Team Rowdy Dog: MN 2008-2009
Home About Us Our Team Our Sleds Our Journeys Links Contact Us	Minnesota Trip 2008-2009 This year we spent over a week in Ely, MN running dogs, skiing, and hanging out in some cool places. Temperatures ranged between -17 and +18 degrees F. The typical day started out at -5 and finished up between -3 and +5. The dog truck always started right up but did NOT like the -10 and below temperatures. I had a few days in Ely with just the dogs, so here is a ten dog team heading back to the truck after a run to Bogberry Lake. My camera was frozen for most of my first runs so not many pictures. Bogberry Lake had some deep water that soaked the outer layers of my boots and shook me up in general. It was a beautiful run despite the difficulties. As usual, we did one of our favorite trails in the BWCA - four mile portage. Its a 14 mile round trip, starting at a lake and going to bass lake. Not a technically difficult trail; however, the scenery is spectacular. We did have our first Moose encounter this year. A mother moose and calf decided to step onto the trail about 100 yards in front of us. I wanted to get a picture but was too busy trying to decide what to do. All worked out well after the two ran off down the trail. Notice the depth of the snow in this picture. An example of our two teams crossing through the deep snow. Unlike our last Ely adventure, there was PLENTY of snow to go around. No problems setting the snow hook. Only problem this year was a lot of water on lakes. Water seems to get trapped between the ice and the snow. While the lake ice is solid, when your traveling across a lake with a dog team and your whole foot sinks into water, its makes you think and move FAST! Here is team Rowdy Dog crossing a small pond. We also managed to get a little skijouring in. Sam really enjoyed the experience but wondered where all the other dogs were. Onyx was quite the sled dog this trip. She managed to run and lead very well yet cause trouble for us anytime she wasn't in harness. Here she is at -10 with a jacket on and booties to protect sore feet. She managed to cut her feet while throwing a temper tantrum. Thanks to all the tour groups for breaking trail for us! Our southern sled dogs really appreciate the open trails and lack of snow machines in the area. Here is our favorite rest stop at Bass Lake. Phee looked a little chilly, so we gave her a jacket. Our three short coated dogs wore jackets when temperatures dropped below -10. We picked them up at the local outdoorshop Piragis Northwoods Company Lynn enjoys a cup of coffee at a rest stop on our trip to Gabro Llake. Sitka is always interested in something tasty, although he is not much of a coffee drinker. Lynn's sister got a "ride to remember" as a fresh eight dog team headed out onto the trail only to run head into four dog teams comming in the other direction. So much for good planning....... We stayed at some really nice places, like the Deer Ridge Resort and some really crummy places (below) fit more for snowmobilers and boozers........ The snowmobile resort (will remain nameless). Niki always plays a ham for the camera. Lynn only thought about work one day while we were there. Brian thought that temperatures were a bit cold this morning. Yes, that's what a frozen beard looks like. . All in all it was a great trip. We love Ely, MN. Hope to return soon!

Team Rowdy Dog: MN 2008-2009

Minnesota Trip 2008-2009

This year we spent over a week in Ely, MN running dogs, skiing, and hanging out in some cool places. Temperatures ranged between -17 and +18 degrees F. The typical day started out at -5 and finished up between -3 and +5. The dog truck always started right up but did NOT like the -10 and below temperatures.

I had a few days in Ely with just the dogs, so here is a ten dog team heading back to the truck after a run to Bogberry Lake. My camera was frozen for most of my first runs so not many pictures. Bogberry Lake had some deep water that soaked the outer layers of my boots and shook me up in general. It was a beautiful run despite the difficulties.

As usual, we did one of our favorite trails in the BWCA - four mile portage. Its a 14 mile round trip, starting at a lake and going to bass lake. Not a technically difficult trail; however, the scenery is spectacular.

We did have our first Moose encounter this year. A mother moose and calf decided to step onto the trail about 100 yards in front of us. I wanted to get a picture but was too busy trying to decide what to do. All worked out well after the two ran off down the trail. Notice the depth of the snow in this picture.

An example of our two teams crossing through the deep snow. Unlike our last Ely adventure, there was PLENTY of snow to go around. No problems setting the snow hook. Only problem this year was a lot of water on lakes. Water seems to get trapped between the ice and the snow. While the lake ice is solid, when your traveling across a lake with a dog team and your whole foot sinks into water, its makes you think and move FAST! Here is team Rowdy Dog crossing a small pond.

We also managed to get a little skijouring in. Sam really enjoyed the experience but wondered where all the other dogs were.

Onyx was quite the sled dog this trip. She managed to run and lead very well yet cause trouble for us anytime she wasn't in harness. Here she is at -10 with a jacket on and booties to protect sore feet. She managed to cut her feet while throwing a temper tantrum.

Thanks to all the tour groups for breaking trail for us! Our southern sled dogs really appreciate the open trails and lack of snow machines in the area.

Here is our favorite rest stop at Bass Lake. Phee looked a little chilly, so we gave her a jacket. Our three short coated dogs wore jackets when temperatures dropped below -10. We picked them up at the local outdoorshop Piragis Northwoods Company

Lynn enjoys a cup of coffee at a rest stop on our trip to Gabro Llake. Sitka is always interested in something tasty, although he is not much of a coffee drinker.

Lynn's sister got a "ride to remember" as a fresh eight dog team headed out onto the trail only to run head into four dog teams comming in the other direction. So much for good planning.......

We stayed at some really nice places, like the Deer Ridge Resort and some really crummy places (below) fit more for snowmobilers and boozers........

The snowmobile resort (will remain nameless).

Niki always plays a ham for the camera.

Lynn only thought about work one day while we were there.

Brian thought that temperatures were a bit cold this morning. Yes, that's what a frozen beard looks like.

All in all it was a great trip. We love Ely, MN. Hope to return soon!