Dog Sledding Vacations - Howling Huskies: A Dog Sledding Experience

Skiing isn’t the only way to enjoy the Rocky Mountain beauty

Walking the streets of Banff, quaint shops and restaurants beckoning, it becomes clear that the people who call Banff their home love the rugged surroundings for its beauty and countless recreational opportunities.

As first timers, our knowledge of Banff, shared by many, was limited. We concluded that Banff is indeed a world class ski region in a spectacular setting, and blessed with a long ski season. We soon learned that skiing isn’t the only way to enjoy the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, because, one of the unique activities offered locally is dog sledding. Our knowledge of this sport was limited to the brief clips of the Iditarod race on the news, and childhood memories of reading Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild”. Mireille, our contact at Mountain Mushers Dog Sled Tours was personable and informative. Before we could shout “mush!” we were signed up for the 1/2 hour ride to get a small taste of what dog sledding is all about.

Early morning snow flurries definitely put us in the sledding mood, and in late afternoon we were picked up at our hotel, The Banff Springs, and driven to the trail head about 15 minutes away. First sight of the dogs made it seem suddenly real. Their thick coats and ice blue eyes were enough to make a dog lover out of this perennial cat person. The 70 or so purebred Siberian Huskies howled in unison upon our arrival. We would have liked to assume the dogs were excited by our mere presence, but it was more likely the thoughts of dinner that awaited them upon completion of the last run of the day that caused this exuberance.

Strapped into the cozy sled, while the dogs bounded with energy, Elaine, (our sled guide), yelled to the lead dog the signal to go. The 10-dog team, smaller in size than we expected, took off at a surprisingly high speed. (They can pick up to a speed of 20 km/hour).

We glided and bumped along behind, giggling for the sheer fun of it. The wind whistled past us. With temperature hovering around 1 degree C., we can only imagine the chill of days at -35 degree C weather. Hazards of dog sled guides include the threat of frostbite, but customers are shrouded in comfort under the heavy blankets wrapped around the sled riders. There is an undeniable feeling of romance snuggled up to your partner in the sled watching the dogs run in pure joy. There is no question that these dogs love being outside (the colder the better), love exercising, love their jobs.

The 1/2 hour ride gave us only a tantalizing taste of the dog sledding experience. At Mountain Mushers Tours, you can choose from a number of options. The 1/2 hour ride costs $70 per couple. A 12 km 1 hour trip carries a price tag of $120, and for the more adventuresome, there is the half day trip with a minimum of 3 hours in the sled and includes a hot meal and beverage. Best of all, you have the opportunity to get to know the dogs well enough to try your hand at guiding the sled. This would be our recommendation for those with $270 per couple to spend, well worth it for such a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The time went by far too quickly and before we knew it we are back at the base. We had plenty of time to say goodbye to the dogs and ask the handlers any questions. Randy McCaul, of Wilderness Memories Photography was on hand to photograph us with our new found friends, the dogs. (He also photographs each sled on the trail as an invaluable keepsake of your day). It’s hard to imagine that many Canadians in the far north use dog sleds as a form of transportation for much of the year. But for us Pacific coastal warm-weathered Vancouverites, it was a fun lesson to learn.

Would we do it again? You bet.

Author: Greg Silzer and Denise Silzer