Dog Sledding Season 2010-2011 Has Begun

Karin and Jon are back at the lodge, after a trip up from the Lower 48 in their new truck, and the focus now is training the dogs for sledding trips. We only have a few inches of snow, but that hasn't stopped the sled training. The dogs are doing 8-10 mile days, and by the end of next week they should be doing 15-18 milers. Our new pups, the Star Trek DS-9 litter, are all in team and looking like pros...except for Kira, who hasn't quite figured out this whole dog team thing. We're looking forward to a great year, and already have about ten multi-day trips booked. For our few blog readers out there considering a trip, let me know you read this blog and I'll give you a discounted rate. What a deal!

While on vacation we unfortunately lost our oldest dog, Picard. He had an excellent season last year, especially for a dog going on 13 years. Picard got sick for a few days, and we finally lost him about two weeks ago. Coincidentally, his retired sister Guinin in Washington State also died that same week of cancer. Picard was our perennial swing dog, a reliable back-up to whichever dog was up in lead. We'll miss him greatly.

Along with dog sled training, Karin and I are working on a number of projects in and around the lodge. Last summer we focused a lot on the grounds and upgrading some of the systems. We will be putting a lot of effort into Henry's Coffeehouse, making it not only a great place to eat and see the slide show, but also a place available for guests to hang out, play games, get online, etc. The main lodge building will undergo another season of interior work, and with luck, an addition.

Winter is also a time for us to catch up on family. We were lucky enough to visit the East Coast and family with our daughter Sera this fall. Next weekend is our grandson Taegan's fifth birthday, and all the kids and grandkids will be at the lodge for Thanksgiving. After a "quiet" holiday last year in Homer, it should be just the opposite in 2010.

As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, we wish all our friends out there a great winter.