California Snow!

"Team Arctis" along with about a dozen friends from southern California's "Urban Mushers" went Mammoth in the Sierra Nevada mountains for a weekend of dog sledding. Our first time sledding this season, and what a great time it was!
More pictures here:

and a few videos as well:






Now it's back to work to continue production of our carts!

Happy New Year!

What a way to start the new year!
We just finished our three day stay at the Rose Parade Expo in Pasadena CA, doing our part to celebrate Alaska's 50th anniversary of statehood. Wow! What an exciting event!

Thanks to the great folks at the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau, we got to show the southern California locals, as well as visitors from literally all over the world, a little bit of dog sledding. Along with the local Urban Mushing group, the good people from Three Dog Bakery in San Clemente, and a pack of puppies from Counts Cove Kennels, Team Arctis was out there promoting the state of Alaska and all it has to offer to visitors wanting to explore the last frontier.

The ACVB had entered a float in the 120th Rose Parade, featuring, among other things, a sled dog team made of flowers. Riding the float/sled was none other than 1st female Iditarod champion Libby Riddles, who took the time to stop by the booth after the parade to meet the local dogs and mushers. She was also able to catch a glimpse of Arctis' three wheel cart and sign autographs.

See more pictures of this great event here.

Once again, thanks to the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau for inviting us to take part of this great event!

Celebrating Alaska's 50th Anniversary at the Rose Parade

The state of Alaska is celebrating its 50th anniversary of statehood in 2009, and what better way to do it than to be part of the 120th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena CA on New Year's Day!
The float will feature first female Iditarod winner Libby Riddles, among others, and the state's exhibit in the post parade expo will feature a real chunk of glacier ice, native Alaskan dancers and dog sledding demonstrations by southern California's "Urban Mushers" , including "Team Arctis".
We're honored to have been asked to be part of this great celebration!
For more information, please visit the Tournament of Roses website here.
We hope to see you there!

Post Christmas Hike

Taking advantage of the beautiful southern California weather (temps in the mid 40s and clear), "Team Arctis" went out on a nice hike through the hills and canyons of Laguna Beach. Final destination was the Montage Resort and Treasure Island Beach where we dipped the paws in the ocean before we turned around and headed back up the hills again. See all pictures here: http://tinyurl.com/8pgue3

Final practice for the (not so) Great Serum Run

A large group of "Urban Mushers" gathered on Saturday at Fairview park to take advantage of the cooler temperatures (finally!) and get one more practice run in before next week's (not so) Great Serum Run. The group of "Southern California Working Snow Dogs" (www.urbanmushing.com) hosts this run for the 3rd time on Saturday December 6th at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa CA (map). Please see their website for more information. There's still time to sign up for the races!
Arctis will be there with several carts available for test runs.

The 3rd annual (not so) Great Serum Run

We'll attend and participate in the 3rd annual (not so) Great Serum Run in Costa Mesa CA, hosted by the "Southern California Working Snow Dogs" on December 6th, 2008.
For more information, please visit www.urbanmushing.com

Back home

We just returned from the mushing weekend in Klamath Falls OR...what a blast we had! The carts were tried and tested on dirt trails, in mud and in snow, with 4 and 6-dog teams and passed the tests with flying colors (not that we're biased or anything...).
Thanks to Karen Yeargain for organizing this event and to Liz Parrish for allowing us to stay and play at her lodge. Last not least, thanks to everyone who tried the carts and for all of your input, comments and suggestions.
We'll be back!