2007 Cascade Quest Sled Dog Race

The Cascade Quest was run completely for the first time in the 3 years I've been here. The first year there wasn't enough snow, and last year it was canceled due to too much snow, we got almost 3' over the weekend and over 8' in the week following the race. This past weekend the Cascade Quest Sled Dog Race was held in Leavenworth, WA with 12 dog teams who are trying to qualify for the Iditarod in Alaska, 6 dog teams and sporting class with 2-6 dogs. We didn't have that many teams this year that actually made it to Trinity 2- 12 dog teams, and 4- 6 dog teams. We had more support staff that teams but the pace was great and fun was had by all that came out. The weather was perfect the sun was shining and the skies were clear and the trail was fast, almost too fast in some areas of the course. This was a pleasant surprise compared to the last 2 years and records were broken, even the Malamute team with Tim set record times for them before this weekend their best time was 8 hours and this weekend he made it to Trinity in just under 6 hours and going back out even did better, just over 5+ hours.
We want to thank all of the crew the vet Ty Johnson and Scott his helper, Lois for cooking along with Mira & Anders her kids, Cricket, Tom & Emma Porter, Monte & Terry photographers who also showed up to help and take pictures of the race. Jay and Perry were making lots of miles on the trail to keep things going smoothly, but they were on snowmobiles and came to Trinity to get some rest. For more pictures go to our web album http://picasaweb.google.com/mtazz50/CascadeQuest2007
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

2007 Cascade Quest Prep @ Trinity

Well after getting the Ranger back at Trinity this week I've been doing all that I can to get ready for the sled dog teams to arrive Sat morning for the 12 dog teams and then Sat evening for the 6 dog teams, they will spend the night and leave Sun morning for the Rec center and the finish of the race.
The snow is compacting somewhat but it has been so cold that once you break the crust that is on top it just wants to fluff up. We should start seeing the vet and support crew arriving this afternoon. The sun is shining here and it is beautiful and looks like a great weekend for this race after not getting to run it the year before last because of a lack of snow, and last year it was cut short because of all of the snow we got Friday night and Sat, over 3' in just over 24 hours and for the week over 7' of new snow. The conditions are so much better this year and should make for a good race. These are a few pictures of what me and the Ranger have done with the drag on the snow.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours. Namaste'

This Week at Trinity

Well the Ranger finally returned to Trinity after totaling the transmission and getting it repaired just in time to get things ready at Trinity for this years Cascade Quest Sled Dog Race which is this weekend. The race will come through Trinity on Sat morning for the 12 dog teams and Sat evening for the 6 dog teams. I'll do my best to have things ready for them when they arrive here and it will be a busy time while they are here. It will be a couple of weeks before Elaine can make it back home and that will be so nice to get her back here but after this winter being like it has been it has been hard having her in E Wenatchee and me here so it will be wonderful for her to get back and I can't wait.
Now that it has started getting warmer the snow is starting to settle some making it easier to get around and now that the ranger is back I can lay down trails so that we can get to the setteling tank and bowling alley. Things are finally getting back like they should be and for that I'm grateful.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours.

It has been sooooo cold lately

Well this past week has been very cold with temps getting down to 0 to -1 even one day but since they had groomed last Thur night the very cold temps have made the trip in and out very quick. You have to be careful though because in some places it is very icy and so you have to use some wisdom but it is such a nice trip now much different than the last time I went out. I went to visit Elaine in E Wenatchee and she will be coming home soon and I can hardly wait. Her ankle is healing but not totally healed yet but she is using it more and she still uses the walking cast if she is going out or will be walking for periods of time. She wanted to come home today when I came back in and as much as I would have liked to bring her home today it just wouldn't have been right yet, she'd have to have ridden a snowmobile in if she would have come in today and it would have been a good trip for her too but she probably wouldn't have felt so good after getting home.

The Ranger has been in the shop and is now ready so hopefully it will be back next week just in time for the Cascade Quest Sled Dog Race next weekend and it will be very helpful to get things ready here for that, then Elaine will be able to come in and won't have to ride a snowmobile to get home and then we will all be back at Trinity where we all belong and that will definitely be a day of celebration and the first time since the day before Thanksgiving that we have all been home together, and for us another day of Thanksgiving but then every day is.

Absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder and of that I'm sure but I will be so happy once we are all under the same roof and a family once again. One thing we learned is to be sure of what you want and everything that goes with it because you can get what you want but there might be price to pay or consequences you hadn't thought about.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too. Namaste'

Crazy Weather Continues @ Trinity

The weather continues to be so very unpredictable today instead of snow it has been clear most of the day but it warmed up to 36 and now instead of getting snow it is raining. This morning I tried to see if I could go out today and only made it to the other end of the trail head parking lot before sinking in very deep snow. I had to stomp a path from the gas house to just before where they turn when grooming. It's hard to tell that they groomed at all because of all of the new snow we got after they groomed along with the strong winds but hopefully this rain will help to compact the snow making it much easier to get out on the snowmobile. I tried today but didn't get very far before having to dig out and turning around and coming back into Trinity.
The Ranger is in the shop and I found out that the transmission was completely fried along with the clutch housing was messed up the parts were ordered and should be here Thur and it might be ready as soon as Sat or the following Tues and that will sure be nice to have back in here. With all of the snow we've gotten it has made it difficult to get around Trinity right now because there isn't anyway to keep the trails cleared without the Ranger or Bob's rig being here.
Not only that but Elaine will possibly be coming home then too and that will be the best news of all. She hasn't been home since just before Thanksgiving and she broke her ankle and has been in a cast , and all of the crazy large snow dumps that just keep on coming have really made it difficult to get out to see her, I've only been out 3 times since Thanksgiving but am very glad that Elaine will be home soon with Peppy and then we will be a family again all of us at home. With all of us here then it won't matter if we get lots of snow then because we will be together and that is what counts.
This last 2 months hasn't been easy but at the same time we have learned some very valuable lessons about what is important in life, Love and being with the person you Love most no matter what is happening, and to enjoy everyday and make the most out of it. We can change the things we look at by the way we look at things. The rain has turned into very large snowflakes now so it will be interesting to see what happens now.
We found our Paradise, we hope you find yours too.

Very Unpredictable

We have really been getting lots of new snow this month already . We started off with rain and since Wed we have received over 4' of new snow. I walked out today through waist deep new powder just to clear the dish.
These are some pictures of the same house from last week and today. I tried to take the the snowmobile around the trails we had been using to get around Trinity but I was only able to go about 10' before getting buried see the photo.
Now we're expecting more snow so it's going to make it very interesting. Would be nice to see a few people that love powder to come see what we have on the ground. Yesterday I had to cut 19 trees just to get out to go to the garage but with this new snow we got I'm not going very far right now.
The main thing on our minds is getting Elaine back home to Trinity, then it can snow all it wants but with us being apart and not able to go in & out like I normally do makes it harder. Even with all of this happening we both know that this truly our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Starting off with a Bang

Well it's the 3rd of Jan '07 and the weather continues to come yesterday in the form of rain over 2" and then the snow started last night and we got another 1.35" of snow/rain mix. This has been another interesting winter and so very unpredictable.
Elaine is still recovering from her broken ankle but is doing so much better and hopefully the cast will come off very soon and she can return to Trinity along with Peppy then we will all be back together as a family should be. The holidays weren't exactly as I thought they would be but have been good still and now it just is getting everyone back home safe a sound. One good thing about all of this is that Elaine has gotten to spend lots of time with Austyn and that has definitely been good medicine for her and this absence definitely has made the heart grow fonder and has helped us to realize just what is important in our lives. Now it is just a matter of time until we all are under the same roof again.
On New Years Eve we went to Jackie & Dave's for a sledding party and Elaine even got to enjoy the tube on the slide, it was much faster going down, but we used the same tube to pull her back up the hill, we had a great time with great friends and it was a good start for the new year.
We found our Paradise, hope you finds yours.

Nashaba is 10 Today, Happy Birthday

Today is Nashaba's 10th Birthday, but he didn't get cake and ice cream, instead he had to run home from the Fish Lake Sno park along with Kaia after being gone from Trinity for 3 weeks mainly because they went out when the road was groomed but after all of the new snow couldn't get back. Right now he's been resting, eating, & drinking lots of water. He constantly looks for Elaine when he comes inside and has a hard time understanding why she isn't here. Well hopefully she will be home very soon so that things can get back to being as they should. Thanks to everyone who had a part in getting Nashaba and Kaia back home, it's much appreciated.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your too.

Happy New Year from Trinity and a Big Thank You

Well today I was able to bring Kaia & Nashaba back to Trinity after them being gone for over 3 weeks because of all of the snow that had been dumped during the the last 3 weeks of Dec.
First of allI would like to send out a big thank you to John &Carmen, Carmen's uncle Burt and Denny with Pacific Mountain Services for getting the road to Trinity groomed on Thursday I know it was not the easiest thing to do with all of the trees and the slides that had happened as a result of the snow & wind storms that happened in the last couple of weeks . It took a group effort and we will be forever grateful for helping me to get out of Trinity and to Elaine and also so I could get Kaia &Nashaba back home.
I had gotten a call earlier in the week that Craig who lives in Chiwawa Pines had the kids and had had them for about 2 weeks. After several phone calls were made, and we found out that the road was groomed that I would possibly be going out on Thur and went to see them on Friday with Elaine, it was good to to get to go there with Elaine and see the kids but since Bob didn't come over we decided not to go in until Sat so I picked up Kaia & Nashaba at 10 and they both did very well riding in the car it wasn't what they really wanted to do but they did well. We went to the garage and dug out the Ranger so that Bob could take it to the shop to be fixed and before I could get headed into Trinity The bolt that holds the trailing arm in place came out which really put things back as I had to go to Leavenworth to get it. When I got back Bob had his rig loaded and was getting ready to load my Ranger and head back across the pass. It was getting late so I left the kids tied at the garage for the night and thought about waiting until today to bring them home just because there had been so many sledders out this weekend enjoying the snow that wi could have been a very long journey in and today there were none on the trails which made it great for us coming in, we just came through some light snow from Leavenworth to Trinity. It's good to start getting everyone back home, now we just need to get Elaine and Peppy back here and we will be all together again for the first time at home since before Thanksgiving.
Many many thanks to everyone who had a part in helping to get our family back together and for helping me to get out so I could see Elaine while she is recovering from breaking her ankle, it shouldn't be long now and she'll be here where she belongs.
Cudos again to Pacific Mountain Services for opening up the road to Trinity. Thanks
We found out Paradise , hope you find yours too.

The Day after Christmas

Well it's the day after Christmas and yesterday seemed to stretch out so long, being here without Elaine, Kaia, Shaba it just didn't seem like home or much of a holiday. It was a very lonely week and it isn't because I haven't tried to get out. The snow is just too deep for me to get through on the ATV especially going up hills right now. I've spent many holidays and days alone and it has never bothered me but this time all I wanted to do was to be able to share it with Elaine, instead we were apart and have been for the majority of this holiday season and it just hasn't felt like holidays. Now I normally look at everyday as a holiday but for the first time I feel very restricted in what I've been able to do this winter. Breaking the Ranger so early in the season has made things even more difficult to get around, that and the fact that they have only groomed out to Trinity one time so far this year. That sucks real bad since they say they have a schedule and like to keep the trails close to the snowpark groomed yet leaving the further trails alone when those are the ones that most people want to go ride on. Last yr they groomed every 7-10 days and this year they have groomed out here one time and that is all. At this time there are lots of trees down from Grouse Creek on but it just doesn't take that long to remove them especially with the equipment they have to work with. Personally I'm not sure what is going with them but one thing I do know is that they don't groom what needs to be groomed and spend alot of time grooming the same things over and over limiting where people can go which isn't close to what is available here for all of the winter sports that could be happening out here.
I know that the dog sledders haven't been able to go very far on their outings because of what has and hasn't been groomed, they are less than a month away from the Cascade Quest Sled Dog race and haven't seen one team out this far this year, and yet I know they have been practicing down by Fish Lake. When it comes to who is really reaponsible for the sno-parks it seems that no one wants to take the lead, the forest service turns it over to Pacific Mountain Services and leaves it up to them and the Rec Club as to what gets groomed and when and so far it hasn't come close to being done on a schedule or anything else for that matter, but they spend alot of time doing the routes close to Fish Lake.
On Thur my friend Bob is going to start heading out this way with chainsaw and sled and is going to work his way down to Trinity. He is going to cut the trees that they say are down and go as far as he can and if it gets too late he'll go back out and then start back in the next morning so hopefully I'll get to see Elaine one way or the other this week. That is my goal. The other one is to try and find out who really has the say about the grooming out here. This time out here wouldn't have been bad if Elaine would have been here to share it with instead of being apart during all of this time, and being divided in spirit, loving being at home but at the same time wanting to be with the person I Love, Elaine. Everyday is a learning experience it's what we do with it that counts.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

It's The Day before Christmas

Well it's Sunday mornig the skies were clear last night no snow fell but the temps sure did, perfect conditions for grooming. This holiday season has not been quite like I thought it would be especially since Elaine came into my life. I thought we would be spending the time together and getting with family and friends for this time of year, instead we have only seen each other 2 times since Thanksgiving for a couple of days each. Right now the snow is too deep for me to get out on the ATV expecially when it comes to going up hills and there are plenty of those between Trinity and Fish Lake. I did hear that a couple of friends tried to get out here yesterday but they said there were too many trees down and they could only get to Grouse Creek campground which is still 18 miles away from Trinity.
Every morning I get dressed and go out to check the road to see if it has been groomed and since the snow last week that dumped about 3-4' of new snow and dropped many trees has not been groomed since the first time back on Dec 6th. They are supposed to have a schedule they keep but it seems to me that they work on keeping the trails closer to Fish Lake cleared and groomed but the more adventurous trails have been left alone and ungroomed, affecting many sledders, dog sledders and skiers that use these groomed trails. I still haven't seen or heard of Kaia & Nashaba for over 10 days and that concerns me. I know they use the groomed trails but they aren't groomed for them to get home and I still can't get to them. I'm just believing that Elaine and I will be together for Christmas and will get to make up for the time we have been apart. This is a time to be with family and friends and know that Love and Peace should be given to all we come in touch with. My desire is for the the Trinity pack to be reunited back home at Trinity.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours. Namaste'

Hard to Know what is Happening

This past week has brought more changes at Trinity, mostly more snow. It has been more difficult to get out right now because they haven't groomed out this far. Now this is part of the state sno-park system and according to the maps it is a groomed trail. On the latest update they say they groomed out here on Sat which just didn't happen. People tried to come out here and ran into many trees down on the trails. I've been going out everyday since it snowed so heavy and no groomer has been out this far, I've been trying to get out to see Elaine and right now don't know what the condition of the road is coming out here, there are a couple of slide areas I was told that people tried to come out here on Sat but could only get to snowcone because of the downed trees. So I'm confused. They have a schedule that says when they will groom but so far the only time they have been to Trinity was on Dec 6 a week after they were supposed to be here originally. Last night we got an additional 6-10" of new snow and it is still snowing at this time. I'm just looking fot the opportunity to go get the snowmobile instead of having the ATV in here right now, it would be much easier to go in and out right now and much quicker, but it would be nice to know the condition of the slide areas before trudging out that way. Everything happens for a reason and today this is another lesson learned.
We found our Paradise hope you find yours...

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Still Missing Kaia & Nashaba

Things just don't seem quite right with Kaia & Nashaba still not coming back but since it hasn't been groomed or no snowmobilers coming out this far to give them tracks to follow that are still out at the other end of the road. I haven't heard from anyone lately that they have been seen or spotted so not sure where they are, I just have to trust that they will be safe. Everything happens for a reason but it is in how we look at things that decides what we will experience. This winter has brought many new lessons to be learned but I believe the biggest lesson I have learned is that I can either choose to have Peace of mind (Love) or conflict (Fear). "If we change the way we look at the things we look at will change" and everyday that becomes more of a reality for me. Some people think we are crazy because of way they look at being out here, we see it as beautiful touched by the hand of God, perfect just as it is, yet others look at it as harsh and unforgiving something to be afraid of, yet we are all looking at the same place. In this time of being alone I know that I am not alone just not present with all of our pack, and realize how connected we really are. Elaine is getting a walking cast today so that she will be more mobile but will still be few weeks away from being able to come home and get around comfortably, the day I am looking forward to happening but must remember to live in today to get the most out of life.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your too.

Phelps Creek

This is what Phelps Creek looks like that runs under our auto bridge. It's still flowing but parts of it are freezing up . Last Thur the dam was shut down because of a snow dropping and blocking the inlet to the dam. I was on gas generator for 27 hours which is a very short time compared to what many residents of WA and OR are experiencing right now after the bad storm passed through. These were taken the day the snow stopped.
I still haven't been able to get out yet waiting for them to groom the road to Trinity, no one made it out this far this past weekend so not sure if trees are down or if there were slides between Trinity and Fish Lake the conditions were definitely ripe for slides.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours.

Many new changes @ Trinity

This week has been an interesting one to say the least. I came home on Monday evening from seeing Elaine and drove through 2-2.5' of new snow and almost white out conditions. I was just getting a handle on the trails around Trinity when another big storm moved in and in 2 days got another 3-3.5' of snow. It was snowing so hard that I could hardly see the powerplant from my house about 100yds away. The temps had been staying around 28-33 and it just dumped and then with all the new snow the plant shut down after an avalanche at the dam cut off the water supply to the powerplant. I had to dig out the gashouse door so that I could get the backup generator out and set up to power a few things here. It took about 27 hours for the water supply to get back to normal and since last night it has been running fine, more than many people in Washington & Oregon. They are still without power many places, I'm up a running. The snow finally stopped around dark last night and since Sun evening we have received about 5.5-6' of new snow. Last night the temps dropped to 10 and it was a beautiful night here. I am just waiting for the groomers to groom the road from Fish Lake to Trinity because of such deep snow and possible avalanches along the way it just isn't possible to get out to look for the kids Kaia & Nashaba or to go see Elaine, maybe tonight it wil happen. Then again if there are snowmobilers out this far today I'll know they made it past the slide areas just fine. It is beautiful today with the sun shining bright and all the snow on the trees looks like a winter wonderland and it is. To beautiful to be in here writing I've got to get out and play today. The only thing to make it a perfect day would be Elaine being here to share it with.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your too...

Concern for the Kids

Tonight I received an email from the Peggy, Nashaba's mom that brought him to Trinity 1.5 yrs ago, so that he would be safe. After reading what I had been told she was very concerned and couldn't understand why anyone would want to hurt the Kid's. Neither one of them have a mean bone in their body, Kaia loves to meet people and loves snowmobilers and hikers, but as I have mentioned she is a con too. Nashaba on the other hand looks on from the trees in all of his majesty and always watching everything that is going on. I still haven't been able to confirm what I was told at this point but am trying to learn the truth. I appreciate those that have cared for and kept them safe and just hope that the weather breaks long enough and the groomers come out so that I can go back in towards Fish Lake and bring them home. Without Elaine and now the kids being gone too it just doesn't seem right here at Trinity. I'm glad Elaine is at her Son's house and safe , now I just want to know the same for Nashaba & Kaia until I can get them back home. We found our Paradise , hope you find yours too.

Having a hard time believing

Well the snow continues to fall another 12+" overnight and with 30+" before that since Sunday night thru Tues morning. When I got home Monday evening I found out Nashaba wasn't here and heard from the owners that he was acting a little weird over the weekend. They said when they left he had been barking alot which is something he never does. They also told me they saw his tracks about 2-3 miles south of Trinity and they dissappeared. He likes to travel on groomed trails but now I've heard he's out at a friends toward Fish Lake with all of the new snow he's not able to come home. I've also heard the the groomers have been told to kill Nashaba & Kaia if they are seen. I haven't been told this personally but am trying to find out what is going on with that. Many people come out here to see them and they are Elaine & My kids out here. Kaia never meets a stranger and Shaba just watches out for her and right now with all the new snow I can't get to them and they can't get home. I hope to find out this isn't true but if it is I want to know what kind of person want to kill someone's kids. Now do they look like something that needs to be killed if that has been the order given? They might need your help too.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Back from visiting Elaine

Well I just got home last night after coming in during a white out and 30" of new powder on the way in. I was visiting Elaine in E. Wenatchee where she is recovering from a broken ankle, she's in a cast and on crutches . It snowed all night and left an additional 4-6" we now have 7' of snow on the ground.
This is Elaine with Austyn and this is the snow we got in the past 36 hours. After all the new snow now the sun is shining somewhat through the clouds. It has ben hard being seperated from Elaine while she is recovering but you know what they say" absence makes the heart grow fonder "and during this time apart it has really been true for us, it has made us closer than ever. Right now we just have to see what the weather is going to do so we will know when we can get together again. I wanted to bring in some things and so came on the ATV instead of the snowmobile which after taking the trip in would have been the wiser move. Everyday is full of lessons and it is what we do with them that counts.
We found our Paradise hope you find yours too.

More Thank You's

After not being able to get out this past week because of the dam and powerplant going down for 3 days, some more untimely snow and Bob's rig going down since last Saturday when we first came in. We got things taken care of here so that I could finally attempt to get out to go see Elaine so Friday morning I attempted to leave but was only able to make it about 1.5 miles down the road before turning back. I wasn' t thrilled but figured if it was meant to happen then a way would be provided. Well it came in the form of Eric & Michelle friends that I first met 3 winters ago when Eric came out to the Trinity TH to shoot his pistol. I thought they were shooting at my wolfdog Tiva. Well he was with Michelle this time and they had been playing and were here for a craft show at the Rec Center this past weekend. After some coffee and conversation they decided it was time to head back to get ready for Sat. I decided this would be as good a time as any to go so told them I would follow them out and use their tracks to get past the deep stuff, they had mentioned it was pretty good in so I headed out to see Elaine and arrived there Fri evening. So Thank You from both of us as you helped reunite us after a very difficult week of being apart.
I ended up staying an extra day in E Wenatchee with Elaine and Sun morning I left the house with Chris, Elaine's son and we were going to meet some of his friends to break trail for us. Lance wasn't able to get his sled off the trailer but Chris, Clayton & Billy with me headed in to Trinity trying to cut out the snow to make it easier for Bob's tracked ATV to go out. Not only that but they broke trail all the way up to the dam. We got there to a mess ice everywhere which explained why we had shut down when the temps dropped to 7-9 ovenight for 3 nights. We got it cleared and cleaned the screens. That was such a blessing and will make it so much easier to keep it cleared and maintained and that way I will feel better when I go to see Elaine while she is recovering from a broken ankle. She's got about 5 more weeks in a cast which means she can't get home right now.
Thanks to everyone that has helped us out this past week and especially to get back to see Elaine, that was the most important thing on my list. Eric, Michelle, Chris, Clayton, Billy & Bob I wouldn't have been able to do it without all of your help this past week especially getting out to Elaine and getting to the dam and setteling tank. We'll never forget it. Hope you enjoyed your time here. We found our Paradise, hope you find yours.