As promised in my last entry, this entry is dedicated to ‘introducing’ you all to the 29 dogs that are currently making up my ‘A’ team pool.  I’m going to do this in ‘groups’ of dogs, primarily based on age and experience.

Of course the first dog, the top of all my lists is Grover. Anyone that has followed these diaries or been out to the kennel knows that Grover is my favorite dog. Heck, he knows it, the rest of the dogs know it – it is far from a secret. I even had a tattoo, based on him, done a few weeks back (Ha – you all didn’t know that did you?? It’s still healing and not ready to be ‘unveiled’ yet – but soon I promise pictures (yes, it is in a spot that can ‘safely’ be viewed). It’s very stylized and not glaringly Grove, but that is who it is based on).

Grover and his brother, Gus both turned 9 years old in August. Making the Quest team this year is perhaps a bit of an outside chance for them, but both are doing awesome in training and seemed determined to get to see a new piece of country on the Quest trail! Grover, in particular, has been putting in some fantastic runs this fall. I am mentally prepared for both of them, who have been on every Iditarod with me, to not make the team this year – I’m just not sure they are. Time and miles will tell.

Next in seniority are two of our ‘Sons of Butch’ – Surge and Draco. Both these big, strapping strong dogs are key leaders and still pretty much in their prime. I am thinking they will be very key dogs on the Quest this year. Draco pretty much hates fall training and drives me nuts with his ‘blasé’ attitude towards being a ‘quad’ dog, but he is a dog that always comes through in a race. On Iditarod last year he pretty much led me, in single lead, from Grayling to Unalakleet. The last miles from Old Woman Cabin was through the worst storm I’ve ever traveled in and he was an absolute STAR that day.

Surge is definitely one of the most powerful dogs in my pool – and I’ve always vowed that the more miles you put on him the better and stronger he moves. My favorite mental ‘snapshot’ of Surge is one I carry in my head from just outside of Nome on the ’04 Iditarod. Eleven hundred miles of trail had not worn him out a bit, just made him look stronger. He moved with a power and presence that was simply artistic.

This next group is a key one – I expect the bulk of my team to comprise of these dogs.

All of these dogs have at the least, started an Iditarod. Strong, spirited and enthusiastic – I could rave about every one of them. I absolutely expect the majority of this group to make my Quest team. Hmmm, with 13 names there and 14 spots on the Quest team – you can see there will be some tough choices for me this year. Especially watch Dasher, Skor, Snickers, and Sprite as up and coming young ‘stars’!

Packed with youthful enthusiasm and energy it is hard to image a couple of these guys not giving the veterans a solid run for a spot on the Quest.

As an experienced sled dog, but not a distance dog, Newt gets his very own category.

I think Q and his sister, Jinx are honestly the two in this group with the best chance at challenging the veterans. Outstanding young dogs! After a 21 mile run today I unharnessed Q, he ran back to his stakeout area at full speed, spun around in a circle and starting barking at me to play with him. Obviously, our training is not causing him any stress!  I really like this boy – and GUESS WHAT?? He is a Grover son!

Some of you may have noticed that a few dogs previously mentioned are not on this list. Roary is taking the winter off running to raise a litter for our friends, Mike and Kathy Carmichael of Carmacks Siberians.

Vortec has already been cut, although I am still very pleased with him and expect big things from him for the future. (BTW – Happy Birthday to Vortec. He just turned 2 today – lots of time left for this young boy to shine!)

And finally, young Zack has also been cut from the team. At this time we are uncertain what his future holds (but we will, of course, make sure he ends up in a great situation for him), but he is likely heading back to his breeders, our friends Don and Rosemary Hooker of Montreal, Quebec for the winter and may be looking for a permanent home in the spring. He was a very good sled dog, but just not quite cut out for what we are doing.

And that is them….