Hollingsworth Huskies

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This past week I decided to take my small team on a run with my sled at my house – due to the large quantities of snow we were so graciously being gifted. I would have to agree that it wasn’t the smartest choice to take a dog team by sled on only four inches of snow, buy hey, what could happen? Right?

In short – the run went flawlessly. No problems, mess ups, or injuries. I watered the dogs, and got them back into their enclosures. It kept snowing.

It snowed another two inches throughout the day so I decided to go on a second run at dusk. I mounted the sled, pulled the hook, and we were off. At this point I was expecting the dogs to be a bit more tired because of the morning’s run, so I wasn’t prepared for how fast we took the first corner. The sled tipped - and I was drug on the ground for about ten mud filled feet. As my face was meeting the non-friendly sticks and rocks on the ground – I quickly up righted the sled and jumped back onto the runners. All while running as fast as I could to not fall again.

We got onto the trail - things were going fine, and I was using the drag mat to slow the team. At about halfway through the run I decided to put up the drag mat - as it was quickly gathering snow and wasn’t needed at that time. Later in the run I put my foot down where the mat should have been and WOOSH! My foot caught on the ground (since I had put up my drag mat), and I tripped. I regained my balance, and we were off again. Tripping due to something so simple put yet another dent in my dwindling amount of confidence.

On the way back home I stopped in a field to fix some twisted lines, and as I was bending down to fix a dog - WOOSH! The dogs were gone. I lost my dog team for the very first time. For those that have lost a dog team - the following scene beholds a mixture of humor and fear. It’s almost humorous to see this terribly fast team speeding along the trail in perfect sync - with a little, lightweight sled tracking nicely behind the dogs. I quickly pursued the dogs in fear of a tangle or bad crash.

I ran for approximately a quarter mile and joyously found them at a Y in the trail - deciding where they should take their adventure next. I jumped onto the sled, caught my breath, and we made our way home.

Now I know to never let my guard – and never, ever underestimate the power of a dog team, no matter how small it may seem.

Hopefully my little mishaps and adventures brought a smile into your day – and remember that sometimes we just have those training runs that never seem to relent in the amount of precarious problems they present.