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Dog Works Radio Show

November 30, 2012 by robertforto Leave a Comment

For almost four years I have been on an incredible journey hosting the Dog Works Radio Show. We have had some of the greatest guests in the world. Some of them have been world famous movie producers, authors and filmmakers, others have been cancer researchers, service dog advocates and even a dog that was campaigning for mayor in Denver.

As we approach our fourth anniversary in January, I just want to thank all of you for listening and for making all of this possible, because without you, the rabid listener, there is no reason for this show to continue!

Listen to Dog Works Radio shows now

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Filed Under: Daily Post, Dog Works Radio Tagged With: Blog Talk Radio, denver, dog, dog works radio show, pets, Radio, Recreation, Service dog

In 1987 a dream was born (Part 2)…

March 21, 2012 by robertforto Leave a Comment

The Iditarod celebrated its 40th anniversary this past March with Willow (AK) musher, Dallas Seavey winning the race.

While checking out YouTube I came across a series of videos that captured my attention. They were Iditarod videos, old school style! When they were made, this years winner was just born days after.

Robert Forto and Team Ineka are training for the Iditarod and his first attempt will be in 2014.

 

Way back in 1987, when this video was taken, Robert purchased his first Siberian Husky, Axl, and a dream was born…

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Filed Under: Alaska, Daily Post, Dogs, Mushing, Team Ineka Tagged With: dog, Iditarod, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, MUSH, Nome Alaska, pets, robert forto, Siberian Husky, YouTube

Is it Sacrilege for Men to Wear Uggs?

February 23, 2012 by robertforto Leave a Comment

Yep, I am a full grown man and while I have owned a pair or two of Uggs in my lifetime, I am not afraid to sport them around town. Heck, if Tom Brady (New England Patriots quarterback) can be their spokesman I guess its okay, right?

In fact I found something WAY cooler than the Australian slippers that are all the rave. They are Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Sneakers.

I just got them in the mail yesterday and can honestly say they are now my favorite pair of shoes.

If you don’t know by now, it gets cold in Alaska. Dang cold. We were minus 25 degrees for almost a month this winter and if we believe a groundhog in Pennsylvania we are not done with winter yet.

While I doubt they will replace my Neo’s or mukluks on the sled dog trail they will work great for working around the property, hauling wood, plugging in the truck, or trips to Wasilly.

I would highly recommend any guy buy a pair of these. You won’t be disappointed. Just make sure you order your true shoe size as they run a little big.

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Filed Under: Alaska, Daily Post, Team Ineka, Uncategorized Tagged With: alaska, Cabela, Cabela's Alaskan Guide Sneakers, dogs, mushing, pets, Sled dog, Tom Brady, UGG Australia, Ugg boots

Serum Run Boot Camp 2012: Hot to Trot. Part 1

February 13, 2012 by robertforto 5 Comments

If one phase can sum up the 2012 Serum Run Boot Camp it would have to be:

Too Hot to Trot

It was unseasonably warm this past weekend and it played havoc on our plans for the serum run boot camp. Well not really. We all had a great time. The organizers will be the first to tell you that an event like this prides itself on being very fluid in their plans.

Raegan and Piglet

We were and we made it work.

After submitting our applications way back around Christmas and being selected in mid-January, I was ready for this weekend, no matter what it entailed.

We had a great group of participants: six dog teams and seven snowmachiners. This small group of mostly veterans of past serum runs was the perfect mix for a weekend on the rivers of South Central, Alaska. Being a rookie I was looking forward to listening and learning from the folks that have done this before.

Running the River

I have run the river on several occasions but mostly just up to Yentna Station and back without much planning or preparation. This is the same route that we did this weekend but with a bit more logistics. I had no idea just how much gear it took to just run 35 miles.

It all started on Thursday evening with us packing and preparing for the weekend. I know I packed like a rookie in  terms of food and drink but I packed a little too light on things that mattered. I forgot my shovel and enough trash bags and I should have brought at least one extra snack for the dogs.

Friday evening we all met at Eagelquest Lodge in Willow and had a dinner or ham and potatoes, baked beans, rolls and M&M cookies. My wife, Michele and daughter, Nicole, came along to support me in this adventure. It was why we moved to Alaska for goodness sake.

After dinner we had a meeting about the next day’s event’s, the trail, and our itneniary before retiring to our cabins for the evening.

The little cabin slept 5 and I took one of the twin beds upstairs. We stayed up late talking and telling mushing stories. I slept well sans the blaring night light. We had a meeting at 8:30 back at the lodge so we had to be ready to go by 10 am.

On Saturday morning it was pretty warm. About 28 degrees or so when we dropped the dogs from the dog trucks and gave them a quick meal.

After a nice breakfast of cinnamon rolls and juice we decided that the first teams would be out at 11:00 and we headed out to pack our gear.

I was third to go out and the run from Eaglequest to Luce’s lodge was a bevy of passing and playing “tag” with Joe’s Screaming Huskies team. I finally pulled ahead after Joe stopped for a few minutes.

At about mile 20 I stopped to snack the dogs with fish and noticed that Marble, my six year old Siberian, refused to eat it. She laid down and started dipping snow. Being the thickest coated dog on the team I could tell she was hot. We rested for a few and trudged on the the sugary, sometimes very deep snow, on the Yentna River.

In this part of Alaska they have had at least five feet of snow and the river is virtually a highway for the people that live along the banks and the 100s of snow machines training and racing along the river a break neck speeds.

At Luce’s lodge Marble quit on me and didn’t want to have any part of this game any longer. I loaded her up in the sled bag and away we went. Our snow machines carry all of our gear as well as a dog crate to carry a dog should they become injured, sick or otherwise quit.

Marble, my co-pilot

Being so close to Yentna Station I didn’t see any snow machine support and rather than wait I decided to make Marble comfortable in the bag. I secured her with a neckline and left he flap open so she could stick her head out and enjoy the ride.

By the time I got going again I could see two other teams about 1/4 to 1/2 mile behind me so I knew if I had to stop again they would be there to help if I needed it.

The Serum Run and the boot camp is not a race. We are out there to help each other. That is the beauty of this type of an event.

We arrived at Yentna Station in 3 hours 40 minutes. Not bad in the warm weather and punchy conditions. I have done this run in as long as five hours so, not a bad run at all.

The “trail breaker” snow machines were already there and had already set up places for us to camp our dogs. Being first in I would be first out in the morning.

I immediately started my chores.

Dogs first in mushing. That’s just how we roll.

More to come…

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Filed Under: Alaska, Mushing, Serum Run, Team Ineka Tagged With: alaska, broken runner, dog, dogs, Eaglequest lodge, erin mclarnon, huskies, Iditarod, mushing, paul mclarnon, pets, Serum Run, serum run 25 expedition, siberian huskies, siberians, sled dogs, Sports, Team Ineka, Yentna River, yentna station

30 Days About Me. Favorite Band or Artist

August 12, 2011 by robertforto 2 Comments

I am participating a blog challenge today called 30 Days About Me but together so graciously by a Daily Dose of Toni.

Today’s topic is my favorite band or artist.

If you are a rabid reader of this blog you know that music plays a huge role in my life. I have over 7000 songs on my various iPods/iPhones.

To put it simply I don’t have a favorite band. I just think that music is the soundtrack to our lives. So I am going to do something a little different and choose a favorite artist.

Her name is Jen Griggs Sebastian and she owns a company called ScoutDog Studios.

Over the years she has done a lot of work for me and I want to showcase it all here.

One of my favorites. This is an illustration of my dog ineka. I use this one a lot on my social media profiles.

Two Guys and a Grill is a concept that I have been working on for the last several years. Just need to find the right place to open the bistro.

My logos for my dog sledding team– Team Ineka

The logo for my consulting business.

My radio show. If you are a dog owner you have to check this out!

This is the first piece that we commissioned Jen for. It is a painting of our German Shepherd, Qyain.

 

This is another painting done by Jen. It really started it all! This is of Ineka.

So, I am sure you can see why I love Jen’s work as an artist. Over the years we have worked together many times one web development projects and other things. I highly recommend ScoutDog Studio’s whimsical style to anyone. Sometimes you just have to think outside the box…

Who is your favorite artist?

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Filed Under: 30 Days About Me Tagged With: 30 days about me, alaska, blog challenge, dog, pets, postaday2011, robert forto

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