Manitou Crossing Kennels

03/20/2026

Scenes from our spring training runs the last ten days! It seems the groundhog was right about winter sticking around! 😊🐾💕

03/19/2026

Fun day trip to Basswood Lake allowing leaders gain experience lake leading. We accidentally interrupting an otter’s lunch of crayfish!
The conditions in the BWCA are great. 🐾💕

03/10/2026

Windy
It’s howling windy in the Alaska Range tonight. The forecast calls for a low of -20°F and colder in Rainy Pass for the next few days with 20 to 30 mph winds and windchills down to -50°F.

That will be a tough start for this year’s competitors to Iditarod 2026.

You may ask what it feels like to be running dogs at -50°F windchills and 30 mph winds?
Well, let me tell you about our training run here in Nome yesterday. The Nome Nugget editor Diana Haecker and me hooked up our two dog teams in sunny but breezy conditions. All was well for the first three hours when suddenly a ground storm with 20-30 mph winds whipped up snow resulting in a white wall of blowing snow, screaming winds, and nearly zero visibility. This is not unusual for mushing at the Bering Sea coast and Iditarod mushers are well aware of the possibility to be caught in a wind storm here.
For two hours our safety and forward progress depended entirely on our lead dogs for finding and staying on the trail, and they did.
Dog mushers are in awe of their dogs in times like these.

As the Iditarod mushers are nearing Finger Lake, they most likely gear up for the wind. To protect the dogs from the piercing windchill mushers put protective insulated dog jackets on the dogs. Their dog’s feet are protected from the rough and abrasive cold snow by dog booties.
The mushers will be wearing every layer they carry, topped off by a light windproof overparkie.

Comfort they won’t find.

Most of the trail on the south side of the Alaska Range runs in and out of the trees and through large open swamps. Large snowdrifts can form in these kind of winds making it hard for dogs and mushers alike to find the trail. Once teams leave the checkpoint of Rainy Pass the last push to the top of the actual pass is entirely above treeline and completely exposed to the elements. The 1985 was halted in Rainy Pass for three days due to strong winds. This is one of the most challenging sections of the trail even in good conditions.

That’s why the Iditarod is called “The Last Great Race.” Running and finishing this race is truly one of the greatest challenges on earth.
And this is just the first challenge in a series of challenges to await these mushers on their quest to reach Nome.

Hats off to these dog teams.
🖊️by Nils Hahn 📸 by Diana Haecker

03/08/2026

Lots of Smiles at MCK as we enjoy training young dogs and new leaders. We are also excited to follow our friends who are starting the 2026 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race today! Wishing all the teams safe travels on their journeys to Nome. 💕🐾

03/03/2026

We enjoyed a trip to Knife Lake last weekend with friends and family! Spending time in the Boundary Waters with the dog teams is good for the soul. 💕🐾

Wintergreen Northern Wear

02/27/2026

Emma and Cessna’s “Harry Potter” puppies are enjoying getting out on puppy runs! They are really fun dogs with so much potential! 💕🐾

02/23/2026

Awesome weekend at the WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race! We had great weather and good trails.
All the dogs ran really well and were ready to get back on the trail a few hours after the finish. The mushers are happy and ready for bed!
Thank you to everyone who helps make this race possible! We really appreciate all your support and hard work.
Wintergreen Northern Wear
WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog

02/23/2026

02/23/2026

02/16/2026

10 yrs ago… 3 yr old Nicole’s first time running her own her own dog team. Love her singing to her doggies! Precious memories! 💕🐾

02/15/2026

We had such a great time at the Midnight run! The trails were beautiful and nothing makes us happier then sharing the trails with each other. Jen and daughter Nicole finished 10th and 11th of 19 teams. We were also awarded the Tom P**n Sportsmanship Award from the other mushers!
These few minutes of video summarize our adventure and give you a good idea what it’s like out on the trail together! Although it was quite warm (60 degrees warmer then Beargrease), it was really beautiful and the trails were good.

It’s was amazing to share this adventure with Nicole. She surely showed her Freking determination and handled her team beautifully.

Thank you to Blake and Elena for handing for our teams and Caiya Gibbs for holding down the fort at home!
Wintergreen Northern Wear The UP200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine 30