Creative Energies Blog

by Tracy Tollett

Recently I was involved in the International Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race.  Since before Thanksgiving, I have been spending 2 days a week at the kennel of Stacy and Frank Teasley who run Jackson Hole Iditarod Sled Dog Tours at Granite Hot Springs just south of Jackson, Wyoming.  Frank is the Director of the IPSSSDR and his wife Stacy runs their race team.  I joined in to help them for the dog racing season.  Leading up to the big race, we trained 10 dog teams to run increasingly long distances of up to 60 miles and we raced in two local races (both of which we won!).  The Stage Stop was a  bunch of fun this year with competitors from Scotland, Quebec, the Northwest Territories, and Alaska.  This year the weather was unseasonably warm (perhaps this global warming thing?) and the dogs had a hard time in the above freezing temperatures.  The heat gave them cramps and the only thing that we could do was stretch and massage them.  One day I gave 4 dogs 30 minute massages each.  I wish I could have received the same treatment because by the end of the race I was super tired and sore.

Photo 1: Blue (the MVP of our team) and I
Photo 2: Mel racing to the finish (she won this year’s race)
Photo 3: One of our competitors
Photo 4: At every stage there were tons of school kids who came on a field trip to see the race
Photo 5: Stacy Teasley who I worked with, we came in 7th

The entire Creative Energies crew assembled in Lander last Friday and Saturday for an all-staff meeting, cookout, and some adventure in the mountains. The Lander and Idaho teams rarely get together all in one place for work and play. On Friday we had the opportunity to discuss the current and future status of Creative Energies.

(left to right) Andy Tyson with Kali, Cheryl Robins, Joel Helesco, Toby Schmidt, Phil Schneider, Josh Wells, Magdalena Kane, Tracy Tollett, Curtis Tronolone, Rosie O’Gara, Scott Kane, Jake MacArthur.

With a little snow still on the ground in the high country, the whole group with families and dogs made their way to the Granite Buttress in Sinks Canyon outside of Lander for an afternoon of climbing and enjoying the sunshine. Pics by Scott Kane.