We watched an otter run and slide, run and slide across the snow in front of us. It was far away and the dogs didn’t notice the otter at first. We were traveling down the middle of Jackfish Bay and Tina and Acorn were leading us across the blank, white canvas that stretched to the horizon. Tank was leaning into his harness and we were moving along nicely. My skijoring belt was clipped to the back of the second toboggan incase I needed to stop the team.
A few minutes later the otter came running back across the lake towards us. When the otter was about 50 yards away the dogs spotted it and made a sharp turn towards the otter. For a few seconds the otter continued to run towards us, but as the dogs picked up speed the otter took off down the middle of the lake with the dogs in hot pursuit. At the end of the day my InReach GPS tracker said our maximum speed was 14.2 miles an hour- we were really flying. The dogs were quickly gaining on the otter and while it was fun to see the otter up close, I didn’t want to chase it and tire it out. With considerable effort I stopped the dogs. The otter ran another 10 yards, turned around, stood up on its hind legs to get one last look at us and then ran back to shore. The dogs continued to lunge and bark long after the otter disappeared and once Amy caught up, we tipped one of the toboggans over to hold the team.
Once the dogs settled down, we continued on. A few minutes later we spotted a wolf pack near an island in the middle of Jackfish Bay. Most of them were sitting or laying down and they didn’t seem be bothered by our presence. While we were stopped the wolves hardly moved, but once we started moving again several of the wolves rounded the island and watched us pass. Normally wolves run away as soon as you see them, or they sense your presence and are gone before your arrive. It was a real treat to see the kings and queens of the Wilderness today.
A few minutes later the otter came running back across the lake towards us. When the otter was about 50 yards away the dogs spotted it and made a sharp turn towards the otter. For a few seconds the otter continued to run towards us, but as the dogs picked up speed the otter took off down the middle of the lake with the dogs in hot pursuit. At the end of the day my InReach GPS tracker said our maximum speed was 14.2 miles an hour- we were really flying. The dogs were quickly gaining on the otter and while it was fun to see the otter up close, I didn’t want to chase it and tire it out. With considerable effort I stopped the dogs. The otter ran another 10 yards, turned around, stood up on its hind legs to get one last look at us and then ran back to shore. The dogs continued to lunge and bark long after the otter disappeared and once Amy caught up, we tipped one of the toboggans over to hold the team.
Once the dogs settled down, we continued on. A few minutes later we spotted a wolf pack near an island in the middle of Jackfish Bay. Most of them were sitting or laying down and they didn’t seem be bothered by our presence. While we were stopped the wolves hardly moved, but once we started moving again several of the wolves rounded the island and watched us pass. Normally wolves run away as soon as you see them, or they sense your presence and are gone before your arrive. It was a real treat to see the kings and queens of the Wilderness today.
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