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Announcements!
Darby Dog Derby Schedule of Events
Date Time Location Event
January 30th -TBD -Darby
-Winterfest -Mutt Pull
February 26th -All day -Little Blue Joint -Darby -Silent Auction
February 26th- TBD- (call for time) -Darby Vet Check
February 26th 7:30 p.m. -Little Blue Joint -Darby Musher
Dinner-Driver MeetingJr. Scholarship awarded.
8:30 p.m. Conclusion of Silent Auction
February 27th 9:00 a.m. -Little West Fork Snowmobile Parking Lot,
-Nez Perce Road Short Driver Meeting
February 27th 9:30 a.m. 43 mile race start, 26 mile, 14 mile
start Sprint race starts 2 min interval between teams, 10 min gap between each class
February 27th Circle KB hunting camp Finish of Day 1 stage. Dinner following in mess tent.
February 27th Little West Fork Snowmobile Parking Lot, Nez Perce Road Finish of 26 mile, 14 mile and sprint races
February 28th 9:00 a.m. Circle KB hunting camp Breakfast in mess tent followed by Day 2 start
February 28th 9:00 a.m. Little West Fork Snowmobile Parking Lot, Nez Perce Road 26 mile, 14 mile start followed by sprint race starts
12:00 p.m. Pee-Wee race
Finish of Day 2 Stage
Awards ceremony.
Darby Dog Derby Junior Musher Scholarship:
This year the Darby Dog Derby will award $500.00 in Scholarship money to three junior mushers. The qualifications for the scholarship are listed below.
Be entered in the Darby Dog Derby
Complete and submit the scholarship entry form.
Submit an essay on how or why mushing is important to you or what you have gained through mushing.
Submit a letter of recommendation from one of the following; a veterinarian, a teacher, or an experienced musher.
All entries for the scholarships must be received by February 10th, 2010
Three juniors (under 18 years of age) will be picked by a panel of judges and awarded $300.00 for first place, $150.00 for second place and $50.00 for third place. Announcement of the winners will be at the musher dinner on Friday, February 26th, 2010.
Darby Dog Derby
Musher Signup forms:
Musher entry form - click
here
Jr Musher Scholarship
Form - click
here
More information www.bitterrootmushers.org
The Monture Sled Dog Bridges
Rodeo Vincent -
Musher
Died Monday November 30,2009
Heart Attack
The West Yellowstone Race is Still On
Go to their website for more details
http://westyellowstonesleddograces.com/
There has been an Account Setup
Rodeo Memorial Fund set up to help with some of the ongoing expenses of caring for Rodeos dogs until decisions get made about their future. To contribute contact 1st Interstate Bank, Gallatin Center, 2023 Burke, Bozeman, MT 59718 406-556-1058
We will miss
Rodeo and his "Let's do it Spirit"
2009-2010
Montana Races Are Posted
Click
Here
The
Montana Mountain Mushers
Montana Mountain Mushers is a non-profit Montana organization which supports and promotes the informed and humane use of sled dog teams for work, transportation, pleasure, and sport. The organization provides information about running dogs and aspects associated with dog mushing
and skijoring to mushers and the general public.
There are several Montana sled dog races that many of the members participate in, including Race to the Sky which is a qualifying race for the annual Alaskan Iditarod dog sled race. Please visit our Races link for more information. Come attend the start of one of these races for an experience you'll never forget.
Competitive sled dogs are amongst the best housed, trained, fed, and conditioned canine athletes in the world. They receive veterinary care that compares with the medical care that Olympic
athletes receive. Each dog on the team plays an important, individual role, so every effort is made to keep each one in top physical and mental condition. To accomplish this, hours and hours are spent with the dogs, caring for them and keeping them in good spirits. Sled dogs quite literally love to run.
Membership in the Montana Mountain Mushers is open to all and the information exchanged between members would assist anyone interested in sled dog care, skijoring, or mushing. Come join us!
Mushing
Guidelines for Using Montana Trails
The trails in Montana are maintained by several different snowmobile clubs in the winter and are some of the best in the country.
It is a privilege to run these trails. Anyone wishing to use Montana’s trails may, provided they follow a few simple rules, which will help to ensure everyone’s safety and enjoyment.
Meeting Snowmobilers, Skiers, and Other Mushers
When meeting a snowmobiler head-on, try to be as visible as possible so that the driver can see you. If you are approaching a corner, stop before the corner and wait for the snowmobiler to pass. Mushers can hear the snowmobile before they can see you and, of course, they are going faster.
The snowmobiler needs to be able to get around your team. Allow plenty of time to react and space to maneuver. Work at keeping your team on the right side of the trail because this is what the snowmobilers are used to.
When running the trails at night, use strobe lights on your lead dogs, reflective rope on your towlines, keep your headlamp on, consider a strobe light on the back of your hood, or reflective tape on the back and front of your parka.
When being passed by a snowmobile from behind pull to the side and stop or slow your team until the snowmobiler(s) are safely around your team.
When meeting another dog team, common courtesy is expected. Don’t follow too closely and if passing another team, make your intentions known. Common sense dictates that you pick a spot that is safe to pas or wait.
If you are stopped on the trail, you must pull over enough so that snowmobilers, skiers, and other dog teams can go around you safely. Choose a spot to stop that is safely visible.
Using the Trails
Using Montana’s trails are a privilege. Please leave the trail in better shape than you found it.
Forest service maps and snowmobile maps provide a great reference for finding the trails in Montana. They are available locally at snowmobile shops and the Forest Service offices. Be prepared before you leave the trailhead for winter camping and taking care of yourself and your team in an emergency.
Be Positive
If we all work together, Montana’s multi-use trails can be enjoyed by all. After all, they are some of Montana’s greatest assets and we want to ensure our continuing assess to them.
Skijoring
A great way to explore
the great outdoors in the winter is the sport of skijoring.
This activity combines skiing with man's best friend who loves
being able to run and run. The dogs get a charge out of it,
and because of the close proximity, the feeling of unity - oneness
with the team - cannot be matched. As a person soon finds
out - you will work as hard as the dogs - especially when going
uphill.
This a relatively low
cost and easy sport to become involved in. The well being of
the dog is paramount and the first piece of equipment is the dog
harness. A properly fit harness will distribute the force
across the dogs chest and body. The tugline is relatively
short, 12 -15 foot with a bungee cord at one end, is connected to
a belt worn by the skier. Montana's own Adanac
Sleds carries the harnesses and the complete skijoring
package. You will find them to be very knowledgeable
and helpful.
Ski Equipment
Being a experienced
skier is a must with skijoring because you need to be in control
at all times. Your skiing equipment depends on what you feel
comfortable with. Both cross country as well as downhill
skis can be used. Some people prefer the using short 100cm
downhill skis along with their downhill boots. Telemark
bindings do provide additional flexibility and movement when
"skating" uphill and of course longer skiis tend to
increase one's speed but are a little more difficult to control
when you need to stop (turn the skiis 90 degrees from the
direction you were heading)
Training
Just as you don't go
out and run a marathon without preparation and training -
skijoring takes physical training by both you and the dog(s).
Starting a fall exercise and
training program is ideal. Start with short skijoring runs
and increase the distance the more conditioned you and your dogs
become. Be sure to hydrate both yourself and the dogs.
Be prepared for weather changes.
Learn More and get
involved with Montana Mountain Mushers.
Visit our Exchange link and find deals on mushing equipment.
Our links page will direct you to many of the popular web sites focused on sled dogs and sled dog racing.
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