Cet hiver très sec et chaud ne nous a pas permis de nous entraîner correctement pour la course de Saignelégier le weekend prochain, du coup nous annulons notre participation.

En revanche, nous sommes allés trouver la neige hier afin de pouvoir sortir le traineau. Direction les Diablerets, où nous avons pris deux grands télécabines pour nous rendre au Glacier3000. C'était la première fois que je montais au Glacier pour faire du traineau... sentiments un peu mitigés... comment est-ce que les chiens seraient acceptés, etc. Je savais qu'un musher partenaire de la station organise des tours pour touristes en haut... Résultat: les chiens sont gratuits, le traineau aussi! je n'ai qu'à m'acquitter du billet aller-retour demi-tarif à 39 CHF.

Unfortunately, with this bad winter (to hot) we did not manage to train enough for the upcoming sledge race in Saignelégier next weekend, therefore we won't take part in the event.

Nevertheless, we went last Sunday in the mountains, to try and find some snow in order to take out the sledge. Direction les Diablerets, where we took two gondolas in order to get to the Glacier3000 (gletscher). This was the first time I went there in order to sledge... I was a bit hesitating and asking myself how it would go with the dogs... Well, it was great! we did not have to pay anything for the dogs nore the sledge. I only had to by a return half price ticket at 39.-CHF. 

Le personnel est super sympa avec nous. Pas besoin d'attendre le départ officiel des cabines, toutes les 20minutes. A peine entrés dans la cabine, le gentil employé me dit en suisse allemand que nous partons de suite. Ils font des courses spéciales lorsqu'il y a des chiens de traineau, profitant ainsi qu'il n'y ai pas trop de touristes dans la cabine (eviter ainsi les personnes qui auraient peur des chiens).

The staff was really nice. No need to wait for the official departure times (every 20minutes)... As soon as we got on, the staff told us we would leave right away. They are doing special departures for sleddogs, in order to avoid to much people in the cabin (and therefore avoid to have someone scared of dogs inside).

Une fois arrivé en haut, tous les touristes nous ont sauté dessus, posé plein de questions... presque impossible de préparer le traineau et de partir... Je voulais faire une boucle en allant à la Quille du Diable, mais finalement, nous sommes descendu un bout dans la combe, vers les remontées de ski, où se trouvait une partie de ma famille... tant mieux, car les chiens n'ont pas une bonne condition physique... je vois qu'il faut y aller tranquille...

Once we arrived up on the mountain, all the tourists "jumped" on us, asking us lots of questions... it was almost impossible to prepare the sledge and leave... I planned to go for a circle passing by the "quille du Diable", but ended up going down nearby the ski slopes, as a part of my family was there skiing... which was quite gut as the dogs were quickly tired... 

Nous avons fait un petit tour avec ma petite nièce sur le traineau, avant de faire une pause pour les chiens. La météo était au top, la qualité de la neige était très bonne, c'était une bonne surprise, et il faisait environ -15°C. Puis vint la remontée vers la cabine... deux grosses montées bien raides... les chiens m'ont épatée! Bravo les chiens, vous avez bien bossé!

We did a small circle with my little niece on the sledge, then a break for the dogs. The weather was really nice, the snow was surprisingly really good, and we had about -15°C... Then we went up again to the gondola, we had to go through two very steep slopes, well done doggies, you did great!

More pictures in the gallery/plus de photos dans la gallerie photos: http://anyaki-sleddogs.kazeo.com/Glacier3000-23-01-11,g65782.html

Une journée magnifique, un froid de canard, et pour l'occasion, les deux chiens de ma soeur étaient de la partie

A very nice day, very cold, and for once, my sisters'dogs were running along too.

Les photos / pictures : http://anyaki-sleddogs.kazeo.com/Training-01-01-2010,g65259.html

Bonjour à tous,

Nous voilà de retour du rassemblement de St-Setier, en Correze, où a eu lieu la fête du chiens de traineau, qui fut un beau succès. Parmi nous de nombreux mushers, dont Jean Combazard & Patrick Logeais.

Un rendez-vous magnifique, environ 800 curieux sont venus découvrir notre sport, notre passion. Plusieurs journalistes étaient également présents, une ambiance incroyable, une belle couche de neige fraiche, de beaux souvenirs et surtout beaucoup de nouvelles amitiés parmi les mushers.

Merci à tous les mushers présents pour leur accueil chaleureux; malgré le long trajet (9h de route aller et pareil retour), j'ai eu un plaisir enorme à être parmi vous ce weekend!

A bientôt!

One More Dog
 

One dog is no trouble, and two are so funny,
The third one is easy, the fourth one's a honey,
The fifth is delightful, the sixth one's a breeze -
You find you can live with a houseful, with ease.

So how 'bout another? Would you really dare?
They're really quite easy, but Oh Lord, the hair!
With dogs on the sofa and dogs on the bed
And crates in the kitchen - it's no bother, you said.

They're really no trouble. Their manners are great.
What's just one more dog and one more little crate?
The sofa is hairy. The windows are crusty.
The floor is all foootprints. The furniture's dusty.

The housekeeping suffers but what do you care?
Who minds a few noseprints and a little more hair?
So let's keep a puppy. You can always find room
And a little more time for the dust cloth and broom.

There's hardly a limit to the dogs you can add.
The thought of a cutback sure makes you feel sad.
Each one is special, so useful, so funny.
The food bill grows larger. You owe the vet money.

Your folks never visit. Few friends come to stay,
Except other dog folks who live the same way.
Your lawn has now died and our shrubs are dead, too.
Your weekends are busy. You're off with your crew.

There's dog food and vitamins, training and shots,
And entries and travel and motels which cost lots.
Is it worth it you wonder? Are you caught in a trap?
Then that favorite comes up and climbs in your lap.

His look says you're special and you know that you will
Keep all the critters in spite of the bill.
Some just for showing, and some just to breed,
And some just for loving - they all fill a need.

Winter is a hassle but the dogs love it true,
And they must have their walks although you're numb and blue.
Late evening is awful - you scream and you shout
At the dogs on the sofa who refuse to go out.

The dogs and the dog shows, the travel, the thrills.
The work and the worry, the pressure, the bills.
The whole thing seems worth it. The dogs are your life.
They're charming and funny and offset the strife.

Your lifestyle has changed. Things just won't be the same.
Yes those dogs are addictive - and so's the dog game!

Dimanche 7 décembre, 2008, malgré une belle grippe, j'ai decidé d'aller entrainer les loups... Il faut dire que le magnique soleil et les 40cm de neige fraiche faisaient sacrément envie!!!!  La journée a été fantastique! Les chiens ont du apprécier autant que nous! :)

Sunday, December 7th 2008. Although some bad cold, I decided to go in the mountains to train the dogs... The sun, clear blue sky and the fresh 40cm powder were really too attractive to stay home! It was a fantastic day, we all enjoined it a lot!