Best of Times, Worst of Times

Took the team out today for a 50 mile run, and it became quite memorable both good and bad. On the plus side, we were running the snowmobile trail out by Button Box and a black wolf crossed our path, just ahead of the team. Magnificent! The wolf passed in front of us just a few dozen feet away, totally nonchalant -- glanced at the team coming toward him and kept on moving. He kept on going, and so did we. We continued on to the Wilderness Willie trail, and headed out through the series of mudholes to the Lofgren and Holstrum roads to complete our training loop. The dogs aren't very fond of going through the mudholes late in the season, as the water is cold and they'd just as soon get around them if they can. Sometimes they can...and sometimes they can't. Coast tried to jump the last mudhole, and missed...dislocating both her shoulder and elbow on her right side. Ouch!

So I was in quite a pickle -- I suspected a dislocation and wanted to get her to the vet ASAP. But she couldn't walk, and wouldn't stay on my lap back through the mudholes, yet that was the shortest way home. So I decided to go on to get out to the Lofgren Road, hoping to meet up with a hunter who might have a working cell phone and I could get someone to come out and pick her up while I take the rest of the team home.

And that's what happened. I ran into John, who went out of his way to help, driving up and down the Lofgren until he got a cell signal, and we got hold of Clarke and Sue who drove out, picked up Coast and took her into the vet in Hibbing, where the dislocations were reduced and she got home just after I got the team home and put away. She has some healing to do, but the prognosis is excellent and we'll take care to do all the right rehab. Keep your fingers crossed!