique-entry-id-3</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We did a 26 mile run on Sat which got us back before moose hour and in enough light to set up the tent and arrange camp.  


...Over 12 miles we climbed reaching 4,830 feet, then plummeted through a series of three sharp switchbacks to 4,180 feet in less then a mile.  ...  Prior to reaching the descent, we decide Von should go down first and at the bottom along a level area, hook down and standby to catch a loose team.  

...After feeding dogs Margaret and I gazed in envy at Von shoveling down a steaming bowl of  &ldquo;seal-a-meal&rdquo; prepared by his wife, Judy.  ...  Judy was determined to put a few extra pounds on Von during the Serum Run and sent a variety of dishes for him to taste test over our Shakedown weekend.    Seeing this we headed into &ldquo;Yetna Station&rdquo; and employed the   microwave to heat some Jambalaya Margaret had made and vacuum packed as one of the meals we will be dining on in the Serum Run.  

...Monday in order for Von to make the 8+ hour trip home we did a short 20 mile run.  10 miles out and back the Basin Rd with less then a 1000 foot elevation gain.  

...We had a great time, saw some beautiful scenery, and felt encouraged that our late snow season did not have a negative impact on the dogs enthusiasm or ability to run hard trails.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Happy New Year&#x21;</title><dc:creator>Duncde@aol.com</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2009-01-16T12:48:51-08:00</dc:date><link>http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/03ae7287a687e4f8187688a6afac39dd-2.html#unique-entry-id-2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/03ae7287a687e4f8187688a6afac39dd-2.html#unique-entry-id-2</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I am sitting in the camper in Elk River, ID trying to remember what has been going on since my last writing, and it&rsquo;s making my head ache&hellip;


...I did my first snow hook up out of the yard with 4 dog teams and ran a two mile out and back down a deadend street.  

...Clear starry sky, quarter moon illuminating the trail leaving the head lamp for occasional line checks, cold hard pack trail, it was a much needed reminder of why we go through all the ups and downs.  

...I had run it years ago while training for Race to the Sky and thought it would be a good one for our shakedown with Von.  

...After about 20 minutes of no movement and trying to keep the dogs quiet, I moved forward and had my first, and a profound lesson about moose encounters.  ...  This is how we were able to return to the truck, about 100 to 150 yards at a time, until we reached a spit in the trail where he took the low road and we the high.


...One of the locals whom I have gotten to know over the years while training at Elk River assured me the dogs are at risk to the wolves.  ...  One of the essentials in my sled for the remainder of our training at Elk River will be a means to protect the dogs.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Santa shopping for the Serum Run</title><dc:creator>Duncde@aol.com</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-11-30T23:08:43-08:00</dc:date><link>http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/9842924277a748082e8d8943357d67de-1.html#unique-entry-id-1</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/9842924277a748082e8d8943357d67de-1.html#unique-entry-id-1</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I rushed down to my local Costco, left a substantial portion of my pay check at the&nbsp;register, and brought home a shopping cart full of hand warmers, toe warmers and one Spot Satellite Tracker.    I have hopes the tracker will be effective at leaving a series of waypoints that are uploaded in real time to view on the web page as we make our way to Nome.  ...  As I muddle through, I will put up some &ldquo;trial and error&rdquo; training runs on the web page to be sure they are viewable.


...In order to have enough time to travel, train dogs and complete the Serum Run I have applied for a 3 month leave of absence from work starting 1/1/09.   Margaret is only able to get 6 weeks off so after the Serum Run she will fly home from Anchorage and I&rsquo;ll drive down with the dogs.  


...Fellow Musher and good friend Von Martin applied and was selected to participate, so Washington State will have three teams in the run this year.    ...  As soon as we get up there we will have to scramble and get our drop bags put together for delivery on 1/10/09.    After that we will focus on getting the dogs mile&rsquo;d up and making final preparations for the trip to Nome.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>To blog&#x2c; or not to blog....</title><dc:creator>Duncde@aol.com</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-11-10T22:59:11-08:00</dc:date><link>http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/5cb1f766df21acb6b4df720b42e93cc6-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://dndc-web1.dndchosting.com/page5/files/5cb1f766df21acb6b4df720b42e93cc6-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Marie-Louise is Nova&rsquo;s (Jurak&rsquo;s Bossanova Queen WSX) breeder and I was very happy she was able to see what a wonderful girl Nova turned out to be.  


...One day Margaret had to leave camp and spend a day at work, she was able to take in my Serum Run Application and send it off on the eve of the deadline.


...We did some good runs in Idaho and by the time training camp was over the dogs were up to 15 mile runs.  ...  I used my ATV and at 550 pounds, it&rsquo;s hard to be competitive when the other teams had motorless ATV&rsquo;s, carts, or dinky light weight ATV&rsquo;s.     The next time at Roslyn I brought my old small ATV that has a broken engine and used it.  

...We&rsquo;ve been having monsoon type rains, but had a break yesterday and got the dogs out for a run before going to work.


...Since this is my first blog thing I am going to end here and send it to Cheri so she can work her magic.    Next entry I will go over our schedule and some changes we are going to try for the 2009 Serum Run.
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