This cache is dedicated to Billie, one of the Alaskan Huskies we have had the privilege of knowing. Billie really enjoyed running on these trails and excels as a competitor. She was part of our 4-dog sprint mushing team that finished fifth at the 2001 World Championships and won the ADMA 2001-2002 Challenge Series points championship. She worked with Daddy Ladybug to finish 7th at the 2001 World Championships in the 1-dog skijoring event. Almost eleven and blind in one eye at the time this cache was hidden, Billie enjoyed running in a team and helps teach our younger dogs how to be skijoring and mushing lead dogs.
Billie lived to the ripe old age of fourteen years and four months, passing away peacefully at home in November 2010.
"Creamer's Refuge: Billie" is hidden with permission in the 1800 acre Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge which is under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game - Division of Wildlife Conservation. This map of the mushing trails maintained by the Alaska Dog Mushers' Association will help you access the cache location.
The cache is placed on the portion of the mushing trails referred to as "the extension" and sees competitive mushing only one day a year on the third day of the Open North American Championships (ONAC). The ONAC is traditionally held on the third weekend of March and features three days of teams of twelve to more than twenty dogs racing a distance of 20 miles on the first two days and 27 miles on the third day. The team with the lowest cumulative time after three days of racing wins the championship.
We consider this portion of the trail to be the most scenic of the entire trail system because it passes through black spruce forests, white birch groves, and open wetlands several different times. The trail twists and turns more than the "19-mile" loop, so it is a lot of fun to mush or skijor dogs at speeds of 15 to 20 mph. The various crossovers depicted on the map allow for access from several different locations and allows us to vary the route each day to keep our dogs attentive to our directional commands and interested in what is around each new corner.
Please be aware that the Creamer's Field trails and the mushing trails are multi-use trails used by skiers, skijorers, mushers, runners, snowshoers, hikers, mountain bikers, and people on snowmobiles. Be aware of your surroundings and travel in the designated direction when possible. If you are on foot or skis and you are approached by a dog team, step off to the side of the trail and stand quietly to let the team go by. Dogs are welcome on the Refuge, but they must be leashed in compliance with the Fairbanks North Star Borough regulations. DO NOT let your dog(s) run loose during any season because they can be a hazard to dog teams in the winter, migratory birds in the summer and moose during all seasons.
Access to this area is best during October through mid-April when the ground is frozen and or snow covered. If you venture onto these trails in the summer, we recommend wearing footwear for wet terrain and taking a fair amount of bug repellant. Regardless of the time of year you go, watch for wildlife ranging from owls, fox, and moose year round many species of migratory waterfowl during the warmer months.
For more information about the refuge and activities that occur at the Refuge, visit the Friends of Creamer's Field website.