Page 104 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020 SPRING EDITION INTERACTIVE

only fifty yards from the main house. Dry cabins are apparently sometimes running back to check on her, stepping all over her
common in extreme weather where pipes freeze and burst skis. The affection was clearly mutual.
with regularity. So one might wonder what happens at 3:00am
when you wake up having to tinkle? Every dry cabin has its Incomprehensible for this San Diegan to grasp, the Moderows
own arrangements. In our case, I had the choice of opening and their dogs prefer cold temperatures. In fact, if the tempera-
the door and baring it all right there,in forty below zero tem- ture is “warm“ (by their standards, anything above 45 degrees)
peratures, or donning all my gear and walking fifty yards to the the dogs get too hot while running, and will actually bury their
main house. face in the snow to cool down. Ideal running temperature is
anywhere from 15 below to 15 above.
The choice was made easy for me
once I peered outside to assess the On another day, after donning
situation, for I was instantly treated what felt like ten pounds of thermal
to a stunning heavenly display of underwear, wool socks, bib overalls,
green and red swirls reminiscent of a puffy coats with wolverine-lined
VanGogh paining. I quickly donned my hoods, and specialized boots, our
winter gear, ran to the main house to group learned how to harness the
do my business, and then stood out- dogs, which is quite a challenge
side for as long as I could bear the cold when these high-energy dogs get
for what would be a nightly Northern really ramped up for a run. But that
Lights display during our stay. was nothing compared to actually
hitching the team of dogs to the sled.
So what does one do in a sled dog I was simultaneously amused by the
kennel when not training for the eight dogs who were barking and
Iditarod? The dogs still need to be yipping, biting at their harnesses and
run regularly to keep them warm, fit, tangling themselves, and in awe of
and happy, and to stay in the habit of the trainers who calmly worked to
running effectively as a team, so the hitch the team despite these chal-
handlers manipulate 29 velcroed name lenges.
tags on a little board, a simple system designed to coordinate
the dogs’ running schedule which ensures they each get a I was already in awe of these bold adventurers when they
solid run in two to five times a week. decided on another day to host a special outing for our group,
a “picnic at the lake,“ whatever that could possibly mean at 40
And for dogs like Gouda, who experiences seizures, Debbie’s degrees below zero. One might wonder what Alaskans con-
care does not end when they are no longer able to join the sider cold weather. We found out earlier that morning when
main racing team. “A bit goofy,“ from his medication Debbie the thermometer reached 50 below zero. At that temperature,
explains, Gouda still emanates charm from his quirky little face even locals consider it dangerous to go outside. Flexibility is
that appears to grimace from a lip perpetually caught in his mandatory in this harsh climate, and the Moderows excel at
teeth. this, too. Our morning outing was delayed and, instead, Mark
treated our group to an impromptu presentation about ex-
The Moderows regularly take their dogs out to play. One day, treme weather gear and the evolution of snow shoes.
Debbie outfitted Gouda with four booties, which are designed
more to keep the ice from collecting in the pads of his feet When it warmed up to a safer 40 below, Mark ventured ahead
rather than to protect from the cold, and he joined us on a via snowmobile to „set up camp,“ while we packed picnic
cross country ski outing around their property. As the humans lunches of cold sandwiches, brownies, beer ( it’s true beer is a
enjoyed the crisp air and black spruce trees, which grow tall great thirst quencher, even in the cold), and hot tea.. The Mode-
and spindly because they can’t establish deep, solid roots to rows had concocted an elaborate schedule that allowed each
support a thick tree in the permafrost, Gouda blazed ahead, of our adventurers to each try a little dog mushing on the way
stopping periodically to ensure Debbie was in pursuit, and to camp, which consisted of a tent erected atop a frozen lake,

104 WDT MAGAZINE SPRING 2017