Alaska Dogs and Iditarod Mushers

by Mike Dillingham

  I know Christmas smiled as she said, “That is so cool. You want to come over to my house and girl talk for a while?”

  “Sure, but only for a short while, I am kind of tired,” Sunny said, as I heard them walk off towards Christmas’ doghouse.

  “Ladies.” It was Lakota. “Now get some rest, we have work to do tomorrow.”

  “Yes Uncle Lakota,” Both Sunny and Christmas said chuckling.

  I knew Lakota was laughing to himself when Nitro said, “Geez Lakota, ease up. This is not boot camp. Let the ladies have some fun. Life is just too short not to have a good time. Besides,” Nitro added, “it sounds like Sunny deserves some good times.”

  “Yeah, Nitro, you are right.” Lakota said, “Did you hear the joke about the….”

  “Wait a minute, Lakota.” It was Ugly. “I am the joke teller around here.”

  We all started to laugh and went to our doghouses to get some rest.

  I was dreaming of leading my team across the finish line when I heard Sunny's beautiful voice saying, “Rivers, wake up, I need to talk to you.” What a dream this is, I thought. I am leading my team to victory and Sunny is speaking to me at the same time. It cannot get much better than that.

  “Rivers, please wake up, I must talk to you.” Again the voice, however this time I realized this was no dream. The urgency in Sunny's voice woke me right up.

  “What is the matter, Sunny?” I asked.

  “Can we talk, Rivers?” She asked.

  “Of course Sunny, something bothering you?” I asked.

  “Yes Rivers, I am scared,” she said

  “Scared?” I said, leaping out of my doghouse. “Something in the yard?” I asked. “No, no Rivers,” she said. “I am scared of tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” I asked. “What could you possible be scared of?” We both started to walk over to the far corner of the yard so that our voices would not wake the rest of the team. I could tell from her voice that something was troubling Sunny and it would be best to give her some privacy to talk about it.

  As we walked, she told me that she had never run in a team before. She was afraid that she would fail, and the guys and Christmas, or Mike or her beloved Doctor Jim would think badly of her.

  “Why are you telling me all of this?” I asked her.

  “Because you have faced so many challenges in your life and you overcame them. You would know the answer,” she said.

  I told her that I have no single answer. I face each day as it comes and then deal with its challenges. If I succeed, great. If I fail, so what? I know that I gave it my best shot, and that is all that counts in life.

  I also told her that Mike and the team would not think badly of me if I failed. Mike especially. He would just scoop me up, give me a big body hug, and tell me I did great, even if I failed. He would know, as well as my teammates, that I tried and did the best I could. As I said, that is really all that really counts in life.

  “But my Doctor Jim wants me to run the trails like you guys and live up to my Husky heritage.” She added, “I do not know if I can do that.”

  “I know your Doctor Jim very well and I will tell you that he just wants you to be happy. Furthermore,” I said, “Doctor Jim would be proud of you whether you became the best lead dog in the world, or never ran a race and just curled up in his lap.” I continued. “Doctor Jim is giving you a chance to find your destiny. I can assure you that whether your destiny is to be great lead dog or a house dog, Doctor Jim won't care.” I added, “He only wants you to be happy. Doctor Jim is very much like Mike; he will like you no matter what you are. Unfortunately, some humans don't feel that way,” I said. “But we are lucky. Mike and Doctor Jim do.”

  “Rivers,” she asked, “will you be my friend?”

  “I am your friend.” I replied.

  “No Rivers,” she said. “I want you to be my good friend, my special friend.”

  I told her I would always be there for her, and I would always be her friend. As I spoke those words to her, I realized that I was becoming very fond of this lady dog. I wanted to protect her from all of the uncertainty she was dealing with, yet I knew she had to experience it herself so she would find her true happiness and destiny.

  This was very confusing for a simple trail running dog like me. I was thinking too much. I asked Sunny if she felt better. She said she did and we walked back to her doghouse. I told her not too worry. Things always happen for the best and just to believe in herself. She would do fine.

  “You are so courageous, Rivers.” She said as we reached her doghouse.

  “No,” I said. “You are the courageous one. Your life spirit could have given up when you were sick so often. It did not and I know it will not give up on you now. You will be a success at whatever you do. Now get some rest. I know we will have a fun day tomorrow.”

  “Thank you Rivers, my special bud,” she said

  “Goodnight Sunny.”

  Sunny On the Trails

  I got up before my teammates and went to the corner of the yard where I know the morning sun will shine on me. Mike tells me that I am looking east towards the sunrise. Sometimes he stands by my side and tells me what he sees. I can picture it all in my mind, as he talks to me and rubs my ears. It is so nice and comforting to be there and feel the warmth of the early morning sun. It makes me feel thankful for all the things given to me.

  I heard her footsteps in the fresh snow behind me, but I did not turn around. “Mornin’ Sunny, how are you?” I asked.

  “How did you know it was me, Rivers?” She asked.

  “I heard your footsteps in the snow,” I answered.

  She said nothing as she sat down beside me. After a moment of two, she asked me what I was doing. I told her I was looking at the sunrise. “But you can't see,” she said, “you are blind!’

  “True,” I replied, “but I can see it in my mind.”

  “Can you see me, in your mind?” She asked. I told her yes I could. “What do I look like to you, in your mind?” She asked this in a very soft, almost cautious manner. However, before I could answer, we heard the sound of Mike hitting the food bucket with the big spoon and singing, “Hey you sleepy heads, get your fannies out of bed. Chow time!” There is nothing like Mike singing in the morning to get your heart pumping and your legs moving. If the food were not great, Mike would be one lonely critter after singing his morning wake up song!

  As we ambled over to the chow, Sunny said, “You didn't answer my question Rivers. What do I look like in your mind's eye?”

  I chuckled as I said jokingly, “Well, that is for me to know and for you to figure out.”

  “Rivers you are so frustrating,” she sighed.

  “Yes I know but that is what friends are for, right?” I said laughingly. “You better get over to your food bowl and eat that great chow before Sandy gets out here from the house. She likes cleaning up,” I added.

  I heard Mike scoop out my chow and put it into my bowl. As I stuck my head in it to eat, I could hear my buddies eating and enjoying their kibble.

  “Hey Lakota.” It was Ugly with his morning joke. “Did you hear the one about…”? I missed the rest of it as an airplane flew overhead. I could tell from the sound that it was Doctor Jim's. I bet he was on his way up north to help the village dogs. Sunny told us that she often went with Doctor Jim on these trips.

  After chow, we played in the yard for a while and then Mike came out to harness us up. “Okay gang, this is what we are going to do,” He said. “We will make two runs today. The first one will be a short run with only five dogs. Rivers and Lakota will be in the wheel position. Christmas and Doc will be the leaders and Sunny will run as a solo team dog. This way, Sunny can get used to running with the team. We will not be going very far, a few miles or so and it will be a nice gentle pace so that we do not tire Sunny out. She is recuperating and we do not want her to get hurt.”

  Mike continued, “When we return and get the team watered, we will take another longer run with only six
dogs. Brownie and Ugly will be the leaders. Doc and Nitro will be in swing with Rivers and Lakota in the wheel. During the return trip, I will swap Lakota and Rivers in as leaders.”

  Many people think Mike is a little crazy for talking to us this way. I guess they do not realize that we understand him. By letting us know what he wants us to do, we can do our best for him. I heard that humans have a problem communicating with each other. I have always wondered why.

  “You can run lead, Rivers?” It was Sunny.

  “Yes I can, but we cannot go too fast when I do and I only run lead in an emergency or on a fun run,” was my reply.

  “But you can't see!” She exclaimed.

  “Yes, I know. You keep reminding me of that.” I said a little too curtly.

  “I am sorry Rivers, you just amaze me.” Sunny said.

  “I am sorry that I was short with you,” I said. “When I lost my sight, my hearing, sense of smell and sense of presence, or radar as Mike calls it, intensified. Also, I have my teammates. With them, I have five and sometimes six pairs of eyes.”

  I heard Mike pull the sled out of the shed and set up the lines. I know that he uses two snow hooks, one in the rear, and one in the front. Mike uses two hooks until he gets the lead dogs harnessed up and snapped into their positions. After the lead dogs are in position, Mike tells them to sit and they do. Then he harnesses the rest of the dogs in their positions with the wheel dogs harnessed last. Once Mike finishes, he pulls the front snow hook and double-checks all of our lines and snaps. After he gets on the runners, Mike pulls the rear snow hook, tells us to stand up, and then says, “Okay team. Get ready. Go!”

  I heard Lakota tell Sunny what was happening. Doc was the first one into position. Mike told Doc to sit as he slipped Doc's harness over his head. Once the harness passed Doc's head, Mike told Doc to stand up. Mike then told Doc, “Paw up.” I know that when Mike touched Doc's paw, Doc would lift it so Mike could place it through the harness opening for his front legs. I heard “Paw down.” and knew Mike would start working with Doc's other paw.

  After Doc was in harness, Mike snapped the lines to Doc's harness and collar. Mike then told Doc to sit. He did the same to each of us and saved Sunny for last.

  We all told Sunny to listen to Mike and let him get the harness on her. She did. We asked her if the harness was too tight and she said it fit perfectly. She said that Mike gave her a tummy rub, patted her head, and told her she was a good dog.

  “Well how do I look guys?” Sunny asked.

  I heard Lakota just mumble, “Lady dogs, always worrying about how they look!” and I said she looked great.

  “Rivers how would you know that?” She demanded. I heard the guys laugh as Christmas surprised us all with, “Sunny, blind dogs see things differently than we do.” You could tell Christmas was very serious by the tone in her voice.

  “Where did she get that?” Lakota asked.

  “I have no idea,” I replied

  After Mike secured Sunny into her harness Doc said, “Now Sunny, we are not going to go very fast, so you can just take it nice and easy. You can move to either the right side of the centerline or the left; whichever is more comfortable for you. Just let Rivers know if you will be running in front of him.” Doc continued. “Do not worry about falling or tripping over the lines. The trail is very nice and there should be no holes. Christmas and I will keep the lines taut so they will not get under your feet. Just find your pace and enjoy the run. There is nothing to worry about. Believe me it will come naturally to you.” Doc finished with “Does that sound okay to you, Sunny?”

  “I am very excited about this,” Sunny said. “I know I can do a good job. Thanks for being so kind and patient.”

  I knew she was very scared, but she was a gutsy lady dog and would do her best. I knew the rest of the team was watching and cheered her on. “Look at that lady dog, I bet she is lead dog material!” That was Brownie.

  Ugly added, “You go, girl.”

  Then Nitro said, “Sunny, show them what a champion looks like.” And if that were not enough, all of us started with a “Go Sunny go” chant.

  Above the chant we could hear Sandy's’ voice saying, “Hey Sunny, show these guys what a classy lady dog can do!”

  Christmas told me that there was a big broad smile on Sunny's face. She was really enjoying the encouragement.

  I heard Mike get on the runners, pull the rear snow hook, and said, “Okay team. Get ready. Go!”

  Lakota and I leaned into our harnesses and got the sled moving. Doc and Christmas pulled the lines tight as I heard our footsteps in the snow. Soon we were gliding down the trail.

  Lakota told me that Sunny was in front of him and she was doing okay. She actually was pulling and doing her part. He said she looked very strong and very sure-footed. You would never guess that this was her first time running with a sled dog team.

  Lakota said that every time Mike gave a “Haw” or “Gee” command, Sunny would watch Doc to see what he would do. Yes, experienced team dogs watch their leaders. Soon she knew that if Mike said, “Haw,” we would go to the left, or if he said “Gee,” we would go to the right. If Mike said “Straight on,” we would go straight.

  Sunny was learning very fast. Doc and Christmas kept asking her how she was doing, and she told them that she was having a lot of fun. She was really enjoying this.

  Since Sunny was not tiring out, Mike stayed on the trail a little longer than he said he would. That was fine with us. It was a beautiful day for a fun run.

  We were just easing around a bend when Mike said “Doc, gee straight.” Now that means Mike wants the leaders to make a half right turn, which will take us off the trail. We do this if there is another team coming up from behind that wants to pass us, or if we meet another team on the trail. Common trail courtesy is for each team to give the other a lot of room to pass.

  However, I could not hear this team moving. I heard Mike say, “Stop. Sit,” which means Mikes wants us to stop and sit down. We did that and I heard Mike plant the rear snow hook and get off the runners, while talking softly. Lakota told me that Mike was talking into the little box that Mike called a cell phone.

  Something did not feel right. Lakota told me that there was another 6-dog team parked on the other side of the trail, but there was no musher. Mike walked over to the dogs, but they were nervous and cowering.

  I heard a voice talking from behind this team. “What are you doing around my dogs”?

  I heard Mike reply, “Are you the musher of this team?”

  “Yeah, so what?” was the reply.

  Mike said, “Just checking to see if you need any help.”

  “Nope,” the voice said, “you can just mind your business and move on.”

  “Actually, what you are doing here is my business.” Mike said. “You are on my property. Moreover, I do not allow people who do not ask my permission to be on it. It is all posted land. Now pack it up and move it out.” Mike continued “Oh, by the way the snare traps you are putting out are illegal, and I don't want them on my property.”

  I heard the musher's voice move closer to Mike and say, ”You seem to know a lot, maybe too much for your own good.” The voice sounded very menacing.

  “You are right,” Mike said, his voice not flinching, “I do know a lot, especially about that helicopter you are hearing overhead. It is a state trooper chopper, the one I called when I saw you trespassing and setting up illegal traps. I would guess that all of those pelts you have in that sled are illegal also.”

  It was very quiet except for the chopper coming closer to us. “One more thing,” Mike said, “beating your dogs is also illegal.” I heard Mike walk over to one of the dogs on the other team. “This dog's name is Smokey Joe. I know this dog, I can see where you have beat him.”

  Lakota told me it was Smokey Joe, and he did not look like the dog we knew. He was cowering, dirty, and looked like he had been beat up a lot.

  “Smokey, this is Rivers. Is that you?” I asked. />
  “Rivers,” the dog replied, “yes it is me Smokey Joe. Be careful,” he said, ”this musher is a very bad person.”

  The chopper was directly overhead when the musher pushed Mike down and then jumped on the runners of his sled. The team would have run over Mike, but we told the team not to go. They were confused, but did not move. The musher came around to the front of the team where Smokey Joe was, but Smokey Joe jumped the musher. That gave Mike a chance to get up and hold the musher until the trooper chopper landed. Lakota told me that the musher kicked Smokey Joe in the head and Smokey went down, just before the troopers grabbed the musher.

  Lakota said that Smokey was not moving and Mike was kneeling next to him. Smokey's head was in Mike's lap and he was gently stroking Smokey's head. Doc said that Smokey opened his eyes. He looked at us and said that he was very sorry for being mean to us the last time we ran together. He said he was stupid for running away. He wished he had raced with us to Nome and honored his Husky heritage. Smokey looked up at Mike, licked his hand, and closed his eyes. Smokey was gone.

  Lakota told me that Mike took his knife out of his pocket and cut Smokey Joe out of his harness. The troopers walked up to Mike and he told the troopers that he was going to take Smokey back to our place and give him a decent burial. Mike suggested that one of the troopers drive Smokey's team up to Mike's kennel and he would find homes for the dogs. The pelts and traps were evidence, and Mike told the troopers he would be available to testify against this musher if needed.

  Christmas’ voice sounded confused and sad as she told me how Mike gently lifted Smokey Joe up off the ground, placed him in our sled basket, and covered him with a blanket. Outside of Mike's commands, the run home was very quiet and somber.

  Sunny was stunned. What had started as a fun run, turned tragic. She did not know about Smokey Joe. On the run back home, we told her about how he was a bully, picked on Old Rex and me, plus snapped at Christmas and Mike. We told Sunny that Smokey did not want to run in the big race, and how he planned to get us disqualified from it. We told Sunny that Smokey ran off and joined a wolf pack after he was dropped at a checkpoint for a phony limp. That was the last we saw of him until today.