This year was my first time of running in the SHCGB Aviemore trek which ran from Feshiebridge to the rally site at Glenmore, taking in stunning views of Loch En Eileen, and Loch Morlich. A total distance of over 10 miles but climbing over 1000ft.
I was running my two Alaskan Malamutes, Mina (2 years) and Lucien (14 months). I was a bit worried about doing the trek with young dogs, I was a bit worried about their fitness, but also worried about mine and i had doubts about me being able to do it the night before. I was also worried about Lucien’s age as he is still growing but i knew that we wouldn’t be going at race speed and we planned plenty of stops for him.

Sammy and her Alaskan Malamutes reach the marshal point

The trek was declared a rig trek, not a sled one so i knew it would be hard going as in places the snow was still deep enough to use a sled, but with patches up to 100 yards of gravel, we decided that rigs would be the better way to go, especially in the lower grounds. The rig got bogged down in snow several times and i think i ended up pushing the rig more than standing on it, but my dogs were little stars and pulled all the way and not once did their lines go slack.

As we left Feshiebridge, a few miles on, we reached the legendary “Goat Trail”. The trail is narrow, with boulders strewn everywhere, exposed tree roots and a river/stream. The rig bounced off the boulders and scraped along a few of them. We had also caught up the team in front of us with no where to pass them and my back left brake not working, i was having trouble holding my dogs back from trying to be at the front of everyone. My arms were tired already from the shaking of the rig going over the snow and ice and having to push my way through it, and from holding them back on a previous section, my grip gave way and my two monsters were off, luckily stopped by our team leader who managed to hold them whilst i caught up. I hadn’t run my dogs since October, as my other half had been racing them and training them, so i had no idea how much they had grown and how strong they were getting. I was told to stay on the rig and not to help them as much as possible, let them pull me up the hills, and they should soon tire and slow to a steady manageable pace… they threw me off another time before we met the marshal point at about 6 miles in! Even standing on the rig, with both brakes locked on, they still managed to drag me up the hills, and after a while i saw a pattern emerging between the two of them. Lucien was in fact listening to me shouting “Wait” when we stopped, Mina would give him a look and start moving forward and Lucien not wanting to get left behind pulled harder, whilst Mina stood there with a loose line as if to say “it wasn’t me”, whilst Lucien lowers himself into weight pull mode and drags me and the rig over a boulder and causes me to fall off.

Our Dog Sleds Await Us

When we reached the marshal point, we swapped our rigs for sleds. James (my other half) had transported them in the truck and was helping marshal there, he had our sleds set up and ready to go, James Bond stylie. We had to cross the footbridge, something i thought Lucien may struggle with as he doesn’t like bridges, but seeing the other dogs cross it first he went over easily. We swapped our lines over to the sled from the rig and i was totally astonished that after 6 miles, my dogs were still barking and squealing to get started again. They set off after our team leader like rockets, but we hadn’t gone far before i had to stop them as we hit several bare patches on the ground so i ended up attaching the sled with a line to my walking belt and lifting the sled over the bare patches and then reeling myself back in to get back on the sled on the snowy patches. The snow wasn’t smooth like the race trail. It was deep in places and the sled kept tipping into the tire tracks made by a car. It took me a while to get used to the sled and using the drag mat. I fell off 3 more times before I actually got the hang of it, the final time i over balanced on one of the runners and the sled slipped out from underneath me on an icy stretch, the dogs pulled me about 6 meters before they realised and i managed to drag myself up and threw the snow hook into the snow at the side of the trail.
Once we got going again, i kept both feet on the runners using my heels on the drag mat which was enough to keep them pulling steadily and not running like crazy puppies! I was so happy at the site of Loch Morlich as we passed the deer gate and onto the race trail, the perfectly groomed, smooth surface, less than 2 miles to go!

As we reached the final hill to climb, the dogs knew they were nearly finished and sprinted up it and down the other side, i let them have a free run in and bravely took my weight off the drag mat and we could hear people calling us in. The dogs were so happy to see everyone and still managed after 10 miles to pull me and the sled up the hill to the car park at Glenmore. 5 minutes rest and a drink and they were both set to go again!

The trek is so hard going, and even more of a slog in the trail conditions presented to us this year, but i am glad it wasn’t easy, i felt so proud with the dogs when they finished, and so proud that they were still happy to do it all again if given the chance. My favourite part was on the sled, on the race trail going passed Loch Morlich and looking out over the water, i could relax and take in the scenery without watching for tire tracks and holes in the snow, I am however, happy not to be seeing the goat trail for another year!

The trek was organised by Carol and Simon Atherton and unfortunately this is the last year of them doing it, I hope someone can step forward next year so that the trek can continue for many years to come, it really was the part that made my Aviemore this year!

Sammy

Some photos taken by James at the marshal point.