Yukon River Breaks Free From Icy Hood

May 3 2011 Pre-breakup

Everyone knew that the river would be late breaking up this year due to cooler than usual temperatures this spring. I predicted the 8th of May and I was pretty close only one day off.

I have to admit my eyes rarely leave the river on the days leading up to breakup, watching the ice go smooth then arc as the ice lifts shedding puddles of water to the edges of the river.I place sticks in the water edge so I can monitor the water level watching as Ducks ,Geese and Swans fly in flocks overhead coming to feed in the plant rich water of Ford Lake.

Friday, May 6 I was on the river bank watching the water come up, anticipating some action.Then I heard the deep short resonant sounds of the pressure building on the ice and I knew the time had come. Just moments later miles of ice slowly advance still in one piece, then it fractured and parted like an earthquake separates the land. At Simons bluff you could see the ice pilling up straight across from bank to bank in hugh chunks. It did not last long. It stalled,just a tease.

Saturday, May 7 you could not tear me away from the river and then at 4:20 pm the whole thing let go. It happens slowly at first then picks up speed like a freight train. The sound is amazing as the massive sheets ice break and shear the banks, crashing and scraping onto the rocky face of Calico Bluff. Then comes the jumble ice just as it is named chunks, crowded,rolling and tumbling and moving swiftly, for about 30 miles this year. With the water so unusually low we were able to get extremely close to the action, totally awesome.

Sunday, May 8 The final stage. The rush is over and the ice becomes less dense. I am always fascinated with the show I sit on the bank for hours watching this extravaganza that is a ballet and demolition derby all in one. It is truly mesmerizing.

No picture can make you feel this awe-inspiring event you have to witness the power it to believe it.

Driving Jeep Down the Yukon River

On April 20th 2011 Andy and I went to Eagle to bring his, worse for wear, Cherokee Jeep to Calico while the Yukon River was still frozen thick.

It all started out well enough, I drove the snow machine and Andy drove the jeep but when we got to the site of the summer sonar camp about 4 miles from home the snow got soft and deep. The jeep got stuck so Andy took the snow machine and went to Calico for lumber to fix the problem.

When he returned Andy built two ramps to help support the jeep over the deep snow. The distance was about 1/4 of a mile to get back onto just ice. He would drive the jeep onto one ramp, then we would move the other to the front and so on. It was a tedious task but it worked until there was a slip of a tire off the narrow boards and game over, the jeep was acutely stuck.

We abandoned the mission for that day and came back the following morning when the snow would be set hard after the below freezing night.

Armed with jacks it took some time but we did get it back on the ramp then about 8 feet at a time we edged the jeep to the end of the deep snow then it was easy going for a nice drive down the river and to it's new home at Calico.

Introducing the Puppies

Pups
Born Sept 20/2010 to Vixen and Typhoon

The puppies are now 6.5 months old and growing like weeds weighing over 70 pounds each. Not running in a team yet but love to follow along.

Time to introduce the final 5!
Hope you enjoyed meeting our canine family.

Shilling the Gentleman

Peso the Unrevealed

Drachma the Loyal

Kugeran the Timid

Rupee the Frolicsome

Prancer,Vixen,Donner and Blitzen

Prancer
Swing and Team Dog
Born 2008 to Lucy and Minto
Personality- Princess

Prancer is a sweet, gentle and loving dog she is very well behaved and easy to have around.

Prancer is what I call a reluctant sled dog, put her harness on and she will go hide in her house and you have to go get her and walk her to the sled to be put in the team. Although once all that is said and done she loves to run in the team and do her job, I guess she is not fond of all the excitement of the others.

Prancer like her sister Vixen thinks she is a lap dog, we teach them to sit to before they get pets and their ears rubbed. She sits ok but then one foot comes up, then the other and the next thing you know there is a sled dog in your lap. Prancer likes to try and steal indoor toys and hide them in her dog house, a little kleptomaniac in her genes, plus a bit of a hoarder of items around the yard.

Lately she has taken to playing with the new pups a game that sounds mean but they all love it, she brings out one of her treasures and teases the pups with it and growls at them when they try investigate. It must be a fun dog game they all do it for hours. I was worried at first but now I understand the game.

She is just having fun, the way it should be.

Vixen
Swing and Team Dog
Born 2008 to Lucy and Minto
Nickname- Vixie
Personality-Suck-up

Well, if you ever knew a dog who could use her feminine ways for attention, you have already met our Vixen.
She is the only dog allowed on the couch because unlike her name she is just plan sweet, you can't resist her affection or the way she rolls on her back to rub her belly.

Although since first experience with motherhood last September, to 11 pups, you would not what to be a wolf or coyote prowling around, she goes savage, barking and screaming, like any overly protective mother. I am glad I am not on her hit list!

Not sure Vixen is that loyal of a dog,she will roll over for anyone. Like I said Suck-up.

Donner
Team ,Swing and Future Lead Dog
Born 2008 to Agata and Iceberg
Personality-Intense

Donner is a pretty dog, she looks just like her mother, Agata from Helmer's kennel in Eagle. She is an intense highly focused observer almost to smart, you can see her wheels turning calculating any given situation.

I believe Donner was meant to walk upright, at every opportunity she has her front legs up on her dog house or a nearby dog, anything as long as she is standing tall. Andy says she is one heck of an intelligent dog and will be a great lead dog someday.

Blitzen
Lead Dog in Training
Born 2008 to Agata and Iceberg
Nickname-Blitz
Personality-Typical Young Buck

Blitzen is an amazing watchdog he sniffs out the first sign of any intruder and barks this high pitched panic bark. I like having him around when I am alone here, nothing can sneak up on me with Blitzen as a warning signal.

It was a cold fall day when Andy brought Blitzen and Donner to Calico in the open boat, he had them both tucked inside his coat all cozy and warm. He put them on the ground at the boat landing and they followed us to the cabin to meet Prance and Vixen. Now we had puppy fun x4.

Later that evening Blitzen was hiding under the couch, Andy reached it to get him and Blitzen went ballistic,such a commotion for a tiny puppy more like an outraged loin. We laughed so hard at this baby with enough attitude to take on a grown man. Eventually he came out on his own and settled into his new home, Calico.

Alt

Alt
Wheel dog
Born 2007 to Gucci and Minto
Personality- Goofy

Alt is as close to a wallflower dog as you can get. He is unassuming,never causes any trouble, obedient and all round good dog.
Alt has a goofy way about him, from his look to his actions.
You just smile for no good reason when you look at Alt.
I like smiling at Alt.

Gilligan and Memories of HIs Brother Skipper

Gilligan
Wheel Dog
Born 2008 to Control and Tab
Nickname-Gilli
Personality-Happy

Skipper
Deceased
Born- 2008 to Control and Tab
Died- 2009

It would be amiss of me to write about Gilligan without Skipper, they were the most attached siblings I have ever seen. I used to call them my little bookends. I have attached some photos of them as puppies.

Skipper and Gilligan were conceived by accident during a dog mushing trip at Cassiar Creek on our way to Dawson City, but it turned out to be serendipity.

Gilligan may not have the best work ethic but we love him like crazy, to quote Andy he is " Insanely loyal."

Gilligan is big and strong but when you come to a steep hill with the dog team all dogs put their backs into it heads down focused but Gilligan looks back at you from his wheel position closest to the sled, with wide eyes as to say," If you expect me to pull you better push harder."

I have been asked many times if Gilligan is the dog in movie in 8 Below, he is an actor all right but not in movies.

Skipper and Gilligan were an incorrigible pair, in constant motion how they loved to wrestle. The only time they would sit still was for their dog biscuit treat, I would say cookie, cookie and they sat so still I would tell them to wait for the tails and they understood the tails had to wag in sync and the did.Once Andy let them loose and said lets see how long they can wrestle, well 7 hours later still going strong. Andy put them back on their chains at their dog houses, that were of course next to each other and they immediately collapsed into a deep sleep.


Skipper was the fattest little puppy and that is how he got his name. We would take them to Dawson when Andy was Captain on the Yukon Queen and happened to be there for Canada Day 2008. I went to the festivities with my friends and the puppies. We hooked on their new red Canada leashes, Sarah lee took Gilligan and I took Skipper so they would not get tangled together. What a chore it was to keep them apart as we walked around the grounds of the museum, good thing they were only a few months old. When it was time for the official ceremonies I had become separated from the others, no matter I had a nice view of the podium right behind some RCMP officers.

Then the strangest and cutest thing happened, as soon as the Canadian anthem started Skipper took his place next to one of the Mounties, who were dressed in their red serge dress uniforms. Skipper sat right next this now at attention mountie leaning on his shinny brown leather riding boot and never moved a muscle just looked straight ahead. Cameras started clicking and flashing, all directed at the sight of this little husky puppy with a Northern RCMP officer.
My eyes welled up with tears at this postcard image, I didn't dare try to move him not wanting to make a fuss during the singing of the anthem. When it was over Skipper looked up at the face of the handsome officer as he looked down at this puppy sitting calmly by his side, smiling broadly he bent over and scooped him up into his arms and said, "Well I think you stole the show little man." I never got a photo of that day but the image will be with me forever.



Our time with Skipper ended far to soon durning the spring flood of 2009 that nearly killed us all. I often look into Gilligan's eyes when he is sitting alone waiting for his cookie/cookie and think, I am missing a bookend, how do I stop from falling.

This is a podcast of an interview with CBC radio about the night Skipper died.
http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/asithappens_20090506_15261.mp3

Tab

Tab
Wheel Dog
Born 2007 to Gucci and Minto
Personality-Steadfast

Tab and his litter mates Alt, Control and Delete were born at the Denali Park dog kennel so I missed their birth.
Tab is a handsome boy donning a beautiful black coat with a broad white chest and dark brown eyes,he is extremely devoted and steady, a true companion.
As a puppy he was so responsive and was the first to learn how to sit to be petted and come when called, always eager to please.Durning his first year in harness he was not what you would call an outstanding sled dog, somewhat lazy but the following year he same into his own and is now a first rate team member.

For the longest time Tab was had a tenancy to occasionally be aggressive when loose, but we discovered he was just on the defense from, guess who,Dickel. We were relieved to detect that our sweet Tab was simply misunderstood and now with some intervention the problem is solved.

As I write this my eyes divert to a delightful sight, Tab dancing and playing in the early morning sun with his buddy, Ouzo.

Stoli

Stoli
Team and Swing dog
Born 2006 to Gucci and Solo
Personality-Easy going

Stoli is a solid no hassle sled dog, she works almost to hard and tends to wear herself out. Hook her into the team and she jumps and lurches with joy and anticipation, ready to get the show on the road She is such a pretty gal, gentle,calm with an independent demeanor.

I feel bad for her when we have to feed her half the amount of food than the others during part of the summer months. She has a tendency to gain weight just laying around in the sun. I think most can relate to that little vacation problem.

Stoli is simply a gem.

Ouzo

Ouzo
Wheel and team dog
Born 2006 to Gucci and Solo
Personality-Class Clown

Ouzo was born the smallest in the litter and as he grew we noticed he had a problem with his back leg causing his gait to look clumsy. Andy was certain this gimpy puppy would not be sled dog quality but Ouzo proved him wrong. He may not run as fluid as the rest but he is strong,steady and full of heart.

Ouzo is unmistakably the funnest dog we have and one of the most playful. As a puppy Ouzo always carried a toy around like a trophy, now he has upgraded to a stick, well more like a small tree, the bigger the better. Without fail, whenever anyone comes along or it is feeding time, he picks up his trophy stick and prances around with his head held high to balance this treasured possession with absolute joy and delight.

People often have trouble distinguishing him from his father, Solo, he certainly is a chip off the old block, similar in so many ways. But Ouzo takes the award for being a great entertainer.

Ouzo is enchanting, kind and gentle, so much fun to watch, adorable in every way!

Dickel

Dickel
Swing and team dog
Born 2006 to Gucci and Solo
Nickname- Dickey Do
Personality- Bully

As you can see from Dickel's photo he looks like a prize fighter,strong build with intense blue eyes at the ready for the ring but I know the pussycat that lies beneath the facade.

This boy is very loyal and can be jealous at times especially when he is loose with other dogs and notices you petting another he will run over to you, butt in and bad vibe them. Don't get me wrong he is otherwise polite and makes a great house dog companion as I found out when he hurt his paw and spent quite some time in the cabin. He loves to be petted and brushed or just lay at your feet.

Poor Dickey Do will be going under the knife on Monday when the visiting vet comes to Eagle. Having Dickel neutered should take care of his personality flaw and then he will be a perfect inside and out.

Wish him a speedy recovery and know I will be lovingly pampering him during the ordeal.

Tia

Tia
Lead Dog
Born 2006 to Gucci and Solo
Nickname- T
Personality-Timid

What a looker Tia is with her amazing blue eyes highlighted with black eyeliner and pretty blond coat, simply stunning.

When she was a puppy we took her to Dawson on the Yukon Queen, it was the forth of July and she wore a shiny red, white and blue garland around her neck, so cute. Tia's feet did not hit the deck of that boat the whole trip. People gravitate to her and she loves the attention.

When Manuela was here from Switzerland she fell hook,line and sinker for Tia,I am sure they both had separation anxiety when Manuela returned home.

She is mild tempered and a no nonsense gal, when Andy puts her in harness Tia is all business ready to lead the team and smart as a whip. Her only fault is being a finicky eater in the cold and takes her time when on the trail being a glutton is important.
With some dogs there is not a lot of stories to tell and Tia is one of them but she has that certain something, that you just can't resist.

Iceberg

Iceberg
Lead Dog
Born 2006 to Gucci and Solo
Nickname - Bergie Bit
Personality-Debonair

Iceberg is my Johnny Depp, my Jack Sparrow, handsome and dashing. I fell madly in love with Iceberg the second he was born, I named him immediately my little Iceberg.

Iceberg and his litter mates were the first I witnessed being born, what a thrilling experience. The theme we picked for them was spirits, Tia, Stoli, Ripple, Kalula, Dickel, Smirnoff, and Ouzo and Iceberg.

Socializing Iceberg and company was so much fun, Andy was still working as a Captain on the Yukon Queen so we got to take them on the boat to Dawson regularly. The tourists loved getting their picture taken holding sled dog puppy and the pups loved all the attention and being cuddled.

I used to take them for walks sometimes on the old airstrip near the historic mule barn in Eagle to meet the Holland America tour bus. After several of these visits the coach drivers would announce to the people they were about to meet Iceberg, the driver would open the door and the pups barely able to climb the steep steps would pile inside with Iceberg in the lead. The crowd would go wild.

One day the coach was ready to leave when Iceberg about 6 weeks old was no where insight we looked everywhere, I called and called for him to come but no Bergie Bit. Then one of the passengers in the front whispered " a lady took him to the back of the bus". When the driver inquired another tourist pointed and said, "Inside that ladies jacket". What a strange thing to do is all I have to say about that.

In 2009 during the flood recovery in Eagle after a long days work some of the volunteers and kids would play volleyball in the field next to the old school. Iceberg and I walked down one night to watch, he studied the ball for a while as it travelled back and forth, then leapt into the game. He loved to play! It was such fun to see him run and stop the ball when it went out of bounds. What a sport!

As Iceberg got older and becoming a big boy Remington decided to put this young whipper snapper in his place. After the short tussle was diffused I cried, "Not his FACE! My poor baby had a puncture just below his eye, I was as mad at Remi as I could get when I put him back on his chain at his doghouse. This did not sway Icebergs confidence for long but did teach him he had to have patience to become top dog.

I could just go on forever about my wonderful white Bergie Bit with his clear blue eyes and leopard spotted ears. One of the most photographed and truly one of the great loves of my life!

Solo

Solo
Lead dog
Team dog
Swing dog
Born 2004 to Flame and Frodo
Personality-Sweetheart of all Sweethearts

Solo came to us when he was almost two years old from our friends Scott and Robbie's kennel and are we ever glad he did what a honey of a dog, extremely affectionate. He is almost to nice and has been picked on by other dogs in the lot as the newcomer. One winter he had a bad encounter and got chewed up really bad and had to spend a fair amount of time in a vet hospital in Fairbanks. When Andy when in to bring him home the staff at the clinic were reluctant to let him go calling Solo the sweetest most gentle sled dog they have ever had to care for.

As for being a Lead dog he had one fault when in chase, that means following another team,Solo would sometimes take shortcuts to catch up.

One day when we were on the river trail going to Eagle, Andy and his team about a half mile ahead of me and out of sight. I was crossing the river and Solo caught sight of the other team and veered off the trail and picked up speed taking me and the team careening over rough jumble ice . I can't believe I held on and road it out without incident.

When we got close to the cabin in Eagle Solo saw the ultimate shortcut, instead of turning the corner on the road he went over the banks of snow piled high by the plough. Down I went in the snow watching the runaway sled dragging on its side with Solo at the helm, proud as punch as he reached the dog lot. I walked the last few feet feeling both vexed and humiliated.

Solo looked at me with those tremendously wide blue eyes that always seem to say, "I'm sorry," and all was forgiven, after all, he was still young.

Wishbone

Wishbone
Team dog
Born: 9-11- 2001 to Soup and Father unknown
Wishbone's nickname Bone or Bonehead
Personality-Plus Plus Plus

Wishbone is still an active sled dog and has the ability to be placed anywhere in a team you could call him a Jack of all trades. Lovable with personality plus and a bit of a talker at times, he believes he can speak. Melts me when I say I love you and he says I love you back.

Bone does have difficulty with the extreme cold temperatures of the Alaska winters so we have to bring him inside at night. His coat is not typical of an Alaskan sled dog it is smooth and silky with makes him perfect for petting. We have been looking for a good loving home with room for Wishbone to run for a while now,he is a loyal companion,a perfect house dog quiet and never gets into trouble . He would also be great for anyone who likes to skijor.

It was a site to see, a young boy in Eagle named Shane used to hook Wishbone up to a kid size dog sled called kick sled and put his 2 year old sister Alicia in it. Away they would go all around town both smiling and laughing,Shane giving Wishbone commands, Haw for left and Gee for right as they maneuvered here, there and everywhere. Did I mention Wishbone was also smiling?

I love Wishbone from the bottom of my soul and will be heartsick to see him go to another home but it be for the greater good. Our life revolves around what is best for our family of dogs. So "wish" him luck.

Chisel

Chisel
Retired Team Dog
Born 1995 to Moon and Mic
Chisel's nickname Chiz
Personality-Endearing

Chiz is our oldest dog turning 16 this year but you would never guess by his appearance. One look at Chisel's teddybear face and it is game over, you are in love. This dog is extremely loyal and knows how to turn on the charm.

Although retired he still gets into harness with the team to go get water and that really makes his day. Aging dogs are not like people advancing in years longing to relinquish a lifelong job for rest and relaxation, they have an intense focus and purpose.

Last March our friends Britta and Bjorn from Germany came to visit and help build an extension on our cabin,which is another blog story in its self. Bjorn and Andy hooked up all the dogs except for Chisel and when on a dogsled trip for a few days. Several hours after they left Chisel was let off his chain. We should have waited longer as it turned out. He played and followed Britta and I around the yard as usual then all of a sudden I could not see him and called but he did not come. Where did he go? We kept calling for a what seemed to be forever but he was gone AWOL. My heart sunk as evening came and no sign of my sweet companion. I was dreading Andy's return to have to tell him Chisel was missing. When Andy and Bjorn arrived a few days later who should be with them but Chisel! Andy said he saw what he thought was a wolf behind them on the trail and as it got closer he realized it was Chiz, that old guy followed the scent all the way to the Tatonduk River,an amazing distance run for an old man. I did not know what to do, kiss Chisel or kill him.
I kissed him, he was only following his heart.

Chisel enjoys coming into the cabin for the cold nights and any other time, as soon as I let him off the chain he heads to the door looking back at me to hurry up and let him in. He has also taken up a great fondness of toys and parades them around teasing others by dropping them and snatching them up when another dog gets inquisitive. Once a man twice a child applies to our dear Chisel.

Arrow

Arrow
Retired Swing dog
Born 1997 to Moon and Cruise
Personality- Aloof

Arrow is one of those dogs who seems not to care to much about people one way or another a little cool and distant. If you have ever met a teenage who was into Goth and a bit standoffish well that sums Arrow in a nutshell. Although in his old age and spending time inside,which he would never ever do before, seems to becoming more attached to us mere humans.

Arrow is a hard working dog, very obedient, mild temperament and easy going, he still loves to run in the team but he only does short runs now. I his heyday, to quote Andy,"he was one hell of a sled dog, fast and steady."

I am so honored that he now takes food from my hand, puts his head on my lap to get petted and tolerates getting brushed.

He stays inside overnight now when the temperatures are cold and is so cute in the morning laying there with his eyes open but not moving a muscle pretending to be invisible. Sometimes I have to drag him by his collar to get him to stand up to go out for a minute to pee.

Arrow is winning my heart.

Remington

Remington
Lead Dog
Born 1997 to Moon and Cruise
Remington's nickname Rem or Remi
Personality- Charmer

Still running in the team although slowing down quite a bit and bumped back to the slower B team his heart is still in the A team.

He is funny to watch him as struts on tippy toes around the dog lot telling the young bucks "I may be old but I am still the alfa male around here."

Remington had a bad experience with water a few years ago and is now quite leery of it. Andy would have to tell the story to be accurate but the short version is this mine. A mishap on the Yukon River resulted while Andy was walking ahead of the team to see if it was safe enough to go around Eagle Bluff. Remington decided to follow but as fate would have it he walked toward an open lead in the river and in they went.

I will not tell the complete story as Andy is not here to verify the facts, I will tell what I saw. I was at the cabin in Eagle whenI heard something and looked out the window and truly I could not believe my eyes. Have you ever looked at a situation and it is so bizarre it does not compute. First, why was Andy and a dog team in the driveway,I never had seen that before, second the dogs and sled were all white and incased with ice. Then It hit me!
Andy herded them all inside and I went to work with towels galore pulling ice from fur and drying their wet soggy frames as he pulled the sled into the work shop to melt.

They all stayed inside cozied up to the wood stove for a long time, stretched out like a dog fur rug until every hair of every dog was dry.

I will never forget that day and neither will Remington he avoids open water in the winter at all cost, although he does enjoy a dip in the Yukon on a hot summers day.

Another funny short story about Remington and me was one summer in Eagle when some tourists walked by and wanted to take pictures and meet the dogs. I took them around to pet all of 26 dogs we had at the time. Remington was the first dog in the lot as lead dogs have that prestige, so when we were done with the meet and greet I stood next to Rem as I chatted with the visitors, he looked at them, lifted his leg and peed on mine marking his territory. Not sure if I should be mad or flattered I told him in uncertain terms that was not acceptable and he has been a good boy ever since. I love him dearly.

What Sled Dogs Do

Sled dogs are born to run, try moving a sled in the yard or unclip a hanging harness and you will witness such excitement, tails wagging, jumping, barking. Pick me! Pick me!
The poor unfortunate few that have to remain home watch as the others speed off looking at the trail with sad eyes then voice themselves with a mournful howl.

Pulling a sled is not a job to them. It is a passion!

I would like to share with you what a sled dogs job is in the team and follow with posts on each of our delightful dogs.


LEAD DOGS

Lead Dog is just that the dog in the front who leads the team, takes commands well and has a good head and drive to do the job. Not all dogs can or want to Lead. Qualities for a good lead dog is intelligence,initiative,common sense,and the ability to find a trail in bad conditions.

SWING DOGS

Swing dogs are directly behind the lead dog,they swing the dogs in the team behind them in turns or curves and help set the pace.

TEAM DOGS

Team dogs are the dogs between the swing dogs and wheel dogs,they add power to the team.

WHEEL DOGS

Wheel dogs are nearest the sled and a good wheel dog has to have a calm temperament so as not to be startled by the sled moving right behind them. Strength,steadiness and the ability to help guide the sled around tight curves make a great wheel dog.

Come to Calico

Have you ever wanted to drive your own dog team?
Come to Calico.

Have you ever wondered what the mighty Yukon River sounds like when the ice breaks in the springtime?
Come to Calico.

Have you ever wanted to build a log Cabin?
Come to Calico.

Have you ever wanted to float the Yukon River in a canoe?
Come to Calico.

Have you ever wanted to see the Northern Lights?
Come to Calico.

Have you ever wanted to work at a checkpoint for the Yukon Quest dog sled race?
Come to Calico.

Have you ever wanted to experience life in the wilderness and all it has to offer?

Come to Calico for your custom wilderness adventure vacation. Winter or summer, alone or with friends or family. Stay in your own log cabin with a view of the Yukon River. Eat fresh just picked vegetables, dine on salmon from river to table and wild game.

Your time with us can be spent just about anyway you would like from learning wilderness skills, felling large trees for cabin logs, dog mushing, skijoring, winter camping, knife making, canoeing, rock collecting and polishing, salmon fishing from a fish wheel, canoeing, hiking, gardening, or just sitting quietly on your porch and make a walking stick from diamond willow or learn how to carve a bowl from wood, it is up to you.

The list of things to do is long. If you like dogs there are 22 ready to be your friend and hiking companion.

If you think this is the get away from the everyday for you. Come to Calico.

Overdue Entry

It has been brought to my attention by my dear friend Konny from Germany that I am long overdue for another entry in my blog.

Konny is traveling in New Zealand and had just left Christchurch a few days before the devastating earthquake this past week. I am grateful she was not hurt so this entry is dedicated to her and the friends I have made on the Yukon River.

The first encounter with Konny was on the River cruise boat the Yukon Queen when Andy was a Captain, a brief one but returned in the winter to do a dog mushing trip with Andy. Konny arrived on a plane from Fairbanks with another gal Manuela from Switzerland who was here for the same reason, I said hello and goodbye as I left on the plane they flew in on.

Konny and Manuela mushed to Dawson and back to Eagle a windy and snowy trip. Konny and Manuela became great friends during that time and continued their friendship since. It was not until the following summer that I really got to know Konny and Manuela when the pair came to stay with us for 6 weeks to learn about the subsistance lifestyle.

Konny is a very warm, kind, giving person a methodical and spiritual thinker,she appears timid at times but has tons of guts for adventure travel and trying new things. During their stay we all became good friends, we laughed and cried, got mad and frustrated we did it all from Dawson to Eagle to Calico but most of all we had a blast of fun especially girls night in Dawson for Konny's birthday, still makes me smile. I will say no more on that subject!

The summer of 2009 after the flood in May, Konny was once again traveling Alaska in a camper, she took time out from her route to come to Eagle to help out. I will never forget the day she arrived with my Christmas turkey and fresh treats and I am sure she will never forget the miles of electrical wire salvage we separated, measured and recoiled one hot, hot day on Berry St. in Eagle. Our arms were screaming that evening but we had a good day, I always have a good day with my friend Konny.

Here are some of Konny's words she wrote for our web site:

“Mushing in Alaska was a dream. The only problem was, I didn’t want to do it the way travel agencies in Germany offer it. Then I met Andy and Kate during a summer trip to Alaska. And here it was: The chance to do it in a very private way, just one or two people and 20 dogs, definitely being in charge of every job that has to be done to travel and to survive! It was a life-changing experience, nothing is the same since that trip – in a very good way! And because I liked it so much, me and the Swiss girl I met to do the mushing adventure returned next summer to share peak season of harvesting and getting ready for winter. We lived and learned a lot of Subsistence Lifestyle we worked and laughed and talked with our heartful caring hosts Kate and Andy, and hiked and canoed and made bowls and, and, and….to cut the long story short, they made us feel home and part of the land and taught us love and respect for all of Mother Nature For anybody who loves Nature and wants to connect to Her Callico is the place to go and to stay! You come as strangers, you leave as friends!”

Night Sky and Northern Lights

Awesome is a word we use loosely these days, breathtaking would better describe the crystal clear nights sky of Calico.

Alaska's magic truly makes you feel what you see.

The early night was extremely calm, cold and clear, trees frozen limbs cracking in the distance the only sound. Gazing upward, the sky was holding the stars separate like oversized diamonds on charcoal velvet, tall slender spruce trees silhouette a deep cavernous black against the sky like an abstract painting.

I felt no chill in the air as I leaned against a post on the deck and heaved a contented sigh,my eyes welled up drinking in the wondrousness of it all.

A thin ribbon of green aurora appeared and grew stronger, dancing, I swear you could almost hear it laughing as it stole the canvas of the night.

Here Comes the Sun

The 20th of January every year is exciting because we get to see the sun again, marking the end of the lazy blue light of winter. It peeps over the mountain for less than a minute causing the light to refract through ice crystals making most amazing sun dogs over the river and shines brilliant through my kitchen window making my eyes squint as I stare into its face.

I feel extremely joyous at the sight but somewhere deep down inside a feeling of regret that the easy short days of winter are going to give way to the summer chores and the 24 hours of sunlight with the midnight sun.

The solar panels will be back on duty soon, it is coming fast right now we are gaining almost 7 minutes a day!

So now the time has come to start seeds for this years garden. We grow all our own vegetables and herbs for the year from Arugula to Zucchini. More to come in a future entry about our garden that we water with a pump and fire hose.

Wolf Encounters

Just when you think you are out of the woods,you're not!
I have had a few encounters with the wonderful wolves of Alaska most of them friendly.

My first one was when I was new to Alaska. It was early December the first time I was alone here at Calico for a week and feeling a little nervous. First two nights went great then on the third night it changed. Just settling into bed the dogs went wild! I sprang to the window but could see nothing the night was dark, no moon, I grabbed the large flashlight and shown it on the dog lot they were looking at the cabin. I got brave, went downstairs, pulled my coat over my nightgown and picked up the gun, flashlight still in hand.

The flashlight proved to be a mistake.

I timidly stepped outside onto the deck, pointed the light to the left, my heart stopped as a pair of green eyes peered at me, a black wolf stood right in front of me. Gun in one hand flashlight in the other made me wish I had worn a headlamp. I yelled at him, no response. I shone light in his eyes,still he showed no fear of me or the dogs. This is strange. We had a female in heat and one old dog at the time. I heard stories of wolves taking dogs of chains, pulling them right out of their collars. He had to go away! I pulled the gun up under my arm,eyes still locked on the wolf,kneeled down on the deck and slowly laid the light by my feet still shining on the black intruder,aimed over his head and shot. That made him move. I quickly got Tia who was in heat for the first time and dear old Spock into the cabin for the night and went to bed,sleep was not easy.

Next day I went out to track the wolf in the snow and felt better when it was only one,possibly a scout or a lone wolf. Only one to worry about.

Next night, same time, same event only I was ready, dogs in the cabin my gun and headlamp ready. Scared him off again. In the morning I called our friend David in Eagle on the VHF radio and asked him what I should do if I had to kill it, I had no Idea how to deal with a dead animal at that time. He gave me advice and I felt better but still did not want to shoot it, so for the next three nights I shot over his head.
At last Andy came home and wouldn't you know it, that night he did not show. I think Andy doubted me.

Next morning we were sitting in bed and having our morning tea and coffee watching the light of day appear when who should come strolling up the path to the cabin, my black wolf. Andy said, "Well that's enough Kate, he is surely stalking us" and had to go get him. I felt bad even knowing he was a threat to us and our dogs. We hate to have to kill a wolf.


Now back to the present.


Tuesday Jan. 18, 2:30 pm I went to bring in wood and saw what I thought was our dog Chisel behind the fish rack... the fish rack is full with 3000 chum salmon we hang in the fall to feed the dogs. Chum are the fall salmon,natives call them Dog salmon.
I whistled for him to come but what looked back at me was a female white wolf with a sore paw, she then limped down our trail to the river. I grabbed my coat to go see which way she went. I was running down the trail to the river, my eyes focused out over the ice when she popped out in front of me from my vegetable garden. I got a start to say the least. We just looked at each other for a moment. I yelled at her and off she went. She moved slowly up river on the dog mushing trail, stopping and looking back at me every now and then.


This lovely white wolf had her trail made around our property and like clockwork day and night she made her rounds. Her leg was hurt and hunting must have been hard for her so this was easy food. She seemed not to be afraid of me, I could walk up fairly close to her before she would move away. I wondered if she was thinking, 'just another bit closer my dear' like the witch in Hansel and Gretel.


We are used to packs of wolves going by on the river and once on the trail to Ford Lake about a half mile from our cabin I had a pack of wolves cross my path. No big deal, we do sort of live together and wolves normally stay as far away from people as possible. When one stays to long it can be a deadly problem, if we did not have dogs and puppies we might have tried to befriend and feed her but that is not the case. Wild is Wild.

Lynx

Andy home from his trapline today with a Lynx..he traps mostly Marten but today he got a Lynx. Pretty cats but full of fleas as we found out, here is that story.

One year in March he came with one just caught in the trap, he had to put it down. When he came home we took some photos with it. We had company at the time and although not eager to hold it, loved seeing it up close. He then went to his shop to skin it out before dinner. Shortly after my head felt itchy and Andy came rushing in," Kate it is full of fleas they are jumping all over it! " I tossed the rugs onto the deck ,we quickly stripped off our clothing outside in the cold air throwing them onto the deck, all the while laughing hard. Then we went to work getting fleas out of our hair...we were like primates all night, checking every little tickle. Later when we looked at the photos we took, you could see the fleas on my hair. Makes me itch just thinking about it.

Poor dogs, they were not allowed in the cabin for a long time after that, for their own good. We never saw a flea since that night and I will never get in jumping distance of one again. Lesson learned.

Can you find the flea on my hair in the photo? Let me know if you do and have a good laugh I know we did.