This cache is dedicated to
Mesa, one of the sleddogs we have had the privilege of
knowing. Mesa is a mixture of one-half Alaska husky,
one-quarter German shorthair pointer and one-quarter
English shorthair pointer. Mesa has the softest coat of
all our dogs and has a pleasant, eager to please
disposition. He is always happy to see us enter the
yard and loves to run laps around our yard just for the shear
joy of running. Mesa is about four years old at the
time we placed this cache, but still displays the exuberance
of a puppy who is always raring to go. He loves to take
his turn as lead dog at the front of a skijoring or mushing
team.
"Creamer's Refuge:
Mesa" 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). We consider this
particular area to be "dead man's curve" because most winters this
particular section of the trail is coated with frozen overflow that
slopes off the trail. The evening we placed the cache the
overflow was covered with a couple of inches of snow, so we could
skijor across, but there are other times when we release our dogs
and walk across the ice. It is very exciting to watch the big
open teams of fourteen to twenty dogs whip through here at 20 mph
with their sled and driver sliding along behind them.
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.