Dog sledding (vintage)

[Idabooner]

I bet he was pretty handy with a snowshovel.  Thats a long trip in.  I sure wish you still had those snowshoes.  Now you know why I confiscated yours and won't let you have them back.  Do you have any dog harnesses hanging int eh garage that I need to pilfer?

Yes that's a lot of snow to break trail in, approximately 24 miles over 6,680 ft. Azurite pass and down to the mine, or the longer route 28 miles over 6,197 ft. Harts pass and then down into Carlson Cabins, 3,850 ft. and up over 5,980 ft. Cady pass and down into Mill cr. to the mine at 5,080.   4 trips a mo.,  that averages out to over 600 miles of snow trail a winter. Here's a site posted by "smdave" that fits here. http://www.ghosttownsusa.com/bttales25.htm
Yes he knew how to use a shovel and trained me at a young age.   You all will laugh at this, but  I have always been amazed at how few people with a shovel in their hands that knew how to use it, how clumsy most people are with that simple tool.  Bonaddict did you know Dad always claimed he and his brother kept experimenting and changing the rigging on (webs) snowshoes until by trail and error they come up with a trouble free in any type snow condition rigging (web to foot harness).  Some one made the trip with them and liked the rigging so well they got a patent on it, all the commercial webs in my day had this type rigging.
Yes I have old Dewey's   http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,881.msg9334.html#msg9334  harness and a couple more for the swing dogs. All the harnesses were hand made.

[Slenk]

Slenk,

My post was just a jab at how weak todays outdoorsmen/women are compared to back then. I hunted back when wool was king, in fact, I still use wool pants, but those guys are quantum leaps tougher than me.

And mine was meant the same way .Not as a jab at you in anyway. I grew up in Sheepskin coats and felt shoes that you put overshoes over when  outside .
But I'me sure that if they had what we have today their lives would be easier . And I agree with you 100%
Slenk

[MikeWalking]

Not to speak for him, but I bet he understood what you were saying.  I know I did.  I have folks all the time harass me because I won't own a cell phone.  Well, what do you do if.......  I just smile.   My favorite hunting gear in real foul weather is still wool.

Glad to know I'm not the only one without a cell phone.  I hardly need the land line at home. I do carry a VHF radio in Alaska but that's a little differant.

For the most part I think cell phones have just written a new chapter in the book of Bad Manners, and not much else.

[boneaddict]

Bad manners and reckless driving. 

[Kent Hunter]

Hey Bone and Idabooner. I love the pictures. My dad, Jimmy Sparks also ran dog team with Chuck into the Azurite. Ask Idabooner if he knew of him or ever heard of him. He was raised by Hazard and Zora Ballard who lived at Lost River. Their old place is where the road takes a right hand turn before going over Lost River now. Ballard campground is named after the Ballards. Merry CHRISTmas. I'll also try and dig up some of my dads old pictures of him and Chuck and the dog teams.

[MikeWalking]

I saw mention somewhere in here about a book?  Yes Please?  I'm the guy who has stop at every Historical Marker and such and read about the place. There's some really impressive stories out there. " Hard Luck" Harry Morowitz, Willey Keil...better not start

[Idabooner]

Kent Hunter, please post your pictures and stories, the name Sparks just sounds familiar but I can't recall any stories about him.

MikeWalking, I just went through my home book shelf and this is what I found, there is more I know but must have pasted them on to someone else. A lot of the dog pictures have disappeared over the years also.

The Smiling Country, by Sally Portman.
The North Cascadian's by Joann Roe.
Mountain People by National Geography.
Gold Mining in Washington State by Ken Martin.

[MikeWalking]

Hey Idabooner thanks. 

Arrgh gotta finish the xmas shopping for the family, then more for me

[boneaddict]

I got a signed copy o fthe North Cascadians for a Christmas gift one year from some friends of the family.  They thought it was a cool book, and that I WOULD ENJOY IT.  They were right.  I opened it and said oh cool, then I said thats my grandpa on the front cover.  They looked at me funny as they had no clue and thought I was yanking their chain.  No kiddin' I said.  Thank you very much, I had been looking for the book for awhile.  For all of you boys interested in the History of Washington, it is a GREAT book.  It covers alot of the history of the westside.  Its interesting to hear stories about Sedro and Wooley etc, all tose ittle burgs over there before they became the big burg. 

[boneaddict]

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[boneaddict]

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[Idabooner]

The first picture looks like Robinson Creek country, that's Dad on the sled and the other guy is probably a mine worker.  The workers liked to travel in and out with the security of the dog teams.  There's no doubt a building under the big snow pile on the left, could be my cabin home.

The second picture is of the lay out about 1/2  way (time wise) to the mine on the Azurite Pass route, where they usually spent the night going in, I think it was close to the river in Horse Heaven Meadows. They would bring in a couple horses in the fall for dog food. The working dogs always got fed after they were done for the day, never in the morning so they wouldn't get sick on the trail.  Notice the cross cut saw, must have been going in after a windstorm, I see the snow is plastered to the side of the trees, also notice the width of the sled runners for staying on top of the snow.
    I remember spending a night here with Dad, I was about 3 yr. old. It was very small and dark in there, like a hole, but warm.

[boneaddict]

Is this one that you showed me.  I remember seeing a couple and they were so short, for warmth I guess.  Maybe that was a trappers cabin up in Andrews creek. 

[Idabooner]

When I was in Hi School I was in there grizzly hunting and camped near it. It was hard to find the remains then.