then said, “I have to go now”! She was startled and looked at me with serious concern. I immediately realized that she thought I was “going away”. “Oh, no” I said. “I will see you tomorrow”, assuring her. She brightened but looked at me questioningly… I quickly responded with a little laugh as I reached out to hug her again, “yes, Tiffany, I will see you tomorrow, for sure”! She wagged her tail, satisfied, and nuzzled me one more time and scampered off to her pups. I watched her for a few more moments as she greeted her young with joyful enthusiasm, and then licked and checked out each pup individually... the wonderment of her motherhood! I arose and walked to our base camp house, looking forward to a nice warm bath and a hot meal, I said to myself, “yes, Tiffany, I will see you tomorrow, for sure!” EC
horizon as we neared the waters of the bay… looking for polar bears, hungrily marauding the shores, waiting for the water to freeze and become ice; impatiently they needed to go hunting for their favorite food, the seals! Polar bears dine on fat, not meat, and seals are nature’s chosen menu. Now that I could see in the distance, I studied the horizon carefully and intently. Yes, there in the distance, I could see Polar Bears. I stopped the sled team with a “Whoa”! The dogs stood still but yipping. I took my binoculars but stayed on the ski-rungs of the sled. I counted only twelve polar bears, rather close together, cavorting, playing- fighting, and watching the water. One bear even entered the water to test the chill. Polar Bears are a curious lot with excellent eye sight, hearing, and a keen sense of smell. They have no predator but mankind.. However, although they
certainly are not afraid of the dogs or any other animal, they do not appreciate a team of noisy, yipping dogs. So they prefer to stay away. Satisfied with my accurate account of only a dozen bears, for the day, and with the good health of the bears, in spite of some weight loss, I spoke to my team, “Hike”! “We’re on our way home now”… I shouted out! After an eight hour day, on the trail, we arrived at camp I helped to unharness my dogs. With each dog I gave a certain treat that I always bring with me two large pieces each of real beef jerky from Oak Ridge Farms, Texas. And, I am the only musher who does that! In the snow, I walked Tiffany back to her large kennel house where her pups, were waiting. I squatted down, in order to hug her neck, and scratch her ears, and thank her again for a safe day. She vigorously reciprocated—with her wagging tail, kisses and nuzzles. I
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EC Magazines | Christmas Edition 2021
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