Last Run for Winter

I knew this was going to be one of the last days of dog sledding for the year.  Other than a warm spell around New Years we’ve had snow on the ground since the first of December so I really couldn’t complain.  It was late February in central Indiana and much more snow just wasn’t going to happen.  I was going to enjoy the day and savor being out with my two dogs and my 3 year old son who was fast asleep inside the sled bag, his sleeping bag keeping him warm.

This day had started out like many others I’ve had since late September when the temperatures started to drop; after dropping my 6 year old daughter off at Kindergarten we would head to the trail and train.  Our trail is a local park that has two main loops of 2 and 3 miles respectively and several connector trails.  At first training was with my mountain bike and kid trailer, the dogs pulling us up to 15 miles then when the snow started to fly it was the dog sled for a 5 mile run.

This day was above freezing so with our dogs being accustom to the cold I had to be careful that they didn’t get over heated.  I would stop at several points along the trail for the dogs to eat some snow and take a few minutes to cool down.  Part of the trail goes through an Indiana prairie so it is pretty wide open and not very interesting for the dogs.  Right before we head back into the squirrel heavy, winding wooded section of the trail that my dogs love I stopped them to cool down.  I walked up and just sat down in the snow with my dogs and I remembered why I love being out in the woods during winter.  The silence was only broken by the gentle pant of the dogs.  After a few minutes I gave both dogs a good rub, walked back to the sled, and told the dogs “Let’s go”.  With the sound of runners cutting through the soft snow, collars jingling, and dogs panting we were off.

The run through the woods was kept lively due to a couple of squirrels running across the trail and safely up a tree.  Near the end of our run is a section of trail the dogs don’t like or at least they don’t like to pull through there.  I’m not sure what it is but no matter what direction we run on that section of trail they just shut down.  By now I know this and I’m ready to walk.  As we enter this slow section Ozzy our lazy but alert dog perks up so I know there’s something out there.  To my surprise a deer jumps up from bedding in the tall weeds and runs parallel to the trail, just the motivation my little teams needs to make quick work of their least favorite section of trail.  As we round a left hand sweeper to the section I call the drag strip we are keeping up a good pace.  The drag strip is a nice long straight section before our last right hand turn and back to the trail head.  The dogs know that frozen hot dogs and lots of water are just around the next bend so they always pull hard hence the drag strip.

As we near the end of the drag strip I start to set up the sled to make the last tight right hand turn and a squirrel leaps out and runs straight down the trail.  There is no stopping these two dogs.  The squirrel isn’t smart enough to make a 90 degree turn off the trail and after a winter of pulling the brake has little effect in stopping the dogs.  I hang on and try to get them to stop.  They do stop right before the squirrel hits the safety of the tree line Kenai our little 2 year old pulling machine (little as in 50lbs malamute) nails him.  She may be a puller but she’s no killer, Ozzy who we rescued after his stupid owner let him run free and didn’t understand why he was killing the neighbor’s chickens, is our highly efficient killer.  Kenai got the squirrel to low on the back and the squirrel got her.  Her inefficient strike allowed the squirrel enough room to swing around and grab a hold of her muzzle.  She lets go of the squirrel but he doesn’t let go of her!  At least it gave Ozzy enough room to go in and break its back.  This all happened in the time I could leave the sled and run up to the dogs.  I kicked the squirrel free from the dogs and pulled them from the kill zone.  Not knowing if all the blood on the snow was from Kenai or the squirrel.  The squirrel crawled off with only the use of his front legs, I don’t like leaving an animal to die a slow death so the thought of giving him the death blow with boot ran through my mind.  The worry about the condition of my dog and not wanting my 3 year old, that was now awake, see me stomp a squirrel to death over powered how I felt about the squirrel’s slow death.  I wheeled the dogs around and headed for the truck which was only about 200m away.

Once at the truck I cleaned up Kenai with some snow and found there were only 3 or 4 small bites on her muzzle so I felt much better.  After cleaning her up, getting the dogs a snack and water we loaded up for the drive home I called the vet and arranged to get a round of antibiotics for Kenai.  The vet also briefed me on what to watch for to make sure is was ok.

Once back home and everything was settled down and cleaned up I realized even though the end hadn’t been what I would have wanted it was a darn good year of dog sledding.

Kayaking in Indiana

For years when I worked in the outdoor industry customers would see the "sea kayaks" up on the wall and ask "where can you use that?"  It was always a tough sell to people that thought kayaks are cool but thought where would I use one in Indiana?  My first question would always be how many rivers did you drive over to get here?  Indiana may not be Alaska or Washington but we do have plenty of paddling and Lake Michigan does touch Northern Indiana.  What we do have is tons of reservoirs that are a pleasure to paddle even though you aren't in the wilds of Alaska.  Most of our reservoirs offer great day paddling and Lake Monroe is big enough to do over night camping trips to get that much needed experience for bigger and better water.  Winter paddling with wind and high water can be quite sporting and build your experience base of foul weather paddling with out taking your life in your own hands.  Our rivers are easy and access to the White River in central Indiana has increased greatly in the past 10 years.  A great day of paddling can be had on many of our rivers with any size boat and most don't require that much experience.  I think one of the jems  of our state is Chain-o-Lakes State Park (CLSP).  This small park near Ft. Wayne is truly a paddlers paradise, that is for Indiana.  The multiply small lake are linked together by canals left by the last ice age that create about 6 miles of water ways from one end to the other.  Starting at one end and paddling to the other and back is a nice way to spend the day.  Only one or two of the lakes allow motorized water craft and then only trolley motors so you won't be buzzed by a speed boat or mad fisherman.  There is even a canoe camp so you can make it a night if you would like.  One of the great things about this park is the wildlife.  On multiple trips we've seen most of what Indiana has to offer.  Of course dear are there but you will also see beaver and river otters, you might even see an osprey if your lucky.  My wife and I spent one afternoon watching a family of otters after one almost hit my boat.
While we don't have the great expanse of water our coastal or Great Lake states have Indiana can offer fun for the day trip paddler.  Experience gained on these more mild water ways can launch you to that big trip you've been dreaming about.  Remember to keep your mind open to what we have around us because as our life gets busy close to home is still getting out!