Pack Pics.16  Winter 2012 - 2013
The first decent snowfall gave 9 inches of snow in the yard - an auspicious start for a sledding year! Thanks to a wonderful neighbor who made a snowmobile trail from my kennel to the large meadow that I go to, I got my "Next Generation Family Team" with 6 year olds Justin and Pema and their daughters Kadence and Molly (both 2 1/2 years old now) going in harness. I was delighted with how well they all did. The first pics on this page show the delight that all the dogs have with the first big snowfall. More pics on their individual pages.  Took some pics of the team's third run - in minus 10C with wind gusts up to 70 km/h! Most of the photos were taken in the more sheltered forest trails.
Maia (almost 13 yrs) and daughter Pema (6 yrs)
Maia's 11 1/2 year old daughter, Zhouma powers through the snow.
To: Pack Pics Entry page
Littermates 13 year old Drala and Sila
Anakin and powerful moving Drala
Anakin (9 1/2 years) blasting through snow.

Justin playing with Molly and Kadence

Molly heads to the tunnel at full speed...
Kadence watches the "Molly-Blur" disappear...
A second later, Molly erupts from the tunnel and the chase continues...
Best buddies - Kadence and Molly

The "Next Generation Family Team"
 Left lead: Pema, Right lead: Justin and their daughters
Left wheel: Molly and Right wheel Kadence

Leaving the big windy meadow
Typical trails we go on
My view of the dogs doesn't change much unless we stop !
Just about home... trail directly behind our property.
December 28, 2012. Run # 10.... and second run to the end of the big meadow we go to.  I don't know how far we actually go - somewhere around 7 to 8 miles round trip, but it takes a full hour of moving at a good trot and run to cover the distance.
Quick pause after turning around.  We saw a bald eagle in the meadow and lots of fresh coyote 'sign.' Our trail follows the treeline and goes close to the trees in the background before entering the forest trails again. 
< Our own private trail leading to our back gate.
In the alley to the back yard. > Dogs are still working well.
TWO TEAMS OF TWO...... Justin and his pups

My training buddy, Candice D'Appolonia, and her two Justin pups, Ahkila (x Maia) and Kain (x Pema) are getting started in harness work with their own sled and gear. Coincidently, her sled was one of the earliest that the craftsman, Irvine Wiens of 100 Mile House, made... My sled is a later version. I am working Justin and Kadence (Kain's litter sister) along with them.

The photos below are from our second run. As a Breeder and 'grandma' to the pups, I cannot be happier with how quickly they figured out what to do. Ahkila and Kain are very enthusiastic...... and work best in front of the more 'experienced' team!

< Ahkila, Kain, and Candice
Taking the lead >
At the big meadow
Making the turn back with Kadence and Justin supervising!
Home with tired Happy Dogs!
Candice with her happy and tired duo Kain (left) and Ahkila (right) turn towards Inharmony.
April 2013.   After 3 frustrating runs with my team of two, I had much more success with running the full team  of four with Candice's two youngsters. I am absolutely impressed and so proud of this young team and first time dog musher... they kept up with us in stellar fashion. Candice was able to get her team out 10 times with us.

 It was quite a winter for seeing tracks in the snow. The usual bunny, deer and coyote tracks were easy to spot  as they were very prevalent no matter what trail we chose. In addition to little critter tracks that I couldn't identify as we went by them too quickly, other tracks identified were lynx (seen three times) and cougar (on our second to last run... Pema was extremely unwilling to move towards the trees in one small meadow we were crossing.... I suspect the big cat was very close. Justin literally had to pull her along!) On our last run which was to the end of the big meadow, we saw some wolf tracks - they were clearly NOT dog tracks. It was a wonderful way to 'celebrate' a successful end to 45 runs for the Next Generation Family team.

Next Generation Family Team 2013
Left lead: Pema   Right lead: Justin
Left wheel: Molly  Right wheel: Kadence