I was wide awake at 4 am today, thanks to Demon. He was very persistent with his howling until the rest of the kennel joined him in welcoming the cold northwest winds. The yearlings were the last to silence and I could hear them all returning to their houses for more rest. I smiled at the thought of quietly traveling across frozen lakes with them, heading out into the country.

Later today I’ll run a team of 7 first and then the remaining 8 next. We’ll only go about 6 miles, stopping once for a water break. It’s hard to believe that come late winter a 60 mile day is not out of the question. So for now we all wait for snow and ice, not necessarily in that order. Last year I only had one team of 8 veteran dogs to train up and this year I have 8 yearlings in the mix so it has challenged me to prepare them for life as a sled dog. Beginning next week I will add ground beef to their diet for the rest of the winter months and they are anxiously awaiting that.

Since we won’t be celebrating Thanksgiving until tomorrow I’ll be outside today with our dogs. So instead of sitting on a comfy couch watching football, I’ll be sitting on an ATV watching our sled dogs do what they love. Today it will be Demon and his friends chance to celebrate and I wouldn’t want it any other way. After all, who could ask for a better wake-up call in the Northwoods at 4 am on Thanksgiving? Not this thankful musher.

-Andy Levar