Cruise Happenings

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain
Showing posts with label dog sledding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog sledding. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Libby Riddles

Princess Cruise line has the exclusive opportunity to have Libby Riddles on on board. I had the wonderful pleasure to meet Libby Riddles. She is the first female to ever win the
Iditroid dog sled race. If you have never heard of Libby Riddles after her 1 hour talk you will be amazed, inspired and truly in ah over this incredible woman.

In 1985 Libby Riddle is the first female to win the Iditroid. The Iditroid dog sled race covers over 1,100-miles of treacherous terrain. Her thrilling details of her journey, love for her dogs just made you want to stand up and cheer. Libby has been named sportswoman of the year and picked by the vets on the Iditroid as treating her dogs the best.

Libby has written several children's books "Storm Run and Danger: The Dog Yard Cat" . My favorite "Race Across Alaska" her journal about the year she won the Iditroid. Check them out they are great! www.libbyriddles.com

Friday, June 4, 2010

Musher - Jillian Rogers and Dog Camp


Jillian Rogers was the musher I trained with. She is Awesome ! Finding her true calling she packed up leaving corporate life behind and moved to Alaska. Currently she lives up on the glacier with her 30 dogs and are training to their 1st Iditarod Race.
Check out her blog @ wannabemusher.blogspot.com



The dog camp is an incredible place. As you can see from the photos everything is white and blends in. The dogs and the Mushers live up on Mendenhall Glacier 5 months out the the year. They each get 24hrs off per week to go into town for baths, computer time & talk to family/ friends. Yep! you read right .. Baths. They have an outhouse, cook & share bunks/ dome looking cabins. But there is no television, Internet or cellphones & no alcohol. Most mushers are up there with there own dogs. Several mushers will take the summer season off & let there doggies go to camp.
All the dogs live & sleep in the white wooden boxes. They run /workout several times day. The dogs eat a high protein diet 3 times a day. I was told they train & eat just like athletes. Think of them as marathon runners. I was amazed on how thin,fit and muscular each dog was.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Dog Sledding is Awesome!!

Dennis mushing at the base of Mendenhall Glacier
My view - The bumper sticker is so true. If your not the lead dog your view is always the same.

Dog Sledding is like water skiing just with a brake. The black dog is wearing a lite weight white coat to reflect the sun. Worn to prevent overheating.



My New Best Friends

These dogs all belong to Jillian Rogers - Musher there are 30 dogs in her camp




Mendenhall Glacier - Juneau, Alaska


A 30 minute helicopter ride & mountains that soar upward of 7000 ft. we flew to Mendenhall Glacier for a day of dog sledding. This breathing taking view & dog sledding experience was worth every penny.