Tragic death of Didier Dagueneau...

The 52 year od former Alpen-Trail musher died in a flying accident on Sept. 17, 2008. He plunged with his ultra light aircraft 50 meters to the ground in Dordogne, France and thereby being killed.
 
Didier drove in his youth sidecar motocross and then later sled dog sport. His first Alpen-Trail race was in 1998 with Siberian Huskies in the 12 dog class.

In the 1980’s he began with winegrowing. He was one of the best Sauvignon Blanc producers and received many world-wide awards and honors.

Our sympathy goes out to his family, his partner Susanne Cremer and their two children.

Our memory will always be with you.

Your Alpen-Trail family

9/19/2008 6:25:08 PM UTC    Comments [0] 

Opportunity to work with Siberians in Sweden…
Handler/Apprentice Guide Wanted (September thru to April)

This is a great opportunity to learn and work at a professional sled dog tour kennel, as a handler/apprentice guide.
For any further information, please contact Graham at...
Axehandle Mountain Sled dog tour kennel
Sweden
Phone +46 644 700 06
GSM +46 70 6887290
Eml: graham.kent@telia.com
www.axehandle.be

8/20/2008 5:54:42 PM UTC    Comments [0] 

soooo cute....

7/5/2008 8:09:42 PM UTC    Comments [0] 

The preparations for the 12th Edition of Alpen-Trail has begun. The stage races will take place from the 16th till 24th of January 2009. To where each of the stages will take place is still being negotiated. More details will be known sometime this summer.

The Alpen-Trail Organisation Team
Verfasser: HR.News

7/1/2008 2:04:01 PM UTC    Comments [0] 

As from yesterday, cute little puppies started to open there eyes…
All puppies have there names now… we used an Arda, Ancient Greek & Egyptian theme.

Arwin

Echo

Isis

Ivana

Zeus

6/25/2008 7:52:49 PM UTC    Comments [0] 

On Thursday 12th June, Chrome gave birth to five pups :o) she had two boys and three girls.
The first one was born at 9:40am, and the last at 11:52am… all are thriving and doing well.

6/14/2008 3:59:31 PM UTC    Comments [0] 

Since being back in England from our overseas adventures, it’s all been very crazy for me setting up a new website hosting and development company.

But with a long awaited break, this bank holiday I have been sitting out in the garden with my dogs, and made a start on the book Donna so kindly got me for Christmas.

Miller’s Anatomy Of The Dog, 3rd Edition, By Howard E. Evans, Ph.D.

The book is a very overwhelming comprehensive reference to canine anatomy, and as one review I read put it, “Its incredibly wordy”, and another mentioned, “intimidated by it.”, can be so true !!!

Chapter one, “The Dog and its Relatives”, with reference back too as far as the Cretaceous period (Early order of Mammals), is a very interesting opening to the book… with ongoing molecular genetic findings… hybridization between domestic dogs and wild canids… origin… and so on…
I know; some of you might be thinking, you are not studying to be a vet, “true”, but with a strong interest in dogs and as a big part of my life, I think the book is relevant and I seem to find myself interested in the subject, in search to learn more about dogs.

Hopefully I can get back to it tomorrow…

5/4/2008 8:06:07 PM UTC    Comments [0] 

Hopefully we will hear the cry of some new puppies very soon !!!

4/15/2008 8:17:58 PM UTC    Comments [0] 

It all seems quite warm at the moment, at around 9c during the day and 7c at night… Dogs are all now starting to wind down a little getting ready for spring, and puppies got harness broken on the 26th Jan… Storm, the crazy one of our two pups out of Risk & Sheenjek, did very well, while Kai the more calmer one of the two, was a little questionable at first; but over the past few weeks he has started to develop very nicely, crazy and very strong.
To date, pups have been practicing on a 3 to 4 mile loop every Sunday since harness breaking… I’ll probably get a few more weeks in before it gets to hot to run them.

Storm (View pedigree) 

Kai (View pedigree)

The other thing on the agender, is breeding for this year… Chrome should come into heat around early April, and I have decided to breed her to Sting. Both dogs have given me 100%... and Chrome has taught me so much when it comes to trusting your lead dog out on the trail. Sting, although completely crazy with not much sense of direction, is a very lovable, hard working and structurally well balanced dog… besides, he was my first Alaskan who pretty much paved the way for me :o)

Chrome X Sting

3/8/2008 5:29:49 PM UTC    Comments [0] 

In the early hours of Monday morning we arrived back in England from the Alpen Trail. It was surperb times… so it’s always hard to get back into the swing of things back home.

The Alpen Trail for me was a very special race, as it was my first real race. And to complete it was an overwhelming experience and proud to say the least… of my self and the dogs, as a team. The race is not for the faint hearted for sure… as the Lu stage elevates 1200m in short very sharp inclines, and Sexten elevates by 1550m, but once you are up… the scenery is just breathtaking.

Picture taken by a tourist

Organisation of the race was superb, while remaining adaptable to the environment changes. Musher’s maintain a very high fair sportsman’s like attitude, working together, especially as head on passing is required on most stages near the turn arounds, and it takes you, your trusted dogs and other teams on the trail to make it work.

The mass start in Sexten was fantastic… like chariots of fire with sled dogs... such a superb feeling. Pictures of the mass start can be found under my Alpen Trail 2008 album, along with other AT pictures.

Team Alpen Trail (dog proud)
Alpen Trail 2008 album

Many thanks and appreciation goes out to the AT team, all the musher’s, and  best friend Malc and brother Mick for being handlers that has also helped to make this a very memorable experience :o) have a great year and prosper.

Results of Alpen-Trail 2008:
8 Dog class:
Heini Winter GER (10:04:51)
Marte Heilemann NOR (10:23:42)
Michael Link GER (10:29:09)

6 Dog class:
Jørn Størbraaten NOR (11:52:30)
Susanne Cremer  FRA (11:54:06)
Florian Bachmann GER (12:28:51).

View more results

1/23/2008 5:28:15 PM UTC    Comments [1]