Hi everyone, great snow huh its like actually living in Vermont again finally. So living in Southern Vermont, Brattleboro, makes it hard to find mushers to train a new team with and hard to find team friendly trails. Has anyone heard of any one mushing in Southern Vermont or does anyone have a good training trail to recommend for a beginning team that does not know its commands yet so running is a bit risky but fun. Hope you are all doing well. Also, if anyone knows of or has an older trained gee/haw leader they could loan or lease I could use one. Thanks, Peggy

12/12/2007: Here is the latest on the TMA situation for non-snowmobilers, but first a little history. Some mushers have been experiencing difficulties purchasing a VAST TMA if they don't own a snowmobile. It seems this problem, in whole or in part, stems from the new TMA structure this year.

I have talked with Bryant Watson, the Executive Director of VAST about this. Bryant's original suggestion was for anyone looking to purchase a TMA without a snowmobile to go directly to the local club rather than attempt to purchase the TMA from a retail outlet. VAST club contacts are posted on the VAST website, start at http://vtvast.org/Clubs/Club_Overview.php and navigate from there.

Now it seems, however, that there is not a uniform VAST policy in place. VAST will be working on this, but with opening day and the holiday season almost here, it will take some time for it to happen. In the meantime, if you want to purchase a TMA try your local club. If they turn you down, Bryant's suggestion is to enjoy the trail anyway.

Please note that purchasing a TMA is not a requirement. Rather, it is a gesture of goodwill towards VAST and all that they do to develop and maintain a statewide trail system, and I believe it helps us maintain our good relationship with VAST. If you can, your local snowmobile would probably be happy if you volunteered time, even if they won't take your money.

Also, please note that anyone using VAST trails for commercial mushing, that is selling rides, should be getting written permission directly from each landowner the trail being used is on.

Please let me know if you have any further problems with TMAs and happy mushing! Red

Was wondering if anyone knew of some trails in Addison Co or souther Chittenden CO. We moved to Starksboro last winter and have been having trouble finding new trails in this area. I have been traveling to far for trails and would like to find something more local. ALso if anyone is looking for a running partner I would love to go out and explore with others. I have a rotating schedule that allows me to run on weekdays and weekends. If anyone is interested, just send an email - Thanks Elizabeth.

Next weekend; Saturday, Nov.10th and Sunday, Nov.11th is the northern states Dogs Across America event. If you are not familiar with Dogs Across America it is a dog powered relay with a ultimate goal of running a relay across the United States. In it's third year it is currently being organized on a state by state basis. I am the Vermont state coordinator for the event. If you are doing training runs with your dogs whether one or twenty dogs; on foot, scooter or rig, please consider signing up so your mileage will count toward our state total.

There will be a group of us gathering at Ricker Pond in Groton State Forest for a fun run on the rail trail there and all are welcome. We will be running there between 9:00 to 12:00 on Sunday the 11th with a pot luck lunch from 12:00 to 12:30.

Last year we had 13 participants with 68 dogs compile a total of 156 miles; the third highest in the country behind Washington and California. Lets pull together and top that this year!

In order for your mileage to count you need to do a quick sign up at: http://www.dogsacrossamerica.org
You may contact me via email: ken@peacepupsdogsledding.com
or call #802-888-7733 for further information.

Frank Hall Swivel Sled. NEVER USED. 2 stanchion full basket. 7'6" overall, basket 41.75" long. 18" track, 34.25" handlebow height, Babiche wrapped driving bow and bush bow. Original claw brake and glued-on white plastic runners. Mid-70s vintage or earlier. Email for pictures. $450 or best offer.

2/4/2007 4:25:37 AM
Hi! My name is Jerry Audet and I live in Fairfax, Vermont. I am currently a college student (Junior) at Green Mountain College. One of the great things about this school is you can spend semesters abroad through a nation wide school swap and still graduate on time! So, here I am in Anchorage, Alaska, spending a semester at Alaska Pacific University. But what's my purpose of posting here? Well, I just took a month long "course" on dog mushing in which we (8 students) stayed at a kennel with 40 dogs- sounds ridiculous I know- and have fallen in love with the lifestyle. I learned how to mush, how to fix sleds, how to care for the dogs (LOTS of experience doing that- including some basic medical experience) and all the other aspects of dog mushing (I even skijored a bit). We even got to work at the Don Bowers memorial 300 mile race, and I personally met many of the racers, and checked them all in at mile 100. I was asked back to the kennel over spring break to volunteer and help in caring for the dogs when the owner returns from the Nome Serum Run. I'm really excited! I would love to find a Kennel close to home where I could potentially work at over the summer. I would be willing to do anything- I don't even care about mushing (carting I guess in the summer) at all. I just love working with the dogs. I know that there are probably not many opportunities to actually work (as in a paying job) at kennels- but I figured this would be a place to start looking. Here in Alaska there are many opportunities to live and get paid at the bigger kennels. Even just working the weekends would be great. I would also be willing to take care of dogs when the owners go out of town. I also might be looking for a kennel to volunteer at 1-2 a week if I can not get an actual job (If I have to get a job doing something else). Hope to be a Vet. some day- this would be great experience for the resume! I can be reached here in Alaska at 907-564-8922, or via email above, or you can leave a message at my home in Vermont, and I'll get it (802-849-2072). I'll be back April 30th and could start anytime after that! Thanks- this is a pretty cool little site!

I am looking for anyone who maybe able to transport a dog from Michigan to the east. I will pay for some gas.

Hi all,
While we are all thinking EXTRA HARD about bringing on the snow this December, I am thinking more about bikejoring.

Two questions:

1. Does anyone have experience with good boots to help with running on pavement? I am considering dropping $60 on boots with vibram soles (really!) for Ceili. They have them at Onion River Sports. Because she really pulls when bikejoring, she hurts her pads if we go very far at all.

2. We have used a Springer in the past. Does anyone have experience with other models such as bikerdog, walkydog, or k9 cruiser? Some of these seem to be designed for dogs who delicately walk next to the bike (like a golden retriever). We obviously want a device that works well for a dog who pulls! I need a second dog-bicycle attachment device as my boyfriend has the Springer installed on his bike, and it is not easy to switch bikes.

Any experience or advice? Thanks!!

This was suggested to me by another musher for bikejoring and has worked well for us. We zip-tied a piece of plastic piping about 5 feet in length from the seat post out, the line attached around the seat post and runs throught the pipe and well beyond the front tire. The pipe has to be flexable enough so when your going down hill it flexes, that way your front end isn't getting pulled down and the dogs are not lifted up.

Hi Becka,

Here is a thread from Sled Dog Central about booties and gravel roads that might give you some ideas: http://www.sleddogcentral.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7435
I haven't really had any problems with my Siberian's feet from fall training. They seem to be pretty tough. I did have one dog who wore his nails down to the point where they were bleeding a bit but it wasn't an issue of the pads.

Ken

I'm strictly a recreational skijorer, my dog and I have been slowly learning for a couple of years. Thought I would mention some trails I enjoy. Strictly skijoring with one maybe two dogs and not looking for a ton of thrills. I've used Weissner Woods in Stowe off of Edson Hill Road. Nice wide groomed trails although you do run into walkers with off leash dogs. The People's Academy in Morrisville has nice trails also. I go when the cc team is not practicing. The VAST trails around Beaver Meadows are fun also. I'm always looking for new trails so any information listed here would be great. I got a second dog this year so will be adding her into the mix. Should be interesting.

Thank you for the trail suggestions. I am in the Morrisville area and will be sure to check these out this winter! I have skijored around Beaver Medows but have yet to check out Wisner Woods in Stowe. Another location you might want to try is Cricket Hill behind Lamoille Union High School. They have nice wide groomed trails and allow dogs

Reminder to all Vermont mushers. Please go to "www.dogsacrossamerica.org" and register to add miles to our state tally. I know you are all into fall training now so if you're running your dogs the weekend of November 18th and 19th the miles you run can be added to the total. It's simple, it's quick, and you're running anyways!

Feel free to email me or give me a call at #802-888-7733 for more information.

Ken

DESDC (the Down East Sled Dog Club) has a message board posting for an upcoming canicross race in Maine on May 27, 2006. (humans running while attached by a towline to their dog(s) who run in front of the human. Dogs wear a working harness--no lead attached to collars.

For more info about the race, fees, entry forms, etc. go to the organizer's site:
%3Chttp://www.mainetrackclub.com/pinelandfarms.html%3E

Canicross race website: http://www.mainetrackclub.com/pinelandfarms.html

The main race events (pun intended :-) are the 50k and 25k races--but the organizers are
including a 6k cancicross race to help introduce the sport to folks. This is a great way for "newbies" to canicross to see the sport in action, talk to experienced canicross racers, etc.

Here's an excerpt from the original posting I found on a mushing website
%3Cwww.desdc.org%3E:

"...The start time is set for 9:55am Saturday May 27th at Pineland Farms,
5 minutes before the 25K runners start. .... The entry fee is $25 before
May 13th after that it will be $35. The link below brings you to the race
web site you can print an entry form there; just add to the form that
you’re entering the 6K canicross. The entry fee includes the post race BBQ
ticket and a t-shirt." (working harnesses on the dogs, towlines to the human from the harness' tug loop at the rear)

We are selling a log home and new post %26 beam barn in Eden, VT. It has lots of snow and trails on 36+ acres. It's just one mile from the Long Trail, VAST and Nature Conservancy Land. Eden Mountain Lodge is also nearby where they have dogsledding and skijoring races. It's really a beautiful place. We're asking $479,000. Please call us at 802-635-2613 and I will email you pictures!

Anyone interested in finding new trails in Vermont? I would like to get together with other mushers looking for trails in the fifteen to thirty mile range in Vermont. I'm sure they're out there, it's just a matter of checking them out to see how runnable they are and I would prefer to go with another musher rather than alone. I have a flexible schedule and can run most any day of the week. Contact me via email at kenhaggett@pshift.com or call 802-888-7733 if interested.

Exciting news here in the Capitol City! The Onion River Nordic Club (a new group itself) is starting a weekly skijor group to take advantage of Morse Farm ski center allowing dogs on Tues %26 Wed. Although the nordic club's website advertises this as a Tuesday event, the details are actually still being worked out. (see http://www.onionrivernordic.org ) Please contact me if you are interested. If you are new to skijoring, I am trying to get a spare harness set to loan. Humans who enjoy dog training, and dogs who like to run are good candidates. I'm a beginner myself, but I'm having fun so far!

This is another request for mushers in Vermont to share trail info, good places to run, conditions etc. Not much here in Elmore yet but things may open up if we get some more snow Friday. If VAST opens on schedule there should be some good distance in this area by using the new Lamoille Rail Trail. I'll try to keep updated notes here on the conditions of this area as well as some upcoming information about staging areas around here.

Ken