Cricket's life has sure changed!

Here are some photos from the Alpine Creek Excursion Sled Dog Race, which goes along the Denali Highway.

All photos by the intrepid Julien Schroder, who rode a winter bike out there and camped in the snow to take these photos:


It's very beautiful along the Denali Highway!


And look at that magical light!


Here is as shot of Jodi Bailey's team:

Cricket sez, "Wow! My life is sure different now! I like my cowch."

And here is a Victoria Forrester, Jodi's dog handler and junior musher:


When we went to meet Cricket, there were three candidates Jodi had in mind for us. It was during the Iditarod last year, so Jodi was traveling back and forth and Dan (her husband) and Victoria were there to meet us. They unhooked all three candidate dogs, who rushed up to say hi, and then they and Starbuck ran around like mad, playing and dancing and chasing each other. DL and I were like, "Uhhhhh.... how are we supposed to choose one?" They all look really similar (same breeding lines, of course). They all act really similar. Then Victoria piped up: "Cricket's been sleeping with me at night. She's really cuddly." Bingo! :)

Look! An all-Siberian team!


So pretty!