Cantwell... you Oughta

© Sarah M. Waterman

Uncle Russ drove me to Cantwell on Valentine's Day. You know, I feel bad for the poor guy. He had to sit in a vehicle with me, and Oz, Scott's son (it's a dog), for about 5 hours. That is when we weren't playing wild goose chase trying to find Compactor bags, the right kind of Dip and getting crack infused Snicker lattes... or whatever it was that I drinking. I kind of felt like I was on a scenic tour, not because of the Great Alaskan Beauty... but Russ told me about every accident, almost accident, shoulda been an accident, hitchhiker, broken down car, drunk drivers, moose... all along the way! As my mother used to say, we talked more than the clapper on a gooses ass, all thanks to the Snicker-crack! At one point he reminded me about the bridge up ahead and how it had a 300ft. drop, with a shit-eating grin. I just laughed. He's definitely a "Good-Ole-Boy."

Anywho, we got to Mike Santos's house in Cantwell, Scott's buddy that's a Rookie running the Iditarod, and Russ kicked Oz and I out... after he helped bring our things in. I walked around, and soon after Scott came in after a run with Lindsay, Mike's handler. Scott showed me around some then we all hit the hay after making plans to go on a run out of Mike's yard in the morning.

Just amazing © Sarah M. Waterman

What a sunrise it was that morning! Gorgeous, with streaks of purples, reds, pinks. Different from back home in Maine, but not totally. The mountains are all around Mike and Caitlin's house, it's amazing. Not gonna lie, it was nice to get the hell out of Willow and see some new trails! 

Well, I saw some new trails alright!!! The hills and turns and DROP OFFS aren't like that back in Willow! Every part of me was sweating... places I didn't even know could sweat! I think it may have all started when we were at this one point were the trail had this little left hand loop, kind of on a slant.... with deep powder all around. YEAH... I got sucked in by the powder and POOF!!! GONE! I held on to that sled though. I was trying to find something to stand on... nothing... I was literally swimming in the snow! The only thing that was hard to use as leverage was my sled. I was struggling... hoping that I could get out in time and Scott wouldn't notice. While my sled is sideways and the dogs are looking at me like, what the hell are you doing you idiot, I kept whistling them up to help drag me out a little. I then set one of my hooks, basically set it in the snow in hopes it would catch on something... at least slow them down IF I let go, which I wouldn't do... and pulled a LT. Dan move... I had no legs, and used my arms to hold on to the brake and the side of the sled. Anyway, I got out. It's hard to describe it, but my heart was racing and not gonna lie, I felt AWESOME! 

It felt like forever, but I am sure it was minutes. Then there was Scott, like a little happy deer in a meadow, "You ok?" 

Trying to hide the fact that I could hardly breathe or even think to form real words, "Yeah, side snow got me..." Doesn't even make sense!

"Alright."

By the time we got back, after Scott stopped and said later on, "Want to do another 10 miles?"

"I left my head lamp on the bed, I'll be cool right?" Thinking there would be enough light.

"Yeah." He said without any hesitation.

"Let's do it." I was really thinking... MAN, I can do this.

Did it, made it home... in the dark, sort of, and my clothes were SOAKED!!! No lie.

More later my dears!!!

Way before I fell, but what a VIEW!!!