February 6, 2011
2011 Arctic Expedition Is Underway!
I’m a bit delayed in reporting this, but the 2011 Solo Arctic Expedition has begun!
Joe loaded up the truck and trailer with 22 dogs and headed up to Alaska’s North Slope on the Dalton Highway (the Haul Road). I had to stay behind this time since I’m pregnant, and the Haul Road is no place for a pregnant woman, especially not in the winter. Luckily, our friend Merril and his son volunteered to drive a trailer packed with sleds and supplies up north the following day and bring our truck back to Fairbanks.
The team was really looking forward to getting back into the groove of expedition life. When they arrived at their starting point, the dogs knew exactly where they were and what was going on. They could barely contain their excitement!
Here is the 2011 Expedition Team:
Joe’s been calling in with reports via his Iridium satellite phone. The expedition is off to a great start, and a warm one, too. He and the team enjoyed the luxury of +10 to +20 degree Fahrenheit temperatures for the first several days. Slowly but surely, the weather has been cooling down and should be back in the –20 and colder range any day now.
The team has been doing great considering their abbreviated conditioning season! Joe had a back injury that took some time to heal, so he had to rest a lot and wasn’t able to run the team locally as much as he would’ve liked. Nevertheless, the team jumped right into the expedition as if they picked up right where they left off last expedition season! It’s a real testament to the malamutes’ strength and physical abilities. Joe couldn’t be more pleased.
The dogs are pulling enthusiastically even though the snow this year is incredibly deep (waist deep on Joe when he takes his snowshoes off). He’s raving about his 6-foot long, custom made Iverson’s Snowshoes! He’d be swimming in snow without them.
Please check back! I’ll be posting more about the expedition throughout the season!!
- maxpack
Hoping for fair winds & weather for you & the team Joe ! ! Will be following your progress & prayers for a safe return for all.
- Thanks so much! We appreciate the prayers!!
- http://piappies.blogspot.com/ Piappies World
It’s so wonderful to see the whole team this year. Is that Red already? We saw Red as a puppy, right?! We are thrilled to see Red part of the team now. We hope that they will have a good and safe expedition.
Hope your pregnancy is going smoothly.
We love their group photo too!
Love,
Piappies Fudgie, Princess, Frappie, Mocha, Sugar, Wai-Pai, Wai-Max & Forgie
- Hi guys! Yup, Red is a rookie in the team this year. He’s grown up so fast…I can hardly believe it. I’ll be doing a post on him and the other newby, Bunny, soon. Thanks for your well-wishes on the expedition. Glad you liked the group photo. That was a stroke of good luck that they all looked at the camera like that. Pregnancy is going great. I’m really enjoying it now that I’m over the morning sickness!!
- Rebecca Hartley
This is my first year to follow the expedition. Hope you are up to frequent posts!
- Hi Rebecca! We’re glad you found the blog and hope you enjoy following along on Joe’s adventures!
- http://peterflaig.blogspot.com/ Pete Flaig
Congrats on the forthcoming new member of the family!!! Good luck to Joe!!
- Linda Lines
Wish you and the team the best of Luck and congrats to Andrea! Our Mal, Marina can’t wait to hear the updates.
- Thanks, Linda! Joe and I are really excited about the baby and I’m enjoying pregnancy. Say hello to Marina for me and give her a scratch behind the ears!
- http://dogblogemma.blogspot.com Emma Rose
Pregnant? Pregnant!!! Congrats! This is very exciting news If it’s a girl, Emma Rose is a nice name LOL!
- Hi Duchess! We’ve missed you!! Hope all is well with you and the gang. Emma Rose is a beautiful name…I might have to reconsider the one we have picked for a girl.
