Note:  In Back From Icefishing Weekend at Deercamp I shared a picture of me scouting in the woods with a 45 pound ALICE pack and alluded to an upcoming adventure.  Well here it is.  The following is the first installment of a three part blog on Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans dog sledding with Outward Bound courtesy of Sierra Club.

 

Byron, our Outward Bound Instructor, said as he looked at the group of six veterans and lead instructor Kim over the camp fire, “That was the gnarliest dog sledding I’ve ever done.”  Since we hadn’t been off the gravel road more than fifty yards before the lead sled I was on careened over and nearly went in a creek I had to agree with him.  Contrary to visions of the fast-moving Iditarod, dog sledding in a mid-March warm snap over Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area portages and frozen lakes provided a real physical challenge.  Righting the sled after it tipped on tight turns and cross-country skiing over slick-as-slime ice-covered lakes while scouting a safe passage for the dogs and sleds required physical stamina. 

 

Sierra Club has graciously provided funding to Outward Bound so that Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans can take advantage of outdoor expeditions.  Backpacking, canoeing, white-water rafting, ropes courses and dog-sledding are just a few of the available activities.  Expedition and travel expenses are provided at no cost to the veteran.  The goal of the program includes, “…helping participating veterans build a supportive community with other war veterans; facilitating discussions on readjustment and transition challenges; and re-energizing and reinvigorating our veterans’ spirits with adventures and challenges in the beautiful outdoors.” 

 

Our group of OIF/OEF veterans included Victoria, Michael, Steve, Stephanie, Judy and myself.  We were from all walks of life and life experiences.  The common bond was our military backgrounds.  Immediately upon exiting the van at Outward Bound’s Minnesota Home Place near Ely we were warmly greeted by Kim and Byron.  I was immediately struck by Kim’s giant persona and would be again and again.  As we stepped back outside to receive Suellen’s, Home Place’s Director, welcome talk three deer wandered out onto the adjacent snow-covered lake.  We spent some time doing the “duffle shuffle”, transferring our gear from luggage to packs, and getting dressed appropriately.  OB sends each participant an equipment list that relies heavily on the layering principle with moisture-wicking clothing.  These items of long underwear, lighter jackets and other personal gear are provided by the participant.  Other common, less personal items such as packs, sleeping bags and down coats are provided by OB. 

 

We received some basic safety and climate briefs and a crash (literally for some of us) course in cross-country skiing.  After a warm dinner we filled our two 32-ounce Nalgene bottles with hot tap water and visited the dog yard where OB has its own pack of 50-60 dogs.  We then hiked to our home for the night, two tarps pitched in the snow in an inverted “V” with ground cloths underneath.  Then began a nightly ritual.  Place the down sleeping bag into the synthetic bag, toss in your water bottles to keep your feet warm and jump in your bag.  We were awakened to a hot drink and oatmeal breakfast around the campfire by Kim imitating a Northwood’s avian carnivore.

 

Stephanie, Steve, Judy, Michael and Kim enjoy our first breakfast around the fire.

 

After being transported to our trailhead we broke into two teams.  One team would be mushers for the day and the other would be skier/scouts.  We’d flip-flop this arrangement each day.  As the skiers got organized and took off, the mushers received lessons on packing the sleds and handling and hooking up the dogs.  These large, muscular dogs are placed in “two-wheel drive” when being taken from tie out lead to sled gang line.  This encompasses gripping them by the collar and pulling their two front feet off the ground.  It doesn’t hurt the dog, but it does allow the weaker human to guide them in the right direction.

 

Lead Instructor Kim Leads The Way

Kim Leads The Way

 

These animals love their jobs (see the dogs bring home the firewood on video).  They bark and howl as soon as they sense there is pulling work to be done.  I’m convinced that if they had thumbs they’d put their own harnesses on.  They reflexively lift their front legs up allowing you to do so.  Baldor, Buck, Savannah, Moose and Brownie pulled the lead sled.  Baldor (see Baldor on video), having been to the North Pole, was the lead team’s lead dog.  Semi-retired, now a pet, he occasionally helps out when extra dogs are needed.  Smart and statesman-like, he exhibits a calm maturity at all times.  “What’s next? Bring it on,” he seems to say and when the work is done he rests with great, unagitated diplomacy.  Strider, Hester, Hank, Chevy, Calvin and Squirt brought up the rear team.  We think she-dog Strider had a crush on mafia-brother (known for fighting) Squirt.  This caused no end of baby-sitting on our parts.  Her mind was definitely hanging out in the red-light district.

 

Baldor Taking A Break

 

Now return to the point at which the sled over turned and almost went into the creek.  After righting it we followed the skiers’ path.  This required numerous instances of having the skiers help us keep the dogs and sleds up out of the now soft ice and sometimes open waters as we navigated the banks.  The sun shone brightly, melting snow cascaded down huge boulders and the air temperature was pleasant provided we stayed busy, which we did.  Once past the treacherous points and to our first lake the skiers took off again while the dogs rested and we waited for a new safe path to be scouted out.

 

That evening we arrived in our first camp and started what would become a nightly routine.  Although jobs rotated frequently; Stephanie, Victoria and Steve often set up the shelters.  Michael and I cut found wood with the saw and then split it.  OB has learned that if students split wood with an axe on their knees they are less likely to end up with it buried in one of them so that has become standard operating procedure.  I will tell you that old backs don’t appreciate being bent over sawing and splitting wood for long lengths of time.  However, the knees probably thank the backs for no axe wounds.  Judy would lay out the campfire area including heat reflecting seats, hot drink bar, food bar and food preparation areas.  Then we’d all switch or find another task.  Michael often fed and “souped” the dogs. 
 
Our Wilderness Shelter For Three
 
Steve, Michael and Judy hang out in the kitchen.

 

OB practices Leave No Trace or LNT.  Saw dust from wood cutting, splinters and bark from splitting, old campfire coals and dog waste were all collected and buried deep in the snow to allow decomposition through as many freeze-thaw cycles as possible.  In the absence of slammers in established campsites human waste is treated the same with toilet paper being burned.  Kim made sure we knew how to properly “pooh” in the woods in a LNT fashion and properly sanitize with “poohrell” at the appropriate intervals.  Food waste is burned in the fire to the maximum extent possible.

 

That is it for Part 1.  Visit again next Monday for Part 2.

 

happy dog sledding, dv

 

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

  • Bowfishing – Preparing the Boat
  • Overhauling My Hunting Bow
  • Veteran’s Dogsled in Minnesota’s Boundary Water Canoe Area – Part 2

   

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