Conconully Super Mush 2012

Musher Roy Etnire of Seeley Lake, Montana finishes a 23-mile race.

On Saturday (Jan. 21) I explored the world of Northwest sled dog racing in Conconully, Wash. with fellow Methow Valley News reporter Marcy Stamper. It was the first time either of us had been to the Conconully Super Mush, which is now in its 11th year. We were thrilled to be there, and I would recommend it as an unusual addition to the many snow sport events available around here.

The three-day event attracted mushers and their teams from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana in four events: the 32-mile 12-dog sled race; the 23-mile (mid) six-dog sled race; the 12-mile (sporting) six-dog sled race; and the nine-mile one-or two-dog skijor.

The Okanogan National Forest terrain is forested and hilly with the highest point of the race being Scheiner Creek at 4400 feet elevation. The steepest section gains 1000 feet in three miles.

Alaskan huskies (a mutt breed to be sure) alert to the possibility of treats while recovering from their exertions.

Matt Hamel of Seattle and his team come in strong after a 12-mile run.

Thad McCracken and his huskies traveled to the race from Hood River, Oregon.

McCracken prepares a hot meal for his team in the parking lot shortly after the race.

Kimberly Blanchard of Seattle came in smiling along with her happy dog after the solo nine-mile skijor.

Mikki Douglas gives her labs some love after the skijor.

Kevin Creager of the French Creek neighborhood in the lower Methow Valley, finishes the skijor.

Kevin Creager was the only Methow Valley contender. This was his third year in the Super Mush and his first time in the skijor event. The last two years he entered a six-dog sled team.

Creager described the conditions as "really mushy and super slow with six inches of fresh snow on top of the groomed trail."

Creager is a fisheries biologist working on salmon recovery on the Entiat River near Chelan. He got into sled dog racing eight years ago. The dogs he raced on Saturday (pictured) were rescue dogs from Idaho, he said.

"The coolest thing is to take a dog from a bad situation and let it do what it was meant to do," Creager said.

Resting up under the truck after a day of racing. 

Nordic team snowball fight

Mazama Corral trailhead

Thirty-seven kids ages 6 to 11 participated in last week's three-day Nordic camp in Mazama. I observed their comings and goings from my post at the Corral parking lot, working as a trail ambassador that day.

After three hours of skiing, the kids and coaches came in for lunch at the Community Hall and parked their gear alongside the trailhead.

I was in the right place at the right time after lunch in order to photograph an impromptu snowball fight outside the Mazama Community Hall. Here is what transpired.

Don't shoot the photographer!

Today in the 'hood

This quaint sign stands at the "T" on Maughan River Road to make sure you get where you mean to go. Of course, if you ended up at someone else's house, that would probably be OK too.

This afternoon I went for a  typical walk around our neighborhood, locally known as "Cy Maughan" for the guy who originally owned the whole place and eventually split it up - good ol' boy style (pre Comprehensive Plan) - into some of the most non-conforming properties around. We're basically trailer trash around here, with a few fancier houses thrown in.  If you build a fancy house in Cy Maughan, you have to be OK with being surrounded by double-or single-wides, converted school buses and junked cars.

This downy woodpecker got me to bring my camera on the walk. Thanks for the suggestion, dude!

Aspens with bright spots of color: rose hips!

So my wanderings took me to the lookout over the Chewuch River canyon; it's one of our walk stops year 'round. The view is ever-changing and we always have to make sure the river's still there. It is.

The Chewuch flows toward town, cutting through bedrock on its way.

To get these shots, I clung precariously to a deer trail that cuts across the river bluff. Somehow it seemed less scary on the snow than the bare dirt; I'm probably nuts. Here you go.

It looks different in the summer.

Ice, ice, baby.

And now for a mackerel sky. Good night, day.

Ordained

I'm writing a story on wedding ceremony officiants for the upcoming Valley Vows supplement to the Methow Valley News. As part of my research, I decided to see what it takes to become an ordained minister.

It takes an internet connection, an email address, and the ability to fill out a form and submit it online.

Here's my certificate:

I think I'll order a paper copy for $6.99.

To officiate a wedding ceremony, I'll have to register with the county clerk, and maybe need to get a "letter of good standing" for $18 from the Universal Life Church.

They also offer the "Ordination Credential Package" for $49.99 in which you get the certificate, letter, wallet ID card, and a bunch of blank wedding certificates and other stuff.

As of right now, I can officiate marriages, baptisms, funerals/burials AND absolve sins. Cool.

A cow story . . . .

Cow #82 made her way into downtown Winthrop on a rainy Monday morning. She had been thinking about buying some real estate or getting her skis tuned or maybe just ordering a double tall latte when she changed her mind and headed back up East Chewuch Road under the gentle guidance of Deputy Marshal Rory Williams.

Boundary Trail - Part Two

At Cathedral Lake

So from Cathedral Pass we hiked down through glorious lake basins and boggy meadow high country. We landed at Remmel Lake for the night where we met up with acquaintances at their "drop camp" who had our food re-supply for the second half of the trip. Spent the only frosty night of the trip at Remmel Lake; turned around the next morning and headed back the way we came.

But don't forget: the way back is never exactly the same, Grashopper . . . .

A view of Cathedral

Remmel Mountain peaking up behind the high meadows

Remmel Lake and mountain at dawn

Two hikers ready for the return trip

Frank navigates a tricky stretch below upper Cathedral Lake

Our much-welcomed tarn at Sheelite Pass

Perfect campsite on granite at Sheelite Pass

Hiking out the final morning we encountered Frank's internist, Dr. Chris Hogness, accompanied by seven pack goats. Family still asleep in tent on other side of Sunny Pass.

Pastel dawn in Horseshoe Basin

A trek along the Boundary Trail - Part One

You belong among the wildflowers . . .  in Horseshoe Basin.

The Boundary Trail runs roughly parallel to the U.S.-Canadian border, just a few miles south of the international swath in places. From August 24 to August 29, Frank and I hiked the trail roughly three days in one direction (Iron Gate to Remmel Lake) and then turned around and retraced our steps to the trailhead above Toat's Coulee out of Loomis.

The weather was hot and sunny the whole trip; the bugs were horrendous - tent-screen-covering mosquitoes in camp, biting flies on the trail in the afternoon; the views were outstanding.

I still appear fresh on Day 2.

Sunny Pass - looking back the way we came.

Lowden Lake early morning.

Bug netting was all the fashion in camp.

After-lunch snooze.

BIG trail junction at Tungsten Mine.

Ancient rails lead out to the tailings pile. Apex Mountain.

Mine artifacts. Frank on tailings pile.

Apex Peak from Apex Pass. I stayed below and applauded wildly while Frank bagged the peak.

First view of Cathedral Peak; the pass is in the left saddle.

Frank on switchback approach to Cathedral Pass.

The view west from Cathedral Pass.

Trip to be continued in Part Two . . . .