Mush, puppies!

Traci Hanks of Coeur d'Alene keeps her and husband Dan's sled dogs calm while he hitches them up for a ride on a trail at Fernan Saddle. On far left, lead dog Lars jumps around barking while waiting to take off. Hanks said the dogs are excited and can't wait to start running. HANNAH NEFF/Press

Musher Dan Hanks of Coeur d'Alene places a harness on his sled dog Linus as he prepares for a run on a trail at Fernan Saddle on Thursday morning. HANNAH NEFF/Press

Musher Dan Hanks of Coeur d'Alene hitches his lead dog Lars to the front of his sled as he prepares for a run on a trail at Fernan Saddle. HANNAH NEFF/Press

Traci Hanks of Coeur d'Alene keeps lead sled dog Lars calm while her husband Dan Hanks goes back to get another dog. Dan Hanks took the team for a run on Thursday morning on a trail at Fernan Saddle. HANNAH NEFF/Press

Traci Hanks of Coeur d'Alene keeps the sled dogs calm while her husband Dan gets them hitched up for an early morning run on a trail at Fernan Saddle on Thursday. In front, lead dog Lars jumps and barks while Hanks pets Linus. HANNAH NEFF/Press

Traci Hanks of Coeur d'Alene calms sled dogs Linus, center, and Lacey, far right, while lead dog Lars jumps around ahead. Musher Dan Hanks took the dogs out for a run early Thursday morning on a trail at Fernan Saddle. HANNAH NEFF/Press

Musher Dan Hanks of Coeur d'Alene takes his sled dog team on a run early Thursday morning on a trail at Fernan Saddle. HANNAH NEFF/Press

Musher Dan Hanks brings his dog sled team back from an early morning run on Thursday on a trail at Fernan Saddle. HANNAH NEFF/Press

Musher Dan Hanks of Coeur d'Alene removes the harness off one of his sled dogs after a quick run Thursday morning on a trail at Fernan Saddle. HANNAH NEFF/Press