Brent's Blog

Well here we are tomorrow we are heading in for vet checks on Sat and then Quest week begins!! the last 5 days in Eureka have been AWESOME!! The trails are in great shape and the weather has been nice and warm a little windy at times but that just good training. At this point I have 16 really strong dogs that I am choosing from. The sore muscles that Skunk had after the Gin Gin and Ling Ling and Bust had after the Copper Basin have given them no problems since there time off and I am excited about that. Ling Ling is an extremely tough dog and is the only 3 time finisher of the Quest. Ive got one more run planned fro tomorrow morning and we are packing up and headed out. My Dad has been in town getting the truck prepared for the race and will be out tomorrow to pick us up. Matt and Mandy arrived today to take over operations out here in Eureka while we are gone and have had there orientation and are set to keep the 65 dogs happy and healthy. SO it seems like everything is coming together nicely, I am still waiting for GO!! stay tuned the 2010 Quest is just around the corner and WIld and Free is locked and loaded!

Back in paradise!!

Silver is a huge Brett Favre fan!! Taking a short break from my doggy world to watch the game with the Gundersons. Headed to Eureka tonight!! Ill be posting alot about the team and who is going to make the top 14 all next week.

Food Drop packing is in full swing, and progress is being made! Which is good since they are due tomorrow!! Sorry for the lack of posts but this food drop thing is using all my brain power these days. The dogs are looking great they have had a pretty easy week just short runs so they are raring to go. Once the drops are turned in tomorrow I am going to go do a run out of a friends place in Two Rivers, then to the Whites for an early morning run on Sun. gotta get a 50 miler in before the MN Vikings play! then After the game I am headed back to Eureka for 5 days of total focus on the dogs so that we can prepare both Physically and Mentally for the Quest, which starts in 14 days! Cant wait!! Everything gets allot easier once they say GO! This week I was also given the Opportunity to visit the 4th grade class at The Watershed school in Fairbanks. I brought some of the race dogs and Puppies and we had a great time. The kids asked lots of great Questions (as you can see from the photo) and had a great time visiting with the dogs and I know the dogs had a great time with the Kids. I also owe a huge thanks to the class for turning and bundling up 1000 booties for me. This was a huge help and I cant thank them enough. Also a big thanks to my Neighbors and Friends, Mandy, Metta, James, Cindy and my Dad for their help with the food drops. Ok gotta get back to Packing. Ill leave ya with the 16 dogs in the running for the Quest team. Thanks for checking in

Hello all

Update from Paxson. Brent rested up after coming in this morning and headed out at 5:38 pm.
Ling Ling has a sore shoulder so he gets to rest with me on the rest of the trip. So on the trail with 11 dogs. They all are looking good and Brent was ready to go after eating a couple of meals.
It was dark so didn't get any pictures. Wind was picking up a little but otherwise should be good mushing. Lot of mushers are coming and going so will see what happens from Christo and then last run to finish.
Mark

Sunrise from Paxson Lodge to south about 10am
View to West from Paxson. Another beautiful morning.

At check in. Pretty frosty

Brent thanking Madonna and Silver for a great run



Just pulled into Paxson after 2hour and 2 minute run from Meier's Lake. Team looking good.


Brent checking in at 7:32 am at Paxson. First musher in. Still dark.

Wolverine Lodge


Across from Wolverine Lodge with sun setting



Brent feeding the dogs.

Brent into Wolverine. Dogs all looking good



Silver cooling off in snow

On way to Tolosona


Tolosona from on hill. Great views


Brent coming into Tolosona and out.


On road to Wolverine frost and snow

On way to Tolsona. Sun shining

Sorry about being out of order with writing and pictures. Missed a posting.
In recapping Brent left the start 10th out with Bib #10 at 10:18 arrived at Tolsona 12:18 23 miles in 2 hours
3rd musher in to Tolsona . He went on through to Wolverine without stopping.
Arrived at Wolverine 15:10 26 miles in 2 hrs and 52 minutes
He rested 4 hours and left at 19:10 (7:10 PM)
Headed for Sourdough 50 miles away.
He and dogs are all looking good and having fun.
May not have phone or internet signal so will report when can.
Mark

Brent left at 15:10 exactly 4 hours rest. Dogs all set and ready to go. Clear night about -20
Wolverine was a busy place with mushers coming and going. On to the next stop Sourdough.
Mark

Getting ready to go. Nice morning 43 mushers. Mark

Getting ready to go. Silver and Ling Ling waiting. Nice morning about 0 degrees. Sun coming up 43 mushers!
Mark

Brent was into and out of Tolsona at 12:18. He is into Wolverine at 15:10
Came in 3rd and looking good. He is resting and headed out in a while. Weather is good and about -20 now. Dogs are all smiling and looking good. Mark

The Race is on! I drew bib number 10 which is a great place to go out especially since there are 43 teams in the race and the trail is going to get really chewed up, so going out early is awesome. With all the dog teams around the dogs are getting really excited and know what is ahead. The race field is stacked this years so it is sure to be an exciting race. Check out www.cb300.com for updates during the race. Heres Wild and Frees starting line up

Silver
Ling Ling
Madonna
Busta
Walter
The Dude
Thunder
Willy
Rosie
Jerry
Taco
Rocky

8 of these guys where in my First quest team. And all of them have run the Copper Basin at least once, I have alot of confidence in this team and know we are going to have an awesome race!

Racing WIld and Free

B

"The Dogs" section of the website has now been updated and the "Sponsor a Dog"program is a go. There are a couple more updates that need to be done on a couple dogs but done shortly. IF your interested in sponsoring a dog please contact me by email for more info. thanks for your support, Im still surviving in town, we have been getting out on some nice runs but the dogs and I are counting the hours before we leave for the CB300. We are ready. the field is very competitive this year it is going to be a very exciting race to follow. My dad will be handling for me and I ms sure updating the blog when he can but he is going to be alone this year so his number one priority is to get the truck down the trail. Updates on the race can be found at www.cb300.com. thanks for checking in Ill update before we head south for the race with the starting lineup. Still havnt decided who's going forsure. lots of options. Have to make the decision soon!!

B

Yup thats right I am stranded in town. I am finding out that i would better off stuck in the wilderness somewhere then here in town! There is just too much distraction. But I have no choice my truck brakes went out on the way home from the Gin Gin. then it was the holidays. So after trying my best at -35 degree to figure out the problem, I got it into the shop today and we should know the verdict tomorrow, little scared but doesn't matter I need that truck so I can go down and WIN the Copper Basin. The truck may be broken but the dogs are not!! They are looking strong, we did a great 70 miler out of my place yesterday and they didn't miss a beat! Luckily the trails are nice out of my place here in Fairbanks so I dont have to truck to run dogs. I am so lucky to have Kyla and Flo they are holding down the fort out in Eureka. Which is no easy task with over 60 dogs! I have full confidence in there abilities which takes a huge load off of me. the key to success is good help and Ive got that there is no doubt about it. From Kyla and Flo in Eureka to my whole crew of friends here in Fairbanks that will do anything to help me out. Thanks Everybody, so thats whats going on here in Wild and Free Land. I will post some videos from training here in fairbanks tomorrow and pray for a healthy (not to expensive) truck! thanks for checking in

Brent