Skijoring with Tyge!
Late this afternoon (after watching the Patriots steal one from the Chargers), I got a wild hare. The weather was so perfect: 25 degrees, and a dusting of new snow . I just couldn’t stand it - time to try skijoring with Tyge again. We went out once last winter, but we’d only had Tyge for a few days and the whole thing was just too alien for him. However, it’s been over a year, he runs with Peter three or four times a week and he’s seen tons of skiers and skijorers on the Coastal Trail. Perhaps this time, Tyge would get the idea.
Well, he more than got the idea - he had a fabulous time. Peter went with us so that he could start out as a rabbit in front of us. Having a sacrificial bunny to chase is a great way to get a rookie skijoring dog going. As soon as Peter headed out, Tyge took off after him. We passed Peter and we kept right on going. It was great! We did almost two miles - which doesn’t sound like much. But for a beginning dog and a massively out-of-shape skier, that was pretty darn good. Actually, I was definitely the boat anchor. I think Tyge could have easily gone four or five miles. I on the other hand, died at two miles.
My first bouvier, Clemmie was a fabulous skijoring dog. Back in our heyday, we won a ton of races. But she and I started our declines at exactly the same time and I haven’t skijored in years. Tyge doesn’t have Clem’s burning competitive drive and phenomenal speed. But, he can go and seems to have significantly more patience than Clem. So, Tygey and I would probably never win races, but we’d have a good time and go the distance. Well, we’d go the distance, if the weak link in the team (me) could go the distance.
And just for Frankie, here are a few pictures courtesy of our team photographer - the Ski Boy!!!!
At the trail head getting ready to blast out of the starting gate. Doesn’t Tyge look fetching in his purple harness?
Zooming along the trail!
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Where else but in Alaska could you go from Mr. Classical Pianist and big reception one night to skijouring on the goregous coastal trail. What a place. What a pooch. What a woman!
I can’t imagine what word you would use to describe the shape of someone like my if you who walks and hikes for miles is MASSIVELY out of shape. Looks like you had a great time.
Yay! Tyge pics! He is quite handsome in his harness.