Interested in enjoying mushing on many trails in different areas? Then this extended dogsledding tour might be the right one. One week enjoying the nice trails around Sky High Valley Ranch and Fish Lake. Extended Dogsledding can be a little bit demanding so this winter adventure is for the musher with some experience but also for daring beginners! You should be in relatively good physical shape.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Saturday/ Wednesday
Arrival at the Airport in Whitehorse. You will be picked up by our van and do a short tour of Whitehorse. Here you also have the chance to do some last minute shopping. Afterwards we drive to the Sky High Valley Ranch, 20km South of Whitehorse where we outfit you with your expedition clothing. You move into your cozy cabin, or nice double room in the main lodge. The Lodge is overlooking beautiful Fish Lake, with southern exposure. The dogs are waiting to meet you. Lunch in the main lodge. Do you want to know what a bootie is? Well you learn it today. We show you how to harness the dogs and give you an instruction on how to drive the sled.
Depending on the weather and time of the day we hook up the dogs and go for a short first run. Three dogs pull you on this first day. After taking care of the dogs we enjoy a hearty meal. You might want to take a shower or just relax beside the stove, and of course listen to the dogs howling outside. Overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. Included: (L), (D).
Day 2: Sunday/ Thursday
While the morning sun slowly lifts over the horizon we prepare for our daytrip after breakfast. We feed and water the dogs and harness them up at around 11 a. m. We cover about 35 km in distance, driving towards Jackson Lake and the Copper Haul Road. Just the slight sound of the working dogs and runners in the snow will be with you for that day. You get to know your dogs and start to form a personal relationship. With every stop, and praise for the dogs, they learn to trust you and you to trust them. Overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 3: Monday/ Friday
The dogs will pull us on a trail east of the Ranch. We are continuously climbing in elevation as we are heading on an abandoned mining road on MacIntyre Mountain. On occasional stops we can enjoy unprecedented scenery of the Costal Mountain with Fish Lake nestled deep in the valley. Return to the Lodge Overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 4: Tuesday/ Saturday
Today we head towards beautiful Bonneville Lakes, west of the Ranch. The trails are narrower with some challenging up and downs. The Coastal Mountains are always in view to the South and West. Part of the trip we travel above tree line and easily cover between 20 and 30 km. Slowly, a new feeling of life will creep in. In harmony with the running rhythm of your team you will enjoy nature in a way you’ve never experienced before. Overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. There is a gravity fed indoor shower waiting for you in the main lodge. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 5: Wednesday/ Sunday
Now you leave behind the last remnants of civilization and head out to a real wilderness. The trail follows Fish Lake and climb and heads into the Costal Range to the south. After aprox 2.5 hrs of running time we reach our trapper’s wall tent camp at dry creek. Overnight in Wall tent. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 6: Thursday/ Monday
From the wall tent camp, weather permitting we will make a run to the top of the mountain above tree line to Ptarmigan flats where there is a good chance of seeing large flocks of these beautiful white birds and having some wonderful sledding on miles of wind blown snowy hill tops, before heading back to the wall tent camp. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 7: Friday/ Tuesday
After a musher’s breakfast, we will start for our mushing back to Sky High Valley Ranch. The dogs pull us steady westbound with the Coastal Mountains in plain view ahead of us. Way too soon we return to civilization and most of all, you have to leave your new friends, the dogs, behind, but hey, for only one night. In the late afternoon we drive you to Whitehorse where you spend your night in a downtown Hotel. Overnight in Hotel. Included: (B), (L).
Day 8: Saturday / Wednesday
After on night in town, you will be happy to meet your trusty Huskies again. In the morning you are picked up by our van and once more we stop at the liquor store. Back at the ranch we hook up the dogs again and head out for a daytrip along Jackson Creek and Franklin Lake. Return to Lodge and overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. Included: (L), (D).
Day 9: Sunday/ Thursday
Today we cross over the Fish Lake from north to south with the majestic costal mountains looming in all direction. At the south end of the lake we jump onto a trappers trail leading towards Ibex Lake. We will again have a fire and a light lunch before return to the Lodge and overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 10: Monday/ Friday
Hooking up the dogs will have become much easier for you after working with them for a week. Our trip today heads up to Mount MacIntyre again to the North, with more skill and conditions permitting the trip could go down, to the far north side along the old copper haul road and back to Sky High through Jackson Lake. This trail offers a great view high about the city of Whitehorse. Return to Whitehorse and overnight in Hotel. Included: (B), (L).
Day 11: Tuesday /Saturday
The hotel van (or taxi) brings you to the airport for your southbound flight … Or better yet, complete your Yukon winter experience, by joining another tour offered.
Included:
- Transfer from and to Whitehorse;
- Last night accommodation in Whitehorse (2 night double room);
- Accommodation in cabins (6 nights double room) or heated tent outpost camps (2 nights group accommodation);
- All meals including non-alcoholic beverages, except dinner day 7, 10 and breakfast day 8, 11 in Whitehorse;
- Use of personal sled and 3 to 6 Huskies;
- Yukon Quest (or Iditarod Presentation) one night from accomplished musher (not during race season);
- Musher Certificate after Tour;
- Winter Boots included, all other equipment see below.
Not Included:
- Alcoholic beverages (we buy jointly before the tour);
- Winter clothing rental of warm Northern Outfitters Jacket, Pants and sleeping bag $ 25 each; item, mitts $ 10 payable upon arrival in cash or credit card;
- Meals in restaurants (dinner day 7, 10 breakfast day 8, 11);
- All expenses of personal nature.
Please note:
This Dogsledding adventure is a challenging but relaxed fun trip! We supply you with the best equipment possible, teach you all the important aspects of mushing and prepare the trails as good as possible. To participate you must be healthy, enjoy working with dogs and have a good team spirit. Dogsledding is a comparable physical activity to cross-country skiing, so you should be in relatively good physical shape. We point out, that unforeseeable circumstances such as weather conditions, extreme temperatures, condition of the group or illness of the dogs and may force us to change this itinerary. The safety of our guests takes precedence and our decisions are final. The camps have no power or telephone, showers are of basic gravaity fed nature and not available in tent camp. You will be required to sign a " release of claims and waiver of liability form" prior to the departure of this tour.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Possible add-on daytrips:
- Flightseeing with Alpine Aviation, approx $ 360 hr/ plane;
- Skidoo Daytrip with Up North Adventures approx $ 220 day Person;
- Rental Car Norcan Leasing appox $ 79 for economy car;
- Pre/ post Hotel nights at Downtown Hotel $ 95.23.
Special Note: The 11 Day Tour, starting Saturday, finishes Tuesday, not Wednesday (as all 8 day tours finish Wednesday)
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
Yukon
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Dogsledding
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