“Musher 16 has been located. Found lying in trail. Cold and unresponsive.”
When my 17-year-old son Caleb started down the chute of the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Race yesterday morning, I could never have imagined that his race would end with his mother and me on our faces at Can-Am Crown Central, pleading with God for our son’s life. Caleb is a tenacious and rugged boy […]
The Story of Leonhard Seppala (Recovered from my old site: written apr. 2004)
I once told Jeffrey Bragg about a training run I had with 16 dogs attached to my four-wheeler. He responded by telling me I should never have that many dogs on a dry training run because no one could safely handle that many. I responded by reminding him that Leonhard Seppala often ran as many […]
The 1926/1927 Poland Spring Dog Derby Recovered from old site: written apr 2004
The first Poland Spring Carnival Race was held January 15–16, 1926. The race was known by several names in the Maine papers: the Poland Spring Sleddog Derby, the New England Dogsled Race, and the Maine Carnival Race. The race was judged and refereed by Dr. H. A. Souther of Brookville, Massachusetts, with the assistance of […]
A Winter Morning Run, By Elizabeth Hayes, age 11
“Wake up!” Dad said. “We are going on a training run.” We got dressed warm and went outside. It was a cold day and the snow was up to our waists. The dogs barked excitedly as we loaded them, one by one, into the dog trailer. Then we climbed into the dog truck for a […]
Saving the Seppala Siberian Sleddog: It’s only the End of the Beginning.
I’ve had a few conversations over the past few weeks with people who have been around Seppala Siberian Sleddogs for as long as — or longer than — I have. Some themes keep coming up in those conversations, so I thought it would be worthwhile to facilitate a dialogue. I’ll admit at the outset that […]
Should Mainers Allow Central Maine Power to create 56 mile power corridor through the Northwoods?
Should we vote Yes on halting Central Maine Power’s new corridor through Maine’s North Woods? Before I share my opinion, allow me to introduce myself for those who may not know me. *Photo courtesy of Jeremy Grant* My name is Jonathan Hayes. I studied Wildlife Biology at the University of Maine and Conservation Management at […]
Seppala Siberian Sleddog History 101
I’d like to tell you the story of how the Seppala Siberian Sleddogs made their way from Chukchi villages in Siberia one hundred years ago to our Poland Spring Kennels here in Maine. There are some in-depth works on the early years of the breed, and some pieces written on the latter history — usually […]
Day Seven. To the Finish. “TOGO 261 Solo Memorial Dogsled Expedition”
Day seven began with hopeful yet anxious anticipation. Hopeful because I felt confident that we’d make it to our finish in Greenville some forty five miles distant, across the wide expanse of Maine’s largest body of freshwater, Moosehead Lake. Anxious because I was not sure if the night’s wind and cold had been enough to […]
Day Six of Seven. Expedition Journal “Togo 261 Solo Memorial Dogsled Expedition”
I was awakened by the shaking of my bunk and the loud report of exploding ordnance just after 5am. It took my mind a few seconds to recalibrate. I was not still in the Marines. I was not in a field exercise or a warzone. I was in a cabin, in the Maine wilderness. What […]
Day Five. Expedition Journal. Chamberlain to Chesuncook. “Togo 261 Solo Memorial Dogsled Expedition
I woke up around 6am at the beautiful Nugent’s Camp on day five and fed the team. The owners, Rob and Stella, had kindly stocked the fridge with eggs, sausage and bread. So I cooked up some breakfast for myself and Jeremy, the videographer.Trevor the Ranger pulled up for one last farewell as I loaded […]