Visit to Husky Homestead

We took a trip to Denali National Park, and spent one morning just outside the park at Jeff King's Husky Homestead.  Jeff is a four-time Iditarod champion, and Husky Homestead is his training facility where his sled dogs train for the race to Nome each year.  Here, Grayson holds one of this year's pups who will one day pull Jeff's sled in the 1,049 mile race, the 'last great race on earth'.

The entrance to Jeff's sled dog training homestead.

This pup had to know 'who was that masked man?', so she proceeded to rip my mask off.

The boys holding the next generation of Iditarod athletes.

This is Siris, who really likes to hang out on his rock.

Even the pups have a log doghouse, and running-wheel to practice on.

Jeff King describes to us how he uses a treadmill (under the black and red awning) where the entire team can run.  If you look closely, you can see the team hooked up to a four-wheeler running on the treadmill.

This is Thunder, one of his Iditarod-experienced leads.

The running wheel, a tool to let the dogs run out some of their energy.

Showing off his sled,with a rear seat he added (called the Iditarod barcalounger).

A demonstration of what a musher might have to wear on the trail.

Jeff posing with the boys.

Jeff helped hook up some of his team to an ATV so we could take a ride around the homestead, pulled along by his sled dog team.

Dino came with us, but had to stay in the car while we were on the tour, so Jeff signed a note to him, and told him he was a 'good boy'.

Being pulled along by Jeff's sled dog team.

Stopping for a water break.

Just outside the national park, there's an overlook with a view of the Nena river rapids.  On the shoreline of the river, we found this message.  Can't take credit for it (although I tried).  I guess there just happens to be someone local named Jolene whose friends put this on the beach shoreline, visible from the road.

Overlooking the Nenana River.

And I promised this Raven we would include his picture, he ate lunch with us one day in the Park. So here he is, in all his french-fry stealing glory.  Wearing my black raincoat, I think he mistook me for family.