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Yesterday we got home from the 100 mile sled dog race FarmDad participated in at Joseph, OR. It was quite an experience for us all. FarmDad says that it was the hardest thing he's ever done in his life--that was coming from a guy who runs around Mt. Adams in a day (30+ miles) for "fun", can still outrun the high school track team he coaches every year, can wrestle a 500 lb. heifer to the ground, and has bucked countless loads of hay summer after summer!

The race is called the Eagle Cap Extreme, and FarmDad says it was definitely "extreme." The terrain through the Wallowa Mtns. is beautiful but rugged. The race starts at 4500 ft. elevation and reaches over 7000 ft. in some places! Apparently, the elevation gained throughout the race is about 20,000 ft.--the equivalent of climbing Mt. McKinley!

Here are a few pictures from the trip.

The beautiful Wallowas

Miss Smiley and Grandma H at our B&B

The pre-race BBQ

Leaving the start

A musher on the course

Waiting, waiting, waiting for Daddy to finish.

Yay--finally done! The dogs were so happy to be back! Tired and sore, but wanting to run again the next day. FarmDad, on the other hand, will probably need a week to recover!

If I can figure out how, I'll post some video from the race. Meanwhile, I have mountains of laundry to do...