Amazing Gracie

A couple years ago a family moved to Glennallen from Kentucky. Little did either of us know what the full impact of this move would be for both of our families.

I was teaching in Glennallen when the Crowe family arrived and enrolled Connor and Gracie in school. I taught both Gracie and Connor that year. I ended up being more than a teacher that year, I became Gracie's introduction to her addiction of dog mushing thus becoming her doggie dealer. 

Gracie fell in love with the dogs and voiced interest in becoming a junior musher. Of course mom and dad told her it was a lot of work and she alone would have to do all this work. Gracie readily agreed. At the time we had two dogs that had completed many races,  and were still pretty young. Bug and Ebner were very much part of our team; traveling, training, hauling wood and camping with like everyone else. When the Crowe family called and asked if I knew anyone with a dog for Gracie, well I had just the dog for her; Bug. Bug is a total gee haw leader who happens to also be the biggest lover ever. Soon Ebner went to join the Crowe family; because you can't just have one sled dog. I have since added becoming Gracie's mentor to my list. In working with her and her dad, Lee, Gracie has become a young, confident, strong young lady. 

Gracie getting some final pointers from Heidi at her first sprint race

Gracie poses with her pink dogbooties.com harnesses

In February of 2013, Gracie entered her first race. In our village we have 2 days of sprint races known as Chistochina Fun Days. There are many events for children and one for the adults. Gracie entered the 2-dog and 1-dog class. Known as the pink flash around Glennallen, due to her pink harnesses, pink sled and pink winter clothes, Gracie was a flash on the trail.  Her success comes from both her dedication to her dogs and from the amazing support from her parents, Lee and Deborah. 

The village hall

Gracie comes to the finish line strong with Ebner and Bug

Gracie now takes care of 10 dogs. (It's amazing how quickly they multiply...1dog...2 dogs now 10) like any other musher, when not on sled, she's on a 4-wheeler training for the winter season. In preparation for this up coming season I have started "Ms Heidi's Mushing Boot Camp." The best way for me to teach is to show and do.

Gracie give Ebner some loving before starting

Being a junior musher is hard work

Although Gracie and her family have been out to our place numerous times, the first official day of "boot camp" was on a Wednesday this September. Lee came out solo and went for a run with me. We discussed such topics as harnesses, feeding and brothing and different ways to run dogs with a 4-wheeler. We also cooked up a huge pot of meat scraps for the dogs. Yummy!! "Boot camp" will continue throughout the winter for Gracie and her handler-dad, Lee.

Lee and Heidi zooming down the trail

Norway, Glacier, Inca, Hopper and Lee during a water break

The Crowes are an amazing family. Now that Emily, my own daughter, is all big and off doing her own thing in Italy this year, it's nice to have Gracie around. There's nothing better than hearing, "MISS HEIDIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!" Followed by a leaping Gracie and a full body hug. 

Heidi and Gracie at the Gulkana River this summer for Gracie's baptism

Darrin and Gracie at the Yukon Quest finish banquet 2013

Darrin and Heidi pump Gracie up for her first run Chistochina Fun Days

If you happen to be driving through Glennallen this winter, be on the look out for my girl Gracie, The Pink Flash!