Team Ineka

Mushin Down a Dream

Robert

Limited Edition Night Vision Poster

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nightmushingrevision promoNight Vision Musher: Our limited edition, signed Night Vision Musher poster, designed by artist Cameo Anderson and taking inspiration from 1982’s The Thing a movie by John Carpenter, is available exclusively to our GoFundMe backers.

This poster (size 32×24) is signed by Robert, Michele and Nicole, and limited to just 100 prints. Once we get 100 pledges they will be gone!

Help us mush down a dream in the wilds of Alaska!

Click on the poster icon on this page to order yours today!http://www.gofundme.com/teamineka

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Living a life with dogs

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Robert Michele and Bodhi at Team InekaA lot of our fans and supporters always ask, what is a day like for you guys at Team Ineka? How do you fit all in?

To put it mildly, our teenage daughter has no social life (barely anyway!) and Michele and I have to sneak off and play hooky every once in a while.

Here is a typical day at Team Ineka. It changes depending on who is off work or school but it is pretty much a life with dogs.

5:30 AM: Michele and Nicole get up and take care of the house dogs and the Camp Dogs we are training either in our Camp Works program or service dogs for our business, Alaska Dog Works.

6:30 AM: Michele and Nicole get ready for work and/or school and grab a quick breakfast, usually oatmeal.

7:00 AM: Michele heads to Houston to drop off Nicole who is a junior in high school. Michele makes an hour commute to Palmer to her job as a paralegal.

7:30 AM: Robert and Tyler get up.

7:35 AM: The sled dogs are fed. We have 36 sled dogs and it takes about 45 minutes to an hour for feeding, clean up and a quick pat on the head and a rub behind the ears.

9:00 AM: Robert heads to work in Palmer. He works 3 or 4 days a week and Tyler heads to work at Lowe’s or school. He is a freshman at Mat-Su College.

10:00 AM: Robert at work. If it is a day off for him he spends the day at home running the dogs, hosting radio shows, and/or working with the Camp Dogs.

1:00 PM: If Robert and Michele are in Palmer together they will grab lunch together and if its nice a picnic!

3:15 PM: Nicole gets home from school and spends the next couple hours working with the Camp Dogs and doing homework.

5:30 PM: Depending on who is home, training begins with the sled dogs. Most nights Robert and/or Michele have clients in Anchorage and throughout the Valley for dog training with Alaska Dog Works.

6:00 PM: First team is on the trail!

7:30 PM: Second team is on the trail and someone is either working with the Camp dogs or making dinner.

9:00 PM: Feeding the sled dogs.

9:45 PM: Usually all of the chores are done and we finally sit down for dinner, the Camp Dogs are in their crates for the night. Nicole and Tyler are typically doing homework.

10:30 PM: Usually we will put in a movie or catch one on Netflix. We love horror movies and Robert is a huge fan of documentaries.

11:30-12:00 PM/AM: Bedtime!

This goes on 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We love what we do and wouldn’t trade this life for anything. Sure we work on Christmas but it is something that we choose to do. What is the saying? If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.

~Robert

 

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Sidney

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sidneyHi, my name is Sidney. I am one of the main leaders at Team Ineka and I have been known to be a bit of a Diva. Heck, I am even featured in an upcoming book about why female sled dogs are better lead dogs than the boys!

I come from Hugh Neff’s kennel in October 2008 and I have been in every race we have ran at Team Ineka including the Willow Junior 100 and Robert’s Tustumena 200 attempt where we had to scratch. I did my job though. When everybody else was tired and ready to go to bed, Robert put me up in lead and he ran out in front of the team up some really big hills. I followed him up and pulled the team to the top.

I have participated in some of the big races before I came to Team Ineka. I can remember at least one Yukon Quest…

I can often be seen doing my snow dance in the late fall when we are tired of the rain and ready for the sleds.

If you would sponsor me you will be a part of something special. Its not every day that you get to hang out with a diva like me.

[button link=”http://www.gofundme.com/teamineka” icon=”” target=”” color=”red” size=”small”]Sponsor Sidney[/button]

 

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Barrel

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Hi, my name is Barrel. I am part of the Nightmare Crew. We are named after characters in the movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas.

I am only a year and a half old and I hope to run on the A team this year in all the races here in the Valley. I am not big enough to go on the Yukon Quest 300 with Robert. There are too many mountains!

I have overcome a lot in my short mushing career. I had an injury to my leg and just the other day I got the tip of my ear bit off by one of my team-mates, Aussie. That’s okay though my favorite vet, Dr. Dent takes really good care of all of us so I just count my scars as badges of courage!

I like running with my brother Burton the best but I can run just about anywhere except lead right now. Maybe some day.

If you would like to sponsor an up-and-coming star I would really like that.

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A Musher’s Dream: Team Ineka

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Our first children’s book is available!

Our first children’s book is available to order. A Musher’s Dream: Team Ineka is our story of chasing dreams and moving to Alaska to train for the Iditarod.

The book brightly illustrated story about how the Iditarod-bound Huskies of Team Ineka of Willow, Alaska came to be!

Written by mushers
Robert & Michele Forto

Illustrated by
Barbara Slocum

Published by
ArcticHouse Publishing

When you purchase this item you will receive a signed copy of the book, a picture of the team and a dog bootie souvenir. Be one of the first to have this book! It is available now as a pre-order. Click on the tab to order yours today.

[button link=”http://www.gofundme.com/teamineka” icon=”” target=”” color=”red” size=”small”]Buy the Book[/button]

 

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