Dog Sledding in Canada's Boreal Forest: A Learning Adventure

8 days / 7 nights (January-February)

Spend your days learning to run a dog team while exploring the southern edge of the largest forest region in Canada, the boreal forest. Together with our guests, we use a progressive approach, day by day building your mushing knowledge, skills and comfort level with the sled dogs. Our guide-hosts share their love and in-depth knowledge of the landscape with you as the team takes you through the mosaic of woods, muskegs and lakes that are the boreal forest.

When you're not on the sled, try crosscountry skiing on the groomed trails, snowshoe the backwoods, skate or ice-fish on the lake or simply relax in front of the fireplace in the spacious, log day-lodge.

At the conclusion of each invigorating day your private, hand-crafted log chalet on the edge of the ice-bound lake, provides cozy comfort. Dining is sumptuous with favourite local dishes served in the lodge.

Here is your itinerary and keep in mind the activities move at your pace.

Package Price:
2210.00 Can./Person
2110.00 U.S./Person

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Location: Saskatchewan / Canada
Weather: LOW -25.7 C at night
HIGH -13.3 C during the day

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Day 1

Arrival and Orientation

You'll be accommodated in your own deluxe handcrafted spruce log chalet. This chalet is appointed with bedroom with queen size bed, bedroom with twin beds, bathroom with tub & shower, kitchen equipped with fridge, stove, coffee maker, toaster, dishes and cooking utensils. A freestanding wood fireplace, electric heat, outdoor deck, and hardwood floors are also features of your unit. All meals (other than meals on the trail) will be served in the Snail's Pace Dining Room in the main lodge and will consist of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.Our meals are home cooked using fresh produce, local berries and meats.

We specialize in hearty homemade soups, homemade jellies, marmalades, and sauces. Our dinner rolls are made with homeground flour.

Evening - After you have settled in to your chalet, dinner will be served fireside in the Snail's Pace Dining Room in the Main Lodge. After dinner your dog sledding guide-host will introduce you to the trails with the use of maps and video and provide an overview of the setting adjacent to Prince Albert National Park.

Day 2

Sundogs Shine

Breakfast will be served in the Snail's Pace Dining Room prior to your
morning's activities.

Then say 'Hello' to the Sundogs, learn some of their names, rub a few heads, and begin to get to know them as individuals. Part of the day involves both indoor and outdoor sessions on mushing safety and the behind the scenes, 'nuts and bolts' of mushing such as equipment preparation and dog care. Your first outing is as a passenger on the sled driven by a guide-host for a run of about an hour.

Keep in mind that the durations mentioned here are approximate running times, actually on the trail. Your involvement with the team extends beyond these times each day because of instruction and dog care and handling. Later we'll take a stroll into the woods to learn how a deer mouse can survive when the temperature plunges, how wolves hunt the northwoods, why this is an evergreen forest and more, as your guide-host
leads an exploration of winter ecology

Day 3

Sundog's Choice

Along with the guide-host you try a longer trail as you begin to succumb to the allure of dog sledding and personal discoveries of the boreal forest. On the return trip you'll have a chance to ride the runners and get a feel for how the sled handles and the team runs and responds. It makes for about two hours on the trail.

Later on, if you're up to it, try skijoring. This is a one-on-one experience, just you and a husky on skis... actually it's just you on skis, the dog pulls you, after the traditional Scandinavian style. We work up to the actual skijoring gradually, so you can ease into the sensation of being pulled by and working with the dog. If you are not a skier we'll give you demonstration and run down on the activity.

Day 4

Gee! Haw! Hike!

These are some mushing commands you'll use as your abilities and confidence grow and we provide the opportunity to try mushing a small team under your care. Step on the runners, pull the snowhook, hang on tight and feel the team surge ahead. You cover the trail with the guide-host who rides in the basket, coaches you on your technique and interprets the northern wilderness.

In the afternoon you'll have an opportunity to make a driving tour to next-door Prince Albert National Park where you can choose an outing on crosscountry skis, snowshoes or even a leisurely stroll at the Waskesiu River.

Day 5

A Dog's Day

The Sundogs take the day off and you too if you'd like, or try the cross country trails of the Spruce River and Anglin Lake Highlands. We find most guests appreciate a bit of 'down time', and a chance to rest up before the overnight trip. You might want to try snowshoeing, winter bird watching or icefishing.

Day 6

Backcountry Mushing Excursion

We'll pack the sleds later in the morning and after lunch, head into the backcountry. Guests start the trip as passengers and over the course of the outing have a chance to put more miles under the runners driving the team themselves.

Guests will be "knee-deep in mushing" by this time, which involves many aspects of the daily care and attention of the Sundogs huskies. This is best way for a new musher to get a grasp of the dedication required to live with sled dogs and an understated opportunity to build a relationship with the dogs. It requires more physical effort and longer hours with the dogs but if you are up to it the rewards are many.

We'll overnight in the backcountry under canvas with a warm stove and great food. The howl of the huskies before they bed down might even be your lullaby for a good night's sleep.

Day 7

Return To Land of the Loon

After packing up, we mush back to the lodge by noon, enjoying the return trip as much as the sled dogs. They seem to know when they are going home and are eager to don harness.

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