Dog sledding expedition in Quebec

5 Days

This 5-day dog sledding expedition is a journey through a variety of territories adjacent to Québec City that are reputed for their wilderness character, which can be attributed to some of the most innovative land and resource management solutions in the Western world. As a result, just a short drive away from Québec City, on the north shore of the majestic St. Lawrence River seaway, one has a remarkable opportunity to travel through one of the most scenic portions of the Canadian boreal forest environment.

Dates:

January 1 to March 16, 2008
Departs Mondays

How This Trip Makes a Difference:

Maintaining a kennel of sled dogs is a major commitment. This is how we look after ours. The following norms are generally-accepted ethical practices. All dogs are adequately fed and watered at least once a day, although some medical or training circumstances may require that this schedule be altered. All dogs are provided adequate shelter from the elements, in the form of an insulated house which also provides shade from the sun, is easy to clean and located in a well-drained area.

The dogs are safely confined with a swivel-equipped chain to prevent accidental strangulation. The kennel is equipped with a special dog run for female dogs which have not been spayed, so as to prevent breeding by stray males. The anchored cables are long enough to allow dogs to exercise and maintain their health.

The kennel is surrounded by a fence of a size and height sufficient to restrain escaped dogs from getting close to children. The excrements are removed from the kennel daily. Dogs are seen by a veterinarian regularly. They are trained adequately and physically prepared for the effort dog sledding requires of them. They are also socialized sufficiently to be handled by strangers. In no circumstances are artificial substances administered to the dogs to enhance their performance. In the event a dog becomes unable to enjoy a good quality of life while pulling a sleigh, a new home is found for the animal.

At an operational level, we use recycled products as much as possible and try to minimize waste. We create jobs for the local population; we buy our supplies from local businesses. We employ staff that has undertaken professional guide programs offered by the Quebec Tourism Human Resource Council (CQRHT). We are active in our community, while introducing mushing as a rewarding activity for local citizens. We share our knowledge, provide opportunities for self-fulfillment to young citizens facing special challenges, and we contribute to the preservation of a traditional cultural activity indigenous to the region. On this we collaborate with area First Nations. We also offer adapted experiences for people who face mental and physical challenges.

Package Price:
1595.00 Can./Person
0.00 U.S./Person

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Location: Québec, Quebec
Weather: Hot summers
cold winters

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Day 1

Monday:

Your first contact with the dog sledding experience will consist of an introduction to the world of dogs, their social organisation and some basic notions of we harness their traction potential as individual members of a dog team to satisfy our transportation needs. The collaborative relationship that is formed between mushers and dogs is the spark that determines how the well the team performs.

We will then leave the kennel for a 25 to 40-kilometer trip in the are, to test our newly acquired skills. After which we will enjoy a hot dinner and spend the night in a wall (prospector) tent mounted on a log structure.

Day 2

Tuesday:

After breakfast, we will get ready for a 30 to 45-kilometer trip to the picturesque “Vallée du Bras Nord” region. This historically significant area has, for the longest time, played a key role in the forestry sector. Farm families which settled in the region invested huge energy in removing the trees in order to be able to cultivate the land. Today this boreal forest environment draws nature lovers seeking to renew their connection to the land.

We will have lunch on the trail and spend the night in a log cabin located on this territory which has now become part of the Québec mystique.

Day 3

Wednesday:

We will travel between 35 and 45 kilometres and have lnch on the trail. Our destination today is the landscape encompassed in the Zec Batiscan Neilson. A zec (for “zone d'exploitation contrôlée” or controlled-use area) is a territorial infrastructure that is part of a network established in 1978 to assume the responsabilities of former private clubs. The land management functions are looked after by a not-for-profit organization that is administered through an elected board made-up of zec members. These organizations are ultimately responsible for the wildlife resources of their respective territory.

There are 63 zecs throughout Quebec encompassing 50,000 square kilometers, plus 21 zecs for salmon fisheries and one zec looking after waterfowl resources. The guiding principles they follow include wildlife conservation, accessibility to wildlife, user participation and operational financial sustainability. These territories are governed by beneficial management practices that do not exclude responsible harvests of natural resources. Today, as you journey on the land you will get a sense of how well those principles are followed.

We will spend the nigh in a log cabin.

Day 4

Thursday:

Our journey today takes us on a 35 to 45 kilometer trek on trails through the “Vallée du Bras Nord” region. By now you will have gained a greater understanding of dog sledding, how precious a mode of transportation it was for local traditional societies and the French Canadian settlers who later adopted this way to travel during winter. You will have also in the process gained a greater appreciation for the culture and traditional knowledge acquired and developed by the local Québécois inhabitants in the last 400 years since the establishment of Québec City in 1608.

Tonight you will sleep again in a log cabin.

Day 5

Friday:

After breakfast, we will pack everything for the last time and head out on a 20 to 35 kilometer trip back to the staging area. For this, we will travel mostly in the “Vallée du Bras Nord” region. We will end our expedition by heading out on a truck back to the kennel for about a 1-hour drive. We will have lunch on the trail.