Hi, I'm Rob and I retired from sled dogs in May of '06 and I just wanted to make a myspace site that dealt with just this aspect of my life...
I started "running dogs" in Alaska in '94, up near Fairbanks, for the world champion open class sprint kennel of Charlie Champaine and Roxy Wright, acting mainly as a handler, but racing a puppy team as well. Later, I went down to Snowmass Village Colorado and took people for rides for a 250 dog touring kennel called 'Krabloonik'. I then took 2 years off, and after finding a suitable location for my own kennel in Midway UT, I started Wild Dog Mushing Company (WDMC), an Utah S class Corporation.
I ran tours in a number of locations on the US National Forest during my stint giving rides but basically, no matter where we were, we specialized in high adrenaline, technical, serious mushing with a big wooden sled, and usually a team of 12 crazy racing dogs, in the high country, in the BIG mountains. The cost was $350 for 2 people for a 1 hour back country ride. You had to sign a waiver, we had a big safety talk, etc... it was serious/dangerous stuff, but it was just a ball:) Watch some of the videos over on the left to get a better feel for it and the type of dogs I used to drive.
I also used to race for a few years, mainly in the West (WA, ID, CO, WY, MT) but as far up as Michigan and way up above Quebec City, on an island, with a 15 dog open class team. I also raced in far Eastern Siberia, on the Kamchatka Peninsula 200 miles around 5 volcanoes in a World Cup Race. I came in 3rd for Team USA:) Coming across that finish line was the highlight of my career, and possibly my life:)
Anyway, if you want more information about my (old) dogs, check out my main dog site at: http://www.dog-sled.com. I also have a petition I wrote and would like you to review and hopefully 'add' to your group of friends... check it out ... and, I guess, if you want to know more about me then you can go to my personal profile ... ok, you get all that?:)
For Sale: 14/16 hole 32 dog hauler/box for 8' flatbed.
I just wanted to let you know that my 30 dog hauler for a flatbed is still for sale and I dropped the price to $4k... Click on the pictures here: http://dog-sled.com/dog_truck.html ...to see bigger pictures.
- only used a season and a half
- built by master wooden boat builder, Seamus Walsh
- has 3 small drain plugs for each box for drainage.
- shelves in rear door carry all sorts of small stuff.
- 2 exterior storage cabinets with little hooks for hanging harnesses, hooks, and lines
- all wood/signboard, screwed and glued... no 2X4 frame makes it a light, but strong box
- aluminum trim
- stainless steel floor
- upper rear dog compartments are made into "bucket shelves" with steel floors, but could easily be converted to dog holes if you need more space. The 1st column of boxes (closest to the cab) are extra deep and share a center wall so you can carry 3 dogs in each (allowing you to carry 32 comfortably) but with more access to storage in the rear of the truck. This was a well thought out box and it was nice to work out of on a daily basis.
....And if you don't need it, please pass this info around to your friends by email because I have absolutely no need for it now and it is sitting in a warehouse doing nothing. If you have questions, LMK.
Take care and be safe,
Rob Valli
435-671-0900
http://dog-sled.com/dog_truck.html