Surreal

"Ashes, ashes, we all fall down"

I have absolutely no idea what this childhood song means, but it seems strangely fitting.

Yesterday, while out ice climbing I looked over my right hand shoulder to see an ominous cloud bank steam rolling our direction. It looked like fog - the real thick kind - but slightly darker, and definitely stinkier. Within minutes the smell of melting snow and decaying bark transformed into the smell of hot springs ... spring became sulphur and snow became silt ... as a gritty grime fest engulfed the valley.

According to the authorities (and Joshua ... who is thoroughly amused with my excitement over the ordeal), Anchorage's ash dusting was a relatively minor phenomena. It lasted little more than a half hour and left but a sheen behind ... but regardless ... how often do you think, "that must be the volcano?" ... not much.

I have a sled dog

Zippy had his first skijour practice this afternoon ... and he got an A++.

I froze water in a juice jug, and then tied that with a rope and bungee to the back of his harness ... so that he could get the feel of pulling, but with a minimal amount of weight. I also hooked a leash to the back of his harness, and then ran behind him, holding the leash and essentially doing what's termed "runjouring," but without actually being hooked up to him.

It took him a couple of minutes to get over the fact that something interesting was bouncing behind him ... and then "click" he got it. In a smooth, even trot we took off down the trail.

I choose a trail where there where a lot of forks and Xs ... so that we could start practicing the commands: Gee for right, haw for left, straight ahead to go straight, whoa for stop and let's go to start or urge him forward ... it didn't take him long to start picking up the commands ... though I think he understands gee much better than haw.

I'm also using "dale" ... the Argentinian equivalent of "let's go" to urge him forward. This is something I started doing about a month ago while trail running, so he already knows what it means.

My goal is to have him all trained up for next winter when he'll be old enough to pull the weight of a person for longer periods of time. This means lots of runjouring this summer and taking advantage of the snow now ... while it lasts.

Rockin' and rollin' on Ripple

Yesterday Ben, Zippy and I went ice climbing ... or rather Zippy ran around at the base of a frozen waterfall thoroughly dismayed that his people were ascending into the void up above, while Ben and I ice climbed. The sun never made it into Eklutna Canyon, making for a frigid day ... but also a good one ... it's always nice to catch up with fiends and "chill out" in the mountains. A thanks goes to Ben for quite literally showing me the ropes (and taking the photos below).

Nothing like a good cuddle with Mommy's helmet after a morning of running around.

This is a practice I plan on discouraging for safety reasons ... but how can you not adore (and how could you ever really scold) a puppy who is so excited to see you, he can't wait for you to repel another 5 feet to get to the ground.

Almost to the top ... just one last screw and quick draw to pick up.