Mike Dillingham - Alaska Dogs and Iditarod Mushers - The Adventures of Balto, Back of the Pack, Honor Bound, Rivers

Mike continued, “When we return and get the team watered, we will take another longer run with only six dogs. Brownie and Ugly will be the leaders. Doc and Nitro will be in swing with Rivers and Lakota in the wheel. During the return trip, I will swap Lakota and Rivers in as leaders.”

Many people think Mike is a little crazy for talking to us this way. I guess they do not realize that we understand him. By letting us know what he wants us to do, we can do our best for him. I heard that humans have a problem communicating with each other. I have always wondered why.

“You can run lead, Rivers?” It was Sunny.

“Yes I can, but we cannot go too fast when I do and I only run lead in an emergency or on a fun run,” was my reply.

“But you can’t see!” She exclaimed.

“Yes, I know. You keep reminding me of that.” I said a little too curtly.

“I am sorry Rivers, you just amaze me.” Sunny said.

“I am sorry that I was short with you,” I said. “When I lost my sight, my hearing, sense of smell and sense of presence, or radar as Mike calls it, intensified. Also, I have my teammates. With them, I have five and sometimes six pairs of eyes.”

I heard Mike pull the sled out of the shed and set up the lines. I know that he uses two snow hooks, one in the rear, and one in the front. Mike uses two hooks until he gets the lead dogs harnessed up and snapped into their positions. After the lead dogs are in position, Mike tells them to sit and they do. Then he harnesses the rest of the dogs in their positions with the wheel dogs harnessed last. Once Mike finishes, he pulls the front snow hook and double-checks all of our lines and snaps. After he gets on the runners, Mike pulls the rear snow hook, tells us to stand up, and then says, “Okay team. Get ready. Go!”

I heard Lakota tell Sunny what was happening. Doc was the first one into position. Mike told Doc to sit as he slipped Doc’s harness over his head. Once the harness passed Doc’s head, Mike told Doc to stand up. Mike then told Doc, “Paw up.” I know that when Mike touched Doc’s paw, Doc would lift it so Mike could place it through the harness opening for his front legs. I heard “Paw down.” and knew Mike would start working with Doc’s other paw.

After Doc was in harness, Mike snapped the lines to Doc’s harness and collar. Mike then told Doc to sit. He did the same to each of us and saved Sunny for last.

We all told Sunny to listen to Mike and let him get the harness on her. She did. We asked her if the harness was too tight and she said it fit perfectly. She said that Mike gave her a tummy rub, patted her head, and told her she was a good dog.

“Well how do I look guys?” Sunny asked.

I heard Lakota just mumble, “Lady dogs, always worrying about how they look!” and I said she looked great.

“Rivers how would you know that?” She demanded. I heard the guys laugh as Christmas surprised us all with, “Sunny, blind dogs see things differently than we do.” You could tell Christmas was very serious by the tone in her voice.

“Where did she get that?” Lakota asked.

“I have no idea,” I replied

After Mike secured Sunny into her harness Doc said, “Now Sunny, we are not going to go very fast, so you can just take it nice and easy. You can move to either the right side of the centerline or the left; whichever is more comfortable for you. Just let Rivers know if you will be running in front of him.” Doc continued. “Do not worry about falling or tripping over the lines. The trail is very nice and there should be no holes. Christmas and I will keep the lines taut so they will not get under your feet. Just find your pace and enjoy the run. There is nothing to worry about. Believe me it will come naturally to you.” Doc finished with “Does that sound okay to you, Sunny?”

“I am very excited about this,” Sunny said. “I know I can do a good job. Thanks for being so kind and patient.”

I knew she was very scared, but she was a gutsy lady dog and would do her best. I knew the rest of the team was watching and cheered her on. “Look at that lady dog, I bet she is lead dog material!” That was Brownie.

Ugly added, “You go, girl.”

Then Nitro said, “Sunny, show them what a champion looks like.” And if that were not enough, all of us started with a “Go Sunny go” chant.

Above the chant we could hear Sandy’s’ voice saying, “Hey Sunny, show these guys what a classy lady dog can do!”

Christmas told me that there was a big broad smile on Sunny’s face. She was really enjoying the encouragement.

I heard Mike get on the runners, pull the rear snow hook, and said, “Okay team. Get ready. Go!”

Lakota and I leaned into our harnesses and got the sled moving. Doc and Christmas pulled the lines tight as I heard our footsteps in the snow. Soon we were gliding down the trail.

Lakota told me that Sunny was in front of him and she was doing okay. She actually was pulling and doing her part. He said she looked very strong and very sure-footed. You would never guess that this was her first time running with a sled dog team.

Lakota said that every time Mike gave a “Haw” or “Gee” command, Sunny would watch Doc to see what he would do. Yes, experienced team dogs watch their leaders. Soon she knew that if Mike said, “Haw,” we would go to the left, or if he said “Gee,” we would go to the right. If Mike said “Straight on,” we would go straight.

Sunny was learning very fast. Doc and Christmas kept asking her how she was doing, and she told them that she was having a lot of fun. She was really enjoying this.

Since Sunny was not tiring out, Mike stayed on the trail a little longer than he said he would. That was fine with us. It was a beautiful day for a fun run.

We were just easing around a bend when Mike said “Doc, gee straight.” Now that means Mike wants the leaders to make a half right turn, which will take us off the trail. We do this if there is another team coming up from behind that wants to pass us, or if we meet another team on the trail. Common trail courtesy is for each team to give the other a lot of room to pass.

However, I could not hear this team moving. I heard Mike say, “Stop. Sit,” which means Mikes wants us to stop and sit down. We did that and I heard Mike plant the rear snow hook and get off the runners, while talking softly. Lakota told me that Mike was talking into the little box that Mike called a cell phone.

Something did not feel right. Lakota told me that there was another 6-dog team parked on the other side of the trail, but there was no musher. Mike walked over to the dogs, but they were nervous and cowering.

I heard a voice talking from behind this team. “What are you doing around my dogs”?

I heard Mike reply, “Are you the musher of this team?”

“Yeah, so what?” was the reply.

Mike said, “Just checking to see if you need any help.”

“Nope,” the voice said, “you can just mind your business and move on.”

“Actually, what you are doing here is my business.” Mike said. “You are on my property. Moreover, I do not allow people who do not ask my permission to be on it. It is all posted land. Now pack it up and move it out.” Mike continued “Oh, by the way the snare traps you are putting out are illegal, and I don’t want them on my property.”

I heard the musher’s voice move closer to Mike and say, ”You seem to know a lot, maybe too much for your own good.” The voice sounded very menacing.

“You are right,” Mike said, his voice not flinching, “I do know a lot, especially about that helicopter you are hearing overhead. It is a state trooper chopper, the one I called when I saw you trespassing and setting up illegal traps. I would guess that all of those pelts you have in that sled are illegal also.”