This is the third and final part of a three part blog, OIF/OEF Veterans Dog Sled with Outward Bound.  You can find Part One here and Part Two here.

On the last day of sledding Byron took solo scouting duties, each team of three veterans took a sled and Kim gave us some free rein to safely exercise our new skills over the long final portage.  We were picked up and transported back to Home Place for the reverse duffel shuffle and equipment clean up.  There were warm showers, a warm cottage to sleep in and a homey lodge for the banquet supper and breakfast the next morning.  Suellen, based on the recommendations of team members, tried to recruit me as a veteran instructor, but as she said time was the problem.  And, time is exactly the problem.     

Memories…  Kim’s giant smile and outdoor competence.  What an extreme bowhunter she would be.  Byron toasting me with coffee and skiing like a demon.  Judy “busting some moves” while doing core-temperature-raising exercises.  The hair curls that formed around and under Stephanie’s sunglasses and her infectiously happy persona.  Victoria’s sense of humor and her oh-so-true statement that, “People choose their own paths.”  The huge billow of smoke from Steve’s solo fire.  The day Michael and I spent riding and guiding a sled together and sharing life’s conversations.  Finally, given the whole experience the hardest thing of all…………….was leaving the dogs.  Baldor curled up, sleeping.  Buck’s timidity and falling asleep standing up.  Brownie’s crazy appearance and bark.  Strider’s frustrating behavior.  Squirt’s licks.  These are all great memories.  Things I will remember forever.

Thank You goes out to Kim, Byron, our OIF/OEF veteran team, the dog teams, Outward Bound and the Sierra Club.  As a veteran, I salute you all.

Our team poses for an end-of-trip picture.  Left to right, back row; Victoria, Stephanie, Steve, Michael, Byron and Kim.  Left to right, front row; Judy, Jerry and Chevy the dog.

New words and phrases:

Foot wood – Wood put down on the snow to rest your feet on while drying your socks by the fire.

Poohrell – Slang term for a popular hand sanitizing product. 

Pot wood – Wood put down on the snow to rest a hot pot on.

Pulk – A sled pulled behind a cross country skier.

Slammer – Open pit toilet.  Usually no lid or fold down seat.

Snow mobile brake – A flat pad made from salvaged snow-mobile track drug behind the sled and stepped on by the musher to gently slow the dog team. 

Snub line – A rope drug behind the sled used to slow the dogs and sled during steep or dangerous ascents.

Souping the dogs – Giving the dogs a warm mixture of kibble and water to encourage them to hydrate.

Squirrel Bag – Individual bags filled with crackers, cheeses, pepperoni, summer sausage, Logan bread, flappers, candy and more to sustain your energy and warmth through out the day.

Squirrel Scat – A term coined by team-member Judy to describe the crushed up food bits at the bottom of a Squirrel Bag.

Tug line – Connects the sled’s gang-line to the dogs’ harnesses.

More resources:

• Watch team member Judy’s outstanding video presentation on our dog sledding adventure here.
• See dustyvarmint’s dogsledding photo album here.
• See an article from the Naval Station Great Lakes Bulletin about this adventure , below.

 Click on images, below, to see larger versions.

happy dogsledding, dv

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Coming up on Mostly Archery

• Bowfishing – Preparing the Boat
• Overhauling My Hunting Bow
• Anatomy of a Bowfishing Bow

This is part two of  a three part blog, OIF/OEF Veterans Dog Sled with Outward Bound.  You can find Part One here.

We ate very well.  Most meals were hot, convenient, one-potter, belly-fillers.  Memorable dinners included macaroni and cheese, potato chowder and pizza.  Breakfasts often included a hot or cold bar of granola, grape nuts, other cereals, mashed potatoes and powdered milk.  An egg, spinach, hash brown and sausage casserole was especially memorable.  Kim’s “donuts” made from frying English muffins in butter and covering them in powdered sugar were a very welcome warm treat.  A chocolate cake and cinnamon rolls rolled out on the back of a large aluminum scoop shovel were the crème-de-la-crème.  Both were made from scratch by Kim and cooked in a Dutch oven fueled by the fire.  As a cinnamon roll connoisseur I can tell you that those rolls rank second only to those prepared by my high school cafeteria many, many years ago.  We took no lunch breaks, rather we munched from our squirrel bags all day long to maintain energy and body temperature. 

A squirrel bag.

OB’s pre-expedition handouts said to lay off sweets, meat and caffeine.  I spent 3 weeks drinking caffeine free coffee in preparation.  That wasn’t too hard.  However, Byron had the coffee connection hooked up with a small French press – THANK YOU Byron.  As a chocoholic I took a bag of Nestle chunks that were brought out and shared at appropriate times.  Byron did the same with Starburst and Kim would bring out mini candy bars.  All good bandages for tired minds and tired bodies.  Our water came from the lakes or snow and was then boiled.  Individual Propel mixes made the hard water more palatable and encouraged me to stay hydrated.  A hot drink bar of instant Russian tea, instant Chai tea and hot cocoa were welcome respites before breakfast and dinner.

dv’s Time Out Corner – Absolutely do not confuse the powdered milk with the powdered potatoes when doctoring your coffee.  Team member Judy found this to be less than palatable.

The finer points of boiled lake water. 

Mornings developed into another routine.  The same avian carnivore would awaken us, we’d stuff packs, tear down shelters, consume breakfast, pack sleds and pulks for the day and depart.  Daily journeys varied from 2.5 miles to 6 plus miles over ice or slush covered lakes, 16-24 inches of soft snow that collapsed when you tried to ski or sled over it, bare ground patches, boulders and logs. 

A great disappointment came on the day we were transitioning from Horse Lake to Horse River.  The plan was to visit waterfalls near the Canadian border.  However, the ice on Horse River would no longer support us and the banks were not continuously navigable.  I enjoyed performing a little scouting in sometimes waste deep snow to see if a marsh emptied into the river further along our route.  It made me feel like I was back at home scouting for deer and turkeys.  A new route was planned.  Another challenge came about when the snow on a particularly steep ascent had totally melted and open water presented itself at the bottom.  Kim dug in her tool box of knowledge and safely belayed the sleds, most dogs attached, down and around the obstacles with great skill.

Belaying the sled over a bare spot with open water nearby. 

Since my return I have been asked how the female team members did considering the physical demands of the course.  My answer is that we were all equal and we performed equally.  That is the truth.  From sawing and splitting to sled-lifting and dog handling everyone helped everyone with everything.  Based on my military experience I very much prefer a gender integrated environment over a segregated one.  I prefer the balancing nature of our differing perspectives and abilities.  I told my wife before departing that I hoped my team would be a mix of men and women.  Thankfully it was.    

Although the military is generally gender integrated it isn’t always what I consider an adult environment.  In our OB wilderness environment adult, discrete behavior was the rule.  Slammers, if available, were often in very close proximity to camp.  Close enough for participation in normal conversation.  Trail business was conducted often within sight of one another.  Eyes were averted and discretion given.  Sleeping bags, regardless of gender, were next to one another.  We were a team.  It felt good to be part of this kind of team.  I am appreciative for people who want to be equal acting equal.

Part of the experience was to do a “Solo”.  We were given a saw, tarp, individual mess kit, foil package of vegetables and bratwurst sausage, package of Ramen noodles, matches and some twine.  We then picked a site off the lake map and trekked to it.  The idea is to boost confidence and provide some time for inner reflection.  Prior to this Kim made sure we received a lesson on fire-making if team members thought they needed it and a suggested configuration for the shelter including recommended knots. 

Since it was early afternoon I had enough time to cut about 1/8th cord of wood and kindling, build my shelter, practice a few laps of ice skiing, get an abdominal and push-up work out in, do a stretching routine and watch the sun go down from a small bench I made from some wood graciously donated by a beaver family.  Inadvertently I had grabbed the vegetarian foil pack so dinner turned out to be a vegetable medley with Ramen noodles and some American cheese from my squirrel bag.  Pretty tasty.  I did learn that my woods-fabricated pot hook needed to be about 18 inches long rather than the original 4 inches.  The twine connecting it to the tripod was very susceptible to licks from the flame.  Dessert was a mixture of raisins, peanuts and chocolate chunks I’d concocted from the squirrel bags and the stash of chocolate I brought – one of my favorite trail and hunting munchies.

Tripod, wood, kindling and bench.

Solo shelter. 

The next morning we returned to camp and discussed our experiences in a supportive, facilitative environment.  I want to say how much I appreciate the service of our military members who have done ground tours in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom and their families.  THANK YOU.  As for me, my shipboard experiences were rather mundane and I spend so much time in the woods that my self-reflections remained the same as always.  No new revelations came along.  It was fun, though.

That is it for Part 2.  Visit again next Monday, April 12, 2009 for Part 3.

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 3

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

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.

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

Feedback, Questions & Comments

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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