Frank Turner, who has raced in 23 Yukon Quests offers a camp called Muktuk Adventures to train novice and experienced mushers (dog-sled drivers). Check out his website: http://www.muktuk.com/
I learned from the master how to motivate.
Our trip started July 18, 2006. Driving to Montana, hiking up to a remote chalet in Glacier National Park where we enjoying abundant wildflowers and wildlife on Logan Pass. We met friends with defrosted steak blood dripping from my pack as a result of hiking in 100 degree temps, with no shade on the trail.
Covering almost 8,000 miles on our camp trip pulling a utility trailer my boyfriend had customized to tow all of his toys (sports gear) and food, we first ferried through the Inside Passage on the Malispina Ferry from Bellingham, WA to Juneau, Alaska for four days. Camping on the boat’s solarium deck, we duck-taping our tent to its floor and relaxed.
Flying to Glacier Bay in a four passenger LAB plane with a very young, new pilot we settled at Bartlett Cove campground in the rain forest sharing our camp with the grizzlies. The next day we were dropped off alone in a remote northern finger of the bay for our 5 day kayak, camp trip…alone. A small, but essentially overlooked piece of equipment (a paddle) by the outfitter, caused a disaster during a tumultuous storm which threatened our lives.
We continued by ferry to Haines, then drove over the arched southern rain forest highways (running out of gas just once) to the Kenai Peninsula where I actually caught a fish after a two day attempt in the pelting rain floating in our raft. Yes, it looked like bait, but it was my catch.
On to Anchorage, stopping at the spectacular Denali and interesting Fairbanks we frequently slept in bear habitat. We challenged The Top of the World road that connected us to the Klondike Highway where we camped just outside of wild Dawson City. Due to a late dinner outside our tent, were treated at midnight to an almost human dance of the undulating Northern Lights spectacular display much to our surprise as this is unusual this early in the seaons.
Just north of Whitehorse, Canada, we had the privilege of meeting Frank Turner, a winner of and 23 year participant in the “Yukon Quest”. This is a grass routes race, much more challenging than the more well known Iditarod Spending two days on his ranch we learned how he motivated, cared for his team of dogs and just why he is a consistent winner.
He explained how he achieves victory and competes in the race. He never puts up a tent for warmth in this sub-zero climate. When he stops at night he first cares for his dogs putting down hay for their warmth, mixes a hot dinner for them, then takes off their running boots and massages their bodies. Next it’s his turn. He eats, and then goes to sleep, incredibly, on top of his sleigh with no blankets, no tent. He does this for one reason – to stay tough, not to get comfortable. The incredible cold keeps him alert and doesn’t allow him to rest long.
Tough – he is. In 2005, near the end of the race he had been experiencing incredible tooth pain. When he stopped he insisted the broken tooth be pulled, without medication, not to miss out on the ribs that lie ahead at the finish line. This is the 3rd tooth he’s broken eating his main meal of granola bars on the trail.
Dogs are chosen for each year’s team with specific varying qualities and to complement the total team effort. He usually picks about four females and the remaining 10 are males. He likes to use the females as they are better at assessing the total challenge and focused, where the males have team strength. He mentioned that the female qualities make a more balance group and it is worth loosing some of the team’s power, to gain their attributes.
The teams positions and lead are rotated depending on the individual dog’s strengths and what is needed at various times during the race.
A two year old male is watched by Frank as a possible lead during the year. Many would give up on a particular dog for this position but Frank has seen a dog surprisingly blossom and come into their strength at 4 years, sometimes loss of shyness, he speculates. If he sees the dog actively pursuing the lead position, Frank would award him with it and in return, he would have satisfaction in the dog’s winning efforts.
The dogs at the kennel get to run off leash for play time when Frank chooses a small group for training rotating his selection of animals frequently and lavishes individual attention on each in a way that complements and trains a particular animal. “Play is important, it can not just be work”, he says with a smile as he rubs the neck of a dog lovingly and praises him.
Frank is the leader, the Alpha, and the group must have complete trust and respect for him to make his group work. They must feel he has their best interest at heart and a great loyalty surfaces.
Our trip ended after driving through Canada and arriving in the US counting 48 days out of the 50 living in rain. It took a toll on our spirits but the exhilarating experience of viewing so much wildlife, beauty and the lessons from the people we met along the way made for a memorable trek.
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