Birchell Family: Father's Day Weekend

As tradition, we spent our Father's Day weekend on Diamond Mountain participating in the hound trials. Jake and I have been looking at campers since March and on Thursday we found the one we wanted. So... we now have a camper! We love it, and are very excited about it. B&D were awesome and had it ready for us to pick up Friday afternoon to take to Diamond. As soon as we picked it up and did some shopping we took off. We were excited thinking we would make it to camp before dark... that would be a first for us! On our way up the mountain we passed a truck and trailer broke down. Jake said he knew the people, and so we turned around. Tom and Nicki were coming for the trials from Craig, CO. Their camper got two flat tires, and as they were getting off the road the rims fell onto ground. Apparently, they fell hard enough to shift their campers whole center axle. We gave them a ride to camp and a couple other people headed down to their camper to help fix it. They plan to trade it in tomorrow. After a comfortable night in our new camper we got up to the barking of hound dogs excited to compete. Jake entered Grit and Yodi in the junior division of the short drag. Yodi went first and surprised us by taking second line-first tree. This meant he would be in the finals later on. Grit finished her drag, but not fast enough. Brilee fell asleep an hour before Yodi's finals, and so we didn't get to watch. I knew things were good when I could see Jake's smile from across the creek. Yodi SMOKED the competition and took first line (by a long ways) and first tree. We were excited! After all the finals were over we started getting a team put together for the five dog bear pack. Jake and I only brought three dogs, and one of the dogs (Weasel) won't run on the fake scent. We found Jared Workman who put two dogs in with us, and Jason Bristol put one of his in. We went and got in line for the race. When it was finally our turn we pulled up to the line, jumped out of the truck, and all tried to grab a dog. We missed one of Jared's dogs and it took off. It made it all the way to the tree. So we had to go and get it and start again. We were able to watch our dogs come across the field, and Jake and I were excited to see Yodi leading our pack. We ended up taking second in the bear pack for the second year in a row. Always next year... Brilee had a rough night Saturday and so when the long bear drag was about to start Brilee and I couldn't wake up. Jake went and came back a couple of hours later. They announced over the radio "Birchell's black and white dog (Yodi) has this won!" Jake was excited. He went to the finish line and watched Yodi get hung up in a rock that was feet away from the finish line. Yodi turned around and ran a half mile out of his way to avoid the rock. In the meantime another dog finished, so Yodi didn't win. Jake decided he wanted to stick around and test our dogs swimming skills. Brilee was still sleeping and so I decided I would just walk to the lake when she woke up. I loved the walk, and I am so glad I did it. Brilee and I timed it perfectly, Jake was just finishing with Grit's race (she swam but came in last) and getting ready to start Weasel's. Weasel swam too, but came in second to last. Jake decided we should just take off because he was SURE Yodi wouldn't swim. As we were getting ready to go Stacia and Michael showed up. Jake decided to race Yodi so they could at least see something. He assured me Yodi wouldn't swim and we would head home. Well, Yodi swam, and swam really well. He took first line and first tree. It was cool. We headed back to the camper and cooked breakfast. Went back to the lake in plenty of time to watch Yodi SMOKE the finals in swim too! Stacia and I were then talked into doing the Powder Puff entry. Stacia had flip flops on, but she still did it! We had to walk across the dam, down the rocks, and release the dogs in the lake. Some lady accidently let go of her dog and he went right to the water. The crazy lady went right in with the dog. It was wild! She was swimming after her dog, all our dogs are going crazy, and everyone back at shore is laughing hysterically. When all this was over we decided we might as well try Yodi in the Iron Dog competition. Jake turned Yodi and Grit lose without collars. UGH! All the dogs (but one) chased elk. Luckily, Yodi was found early and put back on the trail he was supposed to be on, and so he ended up at the lake. Grit being out of shape wore down quickly, so we caught her easy. We grabbed our dogs and took off! As we were busy throwing camp together the girl in charge came and told us Yodi was the HIGH POINT HOUND! He scored the best of any other dog there! She took Jake and Yodi's picture to be in the magazine Full Cry next month. It was a busy, hot, long, exciting, and happy weekend!