Hello from western Kentucky!

I'm not sure what the weather has been like your way, but it has been more
like a seesaw over here!  We have had some cool days and evenings and some
really warm spells too so far this fall.  It is supposed to be only 48 degrees for
a high tomorrow! 

If you could not make the overnight camp out last year at Land Between The
Lakes, well you missed some magnificent training weather.  The temps. were
perfect to run dogs and the trails were in great shape too.  I have already been on
the 6 mile + loop and the USFS has done a phenomenal job this summer
maintaining the roads/trails we run on.  We had SO much rain this summer, I thought it
would be a good chance that the trails would have really shown signs of wear
and be totally washed out at this point.  Truth is, they are in great shape
for the fall training season!

Right now, I am planning the 22nd and 23rd of November for our second annual
training run.  With Thanksgiving being the following weekend, I have chosen
December 6th and 7th for alternative dates.  Please check your calendar and give
me feedback on which dates would be best for you all---I would even be
willing to be there both weekends if we have some that want to come in November and
some in December. The weather in western Kentucky can be very sketchy and
unpredictable, even in the late fall and early winter.  It is just as likely to be
65 degrees those weekends as it to be 25 degrees.  It is always a game you
play when you are a west Kentucky musher.

This is one of the best areas I have ever run dogs in.  We are totally
welcome by the Forest Service (they maintain this 170,000 acre recreation area),
there very few others in the area in the winter, and the trails we run are really
secondary roads and logging roads that consist of mainly pea gravel, mud, and
leaves---my dogs generally have very few foot and muscle injuries when we
train in this area.  There are over 200 miles of trails/roads in this area to
train on, some I have never even seen.  We have found several that are really
great, one is the Jenny Ridge area of Crooked Creek---this is where the run will
be in November.  There are numerous spurs, sidetrails, loops and turnarounds. 
This area is conducive to any team, no matter their experience---a great
place for beginners (one of my very first runs was here), and also for the
competitive team that wants to harden up their dogs for races or longer camping
trips.  Heck, last year I only took two dogs and my scooter and concentrated on
leader training---it was great!  There are numerous places to camp, and we used
one last year that was large enough to accommodate several teams at one time.

Sorry, didn't mean for this to be such a sales pitch, I know it will be a
haul for some of you, but everyone that has come this way to run dogs have told
me the drive was worth it.  If you have ever been to this area, you know what I
mean.

Again, please give me feedback on these dates.  If anyone has any questions,
needs directions, wants maps of the areas I have run, please let me know.  If
you can't come on either of the dates, but want to come at some point, please
e-mail me and I can provide support--this area is only a short drive from my
home.

I have been training my dogs in the winter on the trails for about 8 years
now, and I have really kept it as 'my secret'.  This area is just too great for
running dogs to keep it to myself!  I look forward to hearing from you all!

Jeff

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