Cascade Quest Sled Dog Race 2009 @ Trinity

This weekend was the annual Cascade Quest sled dog race and we had 4 Purebred 6 dog teams, and 12 6 dog teams plus a 12 dog team that wasn't racing just a practice run. The teams started getting here around 6:15pm last night and last team arrived at 9:05pm. It took a while to get the dogs fed and settled in for the night so it wasn't real quiet for a little while after they arrived but once they got full and laying down for the night it got fairly quiet until about 4 am when someone must have been moving around and within a moment all 108 dogs outside started singing in harmony with my 3 dogs joining them for a moment. The dogs outside continued singing until they finally restarted the last leg of the race at 8:30 am.
This was the largest group of 6 dog teams in the last 5 years that I have been here for the Cascade Quest. This year we had a completely new crew here except for us and Dr Ty Johnson the Trinity vet not only for the race but also for my dogs and cat also. It's nice having a vet that makes house calls to Trinity and this year he brought his daughter Haile who is 8.
Haile got to meet Emma Porter a first time musher to Trinity who made here first snow run, night run, & overnight run all in one race, but she isn't new to Trinity. For the last 4 years she has come up here as part of the crew here during the races with her dad Tom. This year Tom ran the sporting class team race while Emma ran the 6 dog staged race.
This year the trail was fairly fast due to the conditions we have had the last 3 weeks with very cold nights and warmer days so we were expecting some of the times records to fall this year. We had a great time, had many returning mushers and dogs some with different teams and owners along with some new mushers to this class race who did very well. Not sure how things finished today at the Rec club but should know in the next couple of days. If you haven't had the chance to witness the superb atheletes in action you should check it out. Once the mushers start putting the harness and booties on the dogs the switch goes on and the dogs are ready to run, it's a beautiful thing to watch.

Now even though we had all of those dogs here the only ones that didn't enjoy it were Peace, Bear & Lillie because they were put on house arrest and lockdown while all of the other dogs were here, just didn't need them wanting to play with all of the tied up dogs, it wouldn't have been a pretty site.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too. Peace

Ice Formations upstream Phelps Creek

Yesterday morning when we went for our morning hike we headed upstream on Phelps Creek and found it to be colder that heading downstream towards the Chiwawa River. It's quite easy to get there now because the alder is buried under the hardpack snow and there are ice bridges everywhere, some cover the creek completely. Peace, Bear & Lillie love getting out and hunting, following scents to every tree the find, and playing chase and having fun.
I'm also curious about the forecast we have been having for this week, I keep seeing fog forecast but we haven't seen fog or anythig else but beautiful blue skies with a few clouds on occasion. It has been about 4-8 degrees colder than being forecast for the nights which is causing moisture to be pulled from the snow and beautiful hoar frost on the surface of the snow, to me it looks like beautiful snow feathers some alsmost 3/4" tall and the dogs love to eat it as they are walking & playing. It looks like the cold temps will get colder through the weekend with Sunday down to possible -2. When hiking around we hardly leave footprints even in the hoar frost. It's been great to be able to go any direction we want each day without fear of post holing or the snow dropping out from under your feet, no need for snowshoesbut some good ice cleats don't hurt.

The water temp of Phelps Creek usually stays between 42& 47 year round until we get into single digit temps, upstream is not as open as downstream therefore it stays colder because of mountains on both sides, not as much sunlight reaches it at this time of year and it is why we are seeing the great ice formations in the creek, I think they are beautiful, hope you like them too.

I am really enjoying having the snow set up so well so early in the winter and I've been taking advantage if it and using it as part of the rehab on my knee. I go walking everyday with the dogs to exercise and keep my knees stronger, it's just very confining when it is so deep and POW with no bottom makes it much more dangerous, you never know if it will hold you or not. Becasue the snow looks like big white pillows and is uneven it makes for good therapy, helping me to strengthen both knees, up & down, crossing creeks, side hilling to get some places and inclines that challenge me without being so dangerous, each day we do a little more. Every morning we go out for a 1.5-2 hour walk and exploration, checking out places to ski and snowmobile that aren't usually accessible and then come in for brunch, which also helps the healing I normally don't eat but once a day. After brunch and a slight rest we head out again for another hour or so, everytime heading a different direction, I'm finding it to be great therapy and fun at the same time.

If you like being outdoors and hiking this is the time to get out and enjoy it, no snowshoes necessary, pack a snack and water and a good walking stick of choice and get out and enjoy. For those that like winter camping there are plenty of snowpits readily available from treewells and fallen trees that will protect you and give you a warm place to sleep.
No need for trails since you can literally walk anywere you want without having alders and vine maple everywhere to hinder you. Jump on your sled, grab your dogs or friends and get outside and enjoy this beautiful winter weather, it'll do you some good.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too. Peace

Exploring with Ivan on Snowmobiles

This winter I've been taking it easy letting my knee heal after surgery in August, all I've done as far as riding has been the tracked ATV just to keep the snow packed down and making it easier to get around. After the snow settling down and becoming hard packed and I do mean hard, I've been walking with the dogs and checking out places to ride that usually aren't accessable this early in the year, checking out ski runs and places to snowmobile that no one ever rides through the trees.
Today my friend Ivan came out to ride with me and just have some fun in the snow before he heads to Jackson Hole and then on a cruise. We rode down to the horse camp and Phelps Creek campground riding through the trees getting off the trails and making our own way and exploring some new ski runs that need to be named. We found many places on both sides of the river to ride and play lots of mid sized jumps and getting to ride along the river was a great feeling. The dogs had a great time chasing us and hunting anything that moved or the scents left by the martens and other critters we all got some good exercise. The morning started rather cold 14 degrees and Ivan got here at around 9:15 after a chilly 30 minutes ride out here, we had some coffee and caught up some but we had to get out in the snow and all. We headed out to the campground to look at some ski areas that need to be skied and enjoyed, we just need about12" of POW th really make it nice riding.


The places we went in the summer aren't accessable because of all of the mountain alder everywhere but now the snow is just deep enough to hold it down and the snow is hard enough it won't pop up and hit you, and we had 3-4 X's as much area as in other previous years to ride and the nice thing is you can't get stuck, it's a great feeling, and allows you to be more daring, it was wonderful and so much fun. With the 20 degree temp swings everyday into the teens at night and up to mid 30's to 40 during the day also cause some of the biggest snow feathers I've ever seen and each day the become larger, when you walk across them you hardly leave tracks across it. Today was a wonderful with a great friend & adopted family member and even though I will feel it tomorrow it was worth every little ache or pain, it was a big part of the healing process, being outdoors surrounded by the natural beauty all around is very magical.

We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too. Peace

Hiking up James Creek

Today started out foggy here in the valley, but you could see blue skies above, so I knew it was going to be a nice day for a hike with the dogs. Yesterday we walked down the Chiwawa River snowbanks to the Phelps Creek campground, the snow is hardpacked enough you don't need snowshoes or have to worry about punching through and post holing. These are the conditions usually not seen until late Mar, early April after the snow basically has stopped falling but before the melt out. It's the time to go snowmobiling and not have to worry about getting stuck, you can go up hills and all normally impassable because the snow snow is so soft and deep POW.
Once we stared out we walked up the river until we found an area to cross on snow, not a downed tree and then we walked as far up the west side of the river as far as we could without going up the mountain just yet. The dogs had a great time chasing snowshoe hares, squirrels, and the martens across the snow. Since last Easter when some friends and I hiked up there in white out conditions so they could ski while walking the ridge above the creek and looking down on the creek I've wanted to hike it. It is almost impossible in the summer because of the mountain alder being so thick only deer and small creatures and my dogs can get around through it, I haven't tried but know those that have to their painful regret.


Today was perfect but almost dangerous, it was 18 when we started out, the hoar frost looked like diamonds, you could see how high the river had been running because of the mud on the ice & snowbanks, and the alder were buried and held down by the hard packed snow that is almost ice due to wet snow and rain last week and the 20 degree temp swings each day, warming to 40 and down to 18-20 overnight. I didn't have to worry though I had my ice traction studs on , they are great best I've had or needed being here. Today though we walked up the creek from the bottom up either walking beside or right up the middle on the snowpack. We found several small snow sides not big but slides none the less and because they are basically frozen now made nice stairs for climbing up once we got to the bottom of the waterfall, the dogs and I investigated as much as felt safe. We actually were standing right below where Grant, Ivan & I took a breather last year just before they skied down, one of the slides was at 3 Dog Run which we named last year after the dogs took off and ran to the bottom and back up again. These are just a few of the photos to show how gorgeous it was there today, you can see more on the web album online. Today's hike was a blast temp was 25 when we returned 2 hours later, the snow was just starting to get soft enough to see where we had been. The only thing that would have made today better would have been to have someone to share it with.

We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too. Peace

Old Friends Remembered

The snow here is very firm with 23 degrees, you can basically goo anywhere because the snow is compact, more like springtime conditions than what you would normally expect for mid-January. No new snow and lots of sunshine and plenty of early morning Alpenglow.
I often get asked about the wolves I shared Trinity with for a couple of years, so here are some photos of Kaia & Nashaba, thanks Ted and everyone else.
This is the time to get outside and enjoy what snow we have. Peace

Are You Kidding Me !!!

I normally keep a pretty close eye on several different forecast to get a good idea of what the weather is supposed to do, but then I also watch what is going on around here at the same time. The forecaster's missed this by a mile, it was supposed to be in the mid 20's last night, instead it stayed above 40 all night with crazy winds some over 30 mph. It has made the snow very slick and glazed, from firm to soft and we are now below 4' on the gauge. The road here was groomed last night and if it had gotten as cold as forecast would have set it up nice, since it is so warm I don't even want to go out walking around much due to severe risk of post holing which is something I prefer to avoid, evenn the dogs are having difficulty with keeping their footing and sliding around, it is funny though. In just over a month we have gone from lows of -9 to now highs of 49, making it very hard on the water supply for summer. Like I've said the macro-climate here at Trinity is so very different from anything you will find in this area, Fish lake is at 36 with 1mph winds and Steven's Pass it's 32, yet it feels like I went to sleep and woke up and it's late April the snow is dirty with debris fom the trees, the snow is melting due to the strong winds and if you are walking in this snow wear snowshoes or sink, the advantage is I can go just about anywhere on my snowmobile and not have to worry about getting stuck in bottomless POW. If this keeps up we will not have any snowpack by the time April gets here which reminds me of the first winter I was here, I hope we don't have a repeat. This continues to be a crazy winter and everything that normally takes 5-6 months to happen here has now happened in one month.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too. Peace

Beautiful Day @ Trinity

Today was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and the snow was firm but not frozen like it was yesterday, and for the first time we could get to the foot bridge without punching through post holing. Now that the temps have gotten warmer the ice dams are melting somewhat revealing the creek a little more everyday. The dogs love it too, they can go anywhere they want which means they can hunt without having to snowplow to get to the smells and have fun playing in the snow without getting wet. Bear found something he liked in the snow by the foot bridge digging as deep as half of his body as you can see in the photo of him, Lillie likes to belly slide on the snow, Peace was out hunting somewhere else. I was able to drag around Trinity and even started getting things ready for the sled dog races that will be happening in the next few weeks, it's called the Cascade Quest. With all of the snow we have had I haven't been able to keep it knocked down and with the rains the snow is like Big pillows of snow, not very even and so it will take some work to get it ready for the dog teams. I hadn't been out there very long and the temp was hovering around 32 so that it was firm but still soft enough for the drag to cut the snow down some without being so hard it does nothing. That only lasted about 45 minutes and then it warmed up and got very soft so that I went from barely making a mark to cutting a 10" trough, so I decided it would be better to stop before I messed up what I had done already. The rest of the day we kept an eye out for any sledder's that might make it out this far but so I could find out what the road south of here was like, probably not passable due to slides and possible downed trees. There is always tomorrow and with the warming trend expected this week I'll only be able to drag early in the mornings and only if it drops below 30 at night. We'll just have to see what happens and hope they groom this week all the way out here then for sure friends can come in to visit without difficulty. All in all today was a beautiful day and the dogs had a blast gettting to go places thaty haven't been able to for a while. The marten has been around here causing Peace to go a little nuts, once she winds something she wants to find it no matter how far away it is or where it has gone. I believe Peace would be great at an extreme obsticle course the way
she, Bear & Lillie travel through the woods, they are all bushwackers, I don't think she would find a closed course very challenging, especially since she uses downed trees as bridges and highways through the woods, deer trails, the creek and river to get around in the brush, and she just loves to run, not bad for a Lab/Rott/St.Bernard mix but she has the heart and soul of the wolves I've had, she just stays closer to home. Well that will be someting else to write about another day. The snow and rain is gone but the winds are picking up getting stronger keeping the wind chimes singing their songs which I love to hear, but it also knocks the snow down compacting it even more.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too. Peace

Icicles a Favorite Toy

Most of us are thrilled when we see big icicles hanging off of buildings and windows and all but my dogs could care less when they are hanging around here, but once they fall it's a different story. They can not go outside without grabbing one before coming back inside which is OK but can be a surprise if you happen to be walking in your socks sometimes.
Today it started out snowing around 8 and we had friends coming out to visit and they were leaving the snow-park @ 9:30. They got here around 11 and were soaked because it had been raining Fish Lake and half of the way in here but the whole time they were here it snowed about 3" in about 5 hours but that turned into rain within 20 minutes after Ivan & Sam left. We had a great visit and they brought in some needed supplies of ice cream, 1/2n1/2, & milk.
With these warming temps and now the rain all of the snow that has been piling up on the roofs is starting to slide off & building up around the houses which is helping to insulate things but most of all there are icicles everywhere and not one time can any of the dogs go out or come in without picking up one to fight over. It's another of the many things they do to entertain me everyday. If you haven't met Peace, Bear & Lillie in dog you are missing out, even though at times it seems chaotic with them they each have very definite dogalities and are a pleasure to be around. They have never met a stranger either 2 or 4 legged and they are my best friends. It's such fun to watch them playing in the snow, playing keep away or tag using a branch that has fallen, it just doesn't matter to them. After spending $100's on toys for them the ones they like best usually can be found on the ground while they are out playing, keep it simple is even true for them.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too. Peace

Meet Gizmo the Cat

This is Gizmo the Cat he's lived here at Trinity with me almost 4 years, the longest of any animals that have lived here with me. Since most of the photos I take are when we go walking and include the dogs I was asked why I never had photos of Gizmo so here they are. The top photo is when Gizmo met Sadie thePine Marten who came up on the porch one morning looking for something to eat. The next one is of Gizmo in his favorite place to sleep and look outside the window to see what is out there. The bottom photo is where he was thinking about attacking Bear or possibly looking for a place to lay down with them. Gizmo is not like most cats in that he isn't afraid of the snow and if we go outside he usually follows to see what the dogs are doing. Gizmo si also a pretty good hunter until it comes to mice and he would rather play with them and then let them go but not until the damage has been done & I find them a few days later. I'll try to do better to show all of the animals including Gizmo in future post.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your too.

7 Degree Morning

Good Morning it's a beautiful day at Trinity crisp and clear outside with beautiful blue skies. These photos are of Buck Mountain & Fortress (Massie Ridge) and you can see they are beautiful with the sun hitting them and the blue skies behind. The one thing about living here is that the landscape changes constantly at this time of year but seeing it like this is best.
Took the dogs out for their early morning run and after taking care of business was just checking how well the snow had packed where I had dragged it was very nice and firm, in the snow drifts I spotted the Marten's tracks going from my house to next door, it didn't take long for Peace to pick it up with her famous nose, and she blindly jumped into the snowbank plowing through it looking for him. She is very amazing, the slightest scent and she gets into hunt mode instantly, to her it doesn't matter that she often disappears when jumping into snowbanks like that but it doesn't matter to her, it's all about the chase. I might have to start a wilderness obsticle course because all of thses guys are bushwackers for sure and they know how to use everything in the terrain to get around it is amazing to watch.
For those of you sledders that wait for beautiful conditions for your rides, you couldn't ask for any better, than what we have today, so get on that sled and ride but be careful, if you get off the trail don't let off the POWer in the POWder or you will be digging out. Go out and have some fun in the woods.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too. Peace

Sno-jammer's New Year's Day Visit

I first met some these sledder's last year on N Y eve they had made it out here through almost twice as much snow as we have here now, only a few of the group that started out here made it. They ended up helping me find a person that tried to come in here when they had no business with the conditions as they were. From that initial meeting last year I made some good friends that have come to my rescue or helped me out several times, along with coming up everytime they come up to sled, especially Spero & Kristyn owner's of Wildfun Powersports in Lakewood. We have built a nice friendship around sledding and them coming here to show people Trinity and the powerhouse and whatever is possible to get to.
I knew they were coming here this week and made arrangements for them to bring a few things in for me when they came this direction and found out they were coming today but I didn't know just how many were coming. I went out early to drag around here to get some of the snow snow packed as well as I could and was just finishing up when I had Glenn open the door to the powerhouse, he said
he had the first group but I was surprised to see just how many made the trip out to Trinity. They mentioned having about 60 people staying at 1000Trails and today 3/4 of them were out here, it was a sight to see and a very welcomed visit. It's things like this and meeting sledder's that have formed many of the friendships I have today. I shoed them around the powerhouse and they ate lunch and just had a good time, did have a few that became casualties of the Bottomless POW here getting stuck especially trying to help me out by opening up places I haven't been able to drag or pack lately, now I probably can now and will try tomorrow. It's these visits and friendships that I value everyday, you just never know who you might meet so always be nice to them, even though caretaker's at Trinity have had a bad name that isn't the case now.
Everyday I'm grateful for the friends I've made since living here, it's one of the things that makes Trinity so very special. Thanks guy for you help and your visit, hppe you enjoyed it as much as we did... Have a wonderful year.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too. Peace everyone!

It's a New Year start it out Right

Today is the first day of 2009, a new begining if we choose or we can continue to hang on to last year and all that has happened, in the past. Myself I like the fact that everyday is a new day and what happeded yesterday is in the past, so I leave it there and each day is all we really have, to make the most of it. One of the things I love about living here is the pace, I've learned to slow down which for me makes life much more enjoyable and full. I get to take in the wonderful beauty that surrounds us here and it is so peaceful. The snow continues to fall turning everything white making it beautiful fun to get out in at the same time it can be very dangerous for those that get in a hurry ant not heed the warnings. Just like in life we can get n such a hurry that we don't listen to the warning and end up paying a price I know I have. I have enjoyed not having to go anywhere and taking care of the things here to be able to get around and all have kept me busy for sure but I have learned to not rush through it but instead to take my time and it's worked much better for me. My hope is that each one of you find that place you can go and take time to enjoy every moment you have making the best of any situation, you deserve it and you control it. If you love the snow as much as I do get out and enjoy it, being safe, sharing love and peace in all you do, it will make you happier & healthier for sure.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

They Groomed to Trinity

For all of you snowmobilers who have waited to ride out to Trinity because it hadn't been groomed can now take the ride you've been waiting to make, they groomed all the way out last night. There is probably 10-12" of new snow on top of the grooming but that just makes it more fun. For those that aren't used to riding in very dry Pow I would suggest staying on the road, you can get stuck very easily, Power is your friend and most of all enjoy the ride.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

New Year's Eve @ Trinity 2008

Well it seems 2008 is trying hard to go out with a Bang, well maybe not a bang but lots of snow. Even though we just started getting snow that stayed on Dec 11th which is very late for Trinity it's been trying hard to catch up since then. Last night we got another 10.25" of POW but it was windblown. We've finally started seeing some snowmobilers making it up here after Christmas and even though they haven't groomed out here yet people are still making it out here, just having to break new trails each day and avoiding a few downed trees, they still love to get out and ride. We've had a few friends come visit and are looking for more the rest of the holiday weekend, actually some we just met last year that jumped in to help someone they didn't know when someone got lost on the way here and at the time we had almost 10' of snow with over 6' of new since they had groomed last which made it very challenging to say the least. It will be nice seeing them again this year. The last couple of days we have some very strong winds blowing the snow to whiteout conditions worse than anything I ever have seen here but it doesn't even phase the dogs, they just want to play as the photos show. Phelps Creek is almost completely covered in 3-4' of ice & snow this year already and we only have almost 5' on our gauge because of settling.
This is the time of year that most people make new resolutions that sound good but they never really plan to keep them it seems, I just plan to make each day the best that I can, to share Love & Peace with all I come in contact with, it makes my life better, an adventure in the making.

I hope each and everyone of you have a great celebration knowing that everyday is a new day and doesn't have to be controlled by past events because they are over, future events aren't here so enjoy today making it the best you can because it is all you have.
Peace, Lillie, Bear Love, Gizmo the Cat, and I wish you all the very best life has to offer. Take the time to enjoy the moment not be so rushed you pass your blessings by.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

From POWder to WET Snow

This morning when we got up we had 17.5" of very wet snow on top of all fothe very dry Pow we've been getting for the last couple of weeks. To be very honest it should make it easier to pack being as wet as it is and what is even crazier is the fact that since Dec 10 yesterday & last night were the warmest temps we have had by almost 25 degrees. I mentioned that I had my first snowmobile visitors yesterday and they told me they had to work to get here through the deep POW but that it was fun, they also told me that towards Fish Lake it was raining part of the way here then they got into the snow the closer to Trinity the got. Last night the owners came in around 11pm and at that time it was still over 30 and snowing but very wet snow, the wet snow started to slide off the roofs leaving lots of very wet snow between the houses and when it fell it rattled both houses, they said it rained the first 14 miles in or so, then the snow started. Getting wet snow has some advantages in that it packs nicely but if it is too wet then it makes snowballs when dragging and if it freezes like that makes it hard to get around but it's better than lots of very deep POW that has no bottom, this might make a nice base and much easier to get around. One comment that has been made by everyone that has made it to Trinity the last 2 days have all made the same comment when they got here, "There isn't enough snow are we sure we're at Trinnity" because normally by this time of year we have to step down to our porches but right now we are still climbing stairs might just be 4 or 5 steps but that is alot last year we had 250" of snow just in Dec and this year just a little over 90" at the same time. It's nice to come out of the deep freeze we were in and yet Wenatchee & Leavenworth have actually been colder the last few days than it has been here which is definitely different. Everyone that has a tractor and snowblower are working overtime just trying to clear driveways even Don the man that keeps our drive cleared at the garage has been working all day and was still at it when the owners arrived at the gargage. It seems the snow is starting to slack off which means it's a good time for me to go and drag the trails and paths I try to keep open all winter making it much easier to get in & out not only for me but the dogs too. Well hope all are recovering from the snow & rain and haven't let it ruin your holidays, it is things like this that make it easy to stay in today because it is all we really have, make the best of it always. Peace
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.