Season 18/19 is over - already since 10 days. Dogs and humans slowly start to relax and glide into holiday-mood. Snow is melting, ice is fading away, the first shy green spots can be found, if one looks carefully enough. Where was still plenty of snow 10 days ago, when driving to the last cabin-overnights, there is now drying forest-ground and Jack - representing all other dogs - is looking a bit sad after the last remainings of winter. But the memories of a great season 18/19 remain alive - not only in the statistics: 181'369 km were covered by our dogs in the last winter. In the Top5 we find dogs Lex, Finja, Lelu, Pasi and Mörkö, with only 70 km difference. We offered 6 weeks Musher-Workshop during the pre-season, then 39 Winterweek-Groups, 22 groups Bearstrail, 5 x Bordertrail, 3 Exklusiv- and 4 Christmas/NewYear-Special-weeks. Frank was our Top-Guide, guiding for 14 weeks.
Now for whole month of May, Eräkeskus is closed - except of course confirmed special bookings. But we will not get bored! Almost the complete crew is here for taking care of dogs and yard. Added by the usual season-end-jobs, preparing for summer, renovate the kennels, building the planned new kennel compartments and a lot more. Soon May will be over and the summer-season starts!
As usual, we again say goodbye to some team-members at the end of the season!
Katja is leaving us after 7 months, doing a great job as allrounder and being responsible for the lodge-building. Her creativity and handskills brought us many new inputs, many were straight realised. She could be seen for hours and hours, even on her days off, walking veterans and young dogs, with a big heart she took care of socializing our puppies and getting them physically happy. Our teenager Tsar is joining her now, as they both were so close together right from the start. Thanks so much, Katja, for the time with us and enjoy your now following months-long trip all over Scandinavia!
Frank left us yesterday, to spend summer in Germany, once more. Frank as Guide, Allrounder, "Man for everything", Transfer- and Truckdriver, and a lot more, he was once more an exceptionnel enrichment for our team and Eräkeskus, bringing so many inputs and insights about training, doghandling and teamspirit to everybody, especially for the newest team members. Of course, Mandela is joining him again to spend summer back home, joined this time by Ronja, who will live her veteran-life in Germany with her god-mother. Thousand Thanks, Frank, for everything, discusssions, commitment, taking care of our guests and much more! It was one more great winter with you, not the last one; we look forward to the next!
We shall get some fresh snow on Friday and Saturday... - let's hope the meteorologists are wrong… Have a nice spring!