In the evening I would tuck the children into bed and read Robert Service's lively "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee." The kids would listen with wide-eyed wonder to these northern tales - the half-crazed, love-lorn miner who wanders into the Malamute Saloon or the frozen prospector who wants nothing more from death than to be warm. I even tried Jack London's "Call of the Wild," but perhaps, here, I was pushing it. At ages two, five, eight and ten, it was not long before the children drifted off, and only my attentive wife insisted I read on.
In their video
library, the children have "Iron Will," "White Fang," "Snow
Dogs," and the animated "Balto," and watch each with regularity.
Here is exciting adventure; snow, dogs, and sleds, piquing the
interest of both child and parent. The stories and movies were
our way of preparing for our own exciting venture, a day's
family dog sled outing into the wintery wilds of central
On a warm
winter's day in late March, we set out to
House on B.C.'s
During the
short drive to the trailhead, we rehearse the dog's verbal
commands - "gee" for right turn, "haw" left, "hike" to go and
"whoa" to stop. Each team's lead dogs are the connection to
driver, setting both pace and direction. Contrary to popular
belief, the word "Mush" exudes too soft a sound and is not used.
During the filming of the "Sergeant Preston of the
As the huskies watch intently from the boxes of their truck-top carrier, the sleds are lined up, gang lines laid out, and the dog's personal harnesses set in position. Everyone is given a quick run-through on sled handling. The dogs are led out and hooked up in pairs, beginning with the leaders, who are responsible for keeping the lines stretched out and tight.
The
hardest part of driving the dog team comes in the first ten
minutes. The animals are excited and so are the green drivers.
The situation seems chaotic, with the enthusiastic noise of the
dogs, who yelp and yowl, and lung at their traces. Then the lead
musher releases his sled, and they quickly disappear down the
wide trail. The other sleds follow suit at 100 metre intervals,
you release the "snub line," and hang on tight. There is a
tremendous surge of power, as the sleds, very quickly, reach
speeds of 20 to 25 miles an hour.
The children and grandparents alike, screech in delight. The dogs run at a gallop, giving the early ride the feel of a roller-coaster. The drivers hang on, white-knuckled, watching their team intently, ready to move foot to the metal, plough brake if needed. The gang line, to which the dogs are attached, must remain fairly taunt at all times to avoid tangles.
After a
distance of five miles or so, the edge comes off, and the dogs
begin to slow to a strong trot. Both driver and passenger can
now relax and enjoy the fantastic winter scenery. The experience
is astonishingly tranquil and pristine. The powdery blanket
silences the world. All that can be heard is the frosted
breathing of the dogs and the subtle crunch of sled runners over
packed trail. We sled down the wide access road and then a
narrow meandering path through a thicket of pine, before
breaking out on the snow-covered lakes and wetlands of
On
the wide-open lakes and at the gentler pace, we switch positions
on the sleds and Kayla and
The creak and moan of the wooden sled chopping over crusted drifts of snow sounds much like a sail boat slicing through rough surf. The gentle motion and the quiet has put Jenna to sleep in Grandma's arms, wrapped in blankets in the cushioned sled seat. By mid-morning a pleasant wind has picked up, whirling powdery snow across the lake's rippled white surface. The huskies work hard, their pink tongues lolling. Their strength, teamwork and unbending dedication to the task is astonishing.
As we round an
island, the dogs suddenly break into a hard gallop, speeding
past a startled cow moose and calf. Later in the morning, as the
huskies pull us over
We stop for lunch at a rustic log cabin that sits back in some old, twisted conifers on the lake shore. Here, we get warm by a fire and enjoy hot chocolate and a bowl of chile. The children quickly devour the desert plate of homemade, double chocolate chip, fudge cookies, and then set off to visit each of the huskies, who now rest patient and satisfied in the snow. If before the trip the dogs were aloof, now they accept a pat and a word of praise, even seek the attention. The children giggle and crinkle their face at each affectionate tongue washing.
Back at The Wolf Den Country Inn, as the older set soaks weary bones in the outdoor hot tub, the children frolic in the snow with some playful Siberian puppies, suggesting that they be named Demon, Gus, Balto or Buck. Ah, Buck - perhaps they had been listening to "The Call of the Wild," after all.
Where to Go
While there are many dog sled tour companies, not all offer family tours. Focus on companies who use the gentle, kid-friendly Siberian Huskies. Ride lengths vary from a half hour to several days in length.
The Wolf Den Country Inn
and Outdoor Adventures
British Columbia, Canada - Five hours drive north of Vancouver
Weekend packages, half-day and full-day trips
$150 adult for full day, $120 children, five and under free
1-877-397-2108
wolfden@bcinternet.net
www.dogsled-canada.com
Images by Kevin Smith