Finally it is white outside, this beautiful snowcover that makes everthing so much nicer and lighter arrived during the last weel. The dogs and we are very happy about it as training on snow is really much more fun, than training on sand and gravel. We would of course take much more of the nice white, but ado not complain! What we have is better than nothing!
Before the snow came, we could finish most of the trailworks. The last bridges were re-built to make them stronger and wider, trails made a bit wider, sharp corners were flattened and dead trees and bushes cut off. In the dark hours of the day, we made the sleds ready for use, wooden parts were oiled and some small parts replaced. But as training takes per kennel easily 6 - 7 hours per day, on some days we have double-training, there is a clear focus on traing at the moment. Nothing is more important than that! The dogs run up to 24 km by now and since they run on snow, they love it even more!
2 late autumn-storms just before the snow made our canoes fly! From the rack they were blown and landed after a short flight like a pile of sticks. Sadly also some more trees had to be cut down, as they lost stability during that storm. Noah did a prevention-job in the old kennels and took down a few of them, before they do damage in the next storm by falling uncontrolled. A few more would wait for the same treatment in the new kennels, will see if we find time to do that as well.
The winter-crew is now almost ready. As mentionned above, Noah (with Chinook) is back for his 2nd winter. And Elisa ha her first official working day today. A warm welcome to both! Peter is back home - it was not a real match. We wish him a good coming-home to Germany and all the best for his future and dreams. And Nadja and Alex left today in direction West/Sweden. Alex as real Eräkeskus-veteran is certainly known to most of our readers, as he was here for almost 11 years, with only short interuptions in between. An excellent guide and guest-entertainer is leaving with a huge bundle of knowhow about the area. Big thanks to him for all the good years, all the work he did for us, being deputy managing director and for all the fights we fought together for the sake of Eräkeskus! Nadja was with us for 1 year as allrounder and office representative, but the dream of something own was too strong. Thanks to both for everything, we wish a safe trip and all the luck they need to succeed with their new dreams. "Letting go" is sometimes necessary and can be exercised. Of course Lex, Ian and Goa are travelling with them and will learn Swedish in future!