Been doing a lot of dog running. 2 90 mile trips with them with a 3 hour rest half way and also some 14 mile runs around the kennel itself. Hans has just aound 70 dogs and also Susie has some of her own aswell which she skijorges with. There has been a lot of info to take in but i am now right in the swing of things. Staying in an airstream which i basically a trailer home. Its nice an warm and I have turned into my home for the time I am here.
There ha been lots of people that I have met and hope still to meet on my time here. Newton the Jamaican is also here and doing really well and I will let everyone know how he is getting on when we start racing.
Bye for now and Merry Xmas to everyone and a Happy New Year.
[ 1 comment ] ( 166 views ) | permalink |
( 3 / 2712 )Family friend & Ex SF/MD Pilgrims Group Ltd;
Alan mentioned your trip into colder clime WOW awesome trip and very slightly jealous to say the least. Would be a good place for any Englishman to go and hide at the moment too�!One in a lifetime chance it sounds and am sure you will make the most of it too with your previous experience under your belt. Don�t forget to send us some pics whilst you are out there if possible. Army will wait for you mate.
[ add comment ] ( 120 views ) | permalink |
( 3 / 2027 )Borge Ousland one of the most extreme adventures in the world and a family friend sent the following advice to John
"Stick it out and keep on going. Learn from mistakes, but think ahead and never give up. What doesn�t kill you makes you stronger."
[ add comment ] ( 137 views ) | permalink |
( 2.9 / 2133 )This is the second time you have been to AK at the very top of your sport/way of life with sleddogs ..the last time was with Egil..the goal was to help train dogs to win the North American Open for Egil.I spent 2 weeks with Hans in Jamaica in Oct;..hes a good lad.. you will work well together Iam sure..all those early morning training trips & adventures we have had since you where 6yrs old will come into play now John..have a ball ..rip up those Yukon Trails with Hans mate.
[ add comment ] ( 120 views ) | permalink |
( 3 / 1391 )Our son John is making his final preparations for a trip of a lifetime which will see him spend five months in the remote Yukon training sleddogs for the Iditarod.
John 22, will be travelling to remote Yukon in Canada where he will train & live with Hans Gatt, 3 times winner of the Yukon Quest champion he will help Hans prepare for the 1,150mile Iditrod Sleddog race in Alaska.
John began working with sleddogs at the age of six ..and his father Alan Stewart runs the only sleddog centre in Britain near Aviemore.
The Alaskan husky dogs he will be training will be running up to 90miles a day in freezing conditions of minus 30degrees staying overnight then back to the remote training kennel.
John helped his father to train more than 30 sleddogs at the centre for the Alpen Trail race in 2001 & 2004 and he has also raced and trained his own team in the Scottish and UK Championships held all over the UK. He was Scottish & UK Jnr Champion many times.
John who is currently living and working at Glenmore Lodge in Aviemore had been in the Royal Marines but he has had to put his military career on hold following extensive knee surgery just five weeks before getting his green beret. John said once he has completed his five-month trip to Yukon/Alaska he will return to the military.
His adventure can be followed on this blog
[ 4 comments ] ( 202 views ) | permalink |
( 2.9 / 1440 )
