Proposal on the Highland Trail

Emily and Matt with Klaus and Tuloon inbetween

The team waits patiently for the proposal

The team comes upon Neil, hidden in the woods with his camera

The mushers of Points Unknown were excited to be asked to take part in a special "adventure" with the sled dogs on the Highland Trail.

Matt planned to propose to Emily during a dog mushing adventure and we were to work out the details so Emily would be completely surprised. Was she ever! We took the couple in separate sleds up to the highest point in the area and into what we call the "Enchanted Forest" which is a portion of the trail where the fir trees covered in snow create a tunnel effect. We made a stop to rest the dogs and at the same time, I had Emily get out of the sled so that I could remedy a tangle in the team (this was an unexpected issue that worked in our favor). I told Emily that she needed to stand on the snow hook that was securely sunk into the snow pack and look forward, keeping a close eye on the dogs just in case they got excited and decided it was time to get moving. During this time, Matt walked up from the sled behind and I took over Emily's spot on the hook. They both walked to the front of the sled to visit the dogs. At the same time, Neil, stationed in the woods with a camera came out for photo ops. Yes, Emily was surprised and told me later that when Matt kept asking her to take her glove off(so he could put the ring on her finger), she told him, "no! my hands are cold!" They had a hot chocolate toast and beamed all the way back to the dog yard.

Minneapolis Examiner Article

During the past week we provided dog mushing adventures to Marie Malinowski, an outdoor writer with the Minneapolis Examiner and her husband. She wrote a very nice article about her trip.

Minneapolis Examiner Article

Loon Trail and Lake

Entry point to Loon Lake

New Trail cut to connect the wooded trails to the Loon Lake landing

Yesterday the final trail cutting was complete for the Loon Trail and Lake Adventure. This adventure will give our guests a taste of trail and lake running with the dog. It contains roughly 4 1/2 miles of wooded trails and 8 miles of lake running.

First Gunflint Lake Experience of the Season

Dog transportation down to the lake from the dog yard

Liz's team hooked down before we begin

Preparing the team and guest prior to our departure

Helen's with her straw bale passenger

Returning from the run

Linda and Team

Liz and Team

Helen and Team

Thursday, January 8th was our first Gunflint Lake Experience of the season, one week earlier than the previous year. The snow and ice have come early this year. Temps were around 10 degrees F with calm winds. The lake conditions were slow with a few slush pockets, however fewer than had existed just the day before when I shot a snowmobile track down the lake.

Our first guests on this experience were Gunflint Lodge staff members Don and Marilyn. Beginning his adventure in the sled, Don spent some time on the runners on our return trip while the musher sat in the sled and enjoyed the ride! For a first timer, Don did an excellent job and only almost dumped his passenger once.

Action Shots by Neil

Linda and Team

Linda and Team

Hailey and Team

Liz and Team

Liz and Team

Hanging Out with Clients

Leaning to the right

Even more to the right!

.....and recovery after the corner

As mentioned in an earlier post, it is necessary to lean while on the back of the sled to get around corners. This becomes more necessary and is needed on an even grander scale as the weight in the sled increases and/or the corners become more abrupt. In addition, running a freight toboggan sled can be like trying to ride on the back of a large piece of furniture! It is rigid and doesn't steer...... at all. The only way to steer the thing is by moving your body and shifting weight in the appropriate manner for the results desired. Trial and error will determine what the "appropriate manner" means.

You just may not be fully aware of how much leaning comes into play on the back of a dog sled until it is caught on film! The above photos are for all of you who may not have considered that standing on the back of the runners of a dog sled all day is not as easy as it may sound. What a wonderful work out!

In the Dog Yard

This is the Points Unknown dog yard at Gunflint Lodge. There are 30 wooden, flat top dog houses filled with straw. Additional houses are plastic igloo, barn or barrel style. Each dog has a minimum of a 7' chain. There are three pens in which dogs are rotated to stay in close contact with their kennelmates at home. A large fenced play area is in the lower portion of the dog yard for larger group of dogs to play together during days when they are not in harness. Below are just a few of the dogs in the yard.

Phoenix

Journey

Sweet Pea

Phoenix

McKenzie

Zulu

Klaus

Isis

Tukisi