After a few weeks of working like crazy, family obligations and trips to make, Dennis and I finally had the chance to get away for a Saturday adventure. We loaded up around 6am with my three kids and his grandson, and took off for a fun-filled day outdoors.
I have a list. On my list are a number of things I’ve always wished to see and do, and most are specific to our outdoors life in Maine. My list includes learning to hunt with rifle and bow, learning to fly fish, visiting the Western Mountains and exploring the area on horseback, back country camping with just a sleeping bag – no tent or other shelter, hiking all over Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park, climbing to the peak of Mount Katahdin, paddling the Allagash River start to finish and camping on the river banks for several days along the way, developing and managing an active homestead in the woods, complete with my own fruit orchard…the list goes on and on. Somewhere very near the top of my list is taking off one weekend to stay in a cabin in the snowy mountains to enjoy some dog sledding.
Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park
I’ve seen pictures of these hidden areas of Maine that are only accessible during the winter by sled or snowmobile. I’ve always wished to be tucked away in the peace and quiet reserves of a remote area where civilization isn’t breathing down my neck. I love to walk outside a cozy cabin in the woods and hear nothing but nature surrounding me…see nothing but the walls of the forest…smell nothing but “green.”
Trail to Sandy Stream Pond, Baxter State Park
I’m slowly but surely whittling away at my list, and on the schedule this weekend was the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races in Fort Kent, Maine. The entire event is made up of 30 mile, 60 mile and 250 mile races. I wouldn’t be able to actually ride the sleds, but watching them in action was going to be a blast! It also proved to whet my appetite even more to strike out on this adventure for myself.
I knew Dennis would enjoy taking off for the day to see the sledding event, and he would be able to tell us all we needed to know about the sport. In his early thirties, he purchased his first Alaskan Husky, McKenzie (Kenzie), and started his own team for mushing. With a little time, experience and a bit of trial and error, he finally put together a great team of dogs from excellent stock including puppies from a dog he procured from Susan Butcher, the second woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1986. And the “Topgun Team” was formed.
Dennis ran the Can-Am 30 mile and 60 mile races during his sledding years. He enjoyed the sport immensely, but it wasn’t about the competition for him as much as being outdoors, enjoying sledding through the woods.
Dennis and Hunter watching the race
Dennis’s daughter, Ashley, ran a one dog race when she was eleven. They were in Lincoln, Maine and found there was a race for kids. At that time, Ashley had never even stood on the runners, but he gave her the chance to participate. She says, “Well, I didn’t fall off. So there’s that!” She did well, finished 9th out of 16 and most importantly, she had a great experience that day and enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment.
As life started taking a different path for the family, Dennis’s team of dogs was eventually sold to Steve Crone, owner of Telemark Inn Wilderness Lodge, and he began offering dog sledding adventures for families. It was exciting to Dennis when we were standing on the sidelines watching the last team of dogs take off in the 250 mile race that his friend, Steve, was on the runners. He yelled and waved as the team went breezing by.
The kids had a blast!
One of the teams we had the pleasure of seeing at Can-Am was driven by 15 year old Bailey Vitello, a musher from Massachusetts. In 2010, Bailey was the youngest musher to compete in the Can-Am 30 mile race at age twelve. Quite impressive!
Sled dog team run by the youngest participant in the race – age 15
We had a blast watching all the dogs and mushers take off on the trails. It was cold and snowing the entire day, but we were all bundled up well and were never phased by the weather.
Up and onto the long trail
We enjoyed a great snowball fight and some excellent Chinese food before leaving the downtown area to do more sightseeing for the afternoon. It was a great day! Who knows…maybe one of these days a trip to see the famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska will be on the agenda for me and this fun loving outdoorsman of mine!
Till next time…
Maine Outdoors Woman 