Laughing Eyes Kennel Journal

Ze Kat in Da Hat's B-day Wishes...

2011-08-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

"The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house All that cold, cold, wet day."
-Dr. Seuss

It's amazing what ya pick up as a kid, small things that last forever. There's one phrase that stands out from my childhood more than any other, "Excuses are for losers." Our coach at St. A's was speaking to a church crowd at my buddy's funeral. Micheal B. was never given much of a chance to live a long life but he made the best of the days that he had on this earth. He didn't whine about his problems, or his neighbor's faults or how he deserved more, more, more...
He just lived life with a smile on his face and positive energy in his heart. Today I celebrate surviving another year inside the madhouse of my very own memories. This journey has been amazing, harrowing, disastrous, heavenly, humbling... Growing up in Evanston, Il. was many, many moons ago- far from the vast, mysterious rugged world of the North, of Alaska and the Yukon.

It wasn't the easiest childhood but we sure had tons of fun, when we were allowed to. My dad had this habit of doing yard/house work on holidays, guess it's always good to put in a decent day's labor if ya hope to ever celebrate properly. Til this very morning, I seek to be productive on a daily basis. Not because I want to have a 'job' but working feels great most of the time, so much so, that it feels like play. Caring for dozens of beautiful beasts may be a bit strenuous on the legs, back and forearms. Lugging two 5 gallon buckets full of food, water or poop several times each day may be a bit monotonous at times yet there's a beauty one senses in tending to their garden of 'fiesty furballs'. All it takes is a lick on the cheek... or listening to the sounds of excessive burping after the pooches have had a nice home cooked meal of Arctic char mixed with Redpaw's fine kibble. The chorus of howling 20 minutes later echoes off the mountains just across Annie lake. Life is good, a new moment has been born... Dawgs just want to Play...

"Get off the road!" Any kid who was involved with Troop #31, our boy scout troop at St. A's, would know where those words came from... my father's mouth. It would usually be yelled at us as we walked single file back to our campsite which was a mile or so away. It was pitch dark out, we were at summer camp Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan up in northern Wisconsin. Mike, Steve, Tim, myself and others were known as 'grubby scouts'- much like the kids in the movie "Stand by Me". Yeah, we had flashlights but were always told to turn them off, til this day I always prefer to run with a dog team in the dark of the night. (as long as I am already familiar with the trail) There's a certain coziness to it, being one with Nature.

I had to laugh a few years ago when I was given a 2 hour penalty for being 'on' the road coming into Central. My pa had just died the previous year, just a week before the Quest was to begin. I might have 'lost' that race by 4 minutes but Annie and the rest of the crew will always be champs to me. Not for what we have achieved over any lil' old 1,000 miles of competition but the experiences we have enjoyed over a lifetime. My dad is still probably chuckling to himself, 'I told you to stay off the road son.'
"I know dad, I know..."

Next year's Yukon Quest will be the 20th 1,000 mile race Laughing Eyes kennel has participated in since the year 2000. That year Aliy Zirkle won the race, her smile and positive attitude have been great for the world of Dogmushing. That 1st year Aliy came up to me at a tent we were sharing with Jack Berry while resting at Angel Creek. "So who are you?, she inquired. Ya know what? I still am asking that very ? til this very day. I ain't exactly normal, I think we've all figured that one out by now. "Winning" isn't my goal in life either. If you are one of those folks who wants to cheer only for the champ, I suggest you look in a different direction. It really hurt to be called a 'cheater' that year during the Quest. When we're out there training or racing all I am ever focused on is being a Dogman; seeking to honor the ways of old. Only a fool would think otherwise- how else does one explain how a simple-minded, somewhat shy cityboy has evolved into this crazy wilderness character now owned by the Spirit of the Greatland?

How many times do you feed your dogs each day? A few years ago I asked this ? to my friend John while visiting his place up in Kotzebue. "Whenever they need it Hugh, the more time you spend in the dogyard the better, right?" 2011 Iditarod Champion John Baker has shared many thoughts with me over the years. His Uncle Louie, cousins Darrin, Robert and Joe Garnie are amazing eskimos, gifted mushers as well. Often our conversations come from observation, listening, watching, seeking to learn. Sometimes in life it may be smart to speak up but in the wilderness keeping quiet has its advantages. Lord knows I can be as flamboyant as the best of them but those who really know me realize that I'm a hermit at Heart.
From the moment I returned from our spring school tour in early June I have met with but a handful of humans. Dawgs are my life, my love, my world...

"People think I'm famous and rich, if they only knew I was just cheap and lazy." Growing up what guy never fantasized about being an actor, the next Clint Eastwood or Bill Murray? Then ya think to yourself why not just be the real deal? Me.

I love Alaska, I love dogs... we're heading north... and what an epic journey it has been. Most folks probably would have retired after all that we have been through. Me? Well, we've just begun... The last few weeks I've been reading a book about my dog mushing hero. The novel is called 'Champion of Alaskan Huskies'- Joe Redington certainly was in so many ways. Not by his race successes but by his manhood as a true Alaskan, by what he accomplished on a yearly basis through determination, grit and desire. Joe didn't start racing til he was 56 and participated for decades in the sport- Now there's a goal to chase after.
I might still shop at Salvation Army and thrift stores, more out of habit than anything, but our Dawgs will always be fed and cared for to the highest degree. They are the real Champions after all. Living within one's means is a must in this desperate day and age. I have to snicker a bit at all of the folks who are signing up to participate in the Yukon Quest and Iditarod this year. I hope they realize what it takes. Sure, our kennel has done it for the last seven years in a row but one's commitment to living a Dream doesn't guarantee success. Miracle sponsors to pay the bills are not an everyday occurrence after all. Often in life in order to succeed one must give of themselves to a higher degree.

Learning to love and care for your body nurtures a person's spirit and mind as well. Each spring when I return from a month on the road, having performed at dozens of schools you can imagine I'm a bit pooped out. The sad reality is how out of shape my body usually is from weeks of living on the 'american fast food diet'. After attending the Iditarod's picnic at the end of june as well as enjoying our lovely Millenium meal w/ my buddy Ray Redington and his wife, I weighed 186 pounds. Fortunately for me I have all summer to get back in shape. Every year my #1 Hugh rule is that by my birthday I have to weigh 167 pds. -which pays homage to the year I was born. That's the beauty of living in the woods, surrounded by some of Mother Nature's finest specimens- one must thrive to survive. Each day is a blessing to behold, cherish and most importantly take advantage of- whether it be rain or shine, sun or snow... or even 50 below!

The journey continues, new trails await to be explored just up ahead... the seemingly silent dogteams flow onward over the endless miles of snow as lil' school children are put to bed. Better get back out to the dogyard, time to scoop some more scooby doo-doo... I still have a pound or two to lose. How about you???

Now I ain't no pretty boy... and I 'm certainly not a saint, just a product of this universe that never really understood the word... Can't.

Listen, Learn, Live... HHN

Learning to 'Harness the Energy'...

2010-11-27T15:39:00.000-08:00

"If you've got a good connection with your dogs, you are a part of them and they are a part of you. They are an extension of your arm. If you feel from deep down those dogs will feel it. We all Focus as ONE mind." - Joe Garnie (Teller, Ak.)

Sylvester

I love the month of November- fresh trails, wagging furry tails. For many up North this is our 'spring' time: most of the rivers are nearly frozen and lakes are now safe to travel upon. 4-wheeler training on mining roads is a distant memory for now the true travelling begins- bushwhacking. Until I'm on the back of a sled flying over some bumpy terrain I never feel as if I truly know what each Dawg is capable of achieving. Early season conditioning in the fall time helps to tone up their muscles yet it's the tale of the trails that lets you know what lies in their hearts. Why do I love this month so much? Cuz there's not a day that goes by that we're not flying around in the woods, a bunch of 'free-birds' whose song remains unchanged. Keep the music flowing...

I call it Charlie Boulding training. A legendary musher, Charlie often said that the best trail he ever saw each year was the Iditarod trail. Unlike most sprint mushers and Iditaroders he did not use a snowmachine to create a hard packed, sidewalk of a trail. Instead we let the Dawgs do the creating. For me it's an homage to the past when klondike seekers and adventurers of the day did not use motorized vehicles. Lord knows I did not move up north to train dogs with a vehicle all the time. A foot or so of fresh snow to plow through shows you a lot about what each pooch is capable of- fortunately for us we've had plenty of snow to play in lately.

One of the greatest training trails in the world is just above our Annie lake homestead- some 2,000 ft. up. I call it Majestic valley and it is mesmerizing to travel through on a daily basis. "On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair..." Man, I love listening to that song when out playing with da pooches. I gaze down upon the valley off to our left as the sun rises above the mtns. behind us. It's impossible not to smile for this is heaven- not just the land surrounding us but the energy of the team as well. Early morning runs have the team amped up to chase- squirrels are scampering around everywhere storing away their winter's supplies. Once we've reached the upper part it's 10 miles of twisting roller coaster trail. Often tracks can be seen of caribou, moose and our local wolf pack. This isn't just a training run, we're traveling through a living National Geographic novel. Welcome to my office...

I've had the good fortune this season to share quite a few runs w/ another dog team driven by my good mushing buddy Normand Cassavante, a veteran Quest musher from Quebec. Not only an accomplished dogman, Normand is also a fine musician and canoeist. We share a great respect not only for Dawgs but the Native American lifestyle, after all we are just modern day nomads. We simply cannot resist the urge to be out exploring life on the trail each and every day. Our heroes were warriors who were wise enough to give praise and to honor the ways of Mother Nature. The reason we really like to train with Normand is his attitude- he always seems so happy as he sings and talks to his dogs. He's someone who realizes how lucky they are to do what they do, this life isn't about 'racing'- it's about LIVING.

In numerous mushing videos narrators often point out that "These dogs eat over 10,000 calories per day on the race trail..." Guess what? They're eating that much each and everyday right now. This season we have made a concerted effort to pour as many groceries into their bodies as possible, even while not running their metabolisms are on overdrive. Meat, chicken, fish, kibble- "yes boss, more please!!!!" Of the 30 pooches I'm training nearly all have had only a few days off... for the last month. Nearly every morning and evening I'm out in the woods living on the runners w/one of our main squads. There are a plethora of trails to choose from thus they never know where or exactly how far we are going. In the past we would have trucked the dog team a few hours south to do longer runs on the canol hwy.- to put more miles on them. Having had all summer to think about it I decided to revise our methods this year. Road training is boring, tight twisty trails usually leave the Dawgs in a much more enjoyable mood. After all it's not just about training- it's about learning how to fly!

Is it possible to have a team moving at a quick pace at the end of a long run? You bet ya, it's called knowing how to rest while moving. People would laugh if they realized how often I stop the team in training just to mellow them out a bit, "How you kids doing? Who's hungry??" I'm not necessarily looking for the fastest dog, I'd rather have one that is continually one of the most energetic. I often place a few younger pooches in the team to give the more laid back veterans something to amuse themselves with while traveling. This year we have 2 yearling standouts that might not do much racing but are comical to watch. Their enthusiasm for running is always on high alert though their energy level usually diminishes once they realize how trail hardened in their elder mates are. Like high school kids they have potential but need to zip their lips and learn with their eyes. These boys come from different litters that we had 2 summers ago, there were three pups in each litter. Yet they do share one thing in common - one is named Sylvester and the other? ... Rocky.

Rocky

Often when we set out on the trail tunes are blaring away in my ears. There is one song however that I never need to have my mp3 player on to listen to because it comes from the soul instead. Two fellas from Chicago sang about it many years ago. Jake and Elwood knew how to keep the trail a humming w/energy, "Rolling, rolling, rolling... keep them doggies rolling..." It's time to see life with a pair of fresh eyes because you never know what awaits just up ahead. HHN

keep your EYES on the 'Prize'

2010-11-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

'If you never learn to have fun then winning is but a mirage in one's mind...'

The beauty of being a huge mess is that I can admit my mistakes w/ out worrying about protecting my public image. No other musher in the history of our sport has had a more controversial, roller coaster ride of a career than yours truly. Never really thought of myself as a 'professional' dog musher, just a kid discovering the wilderness on a daily basis. Is that not what this life is all about? Believe me our personal world is far more tantalizing a subject than anything we might have been a part of in the racing scene over the years. After all this boy did not migrate north from Chicagoland in '95 in search of being some 'championship dogmusher'- I just want to be a DAWG.

Can old dogs learn new tricks? This season we will once again be trying to solve this never ending question. If yesterday morning's run was any indication there is still a huge learning curve to overcome. My biggest weakness? Controlling our energy! The team yesterday consisted of Annie in lead w/ her son Geronimo followed by Jewel and Jester, Juanita and Amigo, George and Joker, and in wheel Jericho and Alfie. (Tamra named this one of course) For me ten dogs is usually the bare minimum I like to sled with yet sometimes...
Flying out of the yard and down the lake the 'Army' was possessed as usual, I've never had a bunch that was so consistently lunging at their harnesses- 'getting at it'. This time of year the trails can be a bit dangerous as I was about to find out. Folks think the Quest and Iditarod are tough? Mother Nature tests us every day around these parts.

A few miles from home we have a couple of stream crossings to deal with. The first creek is rather small with lil' too worry about, the 2nd waterway? It be a bit treacherous at times. Yesterday we rounded the trail as I immediately realized that overflow had enhanced the degree of difficulty in crossing the 50 foot wide swath of semi-frozen water. Our man made wooden bridge was the only way to stay above the thinly iced over h2o. We did make it across safely- unfortunately I was the one not lucky enough to be standing. The Dog team had hurtled my body over the terrain sideways as I desperately struggled to hold on to the tipped over sled. First we plowed through some bushes, seconds later I ricocheted off of a tree finally letting go after my hand slammed into the wood. "Annie! Stop!!!! Annie, Annie!!!!"

Never a good feeling losing a dog in the woods let alone a dogteam. Fortunately we were close enough to the house that I threw off my outer clothing and began running home to retrieve our snowmachine. Soon I was covered in sweat, fifteen minutes passed by when I suddenly noticed a car by the road, some folks were out weekend snowshoeing in the hills. They were kind enough to drive me the remaining mile or so home. I immediately notified Tamra, then scampered back with Peter in search of our lost buddies. Fortunately the pooches had only traveled another mile or so from where I had wiped out on the icy stream. I immediately gave Peter a high five! We were lucky- and now I became totally amazed. Housing various teams in dog pens living as one entity was paying off with positive results.

This was not the 1st time I've ever had to track down a dogteam before. Heck, I ran after my Quest squad two years ago after losing the sled just outside of Dawson. With the amount of miles we've traveled over the last decade these eyes have witnessed all kinds of shennanigans on the trail. What amazed me however was that though the team was in a tangled mess of twisted up necklines and tuglines not one piece of rope or dog harness had been chewed. Everyone was healthy though the sled had a few additional wounds. Geronimo was whining away, 'What's going on? Why have we stopped- where were you Boss?' We immediately undid their tugs and stretched out the gangline though this process took just as long as it did for me to retrieve the snowmachine. I was a bit nervous watching Annie's Army jumping up and down in anticipation of setting off once again. Me? well the knee was throbbing and I was still in shock from our morning's ordeal but real humans overcome obstacles, whining about personal pains just isn't the way my daddy brought me up to live.

The remaining 25 miles of yesterday's run was pure heaven as is typical. Though the first few miles can be challenging once you have made it through life's adversities their are so many hidden treasures to discover that are removed from the ways of the 'civilized world'. Lesson learned? Well, it actually gave me an idea. Now that we have tracking beacons on our sleds for races so that spectators can follow on the computer where we are at- why not use one in the sled in training too? All is well that ends well but we should have emergency plans, knowing which neighbors to contact when sudden crises arrive etc. If we are not willing to learn from past mistakes than the chances of ever evolving are minimal at best.

Time to feed the pooches, for soon we shall fly once again...HHN

We are Family

2010-11-14T08:46:00.000-08:00

"Peace is Flowing like a river...

"Been a ruff year up here in the mtns. so far this training season but what else is new? One of the numerous hidden gems of the wilderness is that everyday is a an enigma. Mother Nature has been in a mellow mood in these parts but it's just a matter of time before her windy wrath wreaks havoc, typically flowing in from the westerly shores of Skagway and beyond. As much as the pooches' personalities intrigue me on our training runs I am continually mesmerized as our merry band of furry pranksters rambles around the hood 'letting loose' for a few hours each day. Over the years I've realized that endurance really isn't what we're trying to create- it's an 'attitude'. At our kennel we don't see these animals as 'working beasts of nature'. Yes, they are wild yet with a playful attitude. "You kids ready to run? It's time to have some fun..."

Every season brings ?'s- one can either stress out about the most minuscule details or they can lighten up and love the dawning of each and every day. Annie's Army (8) and the A-team (6) are each looking quite solid so far on our runs. Of these 2 litters, every pooch has a chance of participating in numerous races this year. Obviously experience plays a major role in which event they shall be a part of. As 2 year olds Amigo, George, Geronimo, Jester, Juanita and Jewel competed in races ranging from the Quest to the Kobuk 440. Three of these lil' poopers competed in all 3 of them, YQ, 440, and Iditarod. One of the finest dogmen I know, Paul Gebhardt motivated me to race younger dogs a few years ago. really can't recollect what he told me but it sure does make sense now! The A-team will be our 2 year old 'wannabees' for this upcoming season- this litter of six has their momma Annie's tenacious nature combined with papa Amos's squirrely yet speedy ways. We recently had a few of these pups neutered not only for breeding reasons but to control their weight better too. Some might think this diminishes their energy but I can assure you they are as lively as ever. "Alfie leave your brother alone!"

The warmer temps. this year have limited our training runs which might actually be a blessing in disguise. For the most part we travelled through the 'Gauntlet" for our early season adventures. This short ten mile run is filled with numerous obstacles to whet the Dawgs' appetite for excitement. Over the hills and through the streams we shall flow, for a life of exploration continually keeps us on the go. That was then this is now... Each day for the last few weeks I've been running 1 or 2 16-dog teams on 25 mile runs alongside the Wheaton river, yeah sometimes life might feel a bit monotonous thankfully the surrounding environs are quite majestic to behold. The trail from our kennel rises ever so gently a few thousand feet, what I enjoy most about this training is the consistent cadence the smooth terrain offers, the pooches become stronger as a unit than as individual stars. Being on the 4-wheeler more often this year can get old yet one can never let boredom get in the way of having a good time!

Now that Annie lake is frozen we are also running 8 dog squads around the lake just to keep our 'musher's sanity'. Hauling firewood is a great excuse to go for a quick 40 minute walkabout. Habits determine much of who you are whether we be human or furry- or both. Nurturing each dawg's attitude is as important as how far they travel, at what speed, etc. This year by having the pooches in pens according to litter we have also been impressed by how they teach one another. Instead of being covered in sweat before a dog run I'm refreshed and ready to roll. "It's time to fly kids." In the past each dog would drag us thru the dogyard's melee of swirling madness as their fellow compadres begged to play as well. Now, we simply open the gate to the pen as a mad crush of colorful critters rushes up to the gangline. I'm always mindful of where Geronimo, one of our main boyzz is- he's a 'head butter' whose snout could easily knock you out. His favorite past time is hurling himself at your head. Some might yell at him for his excessive energy- my reply? "Good boy ya goofball!" I don't train to make these amazing creatures my submissive servants, these are my buddies, furry friends forever.

So which dogs am I proudest of in our kennel? They are all wonderful in their unique ways yet some our standouts- our canine elders. June-Mari, Uncus, Oscar, Maestro and a host of others have already been around the block up here. Some of these old timers have done over 30,000 trail miles throughout the years. Nowadays they take folks for rides around the lake. Watching them now in their golden years there's not a day that goes by that they still don't impress me with their wily ways. "Who's been in the food bin?"
"Mahoosic did you steal the butter off the counter again?" A famous musher once told me that keeping older dogs around would be an anchor holding us down financially. That might be true but our lives have been enhanced just by having these wonderful critters around whether they be racing or not- after all we are not just a kennel, we are a canine community. A few years back while racing in the village of Minto I overheard another famous musher's conversation. They were giggling at the dogs expense, " When I look for a good dog I want him to be dumb because no smart dog is going to want to run 1,000 miles." We all have our individual views of this world but I'll take an independent smart pooch any day of the week- and ours race some 3,500 miles each season. They are smart enough to remember that this life is a treasure, never shall we squander away the opportunity to enjoy yet another day.

'Have Faith in YOU and all that you do...' HHN
laughingeyeskennel.com

What's in a Name?

2010-11-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

Walter Newman (1934-2010)

"They call me sweetness and I like to dance..."

This life is a mystery for no one knows what hidden secrets await our arrival just around the river's bend. We are all fortunate enough to meet people who have cared for us, wished us well and shared their positive energy enabling us to learn from their wisdom. Just before I met Tamra back in 2003 I worked at the Yukon river garage a few hours north of Fairbanks on the Dalton Hwy. One fall afternoon a boat came downriver plowing thru the waves as a torrential storm had left the 3 passengers soaking wet. They came in to the restaurant to warm up with some coffee. These 3 native men had traveled for hours from the village of Beaver to the bridge where a vehicle was waiting to carry them the remaining miles down the hwy. to Fairbanks. Two of them were just kids, perhaps in their early 20's. The fella with the biggest smile was an elder, his name was Walter. The weather might have been rough but nothing was going to diminish this man's zest to live an enjoyable life. One might ask why they were in such a hurry to get to civilization? Why to play some tunes of course, they were musicians.

All of our Yukon Quest races have been memorable experiences yet for any musher the 1st time on the trail is always the most nerve wracking, anxiety ridden moment they could ever imagine. For me? Well, I was pumped up with too much energy as usual. The night before my buddy Rich and I had been up until the wee morning hours putting my race sled back together after a moose had flattened it. (you'll have to read our book to hear about that one) Lack of z's has never been a problem for me though. In 2000 we only had 1o dogs on our team compared to the other larger 14 dog squads. Not having as much as others was not going to keep me from playing on the trail- where there's a will, there is a way. Three of the pooches I had only recently acquired thus we would end up relying on the "Magnificent 7" to get us to the finish line from Circle City to Whitehorse, some 700 miles. What do I remember most of the starting line that very 1st time? The hat I was wearing- it was a blue and orange Chicago Bears winter cap. It wasn't that warm but it was more for ceremonial purposes. On the back of it I had written with a magic marker inscribing the number #34.

Ask most chicagoans from my generation who their favorite hometown athlete was and a few might say Michael Jordan, his airness was truly magical. Walter Payton however was the MAN.
He wasn't the most genetically talented player. Walter did not covet having the most trophies but he had the golden heart of a child who had an immense passion for life. There was no weekdays and weekends. There is only Today- so let's get busy playing! Now there's a spirit to emulate: dedication and perseverance with a constant smile to share with others along the way.
I'm sure Sweetness would have loved to win a few more Super Bowls but at heart he realized that the opportunity to play the game itself was the greatest trophy. How ironic that many years later I would meet up with a Native Alaskan named Walter who possessed these very same traits!

Walter Newman was a buddy of one of my mushing mentors Mr. Lester Erhart an Athabascan native from Tanana, a Yukon river village. When I lived there many moons ago we would often sit around the table either talking dogs or listening to Lester and the band play some tunes around the table. Throughout all of my travels I've often reflected on the village of Tanana for me it's the true HEART of Alaska. Not only geographically but spiritually. I pity any dog musher who has not had the opportunity to visit there. The People of the Yukon river represent not only where Alaskans came from but our beauty within. Whether it be at the finish line of a race or the Athabascan Fiddlers dance Walter and friends were happy to be alive and were not about to waste much time whining about obstacles that might pop up along the way. Their shining spirits would always prevail in the end.

So herein lies the crux of my problem. Unfortunately Walter Newman passed away at the tender age of 76 this past week. He lived a full life leaving numerous folks with a positive feeling from having met him along the trail somewhere. Walter assumed that I had named one of our main lead Dawgs 'Walter' after him. This dog happens to be our main man, his sister Annie receives all of the media attention but her 2 brothas (Watson is the other one) are typically up in front leading the way most of the time. The crazy thing is that the past few weeks Walter has been putting the other pooches to shame. He's rather large for a race dog, over 60 pds. yet the rest of his nieces and nephews have to give it their best just to stay at his pace. He's not a loping dog like the sprintier hound dogs. Walter's a true husky with a powerful trot that resembles #34 high stepping it into the end zone. Walter just turned 6 years old recently, in Feb. he'll be competing in his 5th 1,000 mile Yukon Quest race. If we are fortunate enough to make it to the finish line once again with him in lead I'm sure that Wally Newman's spirit will be with us every step of the trail.
Cuz we like to Dance...

I'm not sure if it's the magical wilderness of the north, the mysteries of her People or the bizarre karma of H.H. Neff but these eyes have witnessed a myriad of strange sightings often enough to realize that there is far more to our existence on this earth than what people might read in the papers or see on tv. I laugh at those who don't believe in God, a 'Higher power', the Great Almighty- talk about ignorant. Up here we can feel the presence of a greater entity in all we see around us. Up north there really is not much of a need for 'indoor religions' for nature bestows upon us her beauty every day, especially at night when the universe sparkles from above for our eyes to feast upon. We occasionally see it through our fellow human's spirits as well. Walter was defintely someone who took advantage of being brought into this world. And even though I might not have named our dog after you when he was a puppy your character can be seen thru his beaming smile as we head off down the trail in search of what lays ahead.

While reading Mr. Newman's obituary in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner a few days ago I came across an interesting side note to this story. Walter Payton, my football hero, wore the number 34 on his jersey. The same # which I had inscribed with a marker on the back of my hat. Walter Newman was born in the year 1934
-makes ya wonder doesn't it?

Hugh H. Neff
laughingeyeskennel@hotmail.com

2009 Yukon Quest start. Photo by Carol Falcetta

Tramping around with DA Clown thru a Canine Wonderland

2010-10-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

" Will ya look at all of that energy..." - J. Runyan (horse fella from New Mexico)

My buddy Rich, a Yukon Quest volunteer for many years, commented that he loves watching mushing events every winter because he never knows what we'll be up to next. Rich is a Nam vet originally from Chicago, "You're a lucky man Hugh, not every person gets to live their dreams." He should know, he's seen the huge mess saga evolve since its inception so many moons ago. When one lives a 'Dream' as bizarre as this city boys being able to sleep is a challenge in itself. Feeling the rhythm of the team on the trail as it clicks together as one solid unit is always in the back of my mind, " Is it time to harness up yet?"

Just finished feeding the pooches, love this time of day. It's a time to unwind, frolic and play. Sauntering back towards the house after feeding one of the 'retirement' dog pens, as well as Peter's dogs, I glance up towards the pen housing the finest litter these eyes have ever laid eyes on- Annie's Army. I can't help but start giggling. Four of the eight dogs are sitting in unison, looking as orderly as a group of cadets. Jewel, Amigo, Joker and Jericho are all facing the east, shoulder to shoulder, enjoying the warmth of the sun's rays as they cascade over the mountain adjacent to Annie lake. It looks like a casting call for the movie "Snowdogs". They all have contented smirks on their faces having just enjoyed a massive heaping of beef broth for breakfast. Wonder who's gonna pass gas first?

I'm such an idiot. The first thing I'm gonna do if we are fortunate enough to win a race one of these winters is to apologize to all of the former racing pooches for my ignorance throughout the years. (Tamra too!) As any parent will tell you one child with too much energy is destined to create problems. The calender says I'm 43 years old now but anyone who knows me can assure you that growing up was never a concern of mine. Harnessing the energy from within is. It might be the result of being introduced to the wilderness at a young age? or perhaps having a wolf as a mother and polar bear as a father? The youthful vigor never seems to go away. Probably has more to do with the endless coffee each and every day! Folks sometimes ask me what the middle initial in my name stands for. I often reply that it's a tie between Hermit and Hedonist. (I was actually named after both of my grampas.)

How a person of my goofy character ended up lost in the professional world of mushing madness is the true mystery. Yet here we are... what to do, what to do? Get serious? Nah. Let's go play with the pooches. Any success we have this year will be determined by the harmonious nature of the beasts. To view them as a community instead of just individual specimens has been an enlightening venture. I'm amazed how many people there are that we compete with who buy animals, sometimes even whole dog teams to race with annually. Humans have various viewpoints with regards to running dogs yet for our kennel half the fun is raising them. Watching the pups grow and evolve is the true heart of what mushing should be about. Racing is just one facet of a dog's life, how we respect them in their older years says just as much about a musher as how fast their team might perform during one certain season. Seeing fourteen year old June-Mari's personality shine thru our yearling leader Goldy's eyes we witness not only the passage of time but the continuity of canine spirit throughout our kennel. To evolve one must learn from the experiences of those who have been on the trail of life before us.

Watching the lil' furballs clean each other, licking leftover morsels off of one another's faces is a comical experience to enjoy. Sometimes though their wild nature intervenes, perhaps over an old moose bone or some leftover stew. You had better be wary if one is willing to offer our northern Dawgs a chance to have more freedom. Just take a look at the tv, struggle for dominance amongst the pack, wherever it may reside, is a natural part of the world's pecking order. Mistakes are more often made by the human caregiver than the animal who is usually acting instinctively rather than being a 'bad' dog. Read the signs of your beloved beasts. When a nostril flares or eyes widen one should automatically know how to react instead of spending endless minutes with their alter egos contemplating various courses of action.

Freedom- why? Yeah, it might make sense for most humans but these are wild northern beasts. They are not trained to spend their lives living indoors splayed out on couches. These Dawgs were born to dance. 'Civilized' pets may roam around the backyard for a few minutes to get some exercise. Up North most Canine Champions start to 'loosen up' after 10 or 15 miles. Most humans would consider the opportunity to complete a marathon race quite the accomplishment. 26 miles to these Dawgs? A pleasant way to enjoy the morning sunrise. "Hey Boss- is Your break time over with yet? We pooches were hoping to put in another 50 or so if ya feel like you're up to it!" This reason alone is why we are committed to letting our dogs enjoy as much playtime with one another as is safely possible. Tethering is a necessity at times but allowing any dog the chance to think for them self through exploring the world on their terms enables their spirits to shine that much brighter. Maybe it's we humans that need to become more adept at listening and learning from our furry companions? Learning is so underrated these days.

Others might scoff at our Doggie Dreamworld- as one Quest champion so eloquently put it, "Hugh Neff sure is stupid." This musher is not the only one, he's probably more the norm for the status quo crowd. That's the funny thing about life though, when people talk word always gets back to you about their negative ways. One episode I was a witness to occurred during the finishing banquet in Fairbanks four years ago. We were in the bathroom, two other gentleman were squawking to each other by the mirror while unbeknownest to their ears I was going potty. " One commented in a thick European accent, " Does that guy even realize how good the dogs are he has? " The others reply? " I Know! He has no clue." giggle,giggle, giggle... The room suddenly became silent as I opened the door having just flushed the toilet. Gee, I wonder who they must have been talking about?

I still have alot to learn about racing dogs that's for sure. Yet it's what I'm learning about these beasts away from the hysteria and hoopla of the 'new age mushing scene' that has been the greatest accomplishment on our resume. In some parts of this world animals are becoming more humanized. Which is fine I suppose ... yet up north what's wrong with letting them be who and what they are? Spirits meant to fly despite not having wings. Who needs an abundance of $ or trophies when the greatest gift we can ever receive is the opportunity to Dream of a better tomorrow? On trails that lead us to find even more unknown beautiful vistas to enjoy. While discovering a bit more of the hidden treasures that lie within our very souls.

Can we go play now? H. H. Neff
www.laughingeyeskennel.com

P.S.: We have been receiving numerous inquiries over the last few weeks with regards to joining the Laughing Eyes Kennel Team. Tamra has done a great job bringing our website up to date. Their are numerous ways to become a kennel team partner. Sponsors are always welcome- Especially those of you who have any positive causes that might need to be promoted. In the past we have worked with numerous groups ranging from the Make-A-Wish foundation to the National Education Association. As a young man I was taught by my father, our Boy Scout Leader to give back to the community. Any success this 'Dream' of ours may have depends on how we are able to help the world around us. Winning may be nice but it's never the ultimate barometer of achievement. As 4-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser proclaimed, " It's what you do for others with your success that determines who you are as a person."

Let's all grow together! HHN

Going to the Dawgs...

2010-08-31T19:35:00.000-07:00

"Don't bother to be better than your competitors or predecessors. Be better than yourself..."
- Faulkner

The Magic is unfolding within our furry eyes along the shores of Annie lake this enchanting autumnal season. We've been constantly 'tweaking' the dog yard in search of the perfect atmosphere. The beauty of being 'Hugh Neff' is that as a recovering city boy I still have much to learn when it comes to being a long-distance 'professional dog musher'. Lord knows no other person in the history of this sport has had a more dysfunctional career on the trail as yours truly. Heck, I still have lots to learn about the dawgs themselves. A few years back I was lucky enough to sit next to Jeff King on a flight to Kotzebue. When you're conversing with someone as well accomplished as Jeff one learns to hold their tongue and listen up! One phrase he said still resonates in my mind til this very day, "You always need to look at the BIG picture."

If you hope to evolve in this world a major ally will always be your... IMAGINATION. The past few months we've been experimenting with housing our main racing dogs in 6 pens spread throughout the kennel. Other dogmushers have tried this with limited success in the past but our results have been quite positive so far. I must 1st mention that 3/4's of our pooches are neutered or spayed which avoids many unnecessary hormonal headaches. The key-and beauty- of our success is that the pens are not just divided up by racing or retired dogs but by litters. Annie's Army, consisting of eight 3 year old pooches occupies the kennel above our house. Above the dog yard resides Omen and Maestro's offspring, a family of five 4- year old Dawgs and at the back end of the yard Gypsy keeps her 4 brothas in line. We've had various dogs in pens before but to view the 'pack mentality' on a daily basis has been truly heartwarming. Not only do these frisky furballs play together but sleep and dream as well. Instead of telling them how to act all the time, we have become 'front row' fans to the amazing natural relationships they share with one another.

Will this pay off in the long run with victorious race accomplishments? Well, frankly my dear I don't give a ----! There are few mushers that have more competitive natures than yours truly but true champions earn their integrity on how they care for these amazing Dawgs on a day to day basis. This will be my 15th year in the north running pooches. With every sunset and moonrise I realize my goals are not to win this or that race but to evolve into a consummate mushing artist seeking to create a more beautiful picture with the pooches on the trail. True winners succeed not by finishing 1st in some event but by how they live and treat others they meet along the trail of life. Yes, our kennel has done fairly well over the last few years but we are not even close to achieving our potential. Realize this however, winning will never be my #1 goal, I've seen others lose their souls all in the pursuit of a greater legacy. I've never worried too much about how others viewed my eccentric character. As long as the pooches tails are waggin' with tongues lickin' my cheeks I'll be a happy camper.

Adventure is what 1st brought me north, the opportunity to share these tails with all of YOU is a true godsend from above. What we do now, covering 5-6 thousand miles of trail in one season, often took a lifetime just a century ago during the gold rush era. Times are tough throughout the world but hopefully some of our offbeat dogmushing situations may help to enlighten others in some fashion. As always we invite you to join our pack in search of an unending dream known as Mushing Madness. Tamra has done a wonderful job this week updating our website: www.laughingeyeskennel.com Hope you all get a chance to check out some pix of the most gorgeous creatures I've ever had the chance to put a harness on. In dogmushing terms it's all about the ENERGY- Annie's offspring have bucket loads of it. Hopefully this year I'll be a bit more adept at preserving it throughout the racing season.

We welcome Peter Fleck to the team as well. Peter is from England and completed his 1st YukonQuest last year. He's hoping to do some races again, which I'm sure he will do well at!
A Quest volunteer last year, Melanie Fornoff will help handle this year too. The more love and attention the pooches receive the better. Sure, it's great to have a well mannered dogteam but I often wonder if we as mushers could become better human caretakers by paying more attention to what the dogs are telling us? Sometimes the best way to learn is not by 'knowing everything' but realizing how much more there is to the view you see. Patience, Persistence, Perseverance...

We're heading off to a Dogmushing symposium in New Hampshire tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing some beautiful fall colors in the last few states we have yet to visit! Feel free to send us a line if you have any ?'s or if you would like to become a part of the Laughing Eyes Team!
H.H. Neff
www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Dancing amongst the Garden of Dawgs...

2010-04-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

"Everyone clap for the wolf man, he's gonna set a record high... Everyone clap for the wolf man, you gonna love him til the day you die..." - Guess Who

Life is rarely 'normal' when one is a Freak of Nature. Everyone in their youth seeks to be a bit unique yet for some blessings can become a nightmare at times as well. Just over a decade ago I invited family and friends to a bar in Chicago as I presented a display of the Alaskan way- Dogmushing, the Iditarod, Freedom. At the time I was a golf caddy at Westmoreland C.C. barely making a few hundred bucks each week. You can only imagine what others must have thought about this city slicker's dream of becoming a modern day `Jeremiah Johnson`. In a few days time I`ll be seeing many of these same folks at another tavern in Evanston, my home town. Having travelled throughout Alaska's Greatland, racing more than any other dogteam on the planet, one views the world differently now. Each year I return to the `hood' to not only remember my roots and visit with old friends but to realize all that I have been so fortunate to have seen over the years.. I could never have imagined all of the beautiful sights, sounds, smells and senses over the 1,000`s of miles the pooches and I have shared together. What do I treasure the most? Which race am I the most proud of? That`s an easy one to answer- there`s nothing I enjoy more than waking up to the dawning of a new day. For this life is a gift to respect, enjoy and LEARN from.

I'm just a 42 year old kid still seeking to evolve. That's the beauty of Hugh- there's still so much to do! This time of year we wait for the rivers and lakes to break free from their winter ice cocoons so that travel into the bush will be a bit safer. Until then cleaning up the yard from last season's forays is our daily chore. Upon rising each morning, then downing a cup or 2 of coffee and watching the ladies on the "View" I head outside to get dirty. Truth be told- I'm just a caveman, I would not know how to survive if I wasn't covered in dog fur. My close dogmushing friends realize that Laughing Eyes Kennel's greatest trophy will never be 1st place in some race- it's our backyard!

Walking out the back door I descend down onto Annie lake with a five gallon bucket in each hand. A few hundred feet out is our water hole where we retrieve h20 for the pooches to lap up. Running water? Sure, we have a water pump that is powered by our generator and solar panels, yet why waste energy when you have plenty of your own to use? Heading back up to the doglot I get to gaze upon 'Heaven' each morning as the sun's rays bring the surrounding 5 thousand foot mountains beauty to life once again. Are the sheep having babies yet? Any griz around? Having mixed the water with some meat and RedPaw kibble our 60 plus pooches now enjoy their favorite part of the day. The yard is a chorus of hooting and hollering as the pooches run around their houses in circles- their inner beasts awaiting a chance to devour the day's prey. 10 minutes later there is silence except for the occasional slurping. Now its my time to unwind a bit.

Above our house is an old gold rush era horse stable that we have converted into a cabin for storing food and supplies. On the cabin's northern end resides my workout facility aka the basketball court. Hoops has always been a great way for me to loosen up these aging limbs of mine. Whether it's above freezing or 20 below, I always love hearing one sound- swish! Have to be careful with some of the dawgs however, especially Spencer who enjoys trying to puncture the ball. Our court rests above the house and lake, few sports arenas afford a view matching our backdrop. Watering and cleaning up the doggie doodoo are next on the list- this is done at least a few times each day. Some kennels brag about how fast they can feed and clean their dogyards, good for them. As time goes on I've learned to tone down the testosterone a bit and... relax. Is life just a race? Or a portrait we're seeking to make prettier each and every day?

I've been in the dogmushing world since '95 and have never seen such a beautiful community of canine athletes. There's a reason I'm such a hermit- we have 2 dozen kids under 2 years of age that are exquisite. Along with the other Dawgs, it's an honor to enjoy their beauty each day. One of the nicest comments I ever received was from another musher's wife who said, "Your dogs are so elegant Hugh." This year as I was approaching the starting line for the YukonQuest race, former champion Bill Cotter approached me saying, " Man, your dogs look healthy Hugh." Remarks such as these are worth a million trophies. It's a wonderful feeling to not only race but race with dogs that you have raised since their birth. As with humans, much of what a Dawg evolves into is a result of how they were cared for and not just genetics. How others can compete with dogs that they have to lease or borrow is beyond my beliefs. After all I moved north not just to be some dog racer but a true Dogman. This not only means raising and racing with them but ensuring that the pooches live long and healthy lives.

Much of the fun in dogmushing is not just how you interact with the dogs but having the chance to be a part of their pack. We usually have 3 or 4 pooches wandering around patrolling the premises and keeping all the younger pooches in line. Different litters are in various pens with the retired dogs enjoying their private area as well. We recently acquired a small Jack Russell named Ozzy that is a herding dog. We were hoping he would chase away any smaller varmits that were breaking into our stockpiles of dogfood. Considering he only weighs 20 pds. it`s comical to see him picking on other furballs that are three times his size. I`m just worried that one of our local Eagles might try to swoop down and snag him. This past winter we were fortunate not to have any wolf encounters around the homestead which was a blessing. Sometimes starving ones might sneak into the yard in search of some furry food. Every day at Annie lake is an adventure. Can you dig it!

" Climb the Mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." - John Muir

Enjoy the view, Hugh and the Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew
www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Living The Life...

2010-04-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

"I don't care if it's three in the morning or the middle of the afternoon- I'll run dogs anytime."
-- L. Mackey

If Hans only knew what I put his sleds through. One of the greatest dogmen in the world is named Hans Gatt, a neighbor friend from the Whitehorse area. He has also been making some of the finest sleds around for years. In a typical YukonQuest race 2/3's of the teams are pulling one of his contraptions. I'll get a newer model every few years as their design is constantly evolving. "Ya know Tamra, Hugh is really hard on sleds."- H.G. Yeah, my man, it isn't every musher who is out there in late April, getting up early every morning to haul firewood through slush, dirt and rocks- with a lil' bit of snow here and there. The rewards of this labor is not judged with trophies or $ but in enjoying life itself. Being grimy and sweaty puts a smile on one's face as well as a pounding in their heart. For soon Thunder will be Rolling through the Mountains...

On this morning's run Walter and Watson were on the hunt as the spring season up here unleashes endless varmits to chase after. What was that boys? "Sick 'em!" One must be cautious as the waterways slowly open up, with a fully loaded sled of wood you best be sure that ice bridge is still safe. There are pockets of slushy water to run through here and there, bare ground as well. (Rather deal with that than actual bears) This is wonderful K440 and K300 training. In bush races one feature is usually a constant- on the trail you're likely to see almost anything. Why not teach the pooches about more dangerous conditions at a younger age. If there's one thing I've learned along the trail- Experience helps to dictate success in the long run.

It's interesting what one daydreams about from the back of the sled while whizzing thru the trees. Today I was pondering how many other mushers were out running dogs this morning. The temps. might be warm for the north but would actually be normal for our friends who run dog teams down in the lower 48. For some reason I was thinking about my early years in dog mushing when I once worked for some of the top sprint mushers in the world. Believe me, nothing means speed more than getting on an empty basket sled with 2o Erhart or Taylor dogs flying in front of you. These folks are some of the greatest dog racers I know but how many of their dogs could compete in the Iditarod- Not because of talent but training. There probably are not too many sprint mushers nowadays doing chores with their teams like in George Attla`s `Spirit of the Wind`movie. In Kotzebue a 25 mile race was cancelled due to overflow water on the trail- many of the sprinters were nearly in tears over the decision. It made me want to puke.

That`s the beauty of long-distance racing, as proven by my buddy Lance Mackey- it`s all about the bond between the master and his or her beloved beasts. Whereas in sprint mushing , genetics and breeding play a dominant role in which teams win races- there are numerous other `pieces to the pie` with regards to our extended adventures. Watching my team plow through 2 feet of water this morning reminded me of something Mitch Seavey once told me. It was during the Tustemena 200 race which is an Iditarod tune up event. At one of the checkpoints I asked him if he had big dogs or small dogs. His reply- Ì have real dogs!` Mitch would go on that year to win the Iditarod while yours truly received the `Rookie of the Year`award.
Here`s to REAL Dawgs.

Enjoy the view, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Travelling within the Dream World of Dawgs...

2010-04-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

"I made a pilgrimage to save the human race, not comprehending the race had long gone by..."

What's it like to be free? Where am I again? Who is this? Wake up Neff! Been a rather busy past few months- lots of gorgeous places, plenty of smiling faces. Now that it's over and done with I can relate a few of the hidden truths that were better kept hidden at the time they happened. Before we get to the Iditarod saga I'll quickly divulge the info. from our fun in the storm up north in the Kobuk valley. There is no greater feeling having finished another season of mushing madness than to relax out on the dock with a nice glass of wine and listen to the wind blow through the mountains- the wilderness is calling your name!

I wonder how many layers of skin my hands and feet have shed over the past 3,200 miles of racing we've participated in since January? Been a month now since the Iditarod finished and I'm finally starting to get some more feeling in those three fingers on my left hand. Suppose doing those two other races wasn't much of a help. Well, as my buddy William Kleedehn would say, "Whatever." This season it was more like wherever- been a fun one, travelling through an Arctic spring coastal blizzard would be a day for the memory books. At the time we were 10 minutes behind local Eskimo musher John Baker- he's one of the best in the world, especially in these conditions.

Though I left Ambler a few minutes before him by the time we descended down onto the river from the portage he was already leaving us in the dust. I wasn't complaining however, the kids were doing great. After all this was just as young a team as our Iditarod squad, we were down to 9 pooches having dropped Jewel, Simba and Zodiac during previous layovers. Tyler, Jester and Tolliver had been doing most of the leading. Following behind were Juanita, Ellsworth, Nathan, Sicily, Geronimo and Walter. 1o miles downriver the winds arose, from there on we'd be travelling thru drifts from inches to feet thick. Life was transforming from chasing to surviving.

While the main trail went down the river a small offshoot cut to the right and into a portage of rambling hills which leads to the halfway shelter cabin. (I'd tell ya the names of all of these places but I can barely remember my own- get a map.) John's squad was out of sight by now yet the winds were just waking up. Finding the trail was a struggle , Tolliver and Tyler plowed thru endless feet of fresh powder as an hour or two passed by. Fortunately we had found the trail at the last minute or we too might have been lost as other teams had endured. Upon reaching the shelter cabin I immediately decided to press on. Though shelter was tempting we were here to play- not hide from life indoors!

My hero of heroes is a Scottish fella named Muir. Johnny would run around Yosemite enjoying a good rumbling in the mountains- an earthquake- learning from the powers of Mother Nature. Believe me, her wrath can be just as viscious. In fact I had gone out and bought some sealskin mitts from some friends from Shishmaref before the race began. My fingers had froze on the coast in Iditarod, another lesson hopefully learned- life is easier with 2 hands! Competing in 2 races with 1 and a half hands has been interesting to say the least. Jumping back down on to the river I knew by now that John would be hard to catch, we had other things too worry about. Glancing towards the horizon a massive black cloud arose, as did the winds. I could only giggle in awe, knowing that we were heading INTO this thing.

Storms usually start off softly, as if lulling you to sleep. Flakes descend, the skies darken, the trail slows down... Moments later you have 40 mile an hour winds at your back, drifted trail in front of you and nary a trail marker to be seen. Bush living- can't beat it! Fortunately I had Walter (Annie's brother), wheel dog from another world. He's 5 years old and has done at least six 1,000 mile races. He'd been on this section of trail before. Replacing a worn out Tolliver and Tyler, my main man was on his own. He would lead us the remaining few hours into Kiana, the local mining community- our next checkpoint. The stretch of trail into this village is known as the 'small channel' but I can assure you that there are only a few other places in Alaska's Greatland that can present the hardened-in winter warrior with as many challenges. Ice, beach, rocks, drifted in trail, - WIND.

I was quite proud of the kids as we came into town, after all some of these two year olds were competing in their 3rd major race this season. If there's one thing about humans I've learned this year is how weak we are compared with DAWGS. Each time we slowed down on the trail, missing a marker and getting a bit lost, instead of yelling gee or haw I should have just kept quiet and let Walter ' have his head' . We probably would have had a less winding road- and I'd probably still have my voice. Our Eskimo friends along the way were as awesome as ever- that's why the Kobuk is so beautiful-- Happy Faces! Upon arriving at each village each musher drew from a hat a lucky # for someone to win an easter egg basket. Yeah, the 440 is a competitive event yet more so- it's a celebration of the northern lifestyle.

After pretending to sleep in Kiana for a few hours I hooked up the team as we headed back to the finish line in Kotz, thankfully the storm had diminished by now. The remaining miles were pretty much a ceremonial run as catching Mr. Baker's fine team was out of the question. Two promising future talents, Pete Kaiser and Quinn Iten were a few hours back. It's great to see these kids who grew up out in Alaska's bush country doing so well. Joe Redington would be proud to see that his dream thrives. Cresting over the last hill, I stopped the team and snacked them as the military plane's engines roared in the background at the local airport. Putting Walter back in lead with Tyler I figure he had earned the right to cross the finish line 1st. Little did I know minutes later he'd be chasing after a tan labrador, as I ducked underneath an airplane's wing- fortunately we avoided Front 1st.- which would have lead us into town. All's well that ends well... Will the Fat lady please start singing?

A special thanks to our host family, the Peacocks, my good friend Mr. Darrin Nelson, Mr. Warren Coffin, Shane Goosen and Pat Barrett for the airline miles to get us there! Iditarod blog coming soon! Enjoy the view, Hugh and the Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew

Spring Kennel Sale!

2010-04-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

Zuril (Mackey)

Well it seems like we're bursting at the seams here at Laughing Eyes Kennel with amazing dogs. Though we love them all, at some point we have to face reality and realize that some of our dogs might have just as great if not better lives somewhere else. The more dogs we have, the less attention they all get I guess. So we have decided to have a kennel reduction sale. We're not as worried about the amount that they sell for, as we are the home that they are going to. We only put a dollar figure on each dog to ensure the buyer is willing to make the investment in this dog's life, not looking merely for a free dog, therefore not realizing the expenses involved. Almost all of our dogs are spayed or neutered. This is a significant cost savings for the interested buyer. We're not selling stud dogs or breeding bitches generally. We have found that by spaying and neutering, the dog is healthier, there are fewer growls and fights, they can run loose without worrying about accidental breedings, and they tend to hold weight better. We will sell individuals or a whole team for those interested. We can discuss transportation options. Almost all of our dogs are well socialized, house-trained, enjoy being in the house and come when called. We would sell any dog as a pet, and can recommend good choices for such. We have dogs for all levels and all distances. Most of the dogs listed have been in the Yukon Quest and/or Iditarod. The complete list is on our website.
http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/dogs4sale.html

We have dogs right out of Lance Mackey's kennel and with Mackey/King/Erhart lines. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email (laughingeyeskennel@hotmail.com) or call 867-456-7714. This opportunity is going out first to our loyal blog followers but will be put up on SDC in the next few days.

Bullock (Omen x Maestro)

Mushing Adventures with the 'Mad Hatter'

2010-03-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

"Darkness falls across the land, the midnight hour is close at hand..." - Vincent Price

Magical, simply magical.. Dawson City and the surrounding area have captured my heart like no other area of the north. The haunted history, endless myths and mind numbing landscape leaves one in awe of all their eyes are fortunate enough to see. Some of us are lucky enough to check out the sights along this section of the Yukon river often enough to feel at home- whether travelling in sunshine or thru howling blizzards. Legends were born from this area, dogmen who earned their keep by delivering the mail to the folks in 40 mile, Eagle, Alaska and points beyond. It might have been 60 below yet that mail better be delivered on time- or else someone else might be given the well paid position. One of the greatest? Percy Dewolfe, what he and others accomplished was a feat of amazing endurance- they were the trail. Nowadays we're honored to participate in races that commemorate such heroic figures.

This would be our 2nd time participating in the Percy Dewolfe Memorial race that runs 100 miles downriver to Eagle and then returns to Dawson. Teams are limited to 9 Dawgs and must finish with every pooch, whether they be pulling or resting in the sled. Fellow IditaQuest mushers, Gerry Willomitzer and Hans Gatt were participating in the revelry as well. There were 12 teams in the main race, an additional 20 would participate in the Junior race, a 100 mile event. I promised our handler Elie that he could run a team in this race. My squad consisted of the younger pooches returning from The Iditarod, Annie and Watson will be lounging for the rest of the spring, we have other pooches that deserve a chance to get out and explore. Our leaders were Tolliver, his brother Tyler followed by Ellsworth, Delilah, Walter, Nathan, George, Mahoosic and Juanita. All were veterans from this year's Iditarod and Quest except for rookie racer Juanita and Mahoosic who would be competing in his last race.

Daughter of Annie, lil' Miss Juanita was simply amazing, as much energy as her bros, she was definately overlooked this year- can't wait to see how she performs in 440 next week. She's a howler- always announcing her arrival to passerbys. Hoosic has raced over 8 years now, travelling some 25 thousand miles. A couch potato, he can be a bit fiesty but his heart is tremendous- some dogs only like certain humans. The whole squad did wonderful, finishing 4th. Congrats To Hans for yet another victory. Amazing how competitive he is, for me though this `race` was to see the powerful effects of Mother Nature. Last spring the Mighty Yukon flooded numerous human outposts that lay in it`s wrath. The native section of Eagle was ripped apart as large chunks of ice rammed homes into pieces. Passing by nearly a year later one could see the bark missing from halfway up the sides of trees- swaths of smaller timber lay on their side. Frightening yet intriguing- humans, out here in the bush, are but pawns of the mighty Queen of the Wilderness.

In the future I plan on continuing to race more mid-distance events in the spring with our younger pooches and less in the colder, more severe winter weather months. Warmer temps. create a more lively atmosphere as varmints are more likely to be out and about and not burrowed down in the earth trying to stay warm. On our return trip just outside of 40 mile, as the sun rose ever so slowly we had an enjoyable encounter. Rounding the river`s bend I glanced up to see a small 4 legged creature running down the trail in front of us. At 1st it seemed to be a lost pooch yet the massive fluffy tail gave our foxy friends secret away. These curious critters are more likely to stick around compared to the shy intelligent wolves. We followed our red furred buddy for nearly a half hour til he veered off to the left and up a hillside. He casually stopped underneath a small spruce staring at our merry band of furry pranksters. Once we were gone, it would be back to the trail in search of free dog kibble.

Outside of 40 mile I loaded Delilah in the sled, she was becoming dehydrated and needed a breather for awhile. Fortunately the rather smooth flat trail afforded our speed to stay constant with the additional weight. The great surprise from the race was one of my new main lead dogs-Nathan. Natey boy loves Tamra -"When are you going to put him in lead Hugh!" He was steady which is sometimes all ya need from your main pooch, in long-distance events speed is overrated, consistency is the goal. Tolliver was the main fella upfront, a 3 year old, he completed the Iditarod and Quest as well. Late that afternoon we came into Dawson, 200 miles in just over a day and a few hours- not bad. The following few days were a celebration of life in one of the most unique areas of the planet- with a beauty like no other. Last week at the Iditarod banquet in Nome my mushing friend Ramey Smyth asked me why I race the YukonQuest and Iditarod every year- that answer is easy. To see strange sights with my furry friends - especially in NOME and DAWSON CITY.

Truth be told, racing or not- I am on a dogsled every day. Cannot help myself- I need to be out on the trail with the pooches for my own sanity- it is where we belong after all. Unfortunately the days are warmer and the snow shall slowly disappear yet one more race is on the horizon up in Kotzebue- a few hours north of Nome next week. Love the country up there as well as the amazing native folks. Once we return there shall be a few more weeks of training pups then on to our school tour. This cacophonous life of Neff the Nomad is never ending, hopefully Tamra and I can have some downtime to ourselves this summer. Speaking of which, we are searching for some kennel help for the next few months, house sitting while we are on a few brief working vacations- if you know of anyone interested in playing with some pooches feel free to spread the news. We live on a lake at 3,000 ft. surrounded by 5-6,000 ft. mtns. to run around and play on. There is plenty of canoeing as well as whitewater kayaking in the area too.

If you are expecting a presentation in May please contact us asap to finalize arrangements. There are available dates if you might be interested in our unique Vision of life with our furry compadres. Our spring tour will be centered in the midwest, east coast and southeast regions. Next to dogmushing nothing gives me more pleasure than helping others achieve their dreams as well. Throughout the Iditarod numerous kids -whether it be in cities or native villages exclaimed- Hey there is the HAT guy! Dr. Seuss spirit was alive during this Iditarod, I was honored to help out a bit. Truth is I have hundreds of souvenir hats that are remembrances of places visited. Now I just need to learn even more about what is in that great round head that they rest upon...

Never Stop Exploring, HHN

www.laughingeyeskennel.com IDITAROD BLOG COMING SOON

Playing with Da BIG Dawgs (part II)

2010-02-24T05:26:00.000-08:00

"Can you see what this life can be...?"

Dawson is my favorite city in the North; it's a magical place-haunting yet enticing. Quest mushers are required to stay there for 36 hours as handlers tend to the pooches while they are resting. Each musher is given a space in the campground across the river for their dogs to receive some rest and TLC. Yuka Honda, a Quest musher not racing this year volunteered to help Tamra out, she was also our security guard. Yuka's a great gal who we hope makes it to the finish line one day soon! The team is fed every 4-6 hours, massaged and taken for walks during this time period. Tamra's been doing this for several years now and has a great eye for injuries that even the veterinarians might have missed. Unfortunately Tam noticed that one of our main leaders Wonka had a bump on his left front leg, we kept our fingers crossed that the swelling might go down, also using massage and a wrist wrap to help the situation. After consulting with Dr. Renee we thought it best to leave Mr. Wonka behind, they'll be other races for him to enjoy. Our pooped out puppy Jester was rejuvenated thus we decided to keep him in the team.

The amazing aspect of this year's squad was the age- our oldest was five (Annie, Walter and Watson) with the average being around 3. We had 3 two year olds, along with Jester were his brothers Amigo and George. Famed Iditarod musher and friend Paul Gebhardt is always telling me how he loves racing 2 year olds, now I could see why- their enthusiasm and energy! Once times were readjusted we would be leaving in 2nd, a few hours after Hans, with Lance twenty minutes behind us. As far as I was concerned we were all tied for the lead. Before leaving I chatted briefly with Josh Cadzow. I was happy to see that though low on dogs he was excited- that energy would enable him to put on quite a show the second half of the race. Departing the following morning I was listening to some MJ on the ipod as we left Dawson headed for the Klondike Gold fields, " Billie Jean is not my lover, she's just a girl who..."

It was gonna be a long day at the office as our destination, Scroggie Creek was 1oo miles away. 1st things 1st however- King Solomon's Dome, at over 3,600 ft. is the highest point of the trail with amazing views that stretch for dozens of miles in any direction. The team was moving well as we ascended up the winding road. Numerous film crew folks were taping us, a camera was once again placed on the sled too. An hour from town one passes by Gold Dredge #4 which is a massive ship sized relic from a bygone era. In the dark of the night it sends shivers down my back though this time around I was just amazed by what a feat of engineering it is. All went well as we began our gradual descent to the mining area on Solomon's southeastern side. The team was a splendid, cohesive 11 dog unit now with Annie and Tyler still leading the way. Three hours out I stopped to snack the team and replace some booties, realizing it was a matter of miles before Mr. Mackey would be joining up with us.

The trail to Indian river is a rather flat and fast mining road that thankfully was semi-shady considering it was the heat of the day. A few hours later we reached a cluster of homes alongside a bluff- Indian river. I once again stopped the team for a quick fish snack. Suddenly Watson began to growl and howl. Looking back Lance's pink paws came into view. All his pooches were wearing pink booties this year, getting a lil' light in your loafers there buddy? He explained that they had been donated to him and were made with good material. Having just snacked his squad as well he passed on by as we ascended Eureka Mtn., though not too difficult a climb we took our time in the warm afternoon sun. Minutes later a snowmachine appeared from behind- it was 'Haywire Harry'- a local photographer who went on by. Unfortunately his machine broke down shortly thereafter and he would be stranded for a few days. Hence the nickname.

A dogteam's speed tends to diminish on these longer runs yet as the sun set ever so slowly our pace picked up a tad. Lance had to bag a dog that was overheating as we passed by him in the black hills. The view from up above here is gorgeous, especially the reds, purples and pinks as the sun sets to the west. Leaving the mining area we were back in the tree lined trail, nearing Scroggie creek for a well deserved rest. Early that evening we pulled into the newly rebuilt spot that we were eager to check out. William Kleedehn and co. had recently built a plywood cabin for mushers to use. It definately lived up to the hype though we think he intentionally made the door squeaky so people could not sneak out on other mushers. Hans was leisurely resting upon our arrival. The temperature was just below zero which was rather balmy for this section of trail. Jester was to be dropped here, it was obvious that the longer runs were too much for him to handle. We'd save him for the Iditarod trail which is typically easier on a dog`s body.

In fact most of the team will be performing in both 1,ooo mile events. It might be difficult for cityfolk to understand but these animals, beautiful northern beasts of nature actually get stronger as they go- their bodies become 'hardened in'. Other mushers are always amazed how I rarely look tired or discombobulated despite days with lil`sleep on the trail. What they fail to realize is that since the year 2000 I will have now competed in 17 thousand milers, including both major races back to back the last 6 years in a row. While some are always focused on what place they finish personally it`s all about retaining the Passion within us! Lance and I had numerous discussions on this subject. The internet has been great for expanding coverage of our sport but what many fans fail to realize is: We`re not competing to impress You or `win one for the gipper`- for many of us this is a sacred event in which we are trying to evolve into better dogmen, true sons of the North. Nowadays so many people are trying to latch on to mushing `celebrities`in order to use them for their own selfish gain. As mushers we need to realize this, concentrate on what is most important- the Dawgs- and be satisfied with whatever place we finish, as long as they are happy and healthy. Lance commented how insulted he was by people telling him how sorry they were for his not `winning`a race. Just because you don`t come in 1st in an event does not mean you have not had a good run. If there's any musher out there who only cares about winning I suggest they sell their dogs and get some therapy.

After enjoying some hot dogs and soup we waited for Hans to leave, bootying up an hour after his departure. All of us were experienced enough on the trail not too waste much time playing head games with each other. In this year's contest may the best team win! Next place to rest would be Pelly Crossing another 1oo miler that by now the dogs were used to running. The trail to SteppingStone is quite hilly thus we would be setting no speed records, a nice consistent pace is what we were seeking. Fortunately this run would be done in the dark, heat would not be an issue. Descending down towards the river I noticed that Lance was pumping his fist in the air. We had caught up to Hans- he looked back at us bewildered at our arrival. As he bedded his team down in SteppingStone we continued on to Pelly. Hans, like all mushers, was enduring a tough run, having had to carry a dog in the sled. He's one of the best in the world however, this was just a glitch for him to overcome.

An hour later as we travelled on the Pelly river I looked up from staring at my dogs to see Lance chasing after his dogteam. With one last leap he jumped forward and lurched onto his sled's handlebar. Glancing back at me with a big grin on his face I couldn't help but start laughing- what's the deal with people leading races and losing their dogteams? I would later find out that his seat had busted, I couldn't believe how fast he ran to catch his squad, talk about an adrenaline rush! Nearing Pelly early that afternoon media were once again on the trail filming us. The sun was heating up as our pace diminished, just outside of town Lance whistled up his squad as they left us in their wake. He obviously had more power to play with. We were greeted by friends and race fans upon our arrival. The pooches were really in a nice groove now with healthy appetites as they chowed down on some beef chunks and chicken breasts.

During our break I was heartened to learn that only 1 team of the entire field had scratched from the Quest- this was an amazing year considering normally only half the teams finish this grueling event. Having finished a delectable meal of spaghetti the excitement suddenly peaked amongst the assembled fans as Hans arrived- the race was on. The temps. were in the 30's that afternoon so we decided to wait til early evening before departing. Heading out of Pelly one must ascend a rather steep hill before crossing over several lakes that lead to Minto and McCabe Creek. McCabe's checkpoint had burnt down last year and is now under construction. Our run time was just over a few hours as we arrived there being greeted by Jari Kruse. Lance instructed me to guard the teams while he ran into her parent's house to grab some coffee and cinnabuns. Unfortunately as we left McCabe jumble ice awaited us- it was a bit difficult drinking coffee while navigating these bouncy sections.

Carmacks was our next destination, some 40 odd miles away. This section can leave you quite disorientated with twisty up and down narrow roads to follow. Thankfully the final few miles leading into this native village are downhill as both man and dogs were once again in need of some rest. Lance, Hans and our team were blowing the roof off of the record book. Last year's pace felt like a crawl compared with this contest's accelerated environment. Fog greeted us as we came into the checkpoint, coming up to the parking area the team accidentally went on to the road. Fearing a time penalty I quickly ran up to the leaders and pulled them back over to the trail. "You need not have worried Hugh", the officials called out once we arrived. Now ya tell me.
Twenty minutes later Hans arrived. "Race is on.", Lance chimed in. I grabbed some eggs and ham before enjoying a quick rest. We realized that Hans had the best team among us, our sole choice was to see if their speed would diminish if they had a bit less rest than ours.

Twenty minutes outside of Carmacks I had my answer as we let Hans team pass by. Before leaving I had mentioned to the japanese film crew not to be disappointed if we finished 3rd, I'd give it our best shot but in dogmushing it tends to be rather obvious by the last stages of a long-distance race who has the more powerful squad. Even though Lance had a 15 minute advantage on Hans I was relatively confident that he too would be passed somewhere during the 75 mile run to Braeburn. There was a mandatory 8 hour layover there thus if any team had more than a 20 minute advantage on their nearest competitor the odds were heavily with them to cross the finish line 1st. It feels more like a 100 mile run as numerous lakes and portages cover this section of Quest trail. Coghlan lake offers the most panoramic views with massive pingos jutting out from islands in its center. Though a bit disappointed that we could not keep up with the other outstanding squads I still reveled in the moment, thanking the pooches for giving such a wonderful effort. Ya know folks, often out on the trail tears are streaming down my cheeks- even to this day after tens of thousands of miles traveled- joyously celebrating the fact that a simple cityboy from Chicago is so fortunate to have witnessed all that these eyes have seen.

Nearing Braeburn it was obvious despite all of my efforts at massaging Watson that his massive chest muscles were impeding him from running properly. I decided this would be the 1st time he would not be finishing a 1,000 miler. Considering this was his 6th major race in 5 years it was an emotional experience letting my lil' buddy know that we'd be leaving him behind. Steve Watson is the owner of Breaburn and a good friend. His massive meals along with a cold Kokanee really hit the spot. The weather was getting quite warm as we neared the finish line in Whitehorse. Fortunately our departure was set for 3am when the temps. would be a bit cooler. Each year we do some training runs on this last section of trail thus the dogs attitude picked up knowing they were heading down the homestretch. By this point Hans was an hour ahead of us and 30 minutes in front of Lance. The famed Austrian musher was in control now as he would be tied with Lance as the only 2 people to win the Quest race 4 times each. I had wishful thoughts of catching Mr. Mackey but realistically it was a longshot.

I made a musher's mistake by bringing the team up too early to the departure chute, they became bored waiting for the clock to tick down. I replaced Tyler in lead with Walter who pulled us down the trail and on our way towards home. Thankfully it was quite windy that morning much like air conditioning for the pooches. Nearing the Takhini river, just a few hours from the finish line we met up with an old friend Colin Morrison who was checking out teams as they passed by the Flat Creek parking lot. Unfortunately this was the spot where we start most of our training runs- they looked at Colin's car wondering if it was a miniature dogtruck. Stopping them for a fish snack, Colin offered me some Kiwi mentioning that Lance was 40 minutes ahead. By now the temps. were in the 30's, considering the nearest competitor behind us was over half a day back I decided to take our time and enjoy the last remaining hours of this historic race.

Passing by the Takhini river bridge I noticed a bearded fella awaiting our arrival, "I'm so proud of you Hugh." It was retired legendary Quest musher Frank Turner, his thoughts were truly heartwarming. Rounding the river's bend I noticed Keizo Funatsu and the japanese crew were there to film the final sequence. We were now all friends after what we had shared together the previous weeks. Pulling into Whitehorse, Annie and Walter led the way, followed by Amigo and George, Delilah and Tyler and finally Nathan and Zodiac. It was easily the smoothest run I have ever had in any race let alone the Quest- having finished a 1,000 miles in just over 9 days it felt like the event had just begun yesterday. As I explained to the gathered crowd after checking in and feeding the Dawgs. "No matter how many Iditarod races and other competitions I compete in, no matter how successful we might be- at Heart - I'll always be a YukonQuest dogmusher."
And that's all he wrote...

OUR SPRING SCHOOL TOUR WILL BE IN MAY- MIDWEST, EAST COAST AND SOUTH.
CONTACT US ASAP FOR MORE INFO. I WILL BE IN EUROPE IN JUNE AND AFRICA IN JULY IF ANYONE IN THOSE AREAS IS INTERESTED IN ONE OF OUR DOGMUSHING SHOWS TOO! www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Playing with Da BIG Dawgs

2010-02-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

" One's life is judged not only on what they achieve but on what they have overcome..."

1st day was a bit ruff on the Quest trail this year. The previous evening we were watching Alaska's famous balladeer Hobo Jim at my local watering hole, Ivory Jack's, in Goldstream Valley. Towards the end of his gig Hobo shouted out at the audience, "Are there any YukonQuest mushers here?" Zack Steer had just left so everyone pointed in my direction. "You're my hero- now get the heck out of here!" I shouted back that you're my hero as well Hobo- we quickly grabbed our jackets and headed for the door. The Cadzows were kind enough to let us stay in their guest cabin. Josh was once again signed up, we were all hoping he'd make it to the finish line this time around.

The following morning the Japanese film crew that was doing a story on us and Josh arrived early to film us preparing for the race. Compared with 2 years ago the Quest start was rather balmy, in '08 the temp. was 50 below- one could barely even see their dog team, this time around it was in the teens, purrrfect dog weather. Pat Barrett, one of our main sponsors, flew in from Philly to catch a ride to the starting line as well as some pics with the team. Her cheery demeanor is always wonderful to have around the pooches. For any musher, once the race begins the worst part has already passed- the waiting! Thousands of folks lined the chute as Watson and Wonka led us on our merry way. Folks along the route handed out hot dogs, cookies, cokes and even an Alaskan Amber beer! Let the 'suffering' continue...

This being our 10th anniversary run of the Quest I could not help but reminisce about all I've witnessed throughout the years- the good, the bad and the ugly. Nowadays I call the trail my 'office'- imagine knowing nearly every nook and cranny of a 1,000 mile rollercoaster ride, experience is a powerful entity in this world of ours. As in past years I had decided to avoid the throngs of other teams by doing a longer run. There were a couple stretches of nasty, icy overflow that I wanted to pass over as well, it made sense to push the team a bit further so that they would be less energetic and thus easier to control in these dicey situations. All went well as we pulled over to rest with Dave Dalton, Brent Sass and my buddy Mike Ellis. Once our teams had been fed and cared for we enjoyed some campfire chat. Though competitors, we are also comrades who all realize how lucky we are to enjoy such a beautiful and adventurous lifestyle.

A few hours went by before teams came whizzing past, it's always fun to 'size up' the competition, even though it's the middle of the night and pitch black out. Their goes Gerry W. looking good, Hans is as powerful as ever, too funny Lance is just a minute behind him- already playing head games. As Brent's team departed I bootied up the kids for our next leg of the journey- Mile 101 checkpoint. At over 3,500 ft. Mt. Rosebud would be the big test for this section of trail. Before ascending her steep slopes we had some nasty twisty trail to cover. At one point we missed a turn and dropped some fifty feet over a riverbank and on to the ice below. Fortunately Watson turned us around and back on to the main trail as I apologised to Abbie West who we were travelling with at the time. Approaching Rosebud I noticed a sled up ahead, we were gaining on Brent. Being much younger than myself I decided to let this young buck from Minnesota be our sherpa guide up and over the mountain. This year I had decided to use a sit down sled- yes I was kicking up the steepest section of the Quest trail while sitting on my bum- I know-lazy! Thanks Brent, owe you one Brotha.

The trail was in decent shape as we pulled in to 101 for our mandatory veterinary check. The pooches did well, were eating and now resting as I sauntered off for an hour of shuteye. Lance Mackey was already in the cabin crashed out. I call Lance my 'soul brother'- we've witnessed alot together over these past 5 or 6 years. However before the race I repeatedly told Tamra that I needed to stay out of his sphere of influence, one loses focus when travelling with such a legendary figure. Concentrate on the dogs and not other mushers, realize how lucky you are to be you. Well, so much for that plan- from here on out we'd be travelling together for most of the race. Karma- it is what it is.

Hans Oettli, the Race Marshall had given us permission to place a camera on the sled to film the notorious descent down Eagle Summit. This year the conditions were ideal as we flew up and over without any problems. Unfortunately the camera was knocked out on the bumpy ride, nonetheless I was hootin' and hollering all the way to Central- what a rush of enjoyment! 20 miles from town we cross over the steese hwy., I noticed that Lance's Mrs., Tonya and handler Braxton were hanging out in a truck awaiting his arrival. Waving to them, we continued on thru the next portion of trail known as the Schandelmier gauntlet. John is an old school musher who has won the race twice and is now the head trail person on the Alaska side. Each year he makes a point of reminding mushers they are on the Quest trail - the next section had numerous twists and turns over small uprooted trees. Nothing too major but a reminder of how lucky we are to have such great trail for most of the way.

Pulling in to Central I was a bit apprehensive considering a 2 hour penalty for yours truly gave the race away to someone else last year. During that contest I had gone down the road while giving an interview to a german film crew, the head fella told the reporters assembled that I was a 'cheater'. One must ask the question however- who is the cheater? The person who is given a penalty that decides the race or someone else who might have performed the very same action, though for not as far, yet hidden their agenda and successfully used this to their advantage? (Despite the fact that they left a fellow musher hangin' in the wind by their covert actions and thus dishonored the integrity of the race.) Race fans might tease me about staying off the road but we in the 'biz' know what really went down and which musher should be haunted by what they have perpetuated. This time around I could only laugh as I noticed that all of the teams in front of us went straight down the street despite being told before the race of the trail that ran in the gully along side it- it was completely unsafe to stop the team on the paved area, oh well. Pulling into the checkpoint I couldn't resist humming a lil' Willie Nelson tune- "On the road again..."- a few folks in the crowd began giggling...

The beauty of this year`s race was its mellow atmosphere, after last season`s embarassing finish everyone wanted the world to once again see what the YukonQuest truly is all about. Hans and his crew allowed the media a bit more access to the mushers, handlers were not being harassed, etc.. Everyone was having fun and smiling- it truly is a celebration of our unique northern lifestyle. It being the heat of the day I decided to stay for a burger, the bar was packed as the super bowl began. In sauntered this wild woman from down south, Kathy Chapoton is Martin Buser's wife and man was she pumped up about her Saints. She knew that I am hoping to do some school presentations there one day soon and was kind enough to give me a New Orleans souvenir to carry with for good luck. There was some bad news however as Shifter. a 65 pd. blonde pooch had to be dropped. The speed of the smaller, quicker dogs had worn him out.

The temps. in the mid teens were quite comfortable as we set off late in the afternoon, our next journey being some 75 miles to the village of Circle on the Yukon river. Crossing over Medicine lake we began to pass by numerous teams that were camping: Hans, Gerry, then Dave and Brent. Dropping down on to Birch creek we were now in 2nd place behind Mr. Mackey- deja vu Hugh. The sun recently setting set up a firmer trail as our speed accelerated. 10 miles later we caught and passed by Lance who was snacking his pooches. I was excited to go see my buddy Carl Cochrane whose residence is some 28 miles from Circle. Pulling up to his cabin a few hours later we exchanged pleasantries and a cup of joe. I would have loved to stay longer yet was afraid the young energetic squad might pull the hook and leave me stranded. After replacing some booties on the pooches I bid Carl adieu as we set off towards the mighty Yukon river.

The team was in a groove as we pulled in to Circle, Lance and Zack Steer were now ahead of us after our brief restbit at Cochrane's. The race officials, fans and japanese film crew were floored by our pace. "We didn't realize this was going to be a speed race", the head interpreter Izumi blurted out. "Blame it on Mackey", I responded. Once head veternarian Kathy McGill and her crew were done going over the dogs I went into the fire hall to grab some chow and shuteye. Lance was on his 2nd plate by the time I arrived. Quest checkpoints provide a variety of chow for mushers to enjoy, suppose that's why we're always in a hurry to get to the next one.

From circle we would travel on or near the Yukon river for nearly 300 miles with only one checkpoint, Eagle, to resupply our outfits with. For much of this section of trail the lead alternated between Zack, myself, Hans and Lance. This year's poster depicted a musher crossing over jumbled ice, now we understood its meaning. It can be quite unnerving travelling the brief areas that contain ice such as this-they typically cut across the Yukon from one side to better trail on the other. You can only imagine all the difficult work the trail crew puts in creating these pathways. Slavens cabin was our 1st resting spot, Zack's team was bedded down upon our arrival. Unfortunately we had a major wipeout a few miles back and my sled's seat had broken off the back as I was drug down the trail. After tying it back together we continued on as I noticed one of our wheeldogs, Ellsworth, was doing a small bunny hop. After discussing the matter with Al the vet we decided it best to drop our slanty nosed buddy. It's always tough mentally to say adios to one of your furry compadres but their health should always be numero uno on a musher's mind.

The section from Slavens to Trout creek cabin passes by some of the more scary areas of the trail. The Nations river is typically windblown with nasty portions of ice. This evening however the air was still as we travelled upriver towards Eagle in the darkness and star filled skies above. Typically every few hours the team is snacked with meat, kibble or fish. Frequent rest breaks are taken along the way to check on booties, luv up the pooches, etc. Trout Creek cabin is run by Mike Seger who comes out from Eagle each year to man this rest area for all of us. This would be the 1st place I actually had some quality sleep since the beginning of the race, just over an hour or so. Most cabins along the way find Lance and I shooting the breeze with folks we don't want to miss the opportunity to share some story time with. As Mr. Mackey often says, "There's plenty of time to sleep when you're dead." This year it was quite noticeable that a voice was missing from the conversation. A good friend and mentor was not participating- William Kleedehn. One of the Quest's greatest dogmen ever, William was sorely missed, we all hope he returns to the trail again in the future- where he belongs.

Following Zack and Hans early the next morning we set off the remaining 45 miles to Eagle. The sky was illuminated with pinkish hues as the sun rose on the horizon, the mountainsides were adorned in splendour. Life was gorgeous - this was the Quest trail fluffing her wings for all to see! Nearing Eagle we immediately noticed that the Yukon river was wide open in the middle- it was unbelievable to witness such a scene in the arctic in the coldest part of the winter. Eagle had been devastated by floodwaters the previous spring as mammoth chunks of ice destroyed the native section of town. A few miles out a massive headwind nailed our teams as mushers were forced to hunker down low behind their sleds or else they'd become a sail and slow down the team's momentum. The cliffsides surrounding the river here resemble Yosemite- heavenly, a rock climber's paradise. Pulling in to the schoolhouse checkpoint, Lance commented that this area would not be too bad of a place to settle down. I heartily agreed though I doubted that our better halfs would concur .

The frontrunners, knowing each other quite well, were respectful of each other the entire race. The competition was heating up however to see who would be the 1st to Dawson to collect the 4 ounces of gold. Zack left Eagle 1st followed by Lance then myself. By this point in the race Tyler was up in front of our team next to Annie. I named him after a boy we had given a glacier ride to thru the 'Make-a-Wish' foundation. Tyler was a sweet kid that always seemed to have a big smile on his face despite having cystic fibrosis. His willful determination lives on thru the spirit of our mystic-eyed, white pooch who has superstar written all over. It was a blessing to watch him lope up the highway leading to American Summit. Even more harrowing to view was Hans' team as they flew by all three of our squads- it was obvious now who the favorite squad was for this race. The winds were howling as we travelled around the mountain's top. 4 dogteams against Mother Nature- yet another Quest test to endure.

From there one travels the Taylor hwy, which is not plowed, for several hours of hilly terrain finally descending down onto the forty mile river. By now Hans had left us in the dust, Zack had fallen back a bit as well. In past years we would have broken this 150 mile run up into 3 sections yet the times are a changin'- "Oh Canada"- here we come baby! The forty mile river is rather narrow compared with the quarter mile wide mighty Yukon. Large hillsides adorn either side of the stream leaving some amazing vistas for one to enjoy. A few hours downriver we came upon Hans who had set up camp at the border crossing, his dogs were bedded down on straw and resting. Having won the race 3 times Hans in my book is the champ. Not because of his victories but all he has done over the years. Many Questers use his sleds that can take a beating and keep on flying. The forty mile descends down to the Yukon thus its a mellow trail for the pooches to travel on. Exhaustion for humans was taking affect by now. "Lance, Lance.", I repeatedly yelled out, finally I hiked up Annie to go by his team. Suddenly he jumped up out of his dream state. A few hours passed by before he asked to once again lead the way.

As the sun rose that morning we pulled into Sebastian Jones cabin at forty mile. We were again back on the Yukon river now. We decided to stay at least 4 hours, it was Hans decision now. We had fun visiting with Sebastian, just over 2 hours passed when Hans' squad rolled on thru. There was no sense in not giving the dogs a proper restbit considering we were barely halfway into the competition. Besides we had both won the Dawson prize before. The remaining run into town was rather sluggish as the wind drifted over large portions of the trail. We could only imagine what Hans was going thru a few hours ahead of us. Twenty miles from town I noticed a few planes soaring above us. Rounding a bend in the river I was immediately awestruck- 4 Caribou were racing down the trail in front of us- was I seeing things? I had to laugh, both planes were heading upriver towards Dawson thus missing some incredible video. As we neared the 'Paris of the North' our pace accelerated. Unfortunately near Moosehide there was a large section of water that had been opened up, time to get wet kids!. Thankfully it was barely a few feet deep though my mood was soured as we pulled up to the multitude of media. Encrusted in ice, "Huge Mess" was not a happy camper. Pulling a pooped out pup, Jester, from within the sledbag I explained to race official Thomas Tetz that I had hoped to get a shower in Dawson, not before it!

to be continued...

Annie's Army

2010-02-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

"If you want to make the world a better place, take a look in the mirror and... Change....."- MJ

And they're off!!! The heart of racing season begins this weekend with the start of the YukonQuest in Fairbanks. I love this race unlike any other, it truly has a grip on my heart and soul for this is where I learned to...? SURVIVE! What has me excited for this year's saga? Well, competing against dogmushing friends is always fun and challenging but in all honesty it's Terra, the LAND, that keeps the anticipation heightened. One thousand miles of pure pleasure, this will be our 1oth Quest race but with so many amazing views I'll always feel like the eternal rookie. Heading over Eagle Summit, sunsets on the Yukon river, the valley view from up on top of American summit- Dawson City- the hills heading in to Scroggie creek. The twisty rollercoaster ride just outside of Carmacks and finally the Emerald valley that guides one for the last remaining miles into the wondrous city of Whitehorse. And best of all? 14 of your favorite furry friends to share each and every exhilarating experience with. Quest mushers truly are some of the luckiest humans on the globe!

This year's squad is dubbed Annie's Army- along with her brothers Walter and Watson, 3 of her sons will be participating- Jester, George and Amigo. The other dominant litter is from our retired leader Omen, they are- Delilah, Tyler, Tolliver and Ellsworth. Rounding out the team will be Shifter, a pooch we picked up from Lance Mackey last year, Zodiac who we acquired from Lance's bro Jason. Tamra's boyfriend Nathan will be back again as well as my hero-Mr. Wonka. (check out our website for pics) It'll be an interesting group of kids to play with considering the average age of the team is 3-4 years old. If you are a fan whose only desire is to follow a 'winning team' I suggest you check out someone else's internet sight- our kennel's sole purpose is having fun. I've seen too many other mushers over the years lose their souls all in the pursuit of defeating others. That type of attitude is not only bad for dogs but for a lengthy dogmushing career as well. Our goal as I've stated in the past is to finish with wagging tails that are ready and roaring to go on to the next adventure. What's best for the Quest? the more finishing squads the better. In mushing just as in life, one should never worry about being 'better' than those around them- just don't beat up on yourself. Take this from an Eagle Scout who has witnessed a thing or 2 over the years- Be Prepared.

We plan on racing in 5 or 6 more competitions this season- the Quest, Iditarod, Roadrunner ( a 100 miler in Whitehorse) possibly the Percy Dewolfe, Yukon Flats 400 as well as the Kobuk 440 in Kotzebue. As in other years it's quite the full slate but if one has a deep passion, their energy is limitless. And that is what mushing is all about- the ENERGY. When you and the team are as one single entity that train is a ROLLING round the bend- and it doesn't matter if you ever see sunshine cuz the beauty of the trail will never end. Here's wishing all my Quest compadres well on the trail. If you want to be successful always remember to lose the stress, compete not with others but with yourself and most importantly- Unleash the BEAST within.
Enjoy the view, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

THANK YOU!!!!!
Paw Partners Rick and Wanda Hilman
Susie Calderwood 49er Feed
Karen Russo Kipmik
Pat Barrett Gerry Willomitzer
Hans Gatt Ray Redington Jr.
June Shelley Caitlin Santos
Sam Harrell Roland Riley
Our awesome handler Elie Lafave!
All of the school teachers and kids we have had the pleasure of visiting.
And so many others- if I forgot you my apologies.
Follow the race : www.yukonquest.com

Creating Magic within a Mystical Kingdom

2009-11-17T15:09:00.000-08:00

"Trust none of what you hear- and less of what you see. This is what will be..." --The Boss

Now there's a reason that most dogmushers are sequestered off in remote regions of the wilderness- secluded within their personal 'Doggie Domains'. You think you have issues? There are but a handful of folks that we compete with on a yearly basis that contain the amount of energy that yours truly has to deal with on a daily basis. We're just not talking about the Dawgs here people. With so much to perform and accomplish on a daily basis around the dogyard I really don't need too many friends to hang with- I'm busy enough talking to myself. Yes, we northerners may be a bit touched in the head at times yet the lives we lead are true blessings from above. Amongst the people of the North mushers are quite unique characters. Hugh Neff? Well, let's just say that most of the competition is still trying to figure out my maddening ways- that's the beauty of it.

Last year's theme word was `Patience`, for this season we are going to 'Focus' on appreciating and enjoying the moment. With all of the training, travelling and racing our kennel does each year I often forget to take a breather, relax and just enjoy the beautiful view before my very eyes. Fortunately the Great Almighty has a way of reminding YOU when one leasts expects it. This time of year I'm on the sled constantly; 2 fourteen Dawg teams each day. Our runs typically last 3-5 hours in length and cover all types of terrain. Originally I had hoped to be training out of Tok by now but the conditions have been excellent here thus a brief delay in our plans. Around the Annie lake area we have some of the best training in the world w/out an abundance of other folks to share the trails with. From our cabin I can head out on half a dozen trails varying from flat and fast, twisty and tight to straight up! They all have their advantages as well as dangers. My favorite would have to be...

Having travelled throughout Alaska's Greatland as well as the Yukon by dogteam I often reflect on all of the amazing vistas we've enjoyed. Words could never properly do them justice. Ya know where my favorite place to travel is? It's not exactly a location but a certain type of trail. Thick woods with narrow twisty turns are always the rollercoaster ride I dream about. There are parts of the Yukon Quest that have some amazing zigzagging routes that leaves you dizzy at times. Back when I was participating in sprint races over a decade ago one of my favorite events was held in the Athabascan Indian village of Minto. The trail there is tight, up and down, curvy and fast- fun times are always to be had. That type of racing was enjoyable but once the hound dogs replaced the huskies ( in order to get more speed) I lost any interest in it. Besides, why race for an hour or so when you can travel for days on end? In long-distance mushing it's nice to have a bit of speed in one's squad but power is what creates champions. That's why I love training in the mountains- my favorite area? Alligator lake.

From our kennel we travel straight up some two thousand feet to reach a valley that runs a dozen miles or so. At around 5 thousand feet there is plenty of wildlife in the area that enjoys the warmer temps. Yesterday morning I was giddy with delight having witnessed yet another 1st. I've had encounters with wolves on the trail in the past though sightings are quite rare. They are a shy intelligent animal that is wise enough to hide from man. I'd much rather see a few of them than an ornery mother moose. A few hours into yesterday's run with our 2 year olds, the dogteam crested over a hill as I noticed a large group of Ravens hovering over some bushes just off to the side of the trail. These birds are usually a good indicator of game being in the area. Having seen numerous caribou tracks over the previous few miles I figured there might be a few of 'Santa's buddies' hanging out in the neighborhood. Scanning to my left I looked out over the half mile wide valley and noticed movement everywhere. 3 or 4 large grey wolves were flying away from us across a pond and up into the hills. I immediately stopped the team even though we were descending down a hill, in order to enjoy such a beautiful sight. Looking more intently I noticed a larger wolf closer to us, most likely the father or uncle protecting the pack. Directly in the center of the ice was a gorgeous brown wolf, I could almost FEEL that it was the alpha female, her eyes were piercing. The look they gave us said it all, `Hurry up and get the heck out of here, can't you see we're having breakfast?"

We finally continued down the hill and found a nice flat spot. I hawed my leaders Watson and Tolliver to the left as we swung back around and began to head back home. Passing straight up the hill we had just came down, I stopped the team behind a stand of trees to have one last peek. The wolf pups were nowhere to be seen. Yet out on the edge of the frozen water stood the black male eyeing his prey. In the middle stood his Mrs.- she did not flinch knowing we were still in the vicinity. One can only imagine what thoughts were racing thru their heads. What was I thinking? "I'm in heaven..." Some folks might run dogs in order to race for money and trophies yet for me moments as rare as this are priceless. How appropriate that it was sunday morning for our 'church' service was definately under way. Everyday feels like living inside of a "Cathedral" up here in the North, that's why we choose to be on a sled as much as possible. Living in harmony with nature is awe-inspiring.` It was another reminder of why I moved north many moons ago- not just to be some dog racer- but a true beast of nature.

Training the younger pups this year has been wonderful. The 2 litters are out of our main retired leader Omen and Lance Mackey's Zorro, the other litter is from Annie and Brady. Zorro is the famous stud dog of Alaska yet his litter pales in comparison to Annie's wild bunch. We call them the `brat pack`- eight of the most comical critters I`ve ever been fortunate enough to train. The main man of this group is Geronimo as well as his bro Amigo. Their sister Juanita is quite fiesty as well- they all have their mother`s energy combined with their pa`s gregarious attitude. (Jericho, Joker, Jester, Jewel and George fill out the group) What also sets them apart from the other litter is that they are all neutered and spayed. How ironic considering most people would believe that this would give the dogs less energy. Despite their enthusiasm most of these kids will only participate in a few of the shorter mid-distance events this year. Another season for their bodies to mature and these furballs are going to be something else.

The other team consists of some of the toughest beasts on the planet. Walter, Watson and Annie are my `3-headed Monster`, Tyler, Tolliver and their sister Delilah have their mother Omen`s speed and father Maestro`s heart, Shaman and Shifter are my `twin towers of power` as well as Sicily, a dynamite lil`gal I received from my buddy Ray `Babycakes` Redington. (Sicily and Shaman are from Robert Sorlie`s dog Barley) Throw in another dozen veteran pooches and it`s gonna be interesting once we leave the starting chute. This team has been treating me like a ragdoll; most of the time I`m slamming both feet down on the sled`s drag trying to mellow them out a bit. So far it`s been rather warm (20`s) but my hands, face and feet don`t seem to be complaining. Great training year, one of the best ever, hardly a sun or moon rise that we have not witnessed out on the trail in this wondrous wilderness. The key this year won`t be just how many miles logged but how powerful our magical mushing potion can be created. Some seek to be great competitors, I`d much rather enjoy being an Artist hoping to paint a prettier picture each and every year.

This is NOT Disneyland however- there are always tough times on the trail no matter what path in life one so chooses. In our area the last few months have been rather traumatic. Upon returning from our school tour in september I learned that our First Nations neighbor Ray had died from a heart attack then just a few weeks ago another great man, Bill Baker, passed on as well. Bill was diagnosed with cancer, fortunately he did not suffer too long. My father died a few years ago from cancer just before the Quest began. It was one of the toughest moments I've ever had to deal with yet we took comfort knowing how great a person he was. All of the wonderful things he had done for his family and community as well as the fact that he had the opportunity to live a fairly long life. Our neighborhood friends however were both in their 50's and were active outdoorsman. Not having them around suddenly gives us a greater appreciation not only for the world around us but our very beings. One can only feel sorry for those in this world of ours who don't grab each day with a sense of gratitude for all they have seen. Hopefully one day they`ll realize how lucky they are if they choose to see things in the proper light.

LEARNING TO EVOLVE

"Every Dog has its day. Every day has its way of being forgotten... What would you say?"

- Dave Matthews

I have been advised to make a brief statement regarding last year's Yukon Quest race. This will be reference material for any media/fans who happen to have any ?'s or remarks about our `road experience` in Central. We were penalized 2 hours for travelling down a road for 4 miles, I would end up losing the 1,000 mile race by 4 minutes. The trail we were supposed to be on was 20- 40 ft. to our right though I deemed the road to be safer for the dogs to travel on. No dogmusher has ever been penalized for this infraction on this section of trail before however the musher in front of our team complained to race officials resulting in our receiving the penalty. (this can all be seen in a German documentary- I was actually giving an interview to some camera folks while on the road) I have no problem with being penalized. The issue is why were any of the other 'top ten' mushers -whose dogteams also went down the road NOT given a 2 hour penalty or even made mention of? The media quoted the race marshall as calling me a cheater, thankfully he's not around anymore. Nice fella but a bit under qualified for the position. It's just sad that the other mushers have not come forward to admit their transgression as well. Whether one is on the wrong trail for 1 mile or more, each one of us should admit our mistake and not benefit by hiding the truth. In any race the best dogteam should win not the musher who uses the rules to their advantage. Just sad when outside human influences determine the outcome of a DOG race.

Fortunately I was the person who was meant to be made an 'example' of- dealing with adversity is my middle name. We just hope the Quest is wise enough to admit their inadequacies so that a more professional event can be run in the future. We protested the penalty fully knowing what the Quest's response would be. Will the people running the show ever fess up to their miscues? One wishes they would so that we are able to attract more prominent mushers from the Iditarod and other global mushing events to participate in our ever dwindling field. Races like Iditarod are consistently run more efficiently by people who have actually run the race with dogs before, maybe the Quest needs to find more retired mushers to aid them with their expertise. The Quest has wonderful banquets and is great with putting out 'press releases'. Here's wishing they give as much thought to a well organized set of officials and a trail coordinator that keeps a keen eye out for each section of trail.

Tripods before

Tripods after

I actually had to console a trailbreaker who came up to me at a party this past summer crying. He related his story to me that he was told not to worry about putting in a snowmachine trail over Eagle Summit. For those who don't know (and lots don't because the Quest chose not to comment on it), Jon and I spent 8 hours on the side of Eagle Summit in a blizzard because not only was there no trail, there were no markers. The markers may have blown away but that is why they put up tripods a few years ago. To our surprise the Quest only bothered to put reflectors on the up hill side of them. Jon and I spent hours walking around looking for a reflector to find the trail. I've since been told that this has been a problem in years past, but complaints to the Quest have gone unheard. So this summer, Brent, Mike and I went to Eagle Summit and made sure there were reflectors on those tripods. Later we were called volunteers for the Quest, as though they had any part of it. Really we were fed up, frustrated mushers- not that the Quest would say that to the media. I'm not complaining- in this day and age it's a blessing to have people volunteer their time to ensure this event continues on. We just think it can be done better with a greater sense of dignity. Times are tough and money is scarce yet look at what Dr. McGill has done with her limited resources. Many mushers now believe that the veterinary staff in the Quest is more attentive to the mushers/dogs needs than most of the other major races.

Was it tough losing by 4 minutes? Not as tough as losing your dad or a neighborhood friend. Or getting your face ripped apart by the coastal winds in Iditarod. 'Winning' some 1st place trophy and $ is not my goal each year. Creating a perfect dogteam is- and that's probably why I'll be running pooches for the rest of my time on this earth. I'd much rather be a Real Dogman than a Fake Champion. Hugh Neff will accept 2nd place as long as I know in my heart that I had the best dog team and the fastest time on the trail ever. ( I still think another half a day or so quicker is within reach) Some folks are actually accusing me of wanting to lose the race. You know why? A few years ago I made a deal with my sweetheart Tamra that we could get married once our team won a race. Sorry Honey! We'll see if I can rectify the situation this upcoming season...

Enjoying the view as always, Hugh

Exploring Ernesto's Island of the Vultures...

2009-10-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

"A man has to take a lot of punishment to write a really funny book." - Hemingway

The Little Boy and How He Learned to SEE

Sometimes in life one has two choices. Run inside, lock the doors and scream, " Sorry this is not for me - I only desire security." Or they may choose to walk in thru the out door, "Hola senor! Can you show me more?" This past summer Tamra's P's invited us to join them and some friends for a vacation down south in Cuba. Considering I was booked solid for 3 weeks in september presenting school talks about dogmushing I was hesitant to go. After all we have dogs to love and train up. (The hectic travel schedual was a bit much to handle as well.) The senoritas were persistent however thus this past week we discovered a place that I had never in my wildest dreams ever thought of visiting.

Like most children of my generation, I was taught that Cuba was part of the evil axis. Fidel Castro and his people had chosen to side with the Soviets and were no longer 'friends' of ours. I still don't have a clear recognition of all this Island's complete history yet being a naturalist more than a politician I was more intrigued with her beauty. Tam and I would be travelling with a group of married couples whose average lifetime spent with one another was 45- 50 years! (I know- the women even still pack their husband's suitcases- can you believe it?) Brian and Gillian, Bill and Chris, Art and Carol, Ken and Sue as well as Gord and Carol are wonderful folks who we learned much from and enjoyed a few too many cervezas with. We were to be staying in Jibacoa which is a resort just south of Havana, the capital city. Our friends are all Canadians, a few of them travelling to Cuba on an annual basis. Being an Alaskan I was on pins and needles most of the trip- might the locals think of throwing the American gringo to the wolves?

I was told that folks from the U.S. can visit Cuba via another country yet considering most humans, 'civilized societies', frighten me my apprehension never subsided until we were back on the Sun Wing flight heading up North to Toronto. My inhibitions however would not keep us from enjoying one heck of a fiesta! Initially it was a bit spooky as we skidded down the wet, bumpy airport runway into Veradero in the darkness of the night. Having been on a dozen flights the previous month I was amazed that there was only one single line of runway lights for the entire airport- talk about being energy effecient- yikes! Once we reached the hotel our group immediately filed into the bar for a quick breather. It might have been raining out but our appetite was still 'wet' for a lil' fun in the sun. The palm trees and refreshing breeze certainly had a pleasant odor compared with that of our dogyard back on Annie lake. What views would we enjoy come sun up?Agua mineral. Let me preface this by saying that as a child I nearly drowned when our canoe tipped over on a scouting trip. One of the Diagostino twins forced me to pay him 10 dollars to let me back in the canoe. Coach Stelnicki at Loyola Academy taught me how to swim and that wasn't until sophomore year, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself". Consequently swimming in deep water really isn't my cup of tea. The Atlantic, however, was gorgeous that morning as we lapped up the warmth and luxurious surroundings. In the afternoon we decided to go for a walkabout with the P's. Five minutes down the road a few locals rushed up, "We'll show you around, my name is William-buenas dias!" The trail we took ascended a steep mountain with lovely views from the cliffs. As we gazed down from a few thousand feet above the hotel the ocean stretched out forever. Flying around us were dozens of vultures, hopefully they had other varmits to toy with. We continued on and were taken to a local farmer's hacienda where we were presented w/ sugar cane to enjoy: it was hard and chewy, meant to nibble on and then be spat out. Various animals were tied to whatever was available, it was obvious that this was a 3rd world country. The farmer's family was huddled w/in a shack- wooden shudders hiding them from view. Tamra's father Brian inquired, "So what then exactly is a 2nd world country?" Most of the locals we met enjoyed working yet with the embargo there was not much for them to buy. It was no wonder they all loved to fish- they had families to feed!

During all of our various excursions there was one constant- people begging; whether it be for pesos, shoes or clothing. I have been to poor areas of Mexico before and had never seen squalor to this degree. Sometimes I would give the person a present but only if they had deserved it by putting on a good show, they'd have to 'earn it the old fashioned way'. Heck, I have an appreciation for where they are coming from. I've spent nights living in the homeless shelter in Anchorage, a week underneath some bushes over by the Tony Knowles trail. Nearly froze to death living in a station wagon alongside the Tanana river off of Peger road in fairbanks in october of '95. I have lived in various Native Athabascan villages that suffer from numerous issues- yet where there's a will, there's a way... if given the chance.

Our 1st excursion was to Havana, the historic city which is home to millions of people. Cubans call it Habana, it has embraced numerous wars throughout the ages involving the Spanish and other armadas from around the globe. Having personally never been outside of North America the ancient buildings were spellbinding, "So is this what europe is like?", I asked Tamra. The local flavor was intriguing. The smell of Catholicism was heavy in the air though tinged with a bit of local voodoo brought over from Africa during the years of slave trade. Women were dressed in flamboyant local garb begging to take pics with you in order to earn a peso or two. The flea market was filled with folks hawking all types of ware. "Hey mister- you like cigars?" Though we were only in town for the day Revolution Park as well as the endless hordes of people on the streets left an indelable impression in one's memory. The park is where all of the various government buildings are- a massive sculpture of Che Gueverra rests on one of the structures. (He's featured in the movie 'Motorcycle Diaries') His real name was Ernesto and Castro's regime has been using Che's face as a symbol for their communist/socialist state. The funny thing is they did not even like each other in the end, Gueverra would end up dying in Bolivia while seeking to start another revolution. Revolution Park? Well, it is actually a large parking lot where Castro gave 6-10 hour speeches to millions of people back in the day. Now all that can be seen are a few soldiers milling about while the throngs of city people are cordorned off away from the area. Might today's Castro be a bit paranoid of speeches in the area?

Travelling down the highway back to the hotel hitchikers were to be seen everywhere along the roads. A common joke is that, after baseball, it is their national sport- people may wait for hours, on a daily basis, just to find a ride to work! Burros pulling carts, men pushing wheelbarrows, even motorcycles with bicycles attached from behind with ropes were to be seen often- travelling down the highway! Talk about a surreal scene, all the while we're liesurely resting in the air-conditioned chinese designed bus. Though a happy people, it's hard not to feel sorry for the locals. Hopefully one day those in charge will learn to become friends once again with the americanos if they ever want to catch up with the rest of modern day civilization. (though there is still a fear that expatriots in Florida will come to take all of their land back) As for the vehicles? The majority of the cars are from the 1950's; they must have some great mechanics around to keep them in such fine running shape.

We had a renewed appreciation for the Jibacoa resort upon returning- it truly was an Island within the Island. All the workers were quite professional and kind, even leaving cigars on our pillows for us. At each dinner our waiter Joel called me Mr. Wine, Brian was Mr. Why Not? Every night we were offered delectable smorgasbords, local kittens pranced underneath our table hoping for tasty morsels. Afterwards we enjoyed vegas style shows - men were dressed in flamenco attire while the lovely ladies had on bright salsa dancing costumes. As a caucasian one realizes just how limber the folks of the carribean are. They're gymnasts with a sensuality hard to match anywhere else around. Combined with the bongos, keyboard, trumpets, etc. the energy was fantastic. It will be interesting to see if the dogs enjoy it while we are out mushing on the trail this winter. Listening to the various musicians one realizes they don't have a great hatred for their neighbors to the north just a fierce love for their land, families and friends. Can't we all just get along? The voyage on the catamaran the following day was the roughest part of the trip. The sea was mellow yet our fellow mates were wild- "Ibana!" As we climbed aboard the boat we noticed that half of the group was dressed in bright yellow shirts and straw hats, they were visitors from Spain. It was nine in the morning yet the music was cranked up loud and the cervezas were flowing freely. Was this a World Cup Soccer Match? It felt like spring break on South Padre Island! Our 1st stop was to visit dolphins at an encampment. They were quite human friendly thought one wishes they could exist in a more natural state, the water only being 4-5 feet deep. That afternoon we spent lounging around one of the local islands w/ thousands of other tourists, it seemed as if we were the only ones speaking english. The U.S. has cordoned off Cuba yet the rest of the world looks to be enjoying it quite often. I was fortunate to find a shirt of Ernest Hemingway who is idolized around these parts. A man who never held back thru his writings about his love for the surrounding landscape and its inhabitants.

Our final trip was to Metanzas where we enjoyed snorkeling, swimming in a cave, jet skiing, a river boat trip, bull riding, etc. Our host this day was a fella named Dennis who was easily our finest guide. We had much in common as we compared wolf and dog tattoos though his local Indian tat was gorgeous. (If you have ever seen the movie "Apocalypto" it resembles one of those warriors) Unfortunately all of our guides had fake 'english' names so that the uneducated visitors could comprehend and relate to them better. One amazing aspect of Cuba is that nearly 90 percent of the people have been university educated- it's mandated by the government. Dennis spoke 4 different languages. Thankfully I've actually retained quite a bit of Espanol that I learned in high school though it is a bit rusty with no one to practice with. Where's my puerto rican dogmusher buddy Jaime Vives when I need him? I enjoyed sparring w/ Dennis over 'politics'- just as every Cuban does not agree with all of their government's doctines not all Americans enjoy the state of our way of life up north as well. All of us are just flawed humans after all. Seeking to improve and evolve shall always be the greatest goal for every society around the globe.

Our final days were spent lounging on the beach catching some glorious final rays. It's ironic that our new training kennel in Tok, Alaska is on Sun Dog Trail. Much like the moon and stars - I worship the great star that keeps us all warm. Since childhood days spent lugging golf bags around Westmoreland C.C. back in chi-town, my skin has typically been quite dark- by choice. Yes, skin cancer is a worry for all of us with the thin ozone yet proper protection enables you to shine!. The strange part of this equation however is that in Cuba there is an underlying belief that one's skin color reflects their position in society. The lighter your texture the more wealthy one is- how interesting that tourists look to catch a tan while the locals shy away from old Sol. Much like most of their neighbors to the far north who hibernate indoors in the colder winter season instead of challenging the cold and embracing the northern lights of those heavenly arctic nights!

Gord, one of Tamra's P's friends had one final surprise for me. Just a few hours before we were to head to the airport he sauntered over to us on the beach, "Wanna go fishing?" Pedro, a local fisherman was our guide as we caught a few tuna fish from his catamaran. Flinging our lures out into the waters trailing behind us, I felt the true essence of the carribean lifestyle. We kept an eye out for telltale signs- scavenging birds or black spots on the water revealing the swarms of sardines below that the larger fish prey upon. At this moment I felt a true appreciation for the land, the outstretched ocean and heavens above. Gord and his wife Carol visit Cuba often for they have an immense affection for the poor people. Each visit they bring shoes for the children and paper and pencils for the local school that has no access to supplies such as these. Their small sacrifice might not solve all of the Island's issues yet with 'Baby Steps' may this small symbol of the world continue to become a more beautiful mosaic of life.

All in all our trip was quite an eye opener to a place often speculated about that holds many hidden mysteries. It was fun but to be honest w/in a day or so I was ready to get back home North to the pooches and the mountains. For a rather hyper personality such as myself mellowing out for a week just isn't an option anymore. I suppose that's why I barely sleep at all- from where my unique journey started out from just over a decade ago I have been so blessed. There's just too much to enjoy in this world to have negative views towards others. In these economic times it's easy to complain yet why waste the energy when one can be productive? On our bus ride to the airport they announced that the American flag had just been raised for the 1st time in a half a century in Havana. (the Cohiba hotel) Passing thru customs back onto the plane I stopped for a brief chat with the Cuban border guard. He asked me about our new government. I replied that with Obama things will probably be better for Cuba. His reply startled me, "Obama, Bush- they are all the same." Come on my friend things can only get better for Cuba- you'll see. Hopefully one day soon we all will have more faith in our governments which look out for our, and the world's, best interests. Politicians must be wary that the days of pursuing their own self interests over the 'will of the people' are an embarassment to humanity better left in the past.

For dreams are not an option, they are a necessity. Adios mi amigos, HHN

http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

Travelling Back Thru Time - '09 School Tour

2009-09-30T17:33:00.001-07:00

" I ain't no pretty boy and I'm certainly not a saint. Just a simple creation of the Universe that has never understood the word... can't." -HHN

(Under threat of having to sleep outdoors tonight I've decided to promptly finish a brief essay on my recent sojourn to the 'lower 48')
At heart I'm a soul man, constantly exploring not only the world around us up here in the north -but the world within. It was an honor to be invited to the sleddog symposium held in Helena,Montana this past september, from there we set off to Denver, St. Louis, Bellville, Il., Amarillo and Austin, Texas as well as Spokane, Washington. Before I set foot on any plane however, we had some unfinished business to take care of.

One can only imagine all of the teasing I have endured, and will continue to, over last season's YukonQuest experience. While many uninformed fans believe that it was race officials misguided allocation of the race rules that determined the winner of the Quest I believe that another major issue was improper trail marking. To prove my point my buddies Brent Sass and Mike Ellis, as well as myself and a few other mushing friends hiked up Eagle Summit to have a look at the trail markers which are mainly tripods for this section of steep trail. Upon reaching the area where Jon Little and myself were forced to wait out blizzard conditions not knowing where the exact route was for nearly 8 hours, my initial reaction was confirmed. 3 of the tripods had no reflective markers on them at all, 2 were lying on the ground, while the rest had minimal markers on them. After spending half a day fixing up the mess I'm glad to say that the mountain trail looks more like an airport runway now. (similar to the trail coming into Nome on the coast)
In hindsight I'm just glad that a veteran like myself was the one who had to endure this plight- better me than some bewildered rookie musher. Many folks would think that I'd be livid about everything but to be quite honest w/out Lance being there last year it would have been a hollow victory. I just hope the Quest is wise enough to learn from its mistakes- half of the mushers who finished in the top 10 have spoken with me over this past summer. They also admitted to running dogs on the road in Central, after all it was a better trail- why was I the only musher to be penalized? Guess you'll just have to ask the 'powers that be'. In life however one can choose to whine or hold their head above the fray, seeking to make this world a better place for those who travel on down the trail in future nights to come.

I've always been impressed w/ the contingent of people who travel up North every year from Montana to compete in the Iditarod. Having visited Great Falls, San Coulee and Helena now I can see why they perform so well on an annual basis. My 1st stop was quite enjoyable as I had the opportunity to spend a day w/ Chris Adkins and his legendary father Terry who was the Iditarod's 1st veternarian. Both men are signed up for this year's race though we spent most of the time listening to Dr. Adkins' stories of bygone races. The 1st year he was the only vet for all of the dogteams, instead of going over dogs in checkpoints he would have the pilot land the plane on a frozen river whenever suitable so that he could go over every team in the field- talk about a hero.

The symposium was an eye opener, lots of good info. as well as a chance to see old mushing friends- Jason Barron, Cindy Gallea, Rick Larson, Laura D. and others. I also had the chance to meet Billy Snodgrass who develops Long-Distance dogfood which we are now using. He's quite the character, cowboy hat w/ the toughness to match it. As far as 'energy' no one matches Jason B.- when he was up on stage it felt like a 'doggie religous revival convention'. I've done a few ID's w/ Jason so it was great to see him in his home element- few people can match his passion for the pooches. What made my trip to Big Sky Country truly exciting was the opportunity to see my old neighbor from Evanston, Il. who now lives in Bozeman. It had been 20 years since Paul Thielemann and I had seen each other. He now has two lovely kids and looks to be doing great. All of those years of letting him beat me on the b-ball court have seemed to have paid off!

Our next stop was in Denver, Colorado where I was to be staying with one of my oldest and best friends, Mr. Tim Rubel. We've known each other from grade school and have been involved in scouts forever. As kids I was the wolf wannabe where Tim always wanted to fly like an Eagle. 30 years later and I'm running around w/ a bunch of varmits in the woods every night as he jumps off of cliffs and glides around in the sky often. Our two talks in Colorado went fairly well though we got a bit lost finding Dr. Robert Forto's school. Known as the "Dog Doctor" Robert hopes to particpate in some racing up north one day soon. He was kind enough to ask us to speak at his child's school. His wife Michelle even ran back to their house so we could borrow a sled for the demonstration. Leads was where the other school was that we spoke at. It was a few hours drive through some rather foggy conditions but more than worth the effort. If there are people out there that don't know very much about dogmushing it's our duty to get out there and spread the word!
Our next stop was in St. Louis, my old buddy Mark Delaurent from U. of I. was kind enough to let us stay at his place in Brentwood. He has 2 beautiful old english sheep dogs that are truly gifts from above. Having spent most of my time w/ huskies the last decade it's always enjoyable to travel and see other breeds as well. Mokie and his roommate Tom were kind enough to chaperone me around while I was in town. Each talk in the area had a great audience w/ informed questions. I'm a true believer that students are a reflection of their teacher's attitudes and abilities to... TEACH. Out of all the schools, Amy Jo Mueller's was the best prepared, it was fun visiting and having a lovely lunch w/ her and the other teachers.

That weekend I was asked to be on a radio program that was held during a convention at the Arena where the St. Louis Blues Hockey team plays. It was amazing to see thousands of folks lined up to get autographs from various players, all of them wearing their blue jerseys. After the show I had to show off my jersey to my buddy Greg- it was red: Go Blackhawks! Greg showed me around the press box way up above in the arena and we shared a nice Italian meal as well. Unfortunately after the trip I found out that his station had been harassed by anti-mushing people. That's the thing about Positive energy- you have to expect to draw negative energy around you. It's just the way this world wanders I suppose- it's how you react to the bad vibes that determines who YOU are.

From St. Louis it was on to the Lone Star state. I had promised my Iditarider a few years ago, Ann Shofner, that I would come visit her school in Amarillo one day. The time had come for some southern fun. My PuertoRican mushing buddy from Skagway,Ak.- Jaime- was my navigator for this stretch of the trip. Both talks went well but the Shofner family's friendship is what we'll savor the most from this trip. Ann's classroom was adorned in mushing pics and her kids were quite knowledgable highschoolers. The 2nd talk that day was in a hispanic area where some of the kids were still learning to speak english. Needless to say I loved it! The look of awe on their faces was eye popping. Most of them had never even seen much snow before.

The next part of the journey was the most harrowing- a 7 hour drive thru a lightning storm. Jaime guided us to the south and around the storm. There were white flashes of light constantly for 4 hours straight though lil', if any, thunder. I was still white knuckled having never witnessed a Texas size storm before. Later the locals would tell me that the ' Big Ones' are in the spring. Having reached Austin we would be deluged with rain for the remainder of my time there. We had a nice dinner with a group of Iditarod Fanatics though my main focus while in town was to visit SRV. As far as 'soul', few have had it to the degree of blues man Stevie Ray Vaughn, his guitar riffs are immaculate. My friends and I were at his last show in Alpine, Wisconsin after which he tragically died. His talent remains unique forever more. There's a large statue of him that we visited along the river. (as well as numerous pubs and stores around Texas capital city) Hanging out in our host's backyard is what I'll remember most about the visit to Austin. It had a lovely garden but in the alleyway one could here hobos looking for shelter to rest away from the rain, up above in the sky helicopters w/ spotlights were on the prowl for criminals. Just a reminder of the times we live in.. Around every corner both beauty and danger are constantly lurking...

The last leg of our tour brought us to Spokane, Washington where I was to be speaking at my buddy Bruce Hagstrom's school. His daughter Holly had written a published novel w/ one of our old leaders, Sampson, as a main character. We were originally going to speak at their school in May but were unfortunately unable to attend. The Hagstroms are good friends, Bruce even ran in the cermonial Iditarod event a few years ago with me. They have 5 pooches, 4 of them are beautiful huskies. With Lola in lead we ran them down the street w/ scooters. Seeing them in action really made me homesick- the North is where my heart is after all.

We enjoyed a fun visit at his school though it took us a while to figure out how to run the video properly. That afternoon I ran off to the bank to finalize our purchase of the new training sight in Tok. We then climbed to the top of Mt. Spokane, where you can see nearly all the way across northen Idaho. That evening we met up with my buddy Greg who is a camerman that helps produce the Iditarod films each year. Beware mushers- when out on the trail learn to appreciate who you are talking to! Over dinner we sat listening in awe to Greg's mountaineering stories; having climbed Everest and most of the rest.

That's the beauty of this present day world of ours- it's amazing to connect with all sorts of characters- not only in Alaska but around the globe! After 3 weeks on the road I was completely exhausted- nice way to start training for this pivotal upcoming season, eh?
We already have numerous invitations for our next tour in May and this upcoming summer: from Fairbanks to New York to Cape Town, South Africa. Word spreads quickly when we seek to spread some positive news for others to reflect upon and learn from. For yours truly it's easy- it all starts with a smile!
Peace, Hugh and the Laughing Eyes Crew http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

The Passing of a Champion

2009-08-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

"Those that are dead are not dead- they're just living in my head..." - ColdPlay

MARCELLUS (1995 - 2009)

It's a gray and dreary day here at the lake. On TV Ted Kennedy is being honored for serving others, overcoming the horrors of his life to try and help others as best he could. Some are calling this summer the season of death after so many famous folks have passed on into the afterlife. Here at the kennel this past season has been terribly difficult to endure as well. One of our 15 year old retired leaders recently had a stroke and has finally moved on down the trail where we will catch up with him one day.

Mr. Marcellus was named after Muhammed Ali whose original name was Cassius Marcellus Clay. I received him from one of my old mushing boss's, Curtis Erhart, an Athabascan Native from the village of Tanana up on the Yukon river. He was just a few months of age when he nestled into my arms, I would never of imagined that this lil' energetic ball of fur, as well as his girlfiend June-Mari, would be my chaperone as we covered 10's of thousands of miles all over Alaska and the Yukon. How many times had he saved the team as we sought our way thru a storm or across Fish Lake as we headed north to visit my gunnas in Nuchalawoya?(tanana) Marcellus was one of the 'Magnificent 7'- in our 1st 1,000 miler, the 2000 Yukon Quest, we ran some 700 miles, from Circle-Whitehorse, with half as many pooches as most of the other teams we were competing with, finishing 13th out of 29 squads.

Marcellus (right) and Sheyla in lead in the 2004 Iditarod

It wasn't his race performances that distinguished this creature of Nature, it was the way in which he related to others on a daily basis that made him such a noble beast. He was dominant yet not a bully. Marcellus was rather independent, just by a shrug or grunt he would let others know his wishes. He rarely barked but certainly knew how to howl. An "Aurora Husky", his bright spirit was the spotlight of my early years in the north. For a kid from Chicago his guidance was a godsend. In his 'retirement' he spent most days playing w/ Junie and his right hand man, Mr. Uncus. Every summer afternoon he could be found sleeping out in the yard, for this was the center of his kingdom. Winters would find him on the couch next to Uncus snoozing away dreaming of their next meal to come.

Marcellus (center) in the yard with his buddies Flame and Oscar

Yet with the stroke his movement became incapacitated and these past few weeks have been quite disheartening as I have watched a part of my soul slowly disappear from sight. I was once told by a famous dogmusher that caring for dogs after thay have served their purpose for you (i.e. racing) is an Anchor that will weigh you down. For some this might make sense yet for me it was in Marcellus older years that I connected with him on an even deeper level. So many shared adventures (like our trip to visit schoolkids in Manhattan) sunsets and moon rises- he was more than just 'some animal'- he was my best friend, one of many now. As a child I sold my soul to the wilderness, to the natural beauty of this world that all of us never pay enough respect to. I'm under a spell that shall never be broken- always together boy - always.

Marcellus with his girlfriend June-Mari

Living Within The Howling Winds

2009-07-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

"At night they would go walking til the breaking of the day..." -Coldplay

Some folks may believe our kennel name comes from all of those people who have enjoyed watching my 'huge messes' over the years. Let's throw this arrogant cityslicker out in the northern wilds and see what happens. Lord knows there's been plenty to chuckle about. When we moved here even our neighbors thought we were a bit odd in choosing to live off of the electrical grid with no running water.(thankfully we have installed both now) Folks were laughing because we chose to live in the wind. Annie lake stretches a mile west towards the ocean thus we rarely see mellow weather. Tough on humans, Perfect for dogs.

This has been the funnest summer we've had in quite some time. Guess why? We rarely leave the dogyard. Every day we're shifting the poopers around, giving them plenty of playtime in the pens. As always, there are usually half a dozen rummaging around the house sniffing about for tasty treats. Around here we truly live in Dawg world, except for the ocassional griz or wolf wandering thru the 'hood. We have placed chimes around our perimeter to ward off any nosy intruders, most critters being wary of man-made noise. Of the dozens of possible superstars this year half are 3 years or younger thus the level of excitement each day is rather extravagant. Let the good times roll...

Living in the mountains has been a blessing. Lots of wind = few bugs. Pleasant temps. for the pooches not only in the summer but winter too. Sometimes we'll receive enough wind that our wind generator shuts down from too much overload. One storm was strong enough to snap a 100 ft.spruce tree in half lopping off the top of it. Guess that's why our closest human neighbor lives nearly a mile away. Dealing with the wind allows us the chance to enjoy a natural privacy so many yearn to have. It also reminds us that there will always be more mountains to climb and storms to survive on this unending journey thru life. As we seek to create dreams anew on a yearly basis not just for me but for You. Enjoy the view, Hugh

We are finalizing fall school tour dates, if interested please send us a note: laughingeyeskennel@hotmail.com
Tentative schedual: Montana, september 12th-14th, Denver, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Amarillo, Austin, Seattle and Spokane the remainder of the month. Schools are schedualed in order of requests received. Some cities are filling up quickly.

Dawgs just wanna play...

2009-07-19T21:02:00.000-07:00

"Is it just me or a message from up above?" --?

I play everyday, learning how to dance this life away. My summer sport of choice is typically b- ball. Hoops to me is like yoga- stretch! Not too many humans around here so I usually end up going against Mr. Spencer. Spence only stands about 3 feet tall-but his spirit soars. He's one of our main swing dogs, who run just behind the leaders- all heart! Doesn't have much of an outside shot yet he can chase the ball down quicker than most. Amazing to watch his abilities on display though I'd prefer a bit less trash talking- Save the barking for the race boy.

Just finished watching the ESPY awards: Don't whine, Don't complain- No Excuses. Amazing story of a coach in south dakota who was hit head on by a truck last year. Not only lost a leg but found out he had cancer at the same time. And ya know what? He never even wasted a day- and has kept on coaching all the way. Not for love of victory or pursuit of wealth, For Love of the game. For living to his fullest capabilities. Not to score just to please himself but to help others win along the way as well. You dig?

Life here at the kennel is as lively as ever. How such a goof like me has been so blessed is a gift from above. We, at laughing eyes can assure you of this- each day is a treasure to be harvested. Up here on Annie lake our garden is not filled with just seeds and sprouts but endless balls of fur. The house is a rockin' - time to see who's out in our Magic garden, the dogyard- playing w/out me! Peace, HHN #23

SCHOOL TOUR: mid-september= Montana, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Denver, Austin, Amarillo, Seattle and Spokane. Interested, please send us a line: laughingeyeskennel@hotmail.com

Enjoying a Higher Quality of Life

2009-07-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

"We need to look up at the moon... and we need to SMILE." -B. Shields
Greetings everyone,
Hope all is well in your worlds. Quite the trip to fairbanks area this past weekend. Took a look at a few properties in the Tok area to do some training around in the upcoming training season. Lots of fires in the interior. Went canoeing on Chatanika on the 4th w/ Dan Kaduce, a fellow Quest musher. Had fun hanging at his place w/ Jodi and other friend's as well. We learned that the area of Alaska they reside in receives 30 percent of all the lightning hits in the Greatland. Enjoyed visiting Lance and Tonga as well. Too smoky for too long a stay however.

Nice to be back at the lake, gorgeous outside yet hard to write today. Too busy losing water. Not thru sweat but tears. It's only appropriate that Michael is being buried under a full moon, as he would have wanted. Time to go howl! HHN

Cherishing this Moment of the Journey

2009-06-30T12:18:00.000-07:00

"I used to think the day would never come, I see the light in the shade of the morning sun..." --'True Faith', New Order

Hey everyone,
Yesterday while on the phone Tamra's mum said I had better get back to the blog. Sorry for the delay, been stuck in Facebook world. Awesome autumn weather again this year. Summer you say? Not around here- mountain living sure does have its priveleges. Typically in the 60's w/ light breezes and occassional showers. The surrounding environment feels so healthy and alive. Mother Nature has even given us a suprise present the last few days- Snow. A few thousand feet above the lake the Grey mtns. are covered in it- a giant vanilla ice cream cone!

Love having visitors, not only a chance to show off our lil' piece of Heaven but an opportunity to run dawgs as well. We have a short five mile obstacle course w/ various streams for the pooches to pound thru as well as hills to lope over. Runs typically last a half hour or so. The longer the better- numerous stops to relax, cool down, etc. Yesterday we had a visitor from England joining us. Within minutes of leaving the starting chute we, as well as our 12 dog team were thrashing thru a violent rainstorm. Scary for some yet perfect summer conditons for running. Most of the pooches being run are yearlings or 2 yr. olds (mothers Annie and Omen)(Fathers Brady and Zorro) w/ plenty of drive; at present we're concentrating daily on creating positive habits- Pure Energy!

Have been invited to speak at a Mushing Symposium in Montana mid september. From there we're off to St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Denver, Texas and possibly New Orleans. If you know of anyone/schools out there that would enjoy seeing a Dogmushing show like no other, feel free to spread the news. We hope to put a link up on our website soon so you all can see a glimpse of our unique Laughing Eyes Kennel experience. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face as you wonder about life's possibilities- not just for these beautiful Dawgs but for YOU.

Tough times on tv lately. Great excuse to turn it off and get back to creating the 'Magic' from within. Peace, HHN tour ?'s: laughingeyeskennel@hotmail.com

Encounters With The "Grumpy Griz"

2009-06-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

'Environments such as this can really affect a person' - Baldwin Brother
Hey everyone!
Quite the trip. Thanks to Yuka Honda for babysitting the pooches so Tamra and I could go for a walkabout. Spent friday in Dawson City visiting w/ Quest friends: J.D. Britten, Gerry and William and Shelley B.- fun times at the local watering hole. With these economic times tourism in the north has been hit hard. Dawson looked like a ghost town- which, hmmm?, it actually is- and that's why we luv it so.

It was our inaugural trip on the "Top of the World" hwy. Was wet and foggy though quite lovely. We brought Annie and Tamra's boyfriend Nathan along for company though I would'nt recommend driving a fully loaded dogtruck thru these parts- a bit bumpy around here. Chicken festival was awesome- good tunes, great company. Camped next to a massive dredge from the gold rush era- land ships as it were.

Been checking out different spots in Tok to set up another kennel at to train out of- found a few promising locations. My first Alaskan mushing 'boss' Bill Mitchell and his wife live in the area- was nice visiting their place for the evening. Drove back to the lake this afternoon- about an 8 hour cruise. Saw 6 bears including a mom w/ 2 tiny lil' cubs crossing the hwy. just outside of Haines Junction. There was a Moose slurping away in a pond as well next to a few white swans who were bedded down. Beautiful. Everyday up here feels like being inside of your own personal virtual video game. Today's edition was definately all about our furry massive northern pigs- it's our own fault ya know. After all we decided this morning to have breakfast at the "Grumpy Griz" cafe in Tok. Always more enjoyable to see one from the road than wandering around the neighborhood! Peace, HHN

Conversations with The Puerto Rican Musher

2009-06-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

"Now I'm heading back home, where I know it's safe and warm- chores over, I know I'm satisfied after our long hard ride. Way out here tonite, the stars shine so bright. Oh, what a beautiful land! It's no mystery to me- it's easy to see. This has all been painted by the master's hand..." -- Hobo Jim

Hey y'all,
Had a wonderful visit with an old amigo from Austin, Texas- Jaime. Originally from the hills of Puerto Rico this fella has been running dogs on and off for over a decade now. It was Jaime's 1st visit to Annie Lake, hopefully not his last. We figure If Hans get can train a kid from Jamaica to become a competent long-distance sleddog musher why not our enthusiastic hombre too! Jaime's got the knowledge and talent, obviously his biggest obstacle, like many, will be overcoming their inner fears. For Jaime it's the -- CCCCOOOOLLLLLLDDDDDDD!!!!!

Always fun to hang with folks who have different perspectives on life. So much information to decipher. What is a monumental task for some may just be a walk in the park for others. Typically experience is a major ally in any endeavor. That's why folks who are energetic and ready to jump behind a 16 dog team for a few weeks should seek to learn from others so that they may avoid mistakes in the future. Whether they are paying attention and listening?- well- the wisest people realize their personal weaknesses.My list is long, a journey that becomes stranger by the year. That's why sooner than later, I had better release all of this info. from my head before it languishes amidst forgotten memories.

The last few summers I've been promising to put pen to hand yet the dogs and canoe seem to demand my attention. This past season however has a story that must be told, it's just too laughable to believe. I have competition with wonderful books like Mitch's Seavey's recent novel, a must for beginning musher's. Joe Runyan's writing about some dude named Lance too. Our piece is Tentatively Called: Tails of the Gypsy Musher: "Going To The Dawgs" Unlike other mushing books, our saga will not exactly be a 'how- to' book, more of a 'watch out for this'! Its emphasis will be concentrated not just on how to be a better musher but better Dawg. Now some folks may call them pets or 'working animals', we call them family: our community filled with lil' furry oompa-loompas. Tamra and her mother were laughing on the phone the other day- "Hugh, says he has to wait til the next full moon before he can start writing this book." You ladies looked outside up at the stars lately, we're getting closer...

While out canoeing on the lake yesterday afternoon with Tamra and Jaime we were mesmerized by the skies above. Not because of the moon but the depth of blue beyond the mountain's peaks. What a majestic view to behold, with the sheep prancing alongside the cliff's edge- the magnetitude of Mother Nature leaves us silly simple humans gaping in awe at all our eyes have beheld. Now some folks may have faith in the afterlife, others seek to understand the unknown thru prayer. For some of us their is no question about it- We speak with the Great Almighty each and every day. Just by opening our eyes and smiling... HHN

Bless this Cabin We Call Home...

2009-05-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

"Dream as if you'll live forever. LIVE as if you'll die today." - James Dean

Hey folks,

Have finally returned to our Annie Lake Oasis. Nice to be back within the warm embrace of our pack. Nothing compares with the energy of a musher's 'Doggie community', suppose that's why many of us choose this rather secluded lifestyle. In our presentations many of the ?'s we hear are about dog racing. It's the day to day living that is the centerpiece of our souls. "Hey there Spencer, How ya doin' Mr. Amigo? Omen leave Colby alone! Can't you girls just get along?" The best question I've ever been asked concerning dawgs is: "How do you make sure they all get enough love?"

Patience, Persistance and Plenty of Practice! Was a pleasure meeting so many new friends this past month. As well as many playmates from my youth! Back to the dogyard- where we belong... HHN

Wild Bill

2009-05-23T21:08:00.001-07:00

Wild Bill

Every time we greet

I look into your bright blue eyes

Through them I can see

your wisdom and happiness.

When we hug I can feel your heart.
It's larger than most, the tests call it quite the feat.
I know it's true because I see
the love you have for everyone you meet.

To thousands of children
you've brought hope and joy
I hope you know
you're a very special boy.

In your three years since being born,
you've seen more than any other I know.
Not only the Quest trail and Iditarod
(both north and south routes),
but the Denali trail (from Cantwell to Paxson), Kobuk and Kusko.

Wild Bill, you're the pride of your mom Omen and your dad Maestro,
and the envy of your siblings Delilah, Tolliver, Tyler, Ellsworth and Bullock.

Most of all know how proud we are of the great
performances you've given over the past three weeks.
You'll always be the shining star
at the center of our heart.
-- your other mom and dad, Tamra and Hugh, xxxx

Going To The Dawgs...

2009-05-23T07:45:00.000-07:00

"Never let schooling get in the way of a good education." - Coach Tony Ingle

Hello everyone,

In Chicago now, will be here for the weekend then through Seattle and Vancouver before arriving in Whitehorse. In many respects this last month has been tougher than most 1,000 mile sled races we've participated in. It's also at times been quite uplifting and enjoyable as well. There are so many people to thank that I apologize if we forget to mention you, it's a bit of a challenge to remember so many folks all within just a few weeks time.

Thanks go out to all of the teachers who sought us out to enlighten their children's minds with a different view of this world from our northern perspective. Sarah Lux and the Loudermilk family just ouside of Atlanta were wonderful. (Though it took us a while to figure out where there house was.) Mrs. Terrill and the kids at Midway were well prepared, thoughtful with wonderful boiled Georgia peanuts as a bonus. Pam Thompson and her "60's" kids were hilarious as ever. While in the Atlanta area we spent most of our time with fellow Iditarod musher Bill Borden and his lovely wife Brenda. Muchas Gracias to the both of them for being such kind hosts. Bill's hoping to set up a system where dogmushers who have finished a 1,000 miler can join together to travel around the country spreading the 'Good News' of the North.

Our next stop was in Abingdon, Virginia- before that Bill wanted me to meet one person before I left Georgia first. Kennesaw State is just outside of Atlanta, a few years back their basketball team won the 2A National Championship. They were having a get together for the booster club and was it ever impressive. What made it so was a man named Tony. Born with a birth defect that covers much of his body, Tony refused to lose. Not a very bright student either, he still would not relinquish the desire to be a better player, a better human. After hearing his rousing speech I could see why others were willing to perform their best for this man. His words are still echoing in my mind- Thanks Coach!

Visiting with The Campbell family in Abingdon was great. Teresa and Kevin are wonderful parents with 3 beautiful daughters. They had a b-day barn party for Ashton as she celebrated her 15th. The next day I visited with Mary Akers and a friend. After lunch her daughter's school in Rhea Valley was next on the agenda. Was fun to revisit with these small town folks after a few years. From there it was on to Crookesville, Ohio for our next talk- Shelley Sowers and friends were quite kind in Buckeye country. Our talk that afternoon was on the northwest side of Columbus in Hilliard, Ohio. The teachers, led by Kathy Donnell had constructed beautiful posters with past pix from previous races on them. One teacher even painted a beautiful mtn. scene with a team passing by-awesome! Every person we met had their own unique personas but what reaaly made all of these moments so special were the heartwarming smiles and endless energy!

Our last midwest presentation was to be the following day just outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan in a small town- Grass Lake. Before leaving Ohio I had a few more folks to meet. A boy named Zack from Sylvania had been hoping that his school would invite us for a visit. Unfortunately they were unable to. His father called and asked if we might join up for dinner, "Sure", I replied. It was a fun time at a local Italian restaurant. Proof for a child that in the end Perserverance pays off. The teachers and students were full of enthusiasm and excitement. It was an enjoyable final talk, it's been quite an adventure these past few weeks. Hope you all have enjoyed the show as much as we like to share our northern treasures with the rest of the world. Travelled Lately? HHN

"Changes in Latitude... Changes in Attitude..."

2009-05-18T03:10:00.000-07:00

"Never made it as a Wise man, never made it as a poor man stealing. This is how you remind me of who I really am..." -- ?

Howdy Folks,
Drove thru a pouring rain yesterday, now on the outskirts of Atlanta staying with the Loudermilk family. Sheets of rain pelted the car as I giggled to myself, "Man this storm is awesome- I LIVE for Mother Nature." In my early 20's I was an avid consumer of knowledge. My 'Bible' was a set of books written by a transcendentalist nature writer by the name of John Muir. Of Scottish descent Johnny was made of pure energy, he lived to play in the mtns. Hopefully the dogs and I will have many moons ahead to continue that tradition.

Was an enjoyable weekend in Mooresville with my cousin Bobn. A special thanks to his wife Allison for letting the boys out for a few nights to whoop it up. They have a lovely new boy named Rex. Bob and his friend Tony enjoyed dragging me in the water behind his boat on Lake Norman. Wonderful time there, gorgeous country though I can only imagine what Wild Bill's dreams are like. Do you know many Iditarod dogs that can water ski too? 3 talks over the next few days then on to Virginia. My good friend Mr. Bill Borden, the director of the Iditarod Finisher's club lives in the area. Bill did the race in 2002. Will be fun hanging with him and his wife Brenda. One last comment- we finally did it! We're on Facebook. Be kind to us please- will need to find a camera to put some pix up for everyone.
See ya all down the road! Hugh and Wild Bill www.laughingeyeskennel.com

The Time of Our Lives

2009-05-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

"Bless The Beasts and The Children..." -- Karen Carpenter

Hey Everyone,

Hope all is well in your worlds. Our past 3 talks have been wonderful. We were in Jersey yesterday with Mrs. Hurley's kids then had a few talks today in Baltimore and Bethesda. The energy at each school is enthralling. Not only from the students but teachers as well. One teacher at our school in Baltimore actually began tap dancing upon petting Mr. Bill. The kids in Bethseda were stalking me everywhere in search of an autograph. Jersey's students kept inquiring, "Do you know so and so?" "What's Lance Mackey like?" Well, I used to hang out with him a bit but not much lately. Hopefully one of these days we'll be able to rectify this situation.

The last few nights we've been staying in a trailer at Cherry Hill Park in College Park, Maryland. Our friends John and Susan stay here as a manager. It's one of the nicest facilities in the U.S.-swimming pools, sauna, jacuzzi, etc. We gave these guys a sledride up on Godwin Glacier a few years back. He's an ex marine and pro rugby player while she ran an environmental awareness program. (as well as once dating legendary QB Billy Kilmer of the Redskins) Had a great B-B-Q tonite met one of their workers who is the uncle of former DePaul and NBA b-ball player Rod Strickland. Wonderful meeting new folks along the way each day, our list of friends continues to grow.

On to Charlotte, North Carolina in the morning, will be staying at my cousin Bob's this weekend- then on to Atlanta on Sunday. A well deserved break for Wild Bill, believe it or not some times a dog can get too much love and petting- animals need their privacy too! He's snoring away next to me as I write these words. Thanks to all of the people at the various schools for helping us organize things these past few days. Especially my assistant Susan who chaperoned us around town today. Will be seeing all you folks down in the Peach Tree state soon!

Hugh and Mr. Bill http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

Heaven on the Hudson

2009-05-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

"Nobody loves you when you're down and out, No one sees you when you're on cloud nine. Everyone is hustling for a buck and a dime. I'll scratch your back- you scratch mine. I've been across to the other side. I've shown you everything- I've got nothing to hide... All I can tell you is- it's 'showbiz'..." -- John Lennon

Hey everyone,
Greetings from Westchester County, New York. Staying with the Simon family just south of West Point Military Academy. Beautiful rolling hills run alongside the river's edge, gorgeous weather to match. Sunny but cool for Wild Bill so he doesn't overheat too much. School talks are going well- the teachers and students have all been enthralled. (Though few remember my name- only Mr. Bill's) Heading to Jersey manana then down to Obamaland. The energy at our various presentations has been awesome to witness, what these teachers do on a day to day basis containing it is quite heroic. If only we could put harnesses on these kids and have them pull a sled. It sure does feel good to be young- doesn't it?
One child, Katie, designed a patch for our racing parka. It's orange and blue- her mom Judy helped make it as well. Underneath the dogteam it says: Laughing Eyes Kennel Fights The Wind and Frostbite. Just another reminder of Mother Nature's power over us tiny humans and our canine compadres. Our thanks to these ladies as well as all the teachers and vulunteers at the various schools who helped make everything run so smoothly. Especially Mrs. Byrnes, Dana Duffy, Mr.D., Coach John and Coach Derek as well as a possible future teacher on the trail- Sally Simon. Our 2nd visit to this area has been twice as much fun! Hope to see you all again next year. And to Sally's husband Gary- the next round's on me and hopefully we'll be having it up in Alaska. Enjoy your view! Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Keeping an Eye on the Future...

2009-05-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes You have to lose yourself in order to find yourself."
- Mickey Rourke

Hey Kids,
Bill and Hugh's most excellent adventure is off to a roaring start. It's as if we're on an endless field trip. While most of you are studying us while we are up on stage- all of You schoolkids are being analyzed as well- by me and my buddy Mr. Bill. So far everyone has been amazing. Our 1st talk was with Tamra's parent's group in Toronto which is known as the Probus Society. This is a bit more mature of an audience than we're used to but easily one of the best. With all of the wisdom in the room it was an enlightening experience. We were given some slippers to try out that can be heated up in a microwave and our designed for feet circulation, can't wait to try them out. Brian and Gillian were fun to spend some time with as well as Tamra's brother Shaun.

From there we performed 2 shows in Webster, NY that were filled with much merriment and laughter. A special thanks to Mrs. Greenberg and Mr. Darling as well as our host families the McMillens and Daniels. Wild Bill has been a wonderful crowd pleaser- "Oh, he's so beautiful!" It's funny to watch him stare at our short video presentation, I can't help but start laughing everytime. The drive from Rochester to our next speech in Waverly on the Pennsylvania border was breathtaking. We followed an old glacial route that is now a formation of lakes. The rolling hills reminds one actually of... the south! The kids there were great, Mrs. Orner's class was even nice enough to sing us the Iditarod Trail song that Hobo Jim wrote. "Is he really a hobo?", one of the girls inquired after their recital. Waverly is up in the hills with gorgeous views of the valley below.

Yesterday evening we arrived at my sister Teresa's here in Conneticutt. She lives in an old revolutionary war town, Chaplin. Though it's a bit spooky around these parts the full moon has added to the flavor. Suppose I should not have gone and seen that "Haunting" movie last month. We're actually returning from Providence, Rhode Island where we just watched the new Star Trek flick. It was at an IMAX theatre-awesome! Had to laugh in the beginning when one of the head judges accused Captain Kirk of being a "Cheater"- just goes to show ya that everyone has their viewpoints in life. We all know who was in charge by the end of the movie- the one who was right.

Attending a barbeque tomorrow that my brother-in-law Greg is hosting for some folks from a theatre company which is producing the play 'Endurance'. If you don't know what it's about I suggest you google the name Sir Ernest Schackleton- one of the greatest polar explorers ever. Will be fun sharing dog stories as all of us dogmushers always enjoy doing. On to Nyack and the Henry Hudson schools on monday; may the trail ahead continue to bloom and grow. I'll leave you all with this question; Which is better? To be the wealthiest person on earth? Or the happiest? I know we've made our decision and everyone we meet seems to be leaving with smiles on their faces!
See ya soon, Hugh and Wild Bill www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Have DAWGS, Will Travel...

2009-04-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

" Now I don't know but I've been told- "You never slow down, you never grow old..." - Thomas Petty
Hey y'all,
Our next race, the "Welcome to the Doghouse" school tour gets under way in a week- Neff the nomad sets out once again. Was talking with Sebastian about how hard it is to sit still for very long anymore. The body and mind are conditioned for continuous wandering. Unfortunately this time of year it can be a bit muddy around these parts for a walkabout. The lake and surrounding hillsides have lost most of the snow within the last few days. Been amazing to watch the power of the sun's rays though the ice will still be around for a few weeks yet.
Been enjoyable playing with Annie's pups as their eyes and ears discover new treasures each day. They can get a bit frisky with one another though momma keeps them in line for us. Or Sophie, our white buser/attla gal. Soph's probably our fastest pooch though she has only been in harness a few times. She's trouble with a capital "T.", guess that's why she has her own bed. We rescued her 5 years ago from some kids who lived in Anchorage but weren't able to have a dog anymore. She has so much energy that it's best for her to live where she has a chance to roam around. She can leave our main speed leader Annie in the dust yet unfortunately is not much of a 'team' player while out on a dogrun. Thus Sophie's been relelgated to puppy duty though she's 0nly 6 now- can older dogs learn to mellow out eventually?
Not this old Dawg- I am what I am. Will be fun to visit with new found friends starting on May 6th- as well as our old amigos. As much as we love playing with the pooches out on the trail, having the opportunity to share our adventures with others is half the fun. Hope you all enjoy the show- it never gets 'boring' - believe me, I should know at least that by now! Peace, HHN
http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

A Journey Like No Other

2009-04-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

"Some say it's just a part of it. We've got to fulfill the book..." --Robert Marley

Good day, eh?
Each morning I awake around 5:30ish, not out of necessity but curiosity. What awaits us this time around? One of the beautiful parts about living in the wilderness is never living the same day twice. Sure, we have our daily chores to perform yet the pooches' antics typically leave us in hysterics. Each morning I enjoy a cup of joe while staring out the window watching Annie and Amos's litter of 6 month old pups playing with one another. Mind you, the rest of the dogs are still in their houses snoozing away- or at least trying too. Angelina, Amelia, Aussie, Alfie, Archie and Atlas are all awesome acrobats.

Pooches are fed by 8am, then it's on to scooping poop, puppy walks and training runs. This time of year we spend even more time out in the dogyard. The warmer temps. are melting the snow constantly revealing daily teasures to unearth. Straw must be raked up and brought to the dump, it's very important to keep everything as clean as possible for the overall health of the yard. Up here though we call 'work' play- that way everything seems more enjoyable. John Baker is one of the top mushers in the world, he's a native from the village of Kotzebue up on Alaska's northwest coast. While visiting a few year's back I asked John how often he feeds his pooches. "Usually 3 times a day Hugh, the more time I can spend in the yard with them the better!" Sayings such as this are never forgotten- we call it 'Wisdom'.

Still snowing up here so we'll keep straw in the pooches' houses for a while yet. Ice on the lake is still thick- we try to go on as many walks on it as possible while we still can. The big dilemma in our yard right now is "Flame", he's a 6 year old we got from Lester Erhart many moons ago. He's finished 3 Iditarods, usually in lead though last year his shoulder was injured thus he was unable to compete. (Of course he wasn't too happy about this but there's always next season.) So the 'problem' is that above Flame's house we have a Calgary Flames hockey team logo. (our next litter of pups will have a Luongo and Bertuzzi) What's wrong with this? Well, the Flames just happen to be playing my Chicago Blackhawks who actually have a decent team for once. As a sports junkie I am completely confused. I'll tell you what though- the more I see of this sport- the ACTION- the more I enjoy watching it compared to other professional events that are getting slower by the year.

It's funny how words or phrases can become stuck in your brain, becoming a part of one's psyche. In dogmushing terms this can be used as motivation for the future. One of my favorite mushers to watch is Ramy Smyth- he's an animal when behind the sled flying around with his pooches on the trail. His father Bud is probably the most underrated 'Dogman" in the history of the sport. We enjoyed spending a week together with Ramy and his brother Cim before last year's "Sweepstakes" race in Nome. He described how his dad taught them to not only do their best but enjoy the journey as well. After this year's race at the banquet in Nome Ramy gave me some advice as well, "Don't give up your day job Hugh". You can count on that buddy- nothing compares with the life we are able to enjoy each day up here in the mountains. I just wish that one of these year's Ramy will learn to race in the YukonQuest as his brother and wife have.

The Quest and Iditarod are wondrous journeys we are so honored to be a part of each year. Nothing compares to our own personal journey however. That's what the general public doesn't understand- "How can Hugh be so happy? Where does all of that energy come from?" Experience. The reason a 1,000 mile race is a walk in the park, no matter the frozen body parts or ripped apart face, is knowing where we came from. As my friend's from the band STOV would sing, "Out of the mud I crawl, out of the slime-I climb- Evolution." Think about it- in '95 we stepped off the plane with a few hundered dollars to our name. Spent our 1st few weeks in Alaska sleeping under some bushes alongside a pond in Anchorage. Have lived in shelters, received weekly food rations from charities, wondered where we would be living the following week yet somehow- we're here! Back then I would never have believed that within a few year's I would be able to compete in a 1,000 mile race let alone 15 of them! Who knows 'why' but I know how-Perserverance. Where there's a will, there's definately a way no matter the hardships encountered everyday. In life we must all remember that not only do we smile with our teeth but our EYES.
Enjoy the view, Hugh http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

Road Tripping with the Puppies

2009-04-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

"Oh, you're Hugh Neff. I've heard of you- the guy who loves what he does..." - Alligator lake snowmachiner
Morning everyone,
Returning from a short trip south to Atlin, B.C. Went with my friend, fellow Quest veteran Paul Geoffrion. Our buddy Normand Casavante has been renting Hans Gatt's kennel there this winter- talk about being fortunate. No one has done more for the sport of dogmushing in recent history than Hans. Not only a multiple race champ, Mr. Gatt also builds sleds used by nearly half of the Iditarod field -75% of the Quest teams. Hans is from Austria and his intellect is a polar opposite to mine. The only trait we have in common, besides loving dogs, is... the ENERGY. Though ten years my senior I've seen Hans standing in place- Jogging- and this was 5oo miles into a race. One year after Sheep Mtn., a short training run in December that numerous teams partake in, we witnessed him (after caring for his pooches) put on a running outfit and head straight up a mountain!
The trails in Atlin were in nice shape, especially for yearling training. It's nice to get the lil' poopers away from our casa- they tend to get a bit bored having run the trails around here all winter. The leaders of our 8 dog team were Tyler and Delilah- each 2 and 1/2 years old. Their mom Omen is now retired, she finished in lead coming into Nome 4 years in a row. This year Tyler made it to Eagle Island during Iditarod. His sister Ms. Delilah finished the Iditarod as well as the Quest- now that's a Diva. Following them were 6 yearlings: Griffin, Amigo, Nemo, Capone, Frasier and lil' Ms. Gypsy.
Considering most of these pooches had not run over 15 miles all winter it was interesting to analyze their mindthought. One of the greatest misconceptions of our sport is that it's all about breeding/genetics. Folks like Lance and Sebastian are proving how proper, consistent training creates powerhouse outfits. Life isn't just about having 'superstars'- teamwork creates that positive energy to fly on down the trail. Speaking of being positive our Quest buddy Normand, a French Canadian, is amazing w/ his pooches- they truly are a pack. After our 1st run, a short 10 miler sunday evening Normand sang all the dogs to sleep w/ his harmonica- a mesmerizing moment. The following morning we would run 35 miles which I was a bit worried about. For 6 of the 8 pooches this would be their longest run, in fairly warm temps. too. During 'spring training' we're constantly rotating the dogs around to see how they perform in different spots. The wonderful surprise of this trip was lil' Gypsy. This tiny 35 pd. black female is named after... me. Now most folks who pay attention to what the media tells them would think that my nickname is "Huge Mess" but 10 years ago I was given the name `Gypsy Musher`by 2-time Quest champ John Schandelmeier. Up to that point I had lived in 8-10 places all over Alaska within just a few years- hence the nickname. To me, the Greatland and Yukon are the funnest playground on this earth of ours. Gypsy was wonderful to watch in lead yipping and yapping, rolling around on the ground whenever we stopped to take a breather. I thought she was a bit young to race this past year but am having 2nd thoughts now- just hope Annie and Delilah like her too!
Muchas gracias to Hans, Normand and my good friend Paul- was a fun way to begin training for next year. Most folks might believe we only run pooches up here in the wintertime. Why not all the time- it`s what they love to do after all. Heading out to feed the yard, catch you all- sooner or later, Hugh and the DAWGS http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/
P.S.: We are now full for our upcoming May school tour. Next one will be in October, send us a line if you're interested in a show like no other- guaranteed to put a smile on everyone's face!

Daring to Wander Over Untrodden Trail...

2009-04-17T13:04:00.001-07:00

" Give it away, give it away, give it a way nowww..." -- Chili Peppers
Good Morning,
Yes it is, flurries in the air- can anything compare? Our buddy Sebastian e-mailed us the websight connection for the german tv show about this year's Quest race. Though not as well known about in the states, The YukonQuest is a rigorous 1,ooo mile jaunt the pooches and I participate in each February- just a few weeks before the Iditarod. Known for its cold temps., this race covers some beautiful terrain between Whitehorse and Fairbanks. For yours truly it tends to be a bit of a 'soap opera ' at times. If you'd like to check out the 2 hour program on the internet go to: www.ardmediathek.de/ard/servlet/content/2150158
Our "WELCOME TO THE DOGHOUSE" tour is nearly finalized, waiting for confirmation from a few schools. We'll be giving over 25 presentations within a 3 week period- now that's what I call a race. I was thinking of creating a competition for the schools with each other. They could each come up with a "Checkpoint Name"- let the fun begin. A few days back I donated $5,000 to the Kruse family who have been running McCabe Creek, a Quest resting spot, for years now. Unfortunately the building that housed the mushers accidently burned down. They mentioned that there will be a 'barn raising' get together sometime in June. I also donated $5,000 to my native friends in Fort Yukon to help get there inaugural 300 mile spring race off on the right foot. (paw)
Now why would a goofball like me do something so silly? Believe me others questioned what I was doing, like Kathy Chapoton (Martin's wife has 2 kids in college) Blame it on Loyola Academy, the Jesuit highschool I attended whose slogan was "Men for Others". Thru all of my wanderings over the last decade I've realized that $ does not buy happiness, feeling 'content' is what really counts. Back when I was a kid caddying for some of the richest people in Chicago I saw many wealthy folks that never seemed to smile much- maybe it was their golf game? Life's been relatively good lately, why not "Spread the Wealth". This is not to say we're rich Republicans- in the past year we learned something very important- be wary of hiring male handlers who are in their 20's. Combined together ours destroyed a pick-up truck, Hans Gatt Sled, storage shed, etc. Nice kids but I guess there's a reason why insurance is so high for boys in their age bracket. Believe me- been there, done that. As dogmushers, with all the expenses our sport has, we'll always just be 'getting by' yet helping those in need in one's community is what life is all about. As the song says, " Don't forget-- We only get what we give..."
See all of you kids soon! Hugh http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

The Time of Transformation

2009-04-15T21:50:00.000-07:00

"Everybody has a neighbor, everybody has a friend. Everyone has a reason to live again." -Bruce
Hey y'all,
Warmth is in the air, the snow is melting, fur is shedding- guess it must be time to go visit the kids down south! School tour is slowly coming together- starts May 7th, to check out our areas of interest go to our website then on to the school section. Excited to get the "Train Rolling", our featured pooch is "Wild Bill"- a true superstar. He's just turning 3 and has already completed 3- 1,000 mile races as well as the Kusko 300 and Kobuk 440. Have been training him up by bringing him along on our daily errands. We had fun visiting friends in Skagway and Whitehorse recently though nothing compares to home of course!
Had a pleasant surprise in the mail yesterday. We received a book called, Journeys of the Pack, it's by Holly Hagstrom. She is from one of the schools that I spoke with. The story is based on a dog that we acquired from Lance a few year's back- Sampson. An older 75 pd. Dean Osmar pooch, this leader was the main reason we finished 3rd in the Quest in '05. Quite heartwarming to see his pic on the cover. Great motivation as well- if this 11 year old girl can write a book about 1 of our pooches why can't I write about all of them? (So lazy- I know, one of these days I promise.)
It's 'hockey time' in Canada now, driving to Annie lake from Skagway I noticed a vehicle parked on the road. With all of the melting snow lots of rocks come cascading down onto the pavement. Driving by I noticed a fella with a hockey stick in hand flicking the larger rocks off the road. Now there's a true trailbreaker- a sports afficianado to admire. Enjoy the view, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Becoming a Student of the "Game"

2009-04-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

"Natural Beauty should be Preserved as a Monument to Nature..." - Neil Young
Happy Easter everyone,
Enjoyed a brief 5 mile jaunt with the pooches this morning. Wanted to go further but sunny conditions with no wind made the decision to turn back early an easy one. This time of year we stop every five minutes or so, it's more like running wind sprints than any type of long-distance running- just keeping the pooches happy and healthy! Up in the lead with Mr. Wonka was a dog we brought back from Fort Yukon named Ringo. He was in Josh Cadzow's winning Quest 300 team last year as well as this year's Quest squad. A beautiful white 5 year old male, he should be lining up at the starting line of numerous races next year. After sponsoring Josh, his dad Cliff, out of appreciation, told me I could have this gifted canine once the season was finished. Cliff ran Ringo in lead for the 300 mile Yukon Flats race. Needless to say Ringo looks wonderful, a great gee-haw leader which is always nice to have around I suppose.
Lots of time on the sled runners to ponder over life. At the beginning of the year we had hoped to do well yet realized this was going to be a bit of a rebuilding season. Lots of younger pooches were replacing our more experienced canine explorers. We will not have that 'excuse' next year. The level of talent I get to enjoy goofing around with each day is mesmerizing. Capone, Nemo, Griffin, Geronimo, Amigo... the list of promising yearlings goes on and on. Hoping to have at least 2 racing squads next year. Whomever is lucky enough to be one of our handlers next year is in for one heck of a ride!
As a musher, one is always seeking to improve- even if there name is Lance Mackey. All of us mushers hope that our sport evolves as well. Known as one of the more 'oddball characters' of our sport allows me the opportunity to speak my mind w/out fear of repercussions from sponsors. All of our sponsors are our friends, not just someone looking to make a buck off of our name. Hugh Neff , I promise you, will never be some 'walking billboard'- we're here to play with dogs not sell our soul. That being said, some readers will notice that I might be a bit more 'vocal' in my opinions but at least I'm out there on the trail- I witness firsthand what I write about. The Iditarod is a wonderful trail to play on but there is always room for improvement. Folks might think after viewing the Versus cable show that surviving Schaktoolik was the toughest part mentally for me to handle. The run from Safety on into Nome was actually more harrowing mentally. Why? Well, it was the middle of the afternoon, above 30 and sunny out- tough conditions for the dogs to handle, especially in their tired condition after travelling nearly 1,000 miles already. Famed 4-time Iditarod champ Martin Buser once told me that he did not like competing in races where the trail went over mtns. instead of around them. That's part of the reason so many Iditaroders steer clear of the Quest. Though of the 5 past years in which we participated in both 1,000 mile events, the Iditarod trail has been in much worse shape overall than the Quest. Alot of this is due to Mother Nature as well as the fact that much of the Quest trail goes over roads which are easier to maintain. The reason I'm bringing this up is that I believe teams should have the option of going over or around Cape Nome. Though only ten miles from the finish, this lil' bump has caused too much havoc in recent years. Do the dogs really deserve to be put thru this?
Now, I'm sure all of the 'top competitors' would rip into this notion but is the Iditarod about what 'You' want or what is best for the overall health of the animals. Leaving Safety we were just over 5 minutes behind Ken Anderson yet there was no way I would push pooches hard in the sweltering heat of the day, up and over over a thousand foot hill. But why are we on this hill when there is a nice flat road right next to it that we could be travelling on. Some of the unfortunate events that have occurred over the last few years would probably have been avoided if the dogs had not been overly stressed with the streets of Nome just within reach.
In the Percy Dewolfe race mushers must travel from Dawson to Eagle by any trail they so choose. Why not the same option coming into Nome? Sometimes going over the hill might be an advantage if there isn't much snow on the road. Let the mushers decide their trail into town. Isn't it all about what's best for the dogs?
Yesterday was rather strange, even by my standards. Greg Damon from KMOX in St. Louis, a CBS affiliate interviewed me live on the radio over the phone. I met Greg a few years back when we still gave summer tour rides. (We do not agree with how that mushing operation was run and refuse to ever put any of our pooches thru the summer tourism scene on the coast. It just isn't healthy for their hearts or spirits.) Greg has a Nascar show each weekend at KMOX/CBS Radio.
It was fun talking about our dogmushing season to folks half a world away. Greg then mentioned he had a surprise for me, "Our next question is from... Columbia, Missouri." I knew immediately who it was- my older brother Bruce. It's an interesting interview- you can check it out via the web. Will have our upcoming school tour schedual midweek, waiting to hear back from a few teachers 1st. Enjoy the view, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

From the Yukon to... the YUKON

2009-04-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

"You put the Magic into me. We make Magic when we do what we do..." - Billy Squier
Hey y'all,
Nice to be back at our Oasis on Annie lake. Amazing how many beautiful pups/yearlings we have at present. They are all out of Annie or our retired leader Omen. Fun time of year to train up the younsters. Always enjoyable to see what puppy predicaments they can get themselves into as they 'twist away' in harness- so much energy. Living within a mountain range affords us the opportunity to travel on decent trails even late into the spring. The high ridges provide lots of shade to keep the snow firm though a bit of soft snow for 'wallowing in' can be decent training too.
Considering the skin on my hands and feet is still shedding, I'll wait a day or so before heading back out into the bush. We need to plan our May school tour first -nearly 20 some schools so far. From Chicago to Buffalo, Conn. to New York, Jersey, Virginia, Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana and let us not forget Atlanta- we`ll be everywhere. Tamra and I have a deal that if there are more than 25 groups I can bring 2 dogs instead of just one. (keep your fingers crossed- airline travel is expensive these days) The documentary we did during the Quest with ARD, Germany`s version of BBC is Easter weekend, 85 million viewing audience. Wonder what my pa would have thought- hope to make it over to Deutchland within the year if possible.
Anyways... Trip back from Fort Yukon was pleasant- no vehicle breakdowns for once. Last week my truck broke down at the border. The part to fix it was only $40 but the towing bill for 90 miles to Tok was nearly one thousand-yikes! We had 3 or 4 towing bills this season, I spent alot of time pondering `Deep Thoughts`. Figured this might be a sign that the Great Almighty doesn`t want us wasting so much time travelling to and fro. The drive to Whitehorse can be a bit bumpy at times yet the scenery more than makes up for any bruises. Gorgeous terrain, one of the loveliest ways to appreciate life that I could ever imagine. Full moon ahead, sunset in the rearview mirrow, shaded mtn. ridgelines- is that a Caribou on the road or Elk, maybe a moose, bison or bear- up here we see it all. We`re looking to purchase some land just outside of Tok this summer to save on travelling so often. Funny part of this trip was every spot we stopped in folks came up to introduce themselves and congratulate us on our season. At the border all of the Patrol people even came out to shake my hand, receive one of our kennel cards and wish us well. It was surreal. Like I told Lance last week, `I might be the most well-known unsuccessful dogmusher in the history of our sport.` Sure, I might not have won a race . However, I`m more than satisfied knowing that our Dawgs have the fastest time ever on the Quest Trail. They can give `Hugh Neff` a 2 hour penalty though no one is fooled about who the true `Winning Dogteam` of the race was.
Success can be defined in numerous ways. All I know is that I, once again, have the incredible opportunity this year to show others not only the beauty of our lovely pooches but also the grandeur and majesty of Alaska`s Greatland as well as its neighbor, the Yukon. Most importantly I hope that all of you kids out there realize (no matter what age you might be) that if a simple-minded cityboy can achieve all that I have over the pâst decade up here in the Northern Wilds just imagine what you might be capable of. Believe and you shall achieve, as Mr. Wizard might say. I promise that we`ll begin figuring out the exact details of our `Welcome to the Doghouse` school tour which will begin 1st week of May. Right now, however, I have to head out to the dogyard to scoop poop- a musher`s fun never ends. Peace, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

The Circus comes to Fort Yukon

2009-04-07T09:17:00.000-07:00

"If you want to view paradise- simply look around and view it. Want to CHANGE the world? There's nothing to it." -- W. Wonka
Morning,
And how are we this fine looking spring day? Well, in our wildest dreams we could never have imagined the race being enjoyed so much by everyone. The enthusiasm of the local villagers in Circle, Birch Creek, Chalkyitsik and especially Fort Yukon was breathtaking. The trail was the best I've ever seen in nearly 10 years of racing. Dan Kaduce's winning squad was beautiful though most of the other mushers barely saw them, except leaving checkpoints. By the end I was calling him Lance- kidding! There's only one 'Magic Man'- for now.
I'll write a more detailed account of our travels once we return home, will be finalizing our school tour dates as well. Suffice it to say, the feeling of contentment of achieving this opportunity to create such an enjoyable event was truly heartwarming. So many happy faces- not just human but canine as well. What a trail-amazing. 80 miles in under 7 hours on the return trip to Circle. On the last run? After just running 300 miles- think about it? Travelling on the same trails as famed explorers Hudson Stuck and Olaus and Mardie Murie. Viewing the fox, caribou, moose and throngs of birds heading north on their annual spring migration just added to the festive air. Springtime really is our version of Mardi Gras- northern style.
Have lived in and travelled thru numerous villages over the last decade, it was wonderful to share this with friends like Dan, Jodi, Abbie and Brent. Thanks to all of them for being wise enough to come. They all hope to be back next year as well. We're also thinking of having a race in the Manley-Tanana-Rampart area as well. The more expeditions the merrier, we want to make sure that these events are purely for enjoyment and not just some 'race qualifier'. As far as I'm concerned if one is willing to travel off of the main road system into the real 'Alaskan Bush' they are probably more than qualified to enter any of the bigger events. Just because a race is a 'qualifier' does not mean that its good training for people or dogs. Some of us would rather visit our friends out in the villages who might just know a bit more about dogs considering how long these animals have been a part of their culture.
A special thanks to Janet Cadzow and her daughter Terry who were the main organizers. Cliff, Josh and Jay Cadzow were wonderful hosts as well. Numerous folks helped mark the trail though it would have been hard to get lost considering how nice it was. Doyon, the Athabascan Native Corp, matched our donation of $5,000 which was kind of them. Hopefully, Doyon continues to support its people and culture like this in years to come. Without the unique character of their culture, the spirit of Alaska would be rather bland. Thanks to Ivory Jack's and the Vallata restaurant too! Peace, Hugh p.s.: heading down the hwy.; will be sharing more stories from the Yukon Flats 300 soon.

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained...

2009-03-28T21:01:00.001-07:00

"Where do we go? Nobody knows. I've got to say I'm on my way.. God gave me style and gave me grace. God put a smile upon my face..." - ColdPlay
Hey y'all,
Considering that in the last 2 races we went 'south' in the end- for some reason we feel quite happy and content. Unless one has the opportunity to play with dozens of amazing canine athletes on a daily basis it's hard to imagine how lucky a boy named Hugh is. While some try to compare me with other mushers, I've long known that I'm one of a kind. I'm not seeking to brag here, it's just that this world of mine has been rather bizarre over the last decade. Like I said to Lance a few days ago, "Sure feels good to be back in the dogyard, doesn't it?" "Sure does Hugh."

Leaving in the morning for Fairbanks. Easiest to contact me thru e-mail. So far there are 10 teams entered with a 12,000 dollar purse. The Cadzows have been amazing getting everything organized, everyone in Fort Yukon seems quite excited as well. Should be fun to see some new land, want to check out where ArchDeacon Hudson Stuck is buried as well. Pretty amazing what that fella did back in the early 20th century. Heading to Alaska's Interior, Hugh

Like a Dawg without a Bone...

2009-03-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

"I keep a close watch on this heart of mine..." -Johnny
Windy as ever around here. Hope all is well in your worlds. Will be at the lake til Sunday then back to Fairbanks and on to Fort Yukon April 1st for the race. All mushers are invited, if interested send me an e-mail for more info. Playing with pups around the homestead as well as loving up all of our older retired dogs have issues with us not bringing them to Nome this year. Our kennel is overflowing with amazing pooches right now. We're looking for qualified handlers next year to race either the Quest or Iditarod- if you know of anyone please feel free to pass on the news.
Speaking of media we were watching the Iditarod at our friend's place in Anchorage. Man, now I see why folks tend to think I'm a bit of a jerk. Hopefully Jeff King is wise enough to realize that what I said in Takotna was in jest and not a direct insult to him as a person. Lord knows there's alot about him that is praiseworthy. I just did'nt want to have to walk too far to feed the dogs and eat my food. Besides Sebastian was parked right next to me- always enjoy watching him, so much to learn, he's like a 'mad-doggie' scientist.
Of all the blunders I've had over the years not writing a book is my greatest sin. Hopefully we'll be able to rectify the situation soon after we have enjoyed such an interesting season. We do have a kids book available, it's called: Annie, My Life on the Trail so Far... The amazing thing is that she wrote it 2 years ago as a pup and now she's one of the top Doggie Divas on the Planet-that's my girl!
I will be writing a detailed account of our journey this past month that you all will be able to read for free on our website. Portions of it will be previewed on our blog as well. Considering there are numerous souls who travel our northern race trails I find no reason to be making $ off of others' predicaments. Why not just enjoy the overall spirit of life up here in the North? School Tour dates in May will not be finalized until I return from Fort Yukon next weekend. This year's theme is "Welcome to My House-The Doghouse". We will have dog pix available as well as posters, shirts, etc. There has been quite a high demand this year so if your school/community group would like to enjoy the show please let us know asap. We are more likely to visit areas where there are the most groups of interest. laughingeyeskennel@hotmail.com Looking forward to meeting many new friends in the weeks to come, Hugh

Dealing with an Eruption of ENERGY

2009-03-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

"Now I don't know but I've been told- you never slow down, you never grow old..." - Mr. Petty
Hey y'all,
A quick hello from Anchor town. Our flight from Nome was diverted to Fairbanks Sunday. We were lucky enough to borrow Lester Erhart's dogtruck and shared an enjoyable trip down here with Hans Gatt, his gal Susie and Mr. Gerry Willomitzer. A major part of the mushing world is dealing with obstacles while staying positive. Whether it's 60 mph winds or a massive volcanic eruption, Mother Nature always reminds us on a daily basis how fragile our precious lives truly are. Speaking of which the face is fine but much more importantly all of the dogs are well and ancy to return home.
After a few days rest we'll be heading to Fort Yukon to participate in our 300 mile fun run. Anyone interested in joining the festivities is more than welcome- feel free to contact us for more info. All participants will be receiving prize $ to help pay for travel expenses. It's about time we all pay tribute to what mushing competitions should be more focused on: the Dawgs, the land and having fun! For all of you teachers we will begin finalizing our May school tour dates once I get home in a few days. It takes a bit of time each year to figure out the best route. A reminder that we're more likely to visit your area if there is more than one school/group interested in our presentation. Maestro, an eight year old who has finished nine 1,ooo milers will be this year's featured pooch. What a beautiful beast he is- you'll see! Enjoy the view, Hugh
p.s.: I promise a more detailed account of this season's adventures once we have a bit of time to reflect over everything. www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Resting on the 24

2009-03-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

So it looks like Hugh and the team are completing their 24-hour layover in Takotna. After last years problems that happened when Hugh decided to go to Cripple before 24ing he was leaning heavily to staying in Takotna this year. I've also heard there's 2.5 ft of new snow on the trail between Takotna and Ophir. I'm sure if the mushers hear this there won't be anyone going far for their 24s this year.

Hugh has dropped 2 dogs so far, both back in Rainy Pass. I've looked at the videos and it looks like Shifter and Scotty are no longer in the team. They still haven't arrived in Anchorage so I don't know why they were dropped. Scotty finished the Quest this year so maybe he didn't recover as quickly for this race although he looked good in the training runs. Shifter is a bit of a disappointment. We just got him from Lance before the Quest. He had a medical issue that required that he be neutered right away. He was recovered for Iditarod and seems like a great dog. Maybe having a couple of weeks off before the race affected his performance. The other possibility is that these two got in a fight that required they both be dropped. They're both dominant males so this wouldn't surprise me. I just hope they're ok and wish they'd hurry up and get here.

People have been concerned that Hugh is so far up in the standings. Just because he hasn't finished higher than 19th before doesn't determine how he should finish this year. Anyone who's seen his team this year knows that he is a contender in this race. I enjoy reading the updates from musher's wives, however they always seem very biased. Musher's aren't allowed to call home during the race because of the trackers so the only people that really know what is going on are on the trail and in the checkpoints. I won't speculate on what Hugh or anyone else is thinking or planning because I really don't know. I know he said before the race that he would just be travelling until they got to the river. He said this again in Nikolai. I don't think he's really pushing or overdoing it, but I do think they're doing really well. Looking at the team running which is the most important they were loping on the trail in Rainy Pass which is a good sign at this point in the race.

Lots of people have asked what changes have contributed to thier sudden improvement from last year to this year. One factor would be food. We've been feeding Redpaw kibble since last summer and adding good quality beef and beef fat this fall and winter. You could see an improvement in thier coats, stools and attitudes as soon as we changed kibbles. I think you can tell from these two photos of Delilah, the first from Iditarod last year. She's the blonde one. Last year her coat was coarse and brittle. The second photo is from the Quest this year. Her coat is shiny and bright now. The dog next to her in both photos is her brother Wild Bill.

They're also great photos so I wanted to share them. The other factors are that Hugh didn't do tours this summer in Juneau or Skagway. The dogs didn't get bummed out sitting in the rain and didn't have to do repetitive half mile runs 10 times a day. Instead they stayed at home, went on free runs, went swimming, and had fun. We were able to start training in August because the weather was cool. Previously we couldn't start until mid October because of the tour schedule. We also had great help this year. Juho is from Finland and has been a great handler. He started in September and ran half the dogs all year with Hugh. He completed the Gingin 200 and the Quest 300. Hugh has 5 of the dogs from his Quest 300 team on his Iditarod team this year. With over 40 dogs in training this year having an extra musher really helped. Now he's qualified to run both the Iditarod and the Quest. We hope he's been bitten by the mushing bug and will come back next year. We also have Boris who started with us in late December. Boris is from Belgium and has been running the pups and some of the other dogs in the yard. He'll be with us until April at least so he's been holding down the fort while we're away. Boris has been a great help with the dogs and with food drops and his English is coming along great. Anyway, what else. I think this year we have a great team of dogs. The majority are from our own litters. There's three families: Annie, Watson and Walter, the three main leaders and their mom Colby; Nathan, Sydney and Spencer are 3 and this is their second year of racing. Wild Bill, Delilah, Tyler and Tolliver are just 2.5 but this is their 2nd year and they are an amazing litter - full of energy. We also found out they have really big hearts which helps their endurance. There's also Wonka (his 3rd race as a 3 year old), Amos (from K. Anderson), Mahoosic (his 6th Iditarod), Scotty and Shifter (mentioned above). All in all an experienced, yet youthful team. Looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds.

Tamra

You've got the music in YOU...

2009-03-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

"Cause I'm as free as a bird now, and this bird you cannot tame..." - Lynrd Skynrd
Quite the ride,
Pat Barrett was our Iditarider, she's a good friend from Bethel. Mike Ellis, a fellow Quest veteran was running our 2nd sled. Though a bit warm it was a beautiful sunny day for an enjoyable seven mile run around Anchorage. Before the team set off we had a bit of a fracas when 6 or 7 policemen swarmed around our sled. Apparently some chick named Palin was on the other side of the fence from our area and needed to be protected from our dogs. Talk about spending the tax payers' dollars wisely.
A bit of a traffic jam on the trail though it was fun to hang out with my buddies Ken and Aaron for a bit. Had a chance to talk with Lance at the finish as well. His team nearly got nailed by a moose - he used a huge tree branch to ward off the enraged creature. Imagine being an animal hanging out in the woods and suddenly 70 dogteams show up out of nowhere. Oh well, just another day up here in Alaska. The show shall soon be under way. I'm not promising anything. The pooches are worthy of endless praise, yours truly is the one who needs to come to terms with who he is and what this life is really all about. We'll see..
Enjoy the view, Hugh and The Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew www.laughingeyeskennel.com

"Are we humans?- or are we Dancers?"

2009-03-06T10:38:00.000-08:00

" Fly like an Eagle to the sea, fly like an Eagle- let my spirit set me free..." -- Steve Miller Band
You all ready for this?
I know we are. We shall be leaving the starting chute # 55. The Quest is over- let's get past all of that nonsense and on to the real deal. Don't feel sorry for us, we're loving life right now. Dogs look wonderful- right now I'm more concerned with Tamra and my state of health. We've both been quite sick since the end of the Quest and are now taking antibotics as well as oil of oregeno to deal with our hacking coughs and stuffed up sinuses. (Any other remedies out there?)
Annie, Walter, Watson and the rest of the gang are revved up and ready to roll. Our Iditarod team this year basically consists of 3 families of pooches as well as Scotty a veteran pooch we bought off of Lance a few years back and 'famous Amos' - a Ken Anderson pooch. 8 of the dawgs just came off of the Quest, 5 were on Juho's 300 team. It's a youthful unit with lots of energy. Hopefully they'll adapt well to a trail that's sure to be quite punchy. The next week or so will be quite a slog probably. It's been snowing on and off here in Anchorage though the temps. were a bit cooler this morning. Just finished an interview with Annie from APRN, a local radio show, out in our host family's backyard with the pooches. Always enjoyable to promote our sport/lifestyle in a positive light. That's why the Quest saga was such a sad predicament- life goes on. Listen, Learn, Live... HHN http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

The Magic Within

2009-03-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

"And the men who hold high places must be the ones to start, to mold a new reality closer to the heart." --Rush
Hey Everyone,
Hope all is well in your worlds. Had a nice run with the pooches in Knik this morning. Spent last night at our friend Ray Redington's. Down in Anchorage tonite then back to Wasilla for race testing tomorrow. We wanted to put out a brief statement 'for the record' so that people who inquire about the Central incident have a reference point. First off I have no ill feeelings towards any of the race officials. They tried their best under unusual circumstances. I have no regrets taking the better conditioned trail- dawgs welfare always is 1st. Central isn't what forced us to finish in 2nd place. Spending 7-8 hours stranded on Eagle summit is what set the score. For the upper half of the Mountain not to be marked properly is unforgivable. Why do we have an entrance fee- to be toyed with? Sure, there were tripods yet without reflectors they were useless in the dark. John Little and myself had to wait til dawn before we we could discern where the actual trail was. At the same time a snowmachiner arrived from 101 telling us that he had been instructed not too worry about putting in trail, "It had already been taken care ofweeks ago." Anybody realize the leaders of the race are hunkered down in the middle of a blizzard here? Considering the snow was up to your knees, surviving this ordeal was certainly something that should have been avoided. I'm just glad it was veteran mushers there and not a bunch of rookies. I would later learn that the trail people had reflectors with them but had not put them up. They were too busy trying to save back of the packers from scratching- good luck! Anybody worried about how the folks up front are being taken care of? The Quest is what it is- that's why I love it so much- it reminds me of myself. So much unfulfilled potential. Just so sad when a dog race is decided not by the dog teams or mushers but outside human error. Hopefully someone owns up to this error rather than hoping it's just forgotten about. Life presses on however.
Pooches are looking beautiful while Tamra and I are hopefully getting over a nasty case of the flu. The next dance begins this weekend. Time to paint another pretty picture, one to last a lifetime. Peace, Hugh and The Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew
p.s.; receiving numerous inquiries about our race on April 1st, the Yukon River Flats 300. Contact Josh Cadzow in f-banks for more info.

The rest is still unwritten...

2009-02-28T12:13:00.000-08:00

"Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be..." -Nirvana
Hey everyone,
Snowing nicely here in Fairbanks. Been running a team each day around the course here. The Cadzow's race will be the 1st week of April- the Yukon Flats 300. We already have 10,000 for the purse, contact myself or Josh if you're interested in playing around with us. I think we have another obstacle course to master before we set out on this new trail. Enjoy the day, Hugh

Memories in my Heart

2009-02-26T19:43:00.000-08:00

"Now I don't know but I've been told- you never slow down, you never grow old"-- T. Petty
Howdy,
Been a flurry of activity around here since the Quest finished. Ran our other squad around the racegrounds yesterday. The german film crew taped our departure, hope to see them all again in Deutscheland soon. Juho's 300 squad looks nice. Along with a pooch from Lance, Shifter. The amount of power we have in the dogyard right now is unreal. Jason, Lance's brother just dropped off Superman for us to have as well. The amount of support we've recieved the last few days has been humbling- thanks to everyone for all of their 'well wishes' and prayers!
Unfortunately Tamra's been quite sick with some type of flu, coughing nonstop. Hopefully a few days of bedrest will rectify the situation. While in f-banks I'm having some additions placed on our racing parky and sledbag. (Also adding some new tunes to the ipod, after awhile the same music is a lil`unnerving on the endorphins) I have a feeling we're going to be getting alot of air time on the way to Nome. Will be giving a school presentation tomorrow for some kids at University Park, then will do a 50 miler on the Tanana out towards Nenana and back. Weather's been nice, warm with flurries. Let the Good Times Roll, HHN www.laughingeyeskennel.com

And what a Show it is...

2009-02-24T19:52:00.000-08:00

"The time to hesitate is thru, no time to wallow in the mire." - J.D. Morrison
Hey everyone,
Man, do I have some interesting Karma. The ying-yang of life. I'm out in the woods for 9 days rallying around with the pooches, jamming Johnny Cash on the Ipod, enjoying the stars above and a dogteam possessed with love. Yet, what will it all be remembered for? What a shame that a beautiful picture could be so tragically tarnished. Did I purposely travel down the road? You bet I did. My german friends who are making a television show were right there on the road asking me if they could film, then giving me the thumbs up. Considering that the road runs parallel to the trail in that section I really did'nt understand that using a different one just 20 feet next to it was such a major infraction. Does everyone think I'd be cheating while at the same time hamming it up for the cameras? As for what some of the nasty things I'm hearing- were you there? Or is this world all about judging others by what we here thru the grapevine. I could really care less, what matters is that I have one of the most beautiful dogteams in the world that continuously kept my eyes welled up with tears as they ripped apart the Quest race speed record. You like that my 'soul brother' Lance?
Should I have been punished for the 10-15 minutes I shaved off of William's lead- sure. In reality that type of difference in time with so many miles left is rather insignificant. A few years back Lance and myself were fined 500 each for camping on the trail near scroggie. I presumed this time it would be in the same category. 2 hours- you have got to be kidding me? Then I'm instructed to not talk to the media- the officials decision would be announced after we left. Could you please keep you girlfriend from complaining as well Hugh. Then he asks me to shake his hand. Have a good day and enjoy yourself on Eagle Summit. That's the tragedy for me of this race. Upon reaching the upper part of the mtn., braving a raging groundstorm by walking my leaders thru it, I suddenly found that the trail ended- there were no more reflectors to be found. Shivering to death I came to the realization that my life was in danger, my left foot began to freeze up- not again!
The next morning in the darkness, some 7 hours later John Little who had camped out a few hundred feet beneath, came up and we discussed whether we should activate his rescue beacon. No markers? What the heck- where are all of those famous new tripods? Finally as dawn broke we noticed there was one just above the ridgeline - we had actually been camping on the drifted over trail ( Does this mean another penalty?) It took awhile but just as we pulled the last of the pooches to the top Sebastian came flying up from down below with William in tow. A snowmachiner was breaking out a new trail by this time as well. He had been instructed earlier after inquiring wether or not trail was needed, not to worry about it, things had already been taken care of. Considering how bad things had been for us this fella seemed pretty perturbed about this unneccessary situation we had been forced to deal with. My boot tracks were everywhere in the 2 plus feet of snow. The major problem was the abscence of decent reflectors on the tripods. I can deal with a horrific night in the blistering winds but I pity the rookie musher who is found in the same situation, all we need is for somebody to die up there- it could happen ya know. More reflectors! I'll do it this summer myself if need be, maybe Brent Sass could be my sherpa. One or two tiny white relectors isn't visible from hundreds of feet away, those slabs of wood need to be shining like the Empire State building.
After all that has happened I expect folks felt that I would be a bit pissed yet my feelings are euphoric. The pooches and I enjoyed a lovely journey, the highlight was coming into Circle off of the Yukon river watching the auroras rip apart the nightsky above, all the while my friend Jim's voice mellifously spouts off, "Come on baby light my fire..." Shooting a documentary at Karl Cochrane's cabin was surreal as well. Though I disagree with my friend William Kleedehn on some issues it was awesome to travel with him- what an amazing man. Our leader Annie is a goddess in lead, what a creature to behold. All the pooches performed well, 2 year old, Delilah and Wild Bill were as goofy as ever. Walter (Annie's brother) was solid as well as Watson. Maestro a beautiful blonde seven year old male finished his 8th thousand miler. (Think about that for a second) His mom, June- Mari ran 9 of them.
We'll be staying up here at our buddy Sam's in the hills just outside of Fairbanks. Will be back on the runners tomorrow afternoon looking at some additional dogs for Iditarod though most of the Quest finishers will already have a slot ensured. Regrets, there's definately been one looking back now. Lil' did I realize my decision to run the team on the safer, non rutted out snowmachine trail would become such a tragic affair. Thankfully our dawgs don't understand all of the beuracratic b.s. associated with this race. All they'll ever know, and I mean EVERYDAY- is that they are true champions. Does the craziness ever end? HHN
P.S. : Congrats to my buddy Sebastian, sorry it had to be under these circumstances.

Keep Me Advised

2009-02-13T15:22:00.000-08:00

"People say I'm crazy- but I'm not the only one..." -- John Lennon
Well, here we go again, numero 14. Been quite the wild ride since we started our 1st thousand mile race back in 2000. From 10 dogs leaving Fairbanks the journey has been unrelenting. So what's it like to be Hugh Neff? Let's just say there's been alot of smiles over the miles and alot of tears throughout the years. If people only knew how strange this life of mine truly is- I like to think that the Great Almighty gets a good chuckle watching our efforts, successes and failures. (as well as the rest of you)
This year there will be a film crew from Germany following us. They'll be having a 2 night show in April on Germany's version of BBC- an 85 million viewing audience. William Kleedehn and Kyla Boivin are the featured mushers as well. As many of you know just over a year ago my father passed away due to illness. Being of german descent I can only imagine what he would thought of all of this. Hopefully we can have a better performance than last season's charade. The pooches are happy and that's what matters the most. If I was a betting man I would'nt be wasting any hard earned $ on myself. We're just going to enjoy each night and day as they come. In the end it's really up to Walter and Watson- my 2-headed monsters up in lead, as well as their sister Annie. Ya know the last words my dad ever said to me were, "Keep me advised." Will do. Enjoy the show, HHN www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Preparing for the UNKNOWN

2009-02-05T19:01:00.000-08:00

"I feel so extraordinary, something's got a hold of me. I've got the feeling I'm in motion- a certain sense of Liberty..." -- New Order
Happy February everyone,
Enjoyed a trip to visit our friend Steve Watson at Braeburn a few days back. This is the 1st checkpoint on the Quest trail. Was warm and windy on our way there though the return trip was - 35. Unfortunately I was unprepared for the nippy weather- a lesson well learned. My buddy Sebastian was out that evening and experienced the same feelings. Can you teach 'old dogs' like us new tricks? Mother Nature always has a way of letting us 'meager humans' realize our place in the world.
The trail from the river on was nice- some of the best snow I've seen. Presently we're still looking for a place to stay in Dawson, everything's already booked up. Sounds like this year's event is going to be a media frenzy- even by Quest standards. Still have lil' clue how the squad is coming together. Hoping to have a decent run with as large a group of pooches as possible. The nice factor of having raced so often is being a realist. Do the best with what you have. Realize how lucky you are to have the opportunity to do what you do. Other folks might be more blessed than you, don't worry about 'beating them' -just don't beat yourself.
Lots of folks coming into town. Bill Pinkham was out training with us. (before he left us in the dust) If any mushers participating in the races are reading this feel free to stop by next tuesday for Tamra`s b-day bash. The sauna will be hot, the bonfire will be large with much merriment to share-- isn`t that what the `mushing lifestyle' is all about? For directions send us an e-mail: laughingeyeskennel@hotmail.com HHN

Tramps Like Us...

2009-02-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

"Someday now, I don't know when- we're gonna get to that place..." -- Da Boss
Ahhhh, how you all doing?
My aging body might feel a bit muscled up this morning but Quest food drops are finally finished. The Carbon Hill race was yesterday as well, a thirty mile loop around the Annie Lake area. Now in most 'sports' home field advantage usually helps a team's chances of performing well. In dogmushing however it can be quite the dilemma to have the pooches run by their warm houses with the smell of food in the air. Luckily for us our three squads eventually made it past our oasis and back on the trail to the finish line, some fifteen miles away. My squad's leader's Annie and her mom Colby swerved towards the house 3 times- they know where the couch is at. Juho and Boris each ran 8 dog teams that performed admirably. The temps. were in the high teens with flurries- nice mushing weather. A punchy trail ensured quality Quest training. A sunday morning 'church' service- northern style.

Juho's team coming off Annie Lake. This pic was on the cover of the Yukon News on Monday. Leaders Wild Bill and Wonka, followed by Delilah, Amigo, Denali, Tyler, Simba and Oscar.

The funnest part of the race was the last mile otherwise known as "No Man's Land". At this juncture of the race we merged with another trail that kids were having a skijoring race on. A ten year old punk on skis with two pooches pulling him was now hot on our heels. I urged the pooches on the last few minutes as this kid's fresh pooches slowly came up on our side. We would finally cross the finish line a second or so ahead of them. I could not help but giggle- we had finally 'met our match'. The dawgs were happy to be on a good snowpacked trail after all the nasty conditions we've experienced so far this year. It's interesting how we travelled all over Alaska looking for decent conditions and the very best were actually in our own back yard.
Immediately after the race commenced we flew back home to watch the Super Bowl- especially Bruce at halftime. We then jumped back in the truck to go to the award cermony- thankfully Tamra was there to accept our prizes because we were late. Boris finished 11th in his 1st race, Juho was 8th while my squad came in 3rd. (Crispin Studer won easily)I was happy with their performance considering a few of the pooches running we had just received recently from a friend in fairbanks to check out. It's always fun to watch the younger pooches experience their 1st race - as well as our 'handlers'. At Laughing Eyes Kennel we have one guarantee- when a person decides to stay with us for the winter- you will probably be running dawgs nearly everyday, and you will definately be racing as well! Because baby- they were Born To Run... HHN http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

Playing With A Dream

2009-01-28T21:29:00.000-08:00

"It can't rain all the time." - Eric Draven
Been awhile, eh?
Never felt better to return home from a trip than just a few days ago. After enduring the winds and drenching rains of Bethel and the Kuskokwim region, the ice-slicked highways of Alaska, Iditarod food drops and a brief visit with the Cadzow family as well as Lance and the gang- the sheets have never felt so comforting on our bed. Still have no idea what type of team we have for our upcoming thousand mile jaunts but as long as they are smiling we'll be happy. Juho and Boris have been busy as well running pups and cutting meat for the Quest. The adreneline is pumping around our Annie lake oasis- wanna fly?
Strange world I've sauntered into- right now as food drops are being prepared we are all watching tv, as well as listening to "The Boss" on Sirius radio. Leno is on the telly, tonite's featured band is the "Neville Brothers" from New Orleans. "Hey I know that dude- we had beers at Aaron Burmeister's house!" I exclaim to no one in particular. My buddy Mike and I had met 'Mean Willie Green' , the band's drummer at the Capt. Bartlett hotel nearly 10 years ago. They came over to do laundry at Aaron's place next to the dog track just outside of Fairbanks. We figured they thought we'd be a bit rednecky- if they only knew! We were just cityboys from Chi-town. The funniest aspect I find when racing against others nowadays is how happy they seem to be when they beat me. C'mon folks you need to set your goals a lil' higher than that- I'm just a couch potato. Lord knows I'm just sick of beating up on myself thru my own stupidity- patience.
The beauty of the Yukon Quest is that the race can be quite different from one year to the next. Who knows what obstacle lays around the next bend of the river? So far this year most mushers have seen it all: wet, wind, ice, snow- could we end up seeing 60 below? As usual I don't have a clue but I'll tell ya what- Laughing Eyes Kennel is all about painting a pretty picture. I could care less what place we finish- I'm just trying to create 14 furballs filled with positive energy. The most wonderful part of our recent trip was meeting a fella who was promoting "Beads for Courage". This is a group who helps young children who have cancer. Many of the mushers in the Kusko wore beads that will now be given to the kids as we hope to strengthen their resolve to fight this battle to its fullest extent. Always remember that life is a precious gift- LIVE IT!
I've arranged that during our next school tour in May we'll visit a few hospitals in the areas I'll be so that I can meet some of these heroic youngsters. Having had two parents with cancer, friends like Lance as well as numerous village compadres, I believe this ailment is humanity's greatest obstacle to deal with in the future.
Racing is exciting, adventurous and spiritually uplifting. Yet dogmushing should at heart be all about the dogs. So if you don't hear from us for a bit every once in a while, well, there's just too much: love to spread around, meat to cut, kibble to bag, bags to label, ointment to organize, booties to bind, batteries to buy, etc. Feel energized? HHN www.laughingeyeskennel.com
A special thanks to Jesse and Alisa in Anchorage, Pat B. in Bethel, Sebastian, Lance, The Cadzows and all the rest of you kids!

Let's Get It On...

2009-01-16T17:13:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone,
Just a brief update. Starting time was switched until tomorrow so K300 trail can be rerouted as well as food drops sent out. I decided to pick a different starting position this year. The last 2 years I've picked the # 13 in honor of my 'soul' brother Mr. Lance Mackey. This morning Tamra asked me to pick # 14 instead. Unfortunately our good friend Sebastian was not able to fly in from Anchorage to participate thus I am once again numero trece. Who knows if we'll actually be able to leave tomorrow, another large band of clouds is moving into the area as these words are being typed. The streets are covered in ice- barely even able to walk. Most of us our putting screws on our boots for better footing. Bought a rain jacket, gloves, etc. for the upcoming wetness as well. The race has been shortened 40 miles due to the inclimate weather conditions though I remember vividly how long this trail feels from last season's expedition. Oh well, endeavor to persevere... HHN www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Gaining Weight in Bethel

2009-01-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all!
So far it's much like our visit to the Yukon Delta last year-wet, wet, wet. Been raining for 2 days now, temps. in the 30's. Hopefully the race will start on time. Planes have been delayed with a few remaining teams that are not here yet. Considering those teams are the 'prime time' mushers that are well known in the video world the folks in charge have to accomodate for them. We always try to come an extra few days early just in case a scenario like this arises. The way the weather has been this year I think next year we'll come at least a week early. Tamra and I flew in on the same plane as Aaron Burmeister and Dee Dee Jonrowe. It was rather startingly meeting her as I was just stepping out of the bathroom in the back of the plane. Dee was just featured on Alaska's newest postage stamp- a pic of her dogteam running thru Rainy Pass.

Unfortunately our trip from Whitehorse was a nightmare. The folks who 'fixed' our truck last week never really solved the problem. An hour out of town we were once again forced to find a tow truck and return back to town. Our friends John and Laura from Icy Waters were true Angels helping to haul the trailer full of pooches. We then had to rent another truck at an astronomical rental fee for a week. As Tamra says, "The real mushers figure out ways to solve problems that seem to always happen- whether it be on the trail or in everyday life." It's been refreshing here in southwestern Alaska to enjoy the warm air though hopefully the temps. drop a bit before race time. We'll know by tomorrow morning whether it's going to start according to scheduele or on saturday. In the meantime we've been enjoying our wonderful hostess's, Pat Barrett, fine southern cuisine. (she's a Carolina gal)

I took Tamra for a drive around the area yesterday. Showed her the road where Martin Buser and myself finished on last year. It wasn't the main trail but Bethel resembles the Minto flats outside of Fairbanks- it's tundra with a maze of trails that are easy to become confused within. While driving around I ran into my friend Mike Williams from Aniak, a local Eskimo village. Had a wonderful chat- Mike will be heading to Washington for the inaugural in a few days. He is one of the head 'chiefs' around these parts. Mike performs the Iditarod banquet's prayers each year. It's been an honor to share trail time with him these past few years- he truly represents the spirit of Alaska. Well, hopefully the Great Almighty will give us a chance to enjoy a brief run soon- I need to lose a few pounds. And the Dawgs? We think their starting to get a bit restless laying around on all of Pat's couches. The picture is priceless, however. You folks down in the Lower 48 stay warm now ya hear? Peace, HHN www.laughingeyeskennel.com To follow the race go to: K300.org

Another Day at the 'Office'

2009-01-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

"What is the secret of that strange and powerful attraction? An attraction that is so strong that the minute you are back to civilization that you immediately forget the moral and physical sufferings you have undergone and think nothing of returning to them again? In what lies the indisputable charm of a landscape that is barren and intimidating. Is it the attraction of the unknown, the elation of struggling to get there, and struggling to live once you have got there. Is it the pride of achievement, or the pleasure of attempting something that no one has done before, or perhaps the satisfaction of being far away from all pettiness and meanness? A little of all of these things, perhaps, but I have realized for a long time that in such desolation and bareness I feel the joy of life more deeply than I do elsewhere." -- Schackleton
Hey y'all,
40 below- whatta ya know? That time of year where you're itching to be out on the trail but the pooches health and welfare must come 1st. Thankfully there's plenty of races to prepare food drops for. Been doing a bit of reading lately as well. Memories harken back to my initial winters in the North reading a few novels per week by candlelight. At present I'm reading George Plimpton's bio on Sir Ernest and the "Age of Exploration". Back in '95 my dogmushing heroes were the original Iditaroders- Redington, Mackey and associates. What their generation created on the Alaskan landscape was spiritually uplifting for all to be a part of. Yet Amundsen, Nansen, Scott, Peary and others were a part of the greatest race ever.
It's hard to feel bad about one's circumstances after reading what these men had to endure during the early part of the 20th century. Sure it takes a bit more to heat the house, keep weight on the dogs as well as water for all. Life is continually testing all of us, seeing how determined we all are to keep our eyes laughing. Appreciating the small treasures found along the trail helps to enhance one's perspective on things. It may be nearly noon here but the sun is rising once again over the mountainside - and we shall enjoy its warmth- if only for a few hours time. Still enjoying the view, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Respecting One's Roots

2009-01-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

"The measure of a man is seen thru his family, friends and loved ones..."
Happy Frigid New Year,
Had a wonderful surprise on the 1st, "Hey Hugh, it's Chuckie- we're in town with 30 dogs and need to do a quick run." An hour later Lester Erhart, John and a few other friends from Tanana pulled in the driveway. What a wonderful way to start the new year. While John and Chuck ran their racing dogs around the lake. Lester chatted it up with Tamra and myself as the Sirius satellite radio played some country tunes in the background. "Man, I'm having a good time." was Lester's emphatic declaration of his brief visit. Along with being an incredible dogman , Lester is an accomplished musician as well as most of his children. They are a native version of the Von Trop family from the "Sound of Music". My Athabascan gunnas were heading south to participate in a race in Ft. Nelson. They were probably hoping to find warmer weather but this time of year it's cold everywhere this far north.
Most mornings I wake up in the wee morning hours not only to stoke the stove but turn on the generator in order to thaw out our water pipes. Along with preparing a warm breakfast for the pooches each sunrise requires hours of preparation in order to ensure a successful day. We sure do enjoy our extended freedoms up here but nothing in this world comes without a price. All of those miles of training and racing across the Yukon and Alaska demand daily preparation. Whether it be slicing meat on our band saw or preparing booties and jackets for the dogs. Each day's run begins hours before we even set out on the trail. The -40 temps. also ensure that nearly 20 pooches share the hacienda with us on a nightly basis- talk about a snore-a-thon!

13 years ago when I decided to chase this dream I realized that I would only see my family members and friends down in the lower 48 a very brief time for the rest of my life. Lil' did I realize then that I would become a part of a new 'family' when I moved to the Greatland. Lester and his extended members from Tanana and villages beyond not only taught me about dogs but about surviving daily life in the North. It's been over 2 years now since I've visited Tanana and this has been continually nagging at me. Fortunately Tanana came to visit us- a reminder what this life is all about: sharing stories and smiles with one another.
Will be heading to Bethel with Tamra next weekend for the Kusko 300. After last year's swim we're looking for better trail this time around. Besides doing food drops for Quest and Iditarod this week I'm also running about 20 pooches during the warmer afternoon (-30) hours trying to put together the best squad possible. Not really interested in the 'big win' just hoping to finish with as large a squad as possible. The more pooches pulling the sled= the bigger the party!
Peace to you, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Surviving the Journey

2008-12-31T15:08:00.000-08:00

" Life's hidden treasures can always be found in the EYE of the Storm" -John Muir
Happy Holidays to All!
Barely made it back to the casa here at 6 this morning. Our truck was having fuel line issues and we had to get a tow truck just outside of Whitehorse. Boris, our handler, came out with another vehicle to haul all the pooches back home. Half of these dogs were 'rookies' a few days ago as we set off on our journey to Paxson to participate in the 'Gin-Gin'. Though the race is primarily set up to showcase the women of our sport, numerous other mushers share the trail. Not in search of 'winning' a few hundred bucks but introducing their younger pooches to the racing environment as well as inhaling the breathtaking views along the Denali Hwy. This area of Alaska has some gorgeous scenery that I was looking forward to experiencing for the 1st time.
Races such as this are a bit more mellow allowing us the chance to spend time with good friends without all the tension associated with larger mushing events.
Mother Nature had other ideas up her sleeve however this time around. Ten miles down the 200 mile trail, teams were forced to travel thru a 'gauntlet' of 40-50mph winds on an ice encrusted road with barely any snow on it at all. As we came into the picture numerous squads were floundering down in the valley alongside the road trying to reorganize their jumbled up teams. One lady was calmly walking down the road, mentioning that her team must have gone just up ahead a bit. One fella was actually holding down two teams while the other musher straightened out another squad. All of these scenarios were playing out simultaneously in the midst of a massive wind storm. Think about it! My immediate reaction was to stop, survey the situation and seek the safest route thru this canine course of craziness. I would end up being drug twice after the winds flipped the sled off the side of the road. Lance spent nearly a half hour sorting out his situation down in the gully. No one really made it thru this 7 mile obstacle course without a story to tell. I just wish my friend Jon Van Zyle could make a portrait of it- a video would have been even better. Fortunately no one, especially the dogs, was seriously hurt. Unfortunately a few rookie teams didn't make it thru and turned around. The funniest part was when the National guard fellas showed up to lend a hand and ended up getting most of their snowmachines stuck. Alot easier to get a team moving again than a cold piece of metal.
Our handler from Finland ,Juho, was participating in his 1st mid-distance event with 2 veteran and 8 rookie pooches. Though Juho finished as the "Red Lantern" I could not have been more proud for he finished with every dog he started with- in decent shape. This was quite an accomplishment considering temps. hovered in the minus 50's at times on the rivers. I was fortunate to finish with all my dogs as well. Having two jackets helped protect them against the fierce winds, I wore four or five layers around my head as well. This season I have yet to carry a pooch in my sledbag, part of this is do to training at a slower speed. Mostly though I have to admit that with age my desire for speed, to be some 'great' race champ is diminishing. I'm just seeking to be a true 'Son of the North'- as I've stated before my overall goal is to complete at least 50 thousand mile races in my life-the Lord willing. An even greater goal is to finish at least one major race with every pooch we start with. This can be a daunting task considering all of the obstacles presented on a daily basis. I had a chat with Quest Veteran Dan Kaduce at McLaren Lodge during one of our layovers. The "Spirit" of mushing, Redington's Dream, has been dwindling in recent years. With so many striving to achieve personal greatness and monetary wealth the focus on what the purpose of our lifestyle is has been diluded. Having been 'around the block' for a few years now I've learned to have a greater appreciation for moments in time: The wagging of my leaders' tails, Walter's goofy smile- a puppy's transformation into a prime athlete.
And Nature? What is there not to appreciate? The Great Almighty has created some divine space up here in the Alaska Range. It's no wonder that men like Jeff King, John Schandelmeir and Sebastian Schnuelle train here on a regular basis. If you travel around these twisty, windy parts you'll end up with one heck of an outfit. As we descended down into Paxson with just a few miles left of this harrowing saga the early morning sunrise erupted into a pinkish hue blanketing all of the surrounding mountains. It was at this very moment I realized why we mushers put ourselves thru so much each year. Not to earn a buck or see our faces in the paper but to honor this gift called life. For many of us this isn't just some sport to be viewed on the Discovery chanel- this is our religion; a way to honor the Almighty One for bestowing so much beauty within our eyes reach. And the Dogs? Without them we'd all be spiritually worthless. For they bring out the beauty within each one of us humans by how we care for them. It will be nice if one day the mushing world returns to admiring one another's beautiful Dawgs and not seeking to villify each other's personal weaknesses. This chaotic world is challenging enough for all of us. I do have a personal request, please remember the number one rule of participating in races: NO Whining. If you don't LOVE what you are doing-- enjoy another view of life. For the rest of us? We'll be smiling all the way to the top of the next mountain's peak! Peace to you, Hugh http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/
p.s.: A special thanks to John S. and Theresa Daily for their help coordinating the race, this was a "Dream" for Juho-muchas gracias! And a special thanks to Tamra- for putting up with me. Love you honey.

Spreading the 'Wealth'

2008-12-25T22:16:00.000-08:00

"The Road ahead will be long..." -Obama
Howdy y'all,
What can I say- It's the Holidays. Heading to Gin-Gin 200 in th morning-should be fun. Will let you know how the adventure and trails are in a day or 2. Peace, Hugh

"Ghost Riders in The Sky..."

2008-12-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

'Is it just me or do the Stars look brighter?'

Happy Holidays to All,

Enjoyed yet another wondrous night time trip with the pooches this past evening. The vibrancy of the lights shimmering down from the heavens above was inspiring. Santa's elves must be wrapping presents with brighter wrapping paper this season. Around the kennel we are nearly as busy as the folks at the North Ploe as we are diligently preparing food drops for the upcoming races. Thousands of pounds of meat, fats, kibble and other assorted items must be cut, packaged and labeled. Fortunately for us this year we have other folks around to help spread the various chores around. Being the 'everlasting cheechacko' I realize that individual dreams are a myth- in every story there are always others who play a part in the overall success that one person may achieve.

This past weekend we participated in a 'fun' race up at Icy Waters. John Lucas, who runs the fish hatchery was the organizer. Teams would travel just over 10 miles straight up to Fish lake and then back down to the finish line. The trail encompassed just over 20 miles of beautiful terrain. Juho was running a younger team as well. In these early season events we are just hoping that the pooches pass other teams safely and enjoy the camaraderie of all the other canines on the trail. Of the 22 dogs we entered most were competing for the 1st time. They all performed well- Juanita, Amigo, Griffin, Tyler and Tolliver have limitless futures awaiting. For now though some of them are too young to participate in the longer races and will have to wait til next year.

The area around Fish lake, some 4 thousand feet up is beautiful. As mushers approached the top a volunteer handed them a nice present- a cerveza to enjoy on the way down! Plummetting down the final few miles one gazed upon the surrounding Whitehorse environs. I could not help but smile, saying to myself, "This is awesome." That was the beauty of this event- the sole focus was'nt on what place one finished but on the enjoyment of the day- for all involved, especially the Dawgs. Participating in the event was a particularly fascinating character named Harvey. While most of the teams had 10 pooches on their squad, Harvey's only consisted of 6. This man seemed to possess more energy than any one else- especially at the finish. His spirit is truly admirable for Harvey happens to travel all over the north with just a few pooches; at the youthful age of 65 years.

A few hours ago I was flying around up above our homestead near Alligator lake. At night the brilliance of the stars can be entrancing. A sudden surge from the pooches reminds you that their are other varmits playing around in the woods as well. Often on trails I'm familiar with a headlamp will be shut off in order to have a better focus on the surrounding environment. This isn't a good idea on unfamiliar terrain however as numerous racers have learned throughout the years. Back in '02 during the Quest I had a discussion about this at Biederman's cabin with two of my favorite mushers- Mr. Rick Mackey and Timmy Osmar. Though I might have finished higher in other events, 2oo2 will always be tops on the list in my memory. Both of these fellas are true dogmen and the opportunity to spend a week on the trail with them was heaven. Rick mentioned that he enjoyed running without his lights but warned me about the hazards of the Yukon river in the dark. A few hours later I was heading down the wrong river with my headlamp off- oops!

Listen, Learn, Live!! HHN http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

King Solomon's "Gold"

2008-12-13T08:25:00.000-08:00

"I don't know if you'll ever be much of a racer but I sure do enjoy reading your prose."- Mushing Champion Gareth Wright
Hey Everyone,
With temps. hovering above freezing around here lately I decided to load up the truck and head north to visit my friend J.D. Britten who is staying near Dawson City this winter. Dawson rests alongside the banks of the Yukon and Klondike rivers. This town has been immortalized in the writings of London, Robert Service and so many others. Though many folks came here during the gold rush over 100 years ago in search of riches few remain during the winters today. Why stay during the bitter cold months where 40 below can be an 'average' temperature? Well, for some of us Clark Gable sums it up best in "Gone With The Wind"- ' It's about Terra- THE LAND'.
The highway that thousands of tourists use in the summertime to visit this hallowed area is known as "Top of The World". Some may believe it is called this due to its proximity to the far north. For me personally, whenever the dogs and I are flying up the 4 thousand foot dome's hillsides, constantly viewing incredible beauty for endless miles in every direction it's as if we are literally hovering above the earth. King Solomon's dome is easily one of the most picturesque spots on the 1,000 mile Yukon Quest trail. This year the snowfall has already nearly reached the same amount Dawson had for all of last year. In the far north the sun barely shows her face in the winter months thus travelling high up above is a chance to catch some extra rays as well.
J.D., Mari and their 2 year old son Odyland were wonderful hosts. They are of french ancestry and have a wonderful relationship with their dogs. J.D. has been mushing for over 20 years and did wonderful in his 1st Quest finishing 9th. Odyland is a wonderul alarm clock as well, regularly waking us at 6 each morning, "Momma!". Dawson's a historical city with numerous structures dating back to the gold rush era. One favorite is the "PIT", a tavern at the bottom of the Westminister Hotel. Now some may believe in haunted houses, for me the whole entire area surrounding Dawson is possessed by the spirit of adventure. It's an exquisite area that I hope to explore more of in years to come.
The Quest has one of its largest fields ever this year. Our friend from Fort Yukon, Josh Cadzow, recently signed up. As a native 'wannabee' it's wonderful to see an athabascan musher back in the field. Hopefully, in years to come we will be able to help others achieve their dreams whether it be a 1,ooo mile race or just a walk around the block. It can be quite distressing to view all that is happening around the world these days. Life is a challenge- believe me, I've learned what the word 'suffer ' means over the years. Sure, the temps. might continue to become more bitter yet it is the glow in one's heart that allows each one of us to carry on with a smile on our face.
Enjoy the view, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

What Have I Become?

2008-12-04T22:47:00.001-08:00

"And I have'nt seen the sunshine since I don't know when..." - Johnny
Looking back at life what a strange saga this journey has unleashed. To think it all started off sleeping underneath some trees with my two dogs, Mav and R.E.L., on the outskirts of an Anchorage park. The years of never really knowing if the dream would ever survive. Tanana, Manley, Nenana and Coldfoot- so many vivid memories, tales of adventure-tails of happiness!
Reflections have been prominent on the mind of late. Thanksgiving would have been my father's 80th b-day. My dad was 'old-school', not exactly the easiest guy to impress. After my ma died when I was a kid he cared for our family of 6 alone- well, we kids helped too.
It has never been easy to live up to the expectations of a man with his integrity. Hopefully one of these days I'll figure out a way to honor his name properly- the last words he ever said to me will always be within my head,"Keep me advised."
Not only was Phil my dad but Boy Scout Troop Leader as well. In scouts each winter in Evanston, a suburb of Chicago, we would have the "Klondike Derby" on the edge of Lake Michigan. Our troop actually built beautiful dog sleds that were kept in our family's garage. Bizarre coincidence, eh? My whole life has had a few of those along the way.
From being a 'lowly' handler to racing to have as much fun as possible- my rebirth in Alaska is a true miracle. Without dogmushing where would I be? Lost. This whole running around in the woods scene can be a bit nippy sometimes. The aches and pains might be a daily occurrence yet for some reason it's hard not to just keep smiling. The energy of the Dawgs really does reverberate thru one's soul if they have a solid bond with their furry compadres. It's funny listening to people who fear the weather or the hazards of the trail. If they only knew what an amazing playground we mushers of the north are so blessed to enjoy.
Juho and I returned from Canol rd. or as I like to call it "Doggie Hwy.". We figure there's at least 100-150 dogs running around its twisty roads every day this time of season. Typically we camp out next to the lake after our initial run, explore a bit more of the road on our next leg and then return back our final leg of the journey. With the numerous younger pooches we`re training this year it`s been great training. The run alongside Quiet lake is breathtaking. Yesterday the sun was setting over the mtns. as the waves lapped the shorès edge. As we neared the finish I was running with the headlamp off since the snow was falling and it was difficult to see the team. I have the trail memorized thus alleviating any stress of hitting unforeseen objects. Suddenly my leaders Nathan and Wonka began barking. Quickly I turned on my headlamp as another light flashed on just in front of the team. How is it going- Hey Sebastian. Few mushers will ever be as strange as our 2 souls.
Will post our feature dogs on next blog so that we can include pix. Tamras in Torontovisiting her Parents. I can barely type as it is. We all know she is the brains behind this outfit- guess I am just the one chomping at the bit just to get back out on that trail again. Pleasant journey to you! Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Sunday Saunas w/ Salmon Stew

2008-11-24T09:43:00.000-08:00

"Can you handle the heat?"
Hey y'all,
Weather has been relatively warm of late. We had a nice bit of snow a few days ago allowing us to run more right out of the yard. Having travelled numerous times recently on hilly Canol Rd. we've decided to concentrate on flatland training around the Annie lake area. Though the runs are rather short, averaging around 30 miles, it actually works out nicely considering the plus 30 (zero celsius) temps. Still not a lot of snow to set a hook thus we're running smaller 10 dog teams compared to the 16 we would run on the relatively safe Canol Rd. area. Strange how the skies have been filled with grey clouds yet no major amounts of snow descending as of yet.
The highlight of our weekends is the sunday sauna. Our handler Juho is from Finland where the sauna is religion. Not only does the extreme heat help to clean and cleanse the body by sweating out all of the dirt and germs but the sauna elevates one's spirit as well. I often think of my heroes when I'm sweating away- the Native American Indians. They used sweat lodges as well as other types of hothouses as a religious ceremony. Learning thru the BoyScouts, my friends and I became immersed with warriors such as Joseph of the Nez Perce, Black Elk, Grey Owl or any other literary novel we could get our hands on. Having been fortunate to have lived in various athabascan villages during my tenure in the north I have been constantly in awe of Natives unique abilities to become one with the land. I guess at heart I'm just a native wannabee.
Our sauna seats about 10 people and as it rests adjacent to the lake one can even jump in for a quick 'chill' if they want to. (thru a hole in the ice) On the sauna's outer wall is an amazing mural of a bearded fella running dogs. I often wonder who he was- is our sauna haunted? Not only is the heat refreshing for one's sore muscles it's great for dealing with colds as it helps to clear up bad sinuses. What about the Salmon Stew you ask? Well, it actually isn't for dinner. Stewart is a foam pad in the shape of a fish one can sit on if the seat becomes to hot to handle.
Enjoy the view, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

What would Caeser Say?

2008-11-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

"In the end are you a foe? Or a friend?"
Hey Everyone,
Hope all is well in your worlds. We just returned from our latest overnight foray to Canol rd. for a short 100- mile overnighter. This is the heart of training season for many around these parts. While some folks might want to start a bit later in the year, we'd rather ensure the pooches have enough miles under their belts just in case the weather becomes bitterly cold in the not too distant future. Canol is a 'doggie hwy'- yesterday we saw famed musher William Kleedehn as well as Michelle Phillips, one of the top female mushers in the world. I commented to her in the parking lot that the trail already resembled a race environment with lots of doggie doo-doo. Michelle replied that we needed some more snow. Lo and behold as I looked out the window this morning the air was filled with large beautiful white flakes-awesome!
Canol is fun as well as good training. Nothing really compares however to hooking up a team right in the dogyard and heading down the trail. In this day and age it allows us to leave less of a 'global footprint' as well not having to waste any unnecessary gas. During our school tours I often mention that I'll see more cars and traffic in a week than the rest of the year combined up here. There will be times on our 14 hour drive to races in Fairbanks or Anchorage that the # of vehicles seen on the road is less than the # of digits one has on their own body. Road tripping is a wonderful side benefit of participating in racing events. One could travel all over the north in a lifetime and its beauty never ceases to amaze the soul. Finishing our run yesterday afternoon the sun was setting behing the mtns. leaving the sky filled with different tints of orange. Hard not to appreciate all the splendor the Great Almighty whips up on a daily basis.

Life on the trail has been inspiring. Of the two teams Juho and I ran, a dozen pooches were rookies to long-distance mushing. It's fun to watch them mesh together, surprises like Tutshi, a thirty-five pound female who was in lead for thirty miles are always enjoyable to experience. With so many pooches we stop quite often, not only to snack but love up the pooches and let them know how well they are doing. It's like that fella Ceaser says on tv- " It's all about excercise, discipline, affection." If you've ever seen the show "The Dog Whisperer" you know who I'm talking about. I swear Tamra watches nearly every episode of it. He also talks a lot about the 'pack mentality'. Though not all of his views would work with regards to dogmushing I think it would be great for someone to get this L.A. dude behind a 16 dog Iditarod team. Watching his show one realizes that most dog behaviours are a direct result of how they are treated by their human compadres. So if you have a dog that's giving you problems - get out there and give it some exercise, you could probably use some more of it as well!

Once time on the trail is over it's essential to spend quality visits with the pooches not only caring for their feet but massaging their stiff muscles as well. More mileage requires more food- 3 meals with a few snacks a day is our average this time of year. We just don't leave food out for the dogs to eat endlessly however. Personally seeing an overweight, obese dog on someone's couch barely able to move is just as horrfying as viewing a pooch that is too skinny. All of us should constantly be seeking to live in harmony with this gift we call life. Not only for our own sake but for the well-being of our beloved pooches too. As I'm writing this in our living room I am surrounded by 6 of our pack of pooches - 2 of them are this week's featured Dawgs.

Griffin and Tutshi
Griffin is a fifty pound male yearling whose father is Zorro (Lance Mackey) and mother is one of our main Iditarod leader's, Omen. Grif is a bit young to be racing this year but has done admirably in training. He has that star like eagerness to please that one finds in many great leaders. Our other featured pooch is a bit of a project.

"Famous" Amos

Amos is a 3 year old, forty-five pound male with loads of talent. I rescued him after a race last year. He was having problems bonding with his musher so I decided to make him our kennel's personal pet project. He is quite shy and must be dealt with delicately when putting a harness or booties on. Typically your houndier pooches tend to be a bit more sketchy but thru endless hours of attention this obstacle may be overcome. Amos is often brought into the house to socialize with other dogs. It's like Caeser points out, "You need to have the dogs train each other- that's how a team works." Who knows if Amos will mellow out enough to participate in many races this year but he's already the proud father of 6 adorable pups. Their mom is Annie and both parents have impressive lineages that will hopefully shine thru in thier offspring!
Well, we've had a few hours of rest now- time to hook up a different team and head for the hills. Up here in the north- it's just another beautiful day. Peace, HHN http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

Here's a pic from my buddy Steve's wedding last month. Tamra's mom couldn't believe that I was actually wearing a tuxedo.

Our 1st Camping Trip...

2008-11-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

" So do you believe in Heaven now Juho?"
Howdy everyone,
With the lack of snow so far this year around the Annie Lake area we decided to load up the dogs and drive a few hours south to Canol Rd., an old mining road that is wonderful for decent snow conditions on a yearly basis. Temps. tend to be a bit warmer at this higher elevation. The endless views are breathtaking as well. Fortunately for us, this night their would be a full moon to guide our way-beautiful. Before setting off there was much preparation needed in order to be fully outfitted to feed and care for thirty pooches for a two night stay. Our handler Juho and myself would not only be carrying a bag of Redpaw kibble each but a bag of fish as well as beef. Combined together each sled load would weigh around 200 pounds. As I've said before we humans tend to live on mac and cheese or soup and hotdogs where as the pooches are fed like kings. After all without them you won't be going anywhere.
Arriving at the hwy. we visited with Hans Gatt, his partner Susie and a Jamaican dogmusher who will be participating in the Quest this year. Hans is one of the true geniuses of the sport. Not only is he a multiple race champ but expert sled builder as well. Lord knows we have all learned alot from watching this Austrian musher's success over the years. An hour after his teams departed Juho and myself set out on our initial sled journey this year. It was wonderful to not have the engine noise from the snowmachine or 4-wheeler. Of the thirty pooches a half dozen were yearlings who were participating in their 1st major camping trip. We were hoping to establish good habits for them- no hurries, no worries. I wanted them to think of our 1st journey as an extended buffet line. Every few hours we would stop to snack them- my goal was to feed all of the food, except for a snack at the finish.
Just over five hours we camped out beside Quiet Lake which is still wide open with lil' ice on its edge. The dogs having been fed and straw on the ground for them to sleep upon we settled down for a few hours of shuteye. The temps. were rather warm, around freezing, which was quite comfortable for us humans. At 4:20 in the morning the pooches awoke and began growling immediately. Was their a varmit around? No, it was just my buddy Sebastian Schnuelle (who finished 10th in last year's Iditarod) and a few of his friends out running teams as well. "Ya know Hugh not everybody is as crazy as we are." I've probably known Sebastian longer than any other musher I've competed with. There are only a few other people on this earth that travel by sled each year as much as we do. Why? Well, I guess it's like a fella told me a few weeks ago that we ran into up by Alligator lake. He was on a snowmachine and I stopped the team for a quick chat to see how trail conditions were up ahead. I introduced myself and this man's reply was one of the kindest gestures I've ever received. "Yes, I know who you are Hugh- you're the guy who really loves what he does." Talk about a humbling experience- made me realize how lucky a man I truly am.
Much like everywhere else nowadays the mushing world has been hit hard by these difficult economic times. Entry fees for races continue to go up as prize $ diminishes. Yet the main throng of dogmushers are unwavered in their determination to excel in this sport/lifestyle. This alone is proof that the majority of people mush out of love for their dogs and this amazing northern landscape that we wander thru and play upon. For me personally it's all about the energy; the enjoyment of each and everyday despite the hardships encountered along the way. After a decade of racing its obvious by now that there are alot more talented people on the trail than myself yet we're all winners if we choose to be.
We might be 'winners' yet compared to the dawgs we're all weak- what these beasts can do from a physical standpoint leaves one continually in awe. 50 mile run, break, 40 mile run, break- then another 50 mile run straight into a snowstorm. (and this was their 1st extended run of the season) The team performed wonderfully and many of the dogs gained weight during our training run. Most of the younger dogs learned to mellow out and sleep properly which can be difficult to learn at such a young age. Many of these yearlings won't even race this year yet this is a great time to teach them about trail life- from the sound of their yipping and yapping; Geronimo, Amigo, Nemo, Griffin, Juanita and Gypsy can't wait to fly thru the mtns. once again.
This time of year we're also beginning to prepare the plethora of meat, fish, fat and kibble that will be used for future dog runs as well as races. Each chunk of food must be cut into small snicker sized pieces so that it's easier for the pooches to chew. Along with organizing booties, medicines, jackets and assorted human needs we are always preparing for future endeavors. At Laughing Eyes Kennel life is about learning how to continually explore- not only the surrounding landscape but the beauty of one's very own soul. Hopefully all of you kids out there are reminded of what a treasure this planet is and how we must all respect the very beauty of this sacred world. Now some may define success thru victory and accumulation of wealth yet hopefully most of us define accomplishment thru the smiles of others who come in contact with our very own eyes. Peace, HHN www.laughingeyeskennel.com

A Reason to Believe...

2008-11-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

"Where are you going, where have you been.." - DMB

Howdy folks,
Well, quite the interesting times lately, eh? This past summer we installed satellite television so that we could enjoy the olympics as well as a chicago cubs world series victory-oh well! The past few months have been mesmerizing as we have analyzed the presedential election. It was surreal to see Obama's Grant Park victory speech. As a child I went with my older brother and lil' sister to see Pope John Paul II speak there. Just before Barack and his family went up on stage the phone rang at our house - it was my sister Monica who was at the rally with her family. The strangest part of these elections was seeing some familiar faces at various political events. Is that 4-time Iditarod champ Martin Buser sitting next to Todd Palin? Another week it would be one of my heroes, Hobo Jim, on CNN speaking with Alaskan senator Ted Stevens. What a small world after all.
Strange season so far up here in the mountains. It's often cloudy yet lil' snow has accumulated so far. Unfortunately the temps. have been warm enough that conditions are unsafe as of yet to run pooches on the lake. I'm not too woried about going thru the ice but the slushy conditions are not good for the pooches feet. Fortunately for us there are numerous other trails to play with the dogs on. Each day we seek a different direction whether it be Alligator lake, Coal lake rd., the Wheaton river rd. or Mary lake. School's in session and like any young child it's important for the teacher to make each day's lesson interesting and enjoyable. As a musher one is constantly experimenting with their imagination, coming up with ways for each pooch to grow. Life is about experience - whether it be 4 thousand foot ascents, bushwhacking thru two feet of unbroken trail or learning how to run thru open water; a team is molded together by overcoming shared obstacles as well performing daily rituals.

Training with a 4-wheeler and snowmachine has been great. Sure, it might be a bit louder and more expensive to train but there are numerous advantages as well. With the lack of snow it's easier to control a large team without worrying about your snowhook flying out of the ground. The noise is also loud enough to scare off any varmits in the area - this is no time to be running into a pesky porcupine or ornery bear that has yet to settle down for their winter's sleep. Some of the more seasoned pooches hang out with me in the morning as I travel on skis through adjoining trails to the end of the lake and back. For me this is the time of year when sleep is difficult - too many voices in my head reminding me of all there is to do. Fortunately our handler Juho from Finland has been a godsend helping to share in each day's chores. As I often mention in our school talks up here in the north we don't use the word 'work' instead we call it 'play'. This ensures a more enjoyable day.
Once my truck is finished being repaired we'll head a few hours south to Canol road where we can take some of the younger dogs on an extended camping trip. There's nothing that is more enjoyable than sitting around a campfire enjoying a starlit night with the auroras overhead. Surrounding you are teams of dogs resting comfortably on some straw snoring away. What better background music could there be to enjoy- true harmony with mother nature. Speaking of which one of our goals for this year is a word that is easier to say than achieve: P-P-Patience! Lord knows you can take the boy out of the city but often it`s hard to take the 'city' out of the boy. During the Iditarod not staying in Ophir last year was a prime example of my ineptitude to 'chill out' and assess the situation. Much like in the past I decided to 'go for it' and ended up hauling Walter, a 70 pd. male leader nearly the whole way to Cripple. Walter was fine, just tired, the 30 plus temps. were tough on our heavier furred pooches. He did finish the Quest, but he's probably a bit large to compete in both events. Sure, it might have been raining at the time but the weather cleared up within minutes of my decision to continue on. That simple choice allowed numerous teams to leave us in the dust-Patience.
Obviously with a tough season such as last year, life continually tests one's belief in their abilities. Fortunately for me there's still much to improve upon. We haven't even touched the surface when it comes to achieving our personal strengths. And when I say strength I mean more so mentally than physically. It may be wonderful to follow your heart's desires but one must seek to harness the energy within their head as well. That's why mushers enjoy this time of year as we use our given talents each day to mold a beautiful work of art - our very own DOGTEAM. To see these furballs become one solid unit is a joy to behold. An ever-evolving, undulating orb of beastial energy. The 'Magic Carpet Ride' is what we all seek; few things in life compare with this unending rollercoaster ride thru the wilderness of the north.

Amigo with his brother Jericho

This week's featured pooches are Amigo and Shaman. Amigo's mom is Annie and papa is Brady, a Lance Mackey dog. At this point in my career it's nice to be running dogs that we have raised ourselves. Up until a few years ago I was racing sprintier hound dogs that I acquired from various native friends. People would often remark that they looked more like an Open North American Sprint Team than Long-Distance pooches. Amigo is a yearling that will probably compete in a few 300 milers but is still a year away from participating in any of the big dances. Along with his brother Geronimo and sister Juanita this charismatic fella has bucketloads of talent. Shaman is a pooch that we acquired from my buddy Ray Redington this spring. He's out of Ray's dog Jet and a Robert Sorlie pooch, Barley. Last year in White Mountain near the end of the Iditarod I had the opportunity to see Ray, Gerry Willomitzer and Aaron Burmeister depart ahead of us. It was amazing to see how beautiful each of their teams were. It made me realize that racing isn't just about training but breeding as well. Along with his sister Sicily, Shaman is easily one of the most talented dogs we have. He's all legs and resembles a wolf as much as a dog. He's quite friendly and eager to please. I can only imagine what the rest of Mr. Redington's yard is like. For me it's just a privelege to learn from folks such as these on the trail. Life is more than just a competition with others: it's a competition with yourself-Patience!

Shamen (also known as Silas and Rhyme)

Wishing you all well on your own personal trails. Feel free to send us a line some time and if you're ever in the area stop by for some coffee and a story or two... Enjoy the view, Hugh http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

A Cherished Moment in Time...

2008-10-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

" A fella can learn alot from talking with a Dawg." - Rocky Balboa

Was quite the week to remember. Felt as if I was in a time machine. Growing up in Evanston,Il. I had my own pack to hang with. Our buddy Steve's marriage was an amazing reunion of souls. We were all boy scouts in troop 31 at St. A's. Scouts is what shaped many of our interests, primarily when they involved playing in the woods. It was pure joy to see Mike, Tim, Tarj and Stever after over a decade`s time. A person actually asked me when I was moving back home. (And then there were the Palin questions.) The wedding was outside of Milwaukee, Wis.. Amazing how much cheeseheads remind me of alaskans- one tough crowd.
Wisconsin is the boyhood home of one of my greatest heroes- John Muir. A man known for his incredible love of nature as well as possesing a relentless energy to enjoy life to the fullest. He probably would have been an amazing musher if he had ever travelled further north in Alaska. Spoke at some schools in the chicagoland area as well. Sharing our adventurous lifestyle with others is a true blessing. I'm a firm believer that dogs bring out the best in all of us- if we're willing to watch, learn and listen to them instead of just ordering them around. Most humans have lil' idea how naturally brilliant these beasts of the north are.
Always an interesting time in the city, I'm amazed how civilized society actually is considering these tumultuous times. The final spot I went to see is where my father is now buried. For those of you who were unaware he passed away last feb. a week before the Quest began. Now Phil rests with Jenny,my mom. Hopefully their spirits will be keeping an eye out for us this winter. My welcome home back to the north was otherwordly. The night flight from Vancouver to Whitehorse was breathtaking as we were literally flying next to the northern lights as their greenish hues flowed to and fro. As the plane descended into town white flurries enveloped our path. Life is wonderful when we decide to open our eyes and appreciate it every once in a while.
Been back a few days now, still not enough snow for a sled but the trails are in alot better shape now that we have a decent amount of the white stuff to run on. Having a handler this year has been great. Our friend from Finland, Juho, is an experienced outdoorsman who loves adventure. Sounds like a true 'son of the north' to me. Having a working 4-wheeler, Schnuelle mobile and Skandic snowmachine has ensured we have enough decent dog training devices to play in the woods with. I`m still a bit low on sleep, will send another story soon, next time it will be all about them Dawgs. For without their spirits we'd all be lost! Peace, HHN

A Bridge to the Future...

2008-10-20T20:33:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Hope all is well in your worlds. Lake froze up last week though not much snow as of yet. I'll be heading to chicago tomorrow for my buddy steve's wedding this weekend. Will be going to a few school's as well. This year's theme is "A Bridge to the Future." One of the funnest parts of being a musher is seeing the dogs form into a 'team' each season. Presently we're running 3 12-dogteams each day, I have a feeling my body will enjoy a week's restbit, though the pooches will only have a few days off. By the time racing begins they'll have thousands of training miles under their belts.

Our handler Juho and myself have been running on two trails- the obstacle course, a twisty thirty mile run over to the local golf course and back or the wheaton river road. The wheaton runs alongside the river with the aptly named "Majestic mountains" towering above. Both areas are generally shaded from the sun which is nice if the weather gets a lil' warm. We recently acquired a 4-wheeler to play with the pooches in the woods. People would be amazed to know that it's the 1st one I've ever owned whose engine actually worked. The dawgs have always had enough power for me. Having an engine does have its advantages however.

Our featured pooches this week are lil' Miss Colby and Delilah. Colby's amazing: 5 years old with 4 thousand milers already-guess what? She only weighs 35 pds. Colbster is all about attitude. Today after we finished our 1st run, we began to hook up the 2nd team. Having run in the 1st team Colby was out in the yard playing with the pups. As we began to put the 2nd squad in harness she immediately ran up to the front of the squad- ready to go again! We had just arrived barely a half hour earlier. Colby was named after Jeff King's Iditarider from 1996-C.J.Colby, a very special boy. I truly believe that part of his spirit is now within this amazing lil' leader's persona.

Delilah is another tough lady. It shows in her two lil' boys-Sparta and Sampson. Never seen two pups that are so playful with each other, makes me wonder if they ever find time to sleep. Their mom is the only girl in her litter with five brothers. They are all future stars, not because of their talent but how they perform together as a team. What joy we have each day to watch these blessed creatures perform at such an exceptional level- it's like watching a flower grow, then lick your face! Enjoy the view, Hugh http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

Gone With The Wind...

2008-10-12T19:52:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Been interesting around here lately. A few days back a massive windstorm arose- it has yet to mellow out. At its worst on friday afternoon, trees were being uprooted from the ground. One of the larger spruce snapped in half, some fifty feet above the earth. People fret over 'global warming' yet I've always been in fear of the wind. Sure, it's energy can be harnessed but what happens when there's too much power to handle? Adjacent to Annie lake is our sauna; above it held securely by cable lines is our wind generator. The winds flying down the lake from the west were stong enough to put it out of commission. Out here in the wilderness Mother Nature has an incredible way of reminding humans that it really does'nt matter what 'political philosophy' one might adhere to- other natural forces shall always determine how we approach our daily living.

The other night was quite surreal as we watched a few shows on the telly. David Letterman's guest was the movie actor Bill Murray. As a golf caddy back in Chicago I was fortunate enough to caddy for him a few times. He also went to my high school in Wilmette, Loyola Academy. After Letterman we watched my buddy Lance Mackey on the Conan O`brien show. During the interview Conan showed Lance some video of him mushing while on a trip to Finland. It was classic- our handler this year, Juho, is from Finland and new which kennel the dogs in the video were from. A friend of ours, Jillian, also spent some time mushing there. This modern day world sure is interconnected- even if you are living out in the middle of the northern wilderness!

It`s been an enjoyable week out on the trail though the temps. have been a bit warm lately. Most days are spent playing on the Òbstacle Course`- a short sixteen mile loop. To cover the course takes nearly two hours. Within it one passes thru three streams, a bit of muskeg and a small bog. It actually reminds me of the section of trail just before the Iditarod checkpoint when teams travel on the southern route. Numerous mushers spend lots of time creating ideal training trails for the dogs to travel on. In hindsight this might be a detriment to their teams. If the dawgs have never been through rougher sections of terrain before they might not realize that they really are`nt as bad as they may imagine. I call trails such as these- good`Charlie Boulding Training`. It`s amazing to watch the increased level of energy the pooches have now. In our earlier training this season we were running much longer on old mining roads. The trail we are using now is underneath a thick canopy of trees. There are only a few spots which are not in the shade: this affords us the opportunity to run at any time of day. The ground is covered with a thick moss that is much like carpeting for the pooches feet. Numerous squirrels and other varmits endlessly scurrying around tends to keep the team excited as well.

Travelling thru the wilderness on a daily basis one can`t help but have an incredible respect for the beauty of life. Out here it`s not just the latest fashion trend or `hip look` that matters but the beauty of everyday life. The dogs eagerly lapping up water from a stream during a brief rest. The moon rising over the mountain`s peak, drops of rain glistening upon fallen leaves on the ground- it`s a list that could go on perpetually. A list that puts a smile on one`s face with a renewed daily vigor in their hearts. Sure, the weather can be a bit intimidating at times but do you really think the Great Almighty created so much beauty in order for us to only watch it on the tv- there`s nothing like living life to it`s fullest. If you`re bored- it`s probably a good signal that it`s time to take the dog for a walk. I guarantee the trip will be worth it!

Looking forward to meeting numerous new friends during our autumn school tour which begins on October 21st in Chicago. Still a few available times if your school would like to enjoy our unique presentation on Dogmushing, Dreams and Wilderness living in the North.

Enjoy the view, Hugh http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/

Bound By "Wild" Desires...

2008-10-08T11:57:00.001-07:00

Howdy Folks, 10/5/08
13 years ago this very same day I stepped off of a plane from Chicago and onto Alaskan soil with just a few hundred dollars to my name. (It's easy to remember because O.J. was acquitted on that date) It was tough knowing that the number of days that I would ever see my family members again would be but a few. Growing up, my birthday might have been celebrated in september but for me Oct. 3, 1995 was the day my soul finally awoke- we were off to the land where legends are born. Those 1st few days in the Greatland were no picnic; living in a sleeping bag underneath some bushes in a park on the outskirts of Anchorage with a couple of dogs isn't exactly one's average lifestyle choice. Yet to me it never mattered- we had places to go, people to meet and puppies to play with.
Last year while visiting my buddy Mike Bayer back in Chi-town we decided to check out Sean Penn's movie, "Into The Wild". I could not help but think how similar a journey Alexander Supertramp's was to my very own. Fortunately for yours truly, numerous 'angels' have always been around to help guide me whenever we veered from the right trail. Whether it be the Erharts, my buddy Rich Doran, the Rotter family and others- alaskans have an amazing intertwining community. Looking out for others is a way of life- one never knows when it may be their turn to face difficult situations. Many come to the north in search of utopian dreams of 'freedom' yet life often reminds us all how fragile we are if we choose to stand alone.
13 years down the trail and we're now preparing to compete in our 14th and 15th 1,000 mile race events. Our greatest accomplishment isn't the number of races competed in but the number of Dawgs from our very 1st Quest back in 2000 who are now enjoying the fruits of their labor. A well earned retirement soaking up the sun alongside Annie Lake's beach. Some may think I'm possessed, fiercely determined to win the 'big one' but in actuality dogmushing races are just an excuse to have fun each and every day up here in the mtns. with the pooches. In this day and age our livelihood of playing in the woods; travelling with our frisky furballs on forlorn trails, is a gift from above. All mushers should feel humbled to enjoy such a prosperous way of life. The beauty of our world isn`t the amount of $ collected but the times on the trail that each one of us will cherish forever. For example let me tell you about this morning's jaunt.
Sure, it might have been windy with billowing clouds in the sky but for us it was just another `Beautiful Day.`Heading up the Wheaton river road with an eighteen Dawg team we listened to some Johnny Cash and Neil Young on the dvd. I couldn't help but smile- it was just another walk in the park with the pooches. This time of year we stop often, not only to rearrange the team, but to check out future potential leaders as well. Wild Bill, Tyler, Delilah, Nathan, Sidney and Mr. Wonka were our various leaders today. All did well though Ms. Delilah was a bit rough with the boys which is her typical disposition. It rained heavily last night thus there were numerous puddles for the pooches to quickly rehydrate. Unlike the past few runs we had no wildlife encounters. The other night we had a coyote checking us out for awhile. I`d much rather see one of those than a bear or the enormous dall ram we had fly by us last season. Those horns can look mighty large when they`re zinging by just a few feet away from your face. Luckily for us that time the dogs didn`t notice- and Tamra didn`t scream!
Having safely returned to the yard from a few hours on the trail we let the pooches enjoy some addtional fun time. The whole team, once their harnesses are removed, is let loose to run into the water for a brief recess. Like anywhere else in this world the key to harmony, peace and prosperity is that everyone gets along with one another. Any Dawgs who only care about themselves will not have a chance to play in this travelling band. The key to victory is the word 'we'.
This weeks featured dogs are two boys- Wild Bill and Mr. Mahoosic. Wild Bill is three years of age and looks just like Demon`s twin brother from `Snowdogs`. Mr. Bill is fun to watch being in charge up in lead. Last year during the Iditarod`s pre-race screenings Jan Bullock noticed that he has a larger then average heart on the monitor used to test all of the dogs. I could have told her that already- he has a `heart of gold`. Wild Bill keeps the other pooches heading in the right direction. (This time of year we have a few `grazers`- dogs who have to sniff out every little scent alongside the trail`s edge) If Wild Bill is a `pretty boy` than Mahoosic would be best described as sort of cute. `Hoosie Boy`is going on seven years old and has already competed in 7 thousand milers. He`s got a thick build with a thin grey fur coat. Like many kids he`s often hyper, constantly whining to keep the team moving. I place our younger bullies like Tyler next to Mahoosic just so they realize they`re not the toughest guys on the block. He might not be as pretty but this dog sure is pretty powerful. As the saying goes `Where is Fancy Bread- In the heart, or in the head!`Looking forward to meeting many of you during our fall school presentations which begin October 21 in Chicago. There are still a few available days if your group is interested. I`ll be doing a few Boy Scout troops this time as well. As an Eagle Scout from Troop 31 in Evanston, Il. it shall be an honor to share with others the unique beauty of our treasured northern lifestyle. Enjoy the view, Hugh http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/ or for more school info: laughingeyeskennel@ hotmail.com

The United Nations of DAWGS

2008-09-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

Juho and Karl on 4-wheeler

Howdy,

Been one of the more memorable autumns so far this year. Last year I was still trapped in Juneau with the pooches surviving tours during the awful daily rains- that'll be the last time we'll ever give away our freedom by signing a contract with folks who have lil' integrity when it comes to our pooches' well-being. It's been heaven around here lately, not only the cool, crisp weather but our newfound friends as well. Karl is from Sweden, Juho from Finland- both are experienced mushers who have previously been a part of mushing outfits back in Scandinavia. It's been nice to have these two twentysomething men around to help train, care for and play with the pooches. And last night we enjoyed the autumnal equinox by going on our 1st camping trip.

Our destination was less than twenty miles away but with most of our teams consisting of yearlings this was more of a mental excercise than an ultra training event. The boys would be on the 4-wheeler; 14 canines would be in charge of them. I would have a bit more control with our 'Schnuelle-mobile' and thus decided to hook up 18 for my squad. Tamra helped to ensure that we safely made it out of the yard at half past four in the afternoon. The temps. were in the lower 40's so numerous stops would be made in order to keep the pooches from overheating. Three miles from the kennel we crossed over the Wheaton river bridge and on to an old mining road. I stopped once again to see how the other team was faring as well as caution Karl, the other driver, about the possibility of traffic being on the road up ahead.

Dog team next to Wheaton River

Less than a minute later all of our heads, including the dogs, swung around as a blur of brown fur flew out of the bushes just up the hill from us. To be honest my 1st thoughts were, "You gotta be kidding me- don't I have enough on my mind already?" Fortunately the bruin was in a mad rush to get away from this alarmingly bizarre situation as quickly as possible. My main leaders, Nathan and Simba ,thankfully continued on down the road and not into the bushes. Behind us Juho and Karl looked exhuberent, as if this was just another everyday occurrence in the wilds. They actually live further north on the globe; situations such as this are just another day at the office.

Obviously trail conditions without snow can be a bit more stressful on the pooches bodies so a nice, even, steady pace is much more beneficial than trying to set any speed records. A positive experience is our #1 prerequisite; the evening's 2nd goal would be to see how well these younger dogs could rest for a few hours. In the back of the truck we carried a bale of straw to bed them down with as well as water, broth, kibble and meat. It was time for a puppy party! Once we had secured the teams and let them cool down food and h20 were offered. This being there 1st campout most of them were whining to keep moving. The word 'rest' never has been a favorite of the average toddler I suppose. "Hmm, how am I gonna get these hyper lil' furballs to mellow out? I've got an idea."

Plugging our small dvd player into the truck's lighter outlet the younger pooches suddenly quieted down, staring in amazement as the screen came to life. It was an old tv series cassette I had purchased from a record store last year in Juneau. It was a musical variety show featuring one of my heroes from Tennessee- "Hi, I'm Johnny Cash..." For some inexplicable reason Nemo, Capone, Griffin and the pups kept still- they were probably wondering if the tv could move or not. We decided to call our new resting spot the 'Living Room" which was appropriate considering all of the energy we had. The music was nice to have around to ward off any unforeseen animal encounters as well. Our return trip would be interesting- for many of these children would soon finally become true "Children of the Night".

Puppy play with Nemo and Griffin

I actually left many of their tuglines off the 1st few miles knowing their overall exhuberence level would be off the meter. Reaching a steep hill we stopped to make sure every one was in their proper place. Juho and Karl were worried about the ganglines that the pooches were clipped on to. The tugline's color was blue and white which happens to be Finland's national colors. The necklines were made from nylon consisting of blue and yellow hues- Sweden's national colors. Get the picture yet? "None of these tuglines can be messed with, do you dogs understand?", Juho remarked with his thick Finnish accent. Suddenly I felt as if we were running in a Euro-league soccer match.

(Chasing after team that decided to leave without us. Emergency brake was on and the truck in gear as it slowly skidded down the road-learned our lesson, amazing power these animal have.)

We arrived home just after 11 that evening, Tamra's headlamp could be seen waiting for us in the yard. I'm sure the rest of the pooches had already warned her of our imminent arrival. Once back in their houses, fed and watered the Dawgs reminded all of us how much they enjoyed the show. Nothing compares with their daily canine chorus signalling their appreciation of a well lived day. For some of us their energy is a major reason why we enjoy this world so dearly; hopefully humans can one day learn from their sense of community on a global scale.

Enjoy the view, Hugh

http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/ Chicagoland school presentations october 22-27th, for more info.: laughingeyeskennel@hotmail.com

Welcome To The Chocolate Factory

2008-09-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

"Listen as the WIND blows across the Great Divide, voices trapped in yearning..."

The energy is expanding, guess it just must be that time of year. Or is it just another full moon? Yesterday while staring out at the lake I felt like part of an old Ansel Adams print. The cloud layer was thick, barely a few hundred feet up the surrounding mountainsides. We are constantly being showered with wind driven yellow leaves as they create a mosaic of colors surrounding the dogyard. One wonders if the dogs even notice as they gnaw away on their individual moose bones. This time of season various friends and neighbors offer scraps left over after all the meat has been processed and properly frozen. It's nice to know that the dogs help ensure that as much of the animal that is deemed not proper for human consumption is put to good use.

Most mornings, if we're not out playing on the trail somewhere, you'll find me stoking the fire underneath a large barrel of boiling meat or fish. Often my thoughts will wander back to earlier days working for other mushers as a handler whether it was the Erhart family, Ray Brooks, Paddy Santucci or Mr. Jerry Riley. Numerous people have passed on a bit of their mushing wisdom for others to decipher thru. Lester Erhart, an Athabascan native elder from Tanana, taught me the most about how to survive in the north, " Always keep an eye out for dead standing trees- never know when a fire might save your life in the bitter cold." I always think of Lester whenever we have handlers staying with us. No one is going to spend more time working or caring for our pooches than me. Each and every day this seventy year young man would be up and at it taking care of them dogs. It's no wonder he's one of the geatest dogmen ever.

In Joe Runyan's dogmushing novel he mentions that Lester's dream was to just once have the greatest dogteam on the whole planet. (I suppose most mushers might have thoughts such as these.) Knowing myself however I've become a bit more realistic. Who knows if we'll ever perform to perfection in a race but I definately hope to have one of the greatest dogyards in the world. After all, races usually only last a few days to a few weeks- where the pooches spend the rest of their time is of even greater importance! Growing up in Evanston Il. I was much like any other typical child of the seventies. My hero wasn't Harry Potter, it was a man called Mr. Willie Wonka. (And we're not talking about that Johnny Depp stuff either.) Lo and behold 30 years later we have our very own Chocolate Factory right outside the front door. Hills for the dogs to scamper around on , a lake and streams to swim in and travel upon in the winter as well.

Everywhere around here must be respected and cared for to help ensure a healthy environment. On weekends all the dog waste is put in the truck and then hauled off to the dump. Trails must be kept clean- obstacles whether they be tree limbs or large rocks are removed to create a smoother surface for the dogs to tread upon. Much like anywhere else on this earth sometimes we find spots where people have dumped garbage in the woods. To my eye no sin could be greater than trashing Mother Earth. Who do we complain to when this happens? No one- it's faster and more efficient just to clean up the mess ourselves. Besides, it makes one feel honest with a sense of integrity performing good deeds. I just feel sad for people who treat life this way- they're not 'evil', just spiritually sick inside. One of our handlers Karl helps me cleaning up each day, it's refreshing to see how he appreciates our unique northern lifestyle.

Presently we're running a few hours everyday with the racing squad and yearlings. How quickly we travel or the number of miles covered is of less importance this early in the year. "Time in Harness" however is quite valuable as we introduce the younger, less experienced pooches to this newfound wondrous world of exploration. Preparing the squad can be an exercise in patience with all of the pups pent-up energy unleashed in a cacophony of canine frenzy. Twisting and jiving back and forth they yip out in glee, " C'mon hurry up you humans- it's time to boogie." Having extra neck and tuglines around nearby is a necessity for the occassional chewer yet this is their school session when the pupils must learn to act properly. (Or else they receive a "timeout" and miss out on that day's run.) Out on the trail, the dogs are constantly being rotated around as we perfect the overall strength of the team. Most of the dogs get a chance to run in lead, how big of a team that's behind them depends on their overall speed and head smarts. Some Dawgs are natural leaders; they tend to be a bit more dominant than their littermates. A few of our more experienced racers become a bit bored during this time of year yet the young punks running next to them have a way of keeping them energized.

Sicily

Speaking of which this week's featured dogs are Sicily and Geronimo. Sicily is a three year old female that we acquired from my good friend Mr. Ray Redington this past spring. Tamra and I spent a night at his place after the Kobuk 440 race. He lives in Knik, right down the road from Iditarod HQ and Wasilla, the home of Sarah Palin. I love talking dogs with him, his brother Ryan, his father and Uncle Joee. I call Ray the 'Conscience' of the Iditarod- his grandpa Joe was its founder. Before we left his house we were walking around the dogyard as he muttered to himself, "What good dog can I give to Mr. Hugh Neff? The pooch he selected is beautiful, she was on an Iditarod squad last year and has a heart of gold. Ray's a true mushing genius in his own right and it's an honor now to have such a talented lil' gal from him. Sicily's original name was "Screamer" though she actually is quite dignified around other dogs.

Geronimo (left) with his buddy Tolliver (right)

Geronimo, on the other hand, just turned a year old and acts as if he's been eating way too much of Mr. Wonka's magical candies. He's the son of Annie and Brady and much like his parents has a very outgoing personality. Walking by his house he constantly jumps up for a hug and a pat of appreciation. Unlike some humans who are constantly ordering their dogs to sit!, lay down! or be still! We encourage the pooches to express their joy at being a true 'wild treasure' of nature. Sure, they can show a bit of puppy love with everyone who comes in contact with them yet they must also learn to respect others space as well. Geronimo is what we refer to as a "cow dog" - white with black spots- he also has a strange marking on his face that resembles a mustache. Though a bit young it's already obvious that he has a load of natural talent that must be nurtured properly, only time will tell... Enjoy the view, Hugh

http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/ P.S.: Just a reminder that I'll be in the chicagoland area the end of october for a friend's wedding. We already have a few schools lined up for presentations but still have available times if you know of anyone that might be interested. I assure you it's a show for all to enjoy and learn from! If you have ?'s our contact: laughingeyeskennel@hotmail.com

Training on Annie Lake Road with the new Honda (Watson and Sicily in lead)

Surviving in Orwellian Times...

2008-09-07T21:15:00.000-07:00

Sitting on the sofa enjoying yet another exquisite autumn sunset. As usual Omen, one of our main female Iditarod leaders, lays beneath my rear end. Reminds me of when my dad sat on us in order to get us motivated, he happened to be an ex-linebacker who weighed in at about 240. Pleasant afternoon spent running 2 teams about ten miles each. The surrounding hillsides are now immersed in shades of gold, purple, and green- your eyes can't help but smile at the surreal carpet of natural colors. The road the pooches travel upon is awash in wildlife, typically lil' varmits and birds are drawn by curiosity to our moving canine caravan. Squirrels are everywhere scavenging supplies to store away for the upcoming colder weather. The other day we came upon two of the lil 'punks chasing each other around on the road. Watson and Sicily were in lead and zigzagged the whole team around in pursuit of the elusive prey though they soon learned that their endeavors were fruitless.
Love training pooches this time of year. The freshness of the air, thanks to daily rains and cooler nights, adds a renewed energy to each day's activities. It's as if every day is Halloween. This is also probably the most dangerous time of year, it's hunting season after all. I've always said that the most dangerous predator on this earth is the human being. Usually we will allow some of our retired dogs to wander around the yard yet in early fall it's best to keep them inside the house or one of the pens. Animals are more likely to enter the homestead area in search of food or protection from pursuing beasts.
Earlier this evening I took Deyaah, a ten year old black lab, on a short mile long bike trip around the northern end of Annie lake. Sipping on a glass of wine as we flew thru the trees I laughed at her portly frame. Over the last ten years I've probably fed Deyaah perhaps a few hunded times yet she knows how to perfect the art of eating. I call her our 'vacuum cleaner'- looks like she put on a few pounds recently. Fortunately she's also quite athletic and can lose the fat nearly as quickly. Amazing lil' lady who chased us down over a decade ago just outside of the native village of Minto in Alaska's interior. We had just competed in a mid-distance race and were travelling across the flats back to Fairbanks. A few miles outside of town I noticed a small rodent chasing after the team. Stopping the kids I realized it was a few month old puppy. Reaching home I called my friend Lloyd Charlie, "Anyone there missing a pup?" "You better keep her Hugh, she must love you." was his reply. After all these years and all of the bizarre moments I have been a part of this beautiful tail still tops the charts.
Like so many others, we have enjoyed watching a bit of the telly lately. Whether it be the olympics in Beijing, the cubbies in 1st or the start of football there is much to get the testosterone pumping. Viewing the political gatherings even became entertaining until we soon realized why so many choose to shy away from them-- too much negative energy. Anybody ever hear of the word "Compromise". I've often believed that the greatest sin- besides being too judgemental of others, is being too narrow-minded. Having spent twelve years in the Catholic educational system, one realizes that belonging to a certain religious denomination doesn't automatically mean that people are true representatives of their faith. Taking an objective look up at the folks on stage to choose from, remind yourself not to judge a book by its cover- inform yourself! Thankfully the dawgs are here to keep us focused and heading in a positive direction. How Sarah Palin and her family can enjoy not being in Alaska this time of year is beyond me. At least cityfolk down below are now realizing that the potential in women is limitless, something the world of dogmushing has known for quite some time now. Enjoy the view, Hugh www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Anything is Possible

2008-09-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings to All,

For some strange reason we've been receiving numerous inquiries of late about our Governor up here in Alaska-Sarah Palin. Back in 'o4 when she was the mayor of Wasilla she actually sent me a card congratulating us on our rookie success in the Iditarod race. Lately it has been quite an exciting time up here in the north watching all of the political drama down south. Personally, when I heard the news my first thought was, " She can't leave, she just started and there's still alot to be fixed in Alaska." The republican party could definately use her help but the Greatland will always be her home. Hopefully she's enlightened enough to send her family back up here for their own safety from the media mania- poor kids don't deserve to be stuck in this awkward situation.

Life has been gorgeous around here lately, typically cold in the morning-high 30's then a bit warmer in the day with constant winds. Great dog weather. Still running 10 milers, with two different teams each day. Our friend Sebastian sold us his 'Schnuelle-mobile', a Honda acty, which we've been using to train the pooches with. This vehicle gets 50 miles to the gallon, is a bit larger than your average 4-wheeler with a bed that can hold about 30 bags of redpaw dogfood. On our runs we carry a five gallon bucket of water that the dogs recieve out on the trail. Not only is it far easier to control the team now but the extra space affords us the luxury of pulling dogs that might be a bit pooped out from the team for a 'quick breather' while letting them rest once our longer runs begin soon.

As many of you know last year was one of the most difficult of my life. Seeing one's family member suffer each day is quite disheartening yet something we must all face in our lives at one time or another. The dogs and Tamra are what give me the strength to carry on down this trail we are all so lucky to enjoy up here in the northland. Around here Heaven isn't just above us but all around us if we're willing to open our eyes and enjoy it. Numerous hours are spent each day, not only caring for,cleaning and feeding our beloved pooches but just as imprtantly-- bonding with them. After all, Laughing Eyes Kennel is more than just a team- it's a community. Folks are always asking why they hardly ever see us out around town. Why leave home when that's where the heart is? We're just lucky enough to have a few hundred miles of trail to play on around here.

As this new school season gets underway we will be offering weekly blogs for all those kids that we've visited to enjoy and learn from. Along with describing our daily rituals around the lake and encounters on the trail we will also be featuring exposes on 2 pooches per article. This episode's famous furballs are veteran males: Mr. Marcellus and Oscar the cow dog. Marcellus was one of the 1st huskies I ever had- I was given him as a pup from Curtis Erhart back in '95. He'll soon be 13 years of age and though he does'nt compete in races anymore everyone around the yard knows whose still King. Along with his girlfiend June-Mari and the rest of their cohorts, Marcellus introduced me to Alaska's interior region, the YukonQuest and Iditarod races as well. Now this aging gang of furballs patrols the younger pooches keeping them all in line and happy. Most of our younger dogs love to come in the house and play with their human providers yet Marcellus is still independent to the core. While Junie is probably sneaking into some other dog's house and Shyela is out and about stealing bones, my main man, who is named after Cassius Marcellus Clay, can always be found in the same spot, night after night. No, he's not up in bed with Annie and Sophie stealing all of our blankets. He's an outdoors type of fella, sleeping right in the middle of the yard keeping an eye on things. He might not be the fastest pooch anymore, or the strongest but having shared thousands of miles each year with him for over a decade Mr. Marcellus will always be the center of attention in our hearts.

The other Dawg on this week's docket is Oscar the mad cow dog. Now the 'big O' really isn't much of a fighter but his level of enthusiasm to continue moving on the trail is unreal. It could be the beginning of the Iditarod or 700 miles on down the trail in Unalakleet this ferocious furball will still be banging away on his tugline, itching to continue on, "What's the holdup boss?" In training we have to be careful which team we put him in so that he doesn't tire out the rest of the dogs. I knew he was going to be something special when we were given him by Francis Roberts, an Athabascan Indian from the village of Tanana. At the time I thought we'd have to carry him in the sled back to the truck in Manley Hot Springs- some 70 miles away. After all the most he had run that winter was around 5 miles. After a 6-7 hour run this precocious yearling was still in harness- amazing energy. Cow dog? One would have to meet him in person to know why- white with black spots, he's about the size of Marmaduke. When he places his paws on your shoulder to give you a lick on the face one realizes that the tables have been turned. For it is you, the human who is now looking UP at man's best friend! Enjoy the view, Hugh http://www.laughingeyeskennel.com/ p.s.: Just a reminder that I will be in the chicagoland area briefly in late october for a friend's wedding. We will be offering a few school presentations if you know of anyone who might be interested.

Weathering the Storm

2008-08-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Great weather day here. Low 40's with a strong westerly wind- the sky is filled with grey clouds releasing an occassional light sprinkle. Not ideal for sun tanning but if you're fifty pounds of pent-up canine energy there can be no finer autumn splendor. This time of season we're only running ten milers but within weeks our time on the trail will be enhanced significantly. Hooking up the team this morning Tamra and I had our hands full as Omen's, one of our main leaders, pups went ballistic knowing the journey was soon to come. Our main navigators for this trip would be Mr. Watson and our new star leader Sicily who we recently acquired from my buddy Mr. Ray "Babycakes" Redington. I have a feeling that we already owe him a great debt for sharing such a wonderful animal with us.
Sister Sicily has a look of wonder as she glances around Annie Lake's Majestic valley- "This isn't the way to Nome-Is It?" Behind her Nathan's playing with his brother Spencer, Tyler's pecking at his sister Delilah and my big man Oscar, as ornery as ever, chomps at the bit- leading not by the bellow of his bark but the exhuberence of his energy. Sure is nice to be back on the trail - summers have always been a bit depressing to me. This year it's been a refreshing treasure, free of the awful coastal rainstorms - these past few months have been an oasis to flourish from. Across the lake the aspen trees are a brighter shade of yellow by the day. A thousand feet above them the mountains have metamorphisised into a purplish hue- a wondrous mosaic of life to behold.
Added to this sense of adventure has been the beauty of Beijing on tv that has been amazing to watch these past few weeks. Not just the competitive events but the achievements of all who put on such a beautiful spectacle. Dogmushing's Olympians are the beasts we are so lucky to share the wilderness with each morning as we embrace the sunrise and every night as their chorus of howls send us off to sleep. Up here in the north our festive season shall soon begin. In other parts of the world some may hibernate indoors as the temperatures plummet yet for some of us this is when we forget how to sleep. For there is nothing that compares to living life to the fullest. Not for the sake of self accomplishment but honoring this amazing environment that we are so honored to call home. Time to fly, hope you are enjoying your ride as well! Hugh, Tamra and the Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew

the spirit of Favre

2008-08-11T19:39:00.000-07:00

Having grown up in the Chicagoland area we were taught to hate the Green Bay Packers. Few sports rivalries have the animosity such as the Bears-Packers do. Yet, a kid named Brett changed all of that. It wasn't just his talent but love of the sport, the exhuberence of enjoying life that has put a smile on all of our faces over the last two decades. To see what has transpired over the last few days has been sickening. I pray that the dogmushing scene never changes from a celebration of our beloved pooches as well as our unique northern lifestyle to a 'business' that is all about money and winning-- and not the enjoyment of the journey that we are all so lucky to be a part of.

For the last few years I've lived in various locales on Alaska's coast earning money thru the tourism scene. This summer we've decided to change our routine as Tamra has been on the road quite a bit while the pooches and I have enjoyed the cool Annie Lake breezes. We even had some flurries up in the hills ( 4 thousand feet) last week. This year we have had few if any bugs- quite a blessing. Yesterday we signed up for the YukonQuest once again. Along with the Iditarod, these will be the 14th and 15th 1,000 mile races that Laughing Eyes Kennel has participated in since our 1st Quest sojourn in 2000. Not bad for a simple-minded chicago cityslicker. Hopefully, thru the good graces of the Great Almighty we will continue to travel farther than anyone else could ever imagine. "How do you guys pull it off Hugh? It's not like you're a top notch competitive musher after all." That's the whole key for our relative success- it's not about what musher I beat but how many dogs are smiling at the finish line. I've spoken with various newcomers recently to the long-distance scene and typically they all have the same desires- 'I wanna do good, maybe even win.' My reply? Tone it down a notch there compadre!

If anyone should know about being overly competitive, it's yours truly. I guess growing up with Michael Jordan and Da Bears has groomed me this way. Taking an objective review of my racing career and its rather obvious who my main competition is... Myself. To have been given such a rare gift, this journey we've embarked upon, and squandered it is a shame. Will this be the year we actually try to give an all out effort to do our best? Not in hopes of winning but enjoying the ride with our furry friends to the highest degree? Only time will tell. I do know that we're off to a wonderful start. We have two fellas from europe that will be running pooches with us this winter. Last year, in hindsight, we were lucky to even make it to the starting line of any race- we didn't find a handler until January, just one week before our 1st race. Tamra's already planning on doing a few of the shorter races as well. Our schedule will probably include the usual six or seven races though we're always looking for new events to check out. As the saying goes "Life without Adventure is not worth living..." Wishing you all well as we seek to show respect to Mother Earth as well as those unique treasures that lay within one's very own imagination.

Peace to you, Tamra, Hugh and the Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Stay Hungry, Stay Humble

2008-08-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Greetings fellow Dawg Lovers,
My apologies for our lack of communication this summer. We've had internet satellite recently installed so that we may now keep you more aware of our kennel's daily happenings. Been a relatively cool summer with temps. hovering in the 60's. Combined with a consistent breeze typically from the south and we have an ideal dog environment (no bugs). For the 1st time in the past five summers we made the decision not to perform tours on Alaska's coast. This will hopefully prove beneficial for the upcoming season. Only one litter of pups this year, 2 beautiful boys- Sampson and Spartacus. (Their mom is Delilah, father is Darkie)

We have plenty of yearlings to train up however- Flicka, Gypsy, Capone, Nemo, Griffin and Frazier are from Omen and Zorro. A few of these kids will do a bit of racing this year. The other litter we have high hopes for is out of Annie and Brady- George, Jericho, Amigo, Jester, Joker, Geronimo, Juanita and Juliette. We've been running our younger pooches with the 4-wheeler all summer though it's been a bit too rough on the lake to do as much swimming as we had hoped for.
Considering the fuel prices it's wonderful that we're able to work from the house now. This fall 2 people from europe are planning to join us for the upcoming season. Obviously last season was very disheartening. Not only with my father Phil's passing a week before the YukonQuest began but our lack of organization. It wasn't until mid-January that we found a handler- this year we plan on putting together a bigger and better team effort. Folks are always amazed when they hear we have over 50 dogs in our Laughing Eyes Family- how do you remember all of their names? It's easy, spend as much time as possible with them. Create the 'pack mentality' that the dog whisperer fella is always harping about on tv. Most importantly as pups create a bond to last a lifetime thru love and understanding. Out of all our dogs any problem pooches are typically ones that we have acquired from others who didn't establish a good relationship with the animal. Every night we'll have half a dozen dogs in the house in hopes of creating good social skills. Most of our dogs are neutered or spayed so that we are able to free run them often without worry of accidental breeding. (it also helps to fight against cancer as well) A dozen of our pooches are 10 years of age or older. Being able to spend more time with them during this slower time of the year has been a blessing.
Considering I've been promising to write a novel for years now- isn't it about time? Well, lo and behold, folks will be able to acquire a copy of "Misadventures of a Maverick Musher" this fall. Unlike others who often give advice on how to become the next champion musher, this book will deal more with 'racing for life'; appreciating not only our beloved pooches but the beauty of nature as well as appreciating our fellow man. After all, this simple ciyyboy from Chicago didn't migrate to Alaska in search of winning some lil' 1,000 mile race. We are in search of what it means to be a true 'son of the north' where life is about the journey and not just where you finish. During our school presentations this is a point that I often make to the children: " If you only care about winning- you know where you'll end up? All alone." Sometimes it may be difficult to share the beauty of each and every day with one another. If a conscious effort is made however it's easy- it all begins with a smile. Wishing YOU well on your journeys as well, Hugh,Tamra and the Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew p.s.: Just a reminder that we'll be in Chicago briefly in late october if your school would be interested in a presentation. www.laughingeyeskennel.com

Summer is here

2008-07-10T13:24:00.000-07:00

Just realized it's been awhile since the last blog. I've been working on a complete overhaul of the website which will have a better link to this blog and to listings of our dogs with family histories and photos. I started a new job last week. Basically I am now the Whitehorse office for Franz Environmental. The plan is to grow the area to be able to open a full office here. By here I mean Whitehorse, not here as where I am which is Fort Nelson, BC. My first day of work I drove here and am now working at the airport 7 days a week, 12 hours a day until the end of July. At least I'm making some money to pay for some dogfood arriving in a few weeks, and banking time off for the winter. I can't wait to go home and see Hugh and the dogs. Delilah had her puppies on the 9th of June. Darkie is the dad. She had two pups - Sampson (a black and white boy who looks identical to Darkie) and Spartacus (a blonde boy who looks identical to Delilah). Although that's difficult to say when their eyes are barely open and they're so fat their bellies drag on the ground when they try to crawl. I can't believe I'm going to miss a whole month of their growing. They'll be almost weaned by the time I get home. The good thing about this new job is that I get to work from home if I ever do get home. Hugh and I were working things out good before I left, each feeding half the kennel morning and night and taking turns poop scooping.

Hugh is at home, holding down the fort. He's been busy painting kennels, getting wood, putting up a perimeter fence and writing his book. He promises it will be close to done by the time I get home.

At the end of the Kobuk race this year, Hugh bought a 2year old from Ken Anderson named Imus. We've changed his name to Amos now though. Ken decided to sell him after Amos got loose and kept running away from Ken for 3 hours. Amos was very scared when I first met him. He would almost bite out of fear when we loaded him in and out of the truck. Anyway, since we got him home, we've been taking him for walks everyday, bringing him in the house and playing with him in the yard. He was really afraid at first but it seems like he's improved a 100%. He likes going for walks with a bunch of loose dogs and just trots along next to me. Not pulling my arm off like every other sled dog on a leash. He plays with the others and sniffs and pees. I'd like to let him loose to play but I don't want to risk that yet. He's still not keen about water but I can pick him up now without him freaking out so loading into the truck should be better. I think he'll be really good if we get him to loosen up a bit. Apparently his siblings are all leaders for Ken and doing really well. After the Kobuk we also got two dogs from Ray Redington Jr. Also two 2 year olds. Both had been in the Iditarod with Ray's puppy team. Sicily and Silas both very friendly and in the few times we've run them have done really well. I'll post some pictures when I get home to take them. All for now,

Tamra

Racing for Life

2008-05-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Howdy everyone, happy Mother's day! Just returned from a nice morning walk with Spencer. The countryside here in western Conneticut is spellbinding. Spence is really enjoying all of the various scents in the air. My sister and her husband Greg live in an old village right out of a Steven King Novel- even have an early 19th century cathedral just across the street. It's bell recently chimed signalling services were underway. For me "church" has always commenced whenever I set foot in the woods. Everyone always asks, " Who was the person who you wanted to be like when you decided to become a dogmusher? Rick Swenson? Jeff King? No, my hero has never "Won" any lil' Iditarod race. My hero was a fella who covered a thousand miles not by dogteam but by his own two feet. His name was John Muir. Johnny would throw a few pieces of bread in a small sack and travel for weeks all across North America living off the land. It's funny watching these fellas on tv trying to be tough guys in front of a camera- walking thru swamps, eating bugs- whatever. There's a difference between being an actor and being the 'real deal'. The best part about Mr. Muir however was his incredible gift for writing- any wise teacher would make his literature required reading in their classrooms- its eloquence in describing the beauty of Mother Nature is quite enjoyable to peruse. His novels are what brought me north however his habits have nearly destroyed my career at times. John was very spontaneous- out the door and away he went, Madison, Wisconsin to Florida, all over California and beyond. His boots were definately made for walking. With a dogteam to care for I've learned, ever so slowly, over the years to slow down a bit, be prepared and... enjoy the ride. At Laughing Eyes Kennel our "Goal" isn't just about doing well in the Big Race, The Iditarod. It's about winning "THE RACE'- LIFE. What a beautiful planet we live on, so much to see and explore. We've all been given this great treasure- now it's up to you to spread your gifts to others around the globe. It's a beautiful day, isn't it?
Love you mom, Hugh and the Crew

If you can make it THERE, you can make in ANYWHERE

2008-05-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

Greetings DOG enthusiasts!Our "Never Lose Hope" tour passed thru the "Big Apple", Manhattan, friday. Mother Nature made sure it was quite an adventure. Our talk with the kids went well, then Spence and I met up with my old buddy from Loyola, Jim Ostry, for lunch. That's when the rain really started falling like 'cats and dogs' from the sky. On the return north to my sister Teresa's in Conn. I was in for quite the culture shock. Huge drops of water pounded onto the windshield as we were forced to travel in the center lanes on FDR drive, the side being under water. It was at this point that I started having flashbacks about the movie, "The Day After Tomorrow". It's not 'Global Warming'- it's Global WETTING. I was just happy that the temps. were in the 60's so we didn't need to worry as much about tornadoes- our last school tour we passed by one just south of Chicago. People always wonder how we survive Alaska's rough weather but to be quite honest, I believe the 'lower 48's' is much more dangerous. Driving north on 95 dozens of vehicles were involved in accidents as we went along- it felt like being in Baghdad. What caught me off guard was how nonchalant the radio announcers were giving traffic reports as if this were an everyday occurrence. Our return trip would take nearly two hours longer than the trip into the city,crazy.

Despite the weather, our stay on the east coast this week has been wonderful, hopefully one of these year's we'll be able to perform in Maine and the other northeastern states- it's the only area of the U.S. that I haven't driven thru. Every school has been interesting and unique- the 'energy' these New Yorkers possess is mystifying- they're all a bunch of Lance Mackey's. (they wish) Have one more talk on Monday in Rochester and then it's back to the Hacienda on Annie Lake. Once I return home Tamra will be getting a well deserved break as she heads off to merry old England for a family reunion with her P's. She's been a saint caring for all the lil' poopers while I've been travelling with Spencer. He's doing okay on this trip but I'm sure he can't wait to get back to the kennel and see all of his buddies. (Lord knows what he's been dreaming about lately.) At heart I'm an explorer, it's been intriguing to once again get a feel for the pulse of America by travelling its highways and byways meeting newfound friends along the way. Much of the world really doesn't care too much for the U.S. government but all of the americans I've met have been decent, kind, and generous souls. Wishing you well on your adventures. Make sure to stop by if you're ever in our neck of the woods, there's a cozy cabin and some cuddly canines waiting for ya to play with!
Enjoy the view, Hugh

LIfe comes full circle

2008-05-02T16:26:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Chi-town!
Left Annie Lake a few days ago in a snowstorm, arrived in chi-town to 75 degree weather. Been travelling around with Spencer showing him all of my favorite childhood places to play. Took him to clark st. beach in Evanston where I swam in lake michigan as a child. He liked chasing the birds- wasn't too into the water however. Walked past the spot where many moons ago (13 years) I wrote a letter to 5 time Iditarod champ Rick Swenson asking about work opportunites. Rick was the only musher to ever return a note- and it was some of the best advice I ever received. Amazing to think that I've raced in 5 Iditarods with this great man already, was lucky enough to finish ahead of him a time or two. Went by our old house on Colfax st. where I grew up, if you like movies- we lived in the same neighborhood where pix such as 16 Candles, Uncle Buck and Risky Business were filmed. How ironic that my old newspaper route was called 22 north. In our 1st Iditarod we placed 22nd! Went by Westmoreland Country Club- I was a caddy there for a dozen years, being lucky enough to carry actor Bill Murray's clubs a time or two. And now where do we live? Out west where there's 'more land'.

Now some might think that any successes that we've achieved in dogmushing are a result of the work we perform each day. That's only a part of the equation. I truly believe that much of who you are, your personality, is a result of how you were brought up and taught as a child. That's why it's such a great honor to travel around the country each season helping teachers 'groom' their kids for the future. We all deserve a chance to live our DREAMS. Wouldn't you agree? Hoping to visit your school one day.
Hugh and The Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew

p.s. hello to everyone at the talk yesterday in Chicago, Spencer says thanks for all the "loving" as well!

Somewhere out on that Horizon

2008-04-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all,

Tis the time of season when life seems to really sloowwww down in the North. The days are gradually getting longer and warmer yet there's still plenty of snow to create quite a 'mushy' situation. Been training yearlings on a six mile loop that runs around the edge of the lake here. So much fun to watch the lil' poopers learn. All of that energy- hopefully it's heading in the right direction! We always make sure to run early in the day when temps. are typically at their lowest. So far Flicka, Nemo, Gypsy, and Capone all look great, it's all about experience. Their mom is Omen, one of our main female leaders. She's a bit quirky in the head but possessed by speed- finished 4 years in a row coming into Nome. My body is slowly healing up after all of the wear and tear we went thru this season- over 3,200 miles of racing alone. Left foot as well as right thumb still a bit numb, though it is awe-inspiring to not only watch one's body but one's spirit revive itself on a daily basis. Happy dogs create happy humans! What really motivates the Laughing Eyes Kennel cause is the chance to share our unique story, our lifestyle, and amazing tales with others. Life is a treasure. Hopefully by watching our misadventures up here in the North, folks from around the globe learn to chase their dreams as well. And, in the end, what matters most- the size of the $ you might earn or the size of the SMILE upon your dog's (or child's) face? Next week I shall be in Chicago with my buddy Spencer as we embark on our "Never Lose Hope" school tour. Spencer, a 3 year old male, competed in the Cantwell Classic, YukonQuest, Iditarod, All-Alaska Sweepstakes and Kobuk 440. Nearly 3,000 miles of racing- not bad for his 1st 'Pro' season, eh? The beautiful vistas, freedom of life and loving folks we meet along the trail are a few of the reasons why we admire our unique northern lifestyle so immensely. It's an honor to be able to share our experiences with newfound friends met along the way. Hope to be seeing you soon! (After a week in Chi-town we'll be heading up and down the Northeast Coast the 2nd week of May.) If we're not able to see you on this visit our next tour will be in mid-October.

Enjoy the view, Hugh and The Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew

Our featured Iditarod dog 'Spencer'

Wonderful Wanderings at the Kobuk 440

2008-04-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all.
Greetings from the Greatland's "Hidden Jewel of the North"- Kotzebue, just above Nome. The Kobuk 440 has been a wonderful experience following the Sweepstakes fiasco. The Lord certainly does work in mysterious ways. Nothing like starting off your journey heading into a harrowing blizzard. Then the rain came, followed by open water once we reached the halfway point, the village of Kobuk. The return trip was a much more pleasant experience as the temps. dipped down below zero compared to forty above it felt like heaven. The trail hardened up and the dogs began to fly! Sure, the body is a bit beat up having to go through these conditions but the immaculate views- with valleys 30 miles in width- are more than worth it. The team was the center of this beautiful portrait. I've finally begun to understand that mushing isn't about how tough you are but how good of an artist one is at constantly adapting to the pooches needs. Coming down out of the hills, within a mile of the finishline in Kotz, tears began to well up in my eyes as I reminisced over the Alaskan rollercoaster ride we've been thru the last few months. I hope our 5th place finish sets the tone for a more successful season next year. The amazing aspect is that these DAWGS had just run three hundred miles the previous week in the sweepstakes. (In fact all the dropped dogs for 440 were the ones who didn't compete last week.) Omen, Annie, Flame and the crew have been on fire. Maestro, a beautiful blonde seven year old not only finished his 7th and 8th thousand milers this year, but the Kusko, Sweepstakes and 440 as well-- that's my BOY! (his mom's June-Mari) Our host family here has been great, Ida Peacock even presented me with a drawn lovely pic from the start of the race that she made. Her daughter Angela has been caring for our nonracing pooches with her father Chris- muchas gracias. We'll be heading home tomorrow- can't wait to start training up some yearlings. We're recieving numerous requests for our upcoming school tour 'NEVER LOSE HOPE' which encompasses the end of April and the 1st week in May. If you're interested please contact us asap for more details. Besides playing with the pooches on the trail there's nothing more enjoyable than sharing our adventures with YOU. I guarantee our story is one to put a smile on your face and hopefully ignites a passion in the viewers heart to imagine and achieve their dreams as well! Who knows if I'll ever become a 'champion'- whatever that means. However, few will ever contain the energy to enjoy this incredible lifestyle as yours truly- I'm possessed by this beautiful world of the north, a lucky man am I.
.Enjoy the view, Hugh and The Laughing Eyes Kennel Crew

Kobuk 440

2008-04-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

Finishing the Kobuk 440 race

Just got a call from Hugh. He and the team are back in Kotzebue and had a good night's rest. They arrived yesterday afternoon at 3:15 in 5th position. Hugh was happy with his race. He finished with 8 happy dogs. The four dogs that were dropped along the way were the one's that hadn't done the Sweepstakes so they had a little less recent training. They had a good experience though that will help them next year. The dogs will be flying to me in Anchorage this afternoon. Until then, I'm hanging with 9 dogs here at our friends house. We can have them all loose in the backyard and its fun to watch them play together. Hugh will fly back tomorrow morning. It's amazing to think back over this past season. 3200 miles of racing combined with about 2000 miles of training. That's a lot of country these dogs have seen. Hugh and the dogs raced in the Cantwell Classic (Denali Hwy), Kusko 300, the Yukon Quest, Iditarod, Sweepstakes and Kobuk. People often ask how we pull it off, getting to all these races every year. I think Hugh has always just decided what to do and then made it work. If you think about things too much your mind can always come up with reasons why you shouldn't or can't. When you set you mind on doing something, your feet just follow. Our main goal is that our dogs are happy and seeing the dogs at the finish lines this year I would say mission accomplished!

Finish of the 2008 Yukon Quest