Racer Nga Houston-Cummings is seen here racing her team of dogs up the steep Lost Nation Road in Craftsbury. Photos by Ryan Peter Anderson
CRAFTSBURY — Cold temperatures, strong winds and icy conditions could not stop the eighth annual Craftsbury True Companion Sled Dog Race from happening on Saturday.
"The colder it is, the more the dogs like to run, so they must have loved running today," said race marshall Ingrid Bauer. She is president of Green Mountain Distance Mushers, which organized Saturday's event.
The race, consisting of five divisions, was held over the Craftsbury Outdoor Center's miles of nordic ski trails. "Due to a lack of snow the trails were very hard and fast, and very challenging," said Ms. Bauer.
She has been president of the club since its conception in 1997. "Our goal is to encourage new mushers," said Ms. Bauer, whose kennel in Underhill houses 26 Siberian huskies, one border collie cross and a Burmese mountain dog.
Helping her maintain such a large operation are three interns, who also helped run Saturday's daylong event. Stacy Crosby was the race secretary and timer, Kara Edelstein brought teams to the starting line, and second-year intern Elizabeth Rankin was acting trail crew boss. She could be found out on the course, recording the racers' split times and making sure they and their dogs remained healthy.
"Elizabeth in my first second-year intern and she has become an integral part of our team," Ms. Bauer said. "Her duties include feeding and handling the dogs. She also does the dirty work that comes with the job. She is really an incredible lady."
First-year interns at Ms. Bauer's kennel are allowed to practice mushing in a tandem setup, where the intern is attached to the back of an experienced musher's sled by long straps. "This is how our interns learn exactly how to drive a team," said Ms. Bauer.
Second-year interns are given the chance to take the helm solo. "Elizabeth has already gone through her tandem training. So this year, if all goes
Ray Belanger's Husky, Bandit, watches over these dogs of his own bloodline.
right, she will be able to run her own race," Ms. Bauer said.
Running Ms. Bauer's dogs Saturday in the wilderness 30-mile division was Joe St. Marie of Underhill. He successfully completed the 30-mile race and finished tenth out of 37 competitors.
Not everyone who came to Craftsbury on Saturday was a racer or a breeder. Nordic skiers, race fans, adventurers and dog lovers all converged for a good time out in the cold northern Vermont air.
One man, Ray Belanger, traveled all the from Lowell, Massachusetts, to show his now full-grown Husky, Bandit, to his breeder, Tara Lemieux of Kazlo Kennels of Phillips, Maine.
"Tara has not seen Bandit since he was a puppy," Mr. Belanger said. "So I thought it would be nice to bring Bandit up here and bring the two together again. And at the same time I get see his relatives in action and some great racing."
Long after his race is over, this Husky still has the look of determination in his eyes.
Finishing first in the Shelburne Shipyard/G Stone Motors 60-mile race was Bob O'Hearn. Matt Carstens finished second and Christine Richardson third. Caleb Butler of Craftsbury Common finished in seventh place while Bruce Linton of Morrisville finished tenth.
In the wilderness 30-mile run Jamie Covert of Hyde Park finished first. Jocelyn Bradbury finished second and Sue Ellis finished third.
Molly Witters of Eden won the Pet Food Warehouse 15-mile four-dog race. Coming in second was Leslie Moffat, and Kim Berg came in third.
In the Evergreen specialist 15-mile skijor competition, Sally Motycka beat out Andy Bartleet.
Jim Blair, owner of the Eden Mountain Lodge, won the Union Bank eight-mile skijor division. Fran Plaisted finished second and Mike Previs of Saint Johnsbury third. Elaine Stasney, also out of Saint
Ernie Gaudes bears the icy badges of courage around his mouth and nose as he continues his noble voyage.
Johnsbury, finished fifth.
For a full list of Saturday's results visit sleddogcentral.com.
The Green Mountain Distance Mushers next event, The Eden Sap Run, is scheduled for mid-March on the trails surrounding the Eden Mountain Lodge.
