01/27/2024
An update is long overdue!
This year has been a year for taking a bit of a hiatus from the team’s social media, at least in the way I’ve kept up with it in the past. It’s been a year for significant change and growth. My grandmothers passing has held a lot of grief, and is something I tangle with each day. She was a huge positive light in my life and the lives of those around her, and she was a huge part of this team. Many may not have realized it looking in, but in the day to day lives of myself and my dogs, she was a constant. My first pair of pups, Robin Hood and Rubicon, were raised with her in the same house, and their reverence to her throughout there lives was notable. To my first litter of pups, she was a grandma to them as much as she has been to me, and in the second litter, she was as present in the process of her death.
There have been more runs than not this season that I haven’t made it through with dry eyes. It’s been difficult to continue the process of training the team while facing such an incredibly vast and unexpected hole. Her loss is felt through and through by us, and by the dogs.
Her love is felt too, and I hope one day to live enough life that the light and love she shared with me and my dogs, can pass to others.
Many of you know that we made the move away from home to Wisconsin to help out some good friends of ours, Ryan and Sarah, at their kennel while they get ready for this years stage stop! They have been more than generous and our stay in the Midwest has been nothing short of a grand adventure! It has also been the perfect opportunity to evaluate the potential of running dogs for other kennels, as well as keeping up with my own team and goals, and for Aidan and I to pause and reevaluate where we will head next in life. While I’m traveling back and forth from wherever we are to school in North Carolina, pursuing a continued all around career in dogs, the firefighter is also continuing to pursue a career in his passion. Learning to incorporate both of those things into life with sled dogs, while lovely to be pursuing things in life we love, has taken some finagling.
It is worth significant note that the two of us leaving home in Washington has meant a bit of a split in the Whiteout family in the way you all have known it. Emily Gibson, also known as mom, and head handler for the team, has taken a shot at her own career in the sled dog world! She is pursuing a presence in the community as a race judge and all around helper! I happen to think she’s going to make a fantastic marshal one day. Our sport is lucky to have her and her priorities of putting the dogs far above anything else, and her want to work with mushers to bring PR for our sport into a positive light. Go mom!!!
I may have to steal her back from you all on occasion to handle for me, but for the foreseeable future, you will be getting her attention at races more than I will!
My mom has been a constant presence at all of my races over the last ten years, and all of the team’s successes can trace back to her being a piece of the picture. We all know how much having a truly skilled and organized handler can make or break whether a team crosses the finish line at the front of the pack or not. I think I have a fairly good argument for nomination of the best handler award. Thank you, mom, for all you have done for me and my team over the years. There are no words to truly grasp how monumental your support has been and has meant to me, but I think everyone knows.
I’ve had many people reach out and express that they miss our updates and social media presence. I am continually floored by the outpouring of love and support around this team year after year.
Worry not! The team updates that you know and love will be back when the time is right. Some phases of growth are meant to see the light and be shared, and others are a little more internal, particularly when the process of grief is involved. For now, think of this as the process of a seed while it is still underground.
As for race plans this year, many know that races coast to coast have been cancelled. Lack of snow has been rather brutal this year, and as I sit looking out the window, while we had wonderful trails and made it onto a sled last week, I’m currently looking at a sloppy mess of slush, and temps that look to be in the 30-50 range over the next ten days. And to be honest, for us, there couldn’t be a better year for it. Taking the time to spend with my dogs without the pressure of races has probably been the biggest blessing it could have been. While Midnight Run and CopperDog150 are still on our roster, we aren’t dead set on going yet, and are just feeling out what feels right. Taking care of ourselves and the dogs is always our top priority.
This season has been a beautiful and needed reminder that, while sled dogs and races are a key part of life for our family, that it’s important to step back and tend to the bigger picture.
Some photos of the woman who was closer to me than many grandkids ever get to be with their grandparents. A remarkable light that touched so many people. The kindest person I’ve ever met. Marilyn Gibson.
