These dogs are outta this world!!!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Cosmic Canines: Racing, tours and , modeling?
The other day I was in the middle of the interpretive part of my tour when Matt came over and pulled me to the side.
“Abbie, we drew straws and I can’t explain everything right now, but you won.”
I looked at him puzzled waiting for him to tell me that I had to take some important Cruise Line people or a famous person for a tour next.
“I want you to get your 4 best dogs. The best looking, and it wouldn’t hurt if they were well socialized. You and handler Matt are going to take them up to the glacier for a photo shoot.”
“What? Are you kidding?” I asked trying to piece together all what was going on.
“I can’t explain, Sarah will tell you about it later. Just finish this part of your tour, and when you go to take the guest to the puppies I will take over. You have to hurry because you have to follow the bus down the hill.”
So I finished with my tour and walked over to my dog yard.
“Don’t tell me….Telesto, Comet, Quarky, and…and …..” Matt called out smiling with his arms spread.
“Close, “I smirked; he is really starting to know me as well as my dogs, ‘Telesto, Comet, Vega, and Leo.”
“Leo! Of course.”
In the rush of everything, getting changed into warm clothes to be on a glacier and loading up the dogs into Matt and Sarah’s truck I fell and cut my hand pretty bad on the rocks. But I was too excited to really feel any pain, I was excited to go for another helicopter ride and be on the glacier again.
I had assumed that we were to be doing a photo shoot for AIE, our company, but I couldn’t figure out why it would be with my dogs on the glacier. Why would they want a picture of “dirt dogs:” as we are called for a brochure for the glacier operation? Or why would they want a picture of dogs on a glacier for the ground operation?
As we drove down the hill, Sarah explained how we would be flying with Coastal Helicopters up to the Taku Glacier to do a photo shoot for Rolex. All of the glacier operations were shut down due to weather, so they had to take our dogs up to the Taku because it was the only accessible glacier right now, and even that was getting worse. They were running out of time both because of the weather and the budgeted time of the film crew. So we were to rush to catch the window up to the glacier.
How exciting!
We got to the Coastal Airport and it was immediately clear that this was a somewhat unorganized endeavor. But we packed into the helicopter anyways. The dogs loaded into a wooden kennel in the back seat and Matt and I in the seat next to it. With the production manager Adam in the front with the pilot.
I was nervous taking off, there are rumors that Coastal is the least safe heli-company in town and I kept hearing how the weather was going sour. But soon the scenery and the stories of our pilot’s exciting life took over. We flew over Juneau south bound over the Gastineau Channel then we turned east up the Taku Inlet. This is over the other side from the mountains that cup our dog camp in their green hands. I had long looked at the area in my Alaska Gazetteer Atlas and now I was flying over it in a helicopter. We cut up one of the valleys there were lakes and creeks. We approached a summit and flew only 20 feet over it. When we got over the other side the bottom dropped out quickly. It was amazing! Finally we reached the Taku Glacier. It curved down between the stony peaks in blue, grey, and white striations. Then we were over the white vastness of the ice field. Over to the left in a valley there was Linwood’s Camp. I pretended to throw a grenade over to it. Matt laughed.
We approached camp. It was tiny within the huge ice field. We could see one huge yellow base camp style dome tent. And then a smaller dome. There were many people wandering around.
When we landed we were greeted by Jason Harriman who is the manager of the 3rd glacier operation in town. He remembered me as the girl who would hitch-hike 4o miles to mush dogs at Jack Berry’s. I guess we had met before; he lives down near Jack’s in Homer. I apologized that I did not remember ever meeting him. After we unloaded the dogs and put them on a picket line. I was introduced to various French People who were working with the filming crew, and then to the outfitters, Beyond Alaska, who are from Juneau. I was shown around the tiny camp, including the food which was laid over 4 tables, with 2 chefs’s preparing everything from Crab to Salmon, Ceviche, oysters, fruits, and desserts, and all kind of other gourmet food. Matt’s eyes lit up.
“Help yourself to everything, “ Edjuard, our interpreter said.
So in about an hour we went from our daily routine to eating a gourmet meal prepared for us by personal chef on a glacier in the middle of no where with a bunch of Europeans, most of whom did not speak English, while my dogs were being models for Rolex. How surreal!
Jason explained to me what the photographer, who was a famous in the photo world, was trying to capture
They wanted the snow in front of a sled that was set up just in front of the camera completely undisturbed but somehow they wanted to the dogs to magically be set up in front of the sled, which was of course impossible. The hand model would be lifting his hand just above the handlebar of the sled and in the near foreground would be the dogs, and in the distance would be mountains. So basically it was as if the hand model had just stopped his dog team to check the time on his Rolex. Like any dog musher could ever or would ever afford a Rolex!
I tried to disturb the snow as little as possible as I set 2 dogs in harness in front in the camera’s view. The photographer waves his hands for me to move over one way, then the other. He had about 5 assistants that adjusted the camera at his commands, loaded the film, and various other tasks. Basically all the photographer did was call the shot and press the shutter. He kept explaining to the interpreter for what I should do who would call out in a think French accent.
“AH bee, de photographer vants you to make your dogs you know, bottoms turn laike dis!” He motioned an angle with his hands.
So I tried as best I could to arrange the dogs, who thought they were going for a run so they were jumping and barking excitedly.
The photographer looked in his camera for awhile and then called to the interpreter who called to me, “AH bee, de photographer sayz it iz too hard to take peecture when de dogs are jumping around so.”
So I told the dogs to quiet down. I got the other 2 dogs on the line. Then came a series of commands to move the dogs to the left, to the right, make them quiet, make them howl, turn that dog’s butt this way, turn this butt that way, make them look back, make them look forward, all called out first to the interpreter, then called out by him, “AH bee, do dis, do dat!”
I have to admit I have no idea if anyone else was impressed because no one spoke English, but I was pretty darn impressed by my dogs. They follow my command pretty well for a bunch of wild sled dogs. We shot picture for at least an hour; Matt was busy making his way around the buffet table, huge smile on his face.
Then the light went bad for the photo shoot. Suddenly everyone was like we have to pack up to go. Everyone had to be off the glacier by 8:45 or else they would have to stay for the night. Also the weather was getting bad so we had to catch a window out.
I helped myself to all the food, and then helped the outfitters pack. The first helicopter arrived, and of course the film crew left first. Then another, they were wondering who would be the next group to leave. I looked at my dogs on the picket line and then to the looming clouds.
I turned to the interpreter, “I’ve seen 8 Below. I don’t leave this glacier with out my dogs!”
Matt and Jason laughed but the interpreter looked at me like I was crazy. I had to explain to him about the movie.
We did actually get off the glacier, dogs and all. On the way home we flew over our Sheep Creek Dog Camp. The pilot wouldn’t drop us off even though it would be easier, and darn cool! If we landed by helicopter home after finished our international photo shoot.
It was worth it to fly into Juneau to see the sun breaking through the clouds over the Lynn Canal. I have to say I love this place! This summer keeps getting better and better. Live your dreams and everything will fall into place. The world will unfold a beautiful, wonderful, and exciting path.
By the way the Rolex Campaign is to be released in December in magazines worldwide.
The labyrinth before me is magical
It seems like every weekend my days off keep getting better and better. Juneau really is a magical place, with so many places to discover, things to do, and nice people to meet.
Last weekend Johnny and I took out his boat where Sheep Creek spills into the ocean. The chum salmon were jumping all around us. I mean 100’s of them. So we went out to enjoy the scenery of the beautiful Gastineau Straight and to see if Johnny could catch a salmon. He is a big time fly fisherman, like I mentioned before he was a fishing guide down in Wyoming. All he had was his fly rod and flies to catch trout, so even with the plentitude of fish he didn’t catch any. So to top off our unsuccessful but enjoyable evening we went to the Twisted Fish for dinner. Where of course I had Salmon for dinner.
I had promised to go out with the gang from Sheep Creek to the night life around downtown Juneau. Johnny opted out so I met them and we bar hopped and had basically a fun but silly night. Sean and Matt (my handler) were busy being boys trying to meet girls. While we girls either danced, met new people or tried to encourage girls to hang out with Matt and Sean. I had some interesting conversations. One with an Eskimo guy from Nome that lives in Juneau now. He taught me some Eskimo words, none of which I remember now, much to my dismay. I also talked to the same mushers from Linwood Fiedeler’s camp that I hung out with on a few weeks ago at their bonfire on the beach. I guess a couple of them will be running the Mt. Robert’s Tram Run which is this Saturday. Our camp has been running a few races. Since our run in the “Only Fool’s Run” everyone has kept running. 6 of us ran in a 10k last week. We are team Sheep Creek and we are making a name for ourselves around Juneau. Partially because of our strange cart-pulling performance, and partially because of our enthusiasm. It doesn’t hurt either that Sean and Matt H. place pretty well in the races too. Needless to say we have a vendetta against Linwood’s camp at this Mt Robert’s Race. They are going down!!!
I didn’t go to sleep until 3 am. I camped over on Douglas Island so I could get up in time for a 5k called the Governor’s Cup that would start at 9:00am downtown. Matt (my handler) and Sean were supposed to run in the race but I was the only one to show up. They had shown less self control the night before than I had. But I was still feeling a little “rough around the edges” being I had only had 3 hours of sleep before the race. Still I did well. I came in 2nd in my division, and had a pretty decent time. Now I am 2nd for the Empire Cup, which is a cumulative point contest that goes through out the summer. Goes to show that persistence pays, because I am not the fastest runner but I do try to go to every race, and I always try to do a little bit better. I had a nice “runner’s high” after the race, so I was excited to go get a coffee and meet up with everyone to enjoy the rest of the day. `
A few weeks ago I stopped at beautiful place 20 miles north of Juneau on my way to the end of the road. It is an old monastery called the Shrine of St. Theresa. It sits on a little peninsula that hangs out into the Lynn Canal just north of Auk Bay. It is a serene and spiritual place no matter what religion you claim, so I decided to take a bunch of us from camp there. Kym, Caellyn, Sean, Matt, Cosmos and I all took off in my big blue dog truck and headed up the road. I felt like a Hierophant, guiding everyone on a spiritual day camp. It was a beautiful day, it was overcast but the clouds added to the ethereal feel of the day. There is an old stoned church that sits on top of a knoll. You can see the ocean on three sides. It is surrounded by the 14 Stations of the Cross. So there are stone pillars scattered through out the moss covered Spruce forest. Each with a marble carving of an event in the resurrection of Christ. It is very well laid out, for example the station where they place Jesus in the tomb, is down in a hole, it is dark and low. Then the resurrection is up on top of a sunny hill and you can see the surrounding ocean.
Everyone separated and went off in quiet meditation. It was a wonderful afternoon. There are beautiful gardens everywhere. One is called the Columbarium. Every flower, rock and plant is specifically laid out to represent a bible verse and meaning.
The coolest part is a Labyrinth. A little clearing where paths are outlined with stones. The paths wind in and around themselves so that they form a cross inside of a circle. A labyrinth is different than a maze in that there are no choices in the path you take. You just follow one path to an ultimate goal. Which in this case is a large stone in the center. Everyone carries a small significant item and places it on the stone. It is a meditative exercise and as you can tell very metaphorical to life itself. I placed a Yukon Quest sticker on the rock in the middle, for that is my focus right now. Along with some feathers I had found during the day.
On the way back to town we all stopped at Auk Recreation Center. We walked to the end of Lena Point. There were some people out there snagging Chums. I showed everyone how to determine a Chum salmon from all of the other species. Thanks to all of my years in the fish industry. I decided I should really go get a fishing license and a pole so I can can up some salmon for the summer. It would be nice to have to eat and also to leave with people that I stay with as I travel around the Yukon and Alaska this winter.
We went back to town and I met back up with Johnny for coffee. (Yes again, I went from being a barista to not having coffee except on my day off so I am still doing well) We stopped by the music store so he could get more picks for his Ukulele he just bought. Johnny and two other girls on the glacier bought ukuleles and are going to start a ukulele “band.” they are nice because they are small and light so they can take them in the helicopters on the glacier and not worry about weight or size restrictions. So while we were there I found a Pan Flute. I had been wanting one for quite sometime now. I was so excited, but I didn’t have money, (I purposely put my money away so we can have a great winter this year and focus on racing not working.) So Johnny bought it for me and now I owe him. I also got a book by Pablo Coelho written in Spanish the weekend before which I am slowly trying to read. All in preparation in someday traveling to Peru and Chile. So maybe if I practice long enough they will let me be a member of the Ukulele Band.
I finished off the wonderful day off by going out for pizza with all of the glacier people that had been stranded down in Juneau due to weather. They were trying to get me to “upgrade” to working on the glacier. It s nice to be wanted but I am not sure it would in fact be upgrading. We have a pretty nice set up here in Sheep Creek. It nice to be able to do things like go for jog or pick berries. Things that are not possible when you are on a glacier. But I would make the sacrifice for my dogs, if someone would actually tell me that it is better for the dogs. No one can say, but still maybe one season I will send on the glacier just for the experience.
Monday, July 10, 2006
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