Welcome to Happy Trails Kennels:
Home of four-time Iditarod Champion
Martin Buser, and family!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

DOG BLOG - ELK (A Team)


Elk - 6 year old male                                       Inca X Luna
2009 4th place Yukon Quest
Identical twin of Caribou, the two boys even have their own twin language.  Follows brother Boo's every moves.  Loves only Martin.
Leader but only with his brother, Caribou.

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Saturday, January 30, 2010

DOG BLOG - DEVILLE (A Team)

Deville - 6 year old male                                       Wolfy X Daisy
2007 Iditarod 4th place
Battle Axe with an amazing ability to work through aches and pains.  Mental toughness of a Samuri warrior.
Leader

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Friday, January 29, 2010

DOG BLOG - COLONEL (A Team)

Colonel - 7 year old male                                         Calvin X Pearl
2007 Kusko 300 champ
Good ole boy, finished a dozen major races, always there when you need him.
Leader

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

DOG BLOG - COLLAR (A Team)


Collar - 6 year old male                                        Calvin X Kira
Both parents are Iditarod record holders for the fastest time to Nome.
2007 Kobuk 440 champ.
Tough, quiet, a bit reserved, no-nonsense.
On the job 24/7.
Leader

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

DOG BLOG - CELINE (A Team)


Celine - 4 year old female                                   Logan X Ontario
2009 Yukon Quest 4th place
The kennel sweetheart with clingy hugs for everyone.  Fluid, shiny, sleek and fast.
Leader

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

DOG BLOG - CARIBOU (A Team)


Caribou - 6 year old male                                         Inca X Luna
2007 Kusko 300 & Kobuk 440 champ
"BooBoo" is best known as the police chief, would clearly be in charge if humans disappeared.  Has dominating energy.
Leader & Driver

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Monday, January 25, 2010

DOG BLOG - BADGER (A Team)


BADGER - 3 year old male                                   Lance X Corporal
2008 Iditarod finisher with yearling team.
Integrating with the big boys and holding his own.
Leader in training

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Sunday, January 24, 2010

DOG BLOG - ANGEL (A Team)



ANGEL - 6 year old male                                       Wolfy X Daisy
2007 Kobuk 440 champ
Poster child for sled dogs everywhere - he has the look and is as cool as Clint Eastwood, never dropped from a race in 3 years.
Low key - LEADER

 


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Sunday, January 17, 2010

2nd PLACE KUSKO 300

Just got a quick call from Martin.  He was very happy to be in Bethel, sounded a little beat up, said he took a few falls out on the ice, a little chest pain, said everybody did.  No major problems with dogs, very proud of their stoic performance.  Finishers included Angel in single lead, Goose in swing, Badger and Roy, Collar and Orion, Lionel and young Batman!!!  2nd place two years in a row!  We are thrilled.  He'll be home Tuesday.

Congratulations to JOHN BAKER!!!

KUSKO Eye Witness Report

I just got a call from a friend who was out on the Kusko trail in Kalskag this weekend.  The friend has a long history of traveling throughout Alaska during dog races.  He said he has absolutely NEVER seen such brutal cold because of the wind.  There was talk of stopping the race if the winds got much worse.  Paul Gebhardt was thought to have frozen his eye but after further inspection was allowed to go on wearing goggles.  The trail was confusing in many spots because of the new ice road up the river.  Folks were making the 5 hour trip in trucks from Bethel to Nupaimute.  The race trail was reportedly on the road at times and veered off the road at other times. 

Mushers were coming into the checkpoint seemingly stunned by the weather.  Not really saying much.  The KUSKO is traditionally a race that presents ultimate challenges and this year is rated as one of the MOST challenging. 

I am amazed and in awe of Martin and our team.  Our team is reportedly looking good. 

There's no way a person can train for such an extreme and the race becomes as much a mental struggle as physical.  I know they'll be thrilled to get to Bethel and Jeff Hoffman will take good care of Martin and the dogs.

yikes, what a way to make a living.

Friday, January 15, 2010

KUSKO TEAM in BETHEL

Martin and team are in Bethel being taken care of by the Hoffman clan.  Special thanks to Jeff for housing Martin and team.  The team line up is as follows:
Celine        Lionel
Roy             Caribou
Angel         Neil Young
Goose        Otter
LearJet       Batman
Collar         Man O War
Orion          Badger

Weather reports from Bethel indicate wind chills to -40.  The race field dwindled to 13 of the toughest mushers in Alaska.  Martin will be leaving 10th in a dual start.

Go to http://www.k300.org/core/  and click on 2010 Trail Reports for the latest on the icy trail.  Martin says this race will be all about dog care!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

COPPER BASIN PHOTOS


Magnus outside Glenallen.



Sean outside Glenallen.

Looks pretty cold, reportedly -20 to -35.
thanks Daryl Darnell for the photos

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

COPPER BASIN 300 REPORT

Magnus and Sean both completed the Copper Basin 300!!!!! Temperatures along the final sections of trail ranged from -20 to -35.  Magnus finished at 8:53 pm on Monday with 11 dogs and Sean finished at 12:37 am on Tuesday with 10 dogs.  The guys planned their own strategy, no schedule from Martin.  CONGRATULATIONS to both and the 21 dogs for making an impressive finish in their first time 300 mile race!!!!

Monday, January 4, 2010

24 HTK DOGS COMPLETE KNIK 200

Magnus and Sue completed the Knik 200 Dog Sled Race yesterday.  Magnus completed the race and checked off the box for completing his first Iditarod Qualifier.  All dogs did well, weren't really racing, just making the trip around in a respectable time.  For Sue's yearling team, it was their first big campout with other teams.

Magnus and Sean head to the Glenallen area on Thursday to take part in the Copper Basin 300.

Martin is traveling hither and yonder with his team.  The upcoming KUSKO 300 is, as usual, presenting challenges.  Race officials are contemplating the race's fate because of 150 miles of SNOWLESS trail.  Hoping for snow in the Bethel area with 12 days before the start.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

We had a great visit with family in Louisiana for the Christmas holiday.  Martin and the boys joined the other men folk in the family on a 3 day bird/pig hunting trip right after Christmas day. 

We came home in time to greet the new year from our special vantage point on the hill.  We could see fireworks all around the entire Matanuska-Susitna valley.  

It's now dog time to narrow the focus to dogs!  For the next three months, there will be time for little else.  We approach this racing season with a renewed spirit in the bond between man and dog. 

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