If you could plan your mushing trip as shown (s. Date) you can feel the vibrating mushing life in Whitehorse, where you watch the teams while having their starting preparations for the 2007 race. One thing is certain, you will be positively motivated to start your own mushing trip the following days for the well prepared trails around Fish Lake in the vicinity of Sky High Base Camp.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Saturday
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
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
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
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 5: Wednesday
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 6: Thursday
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. We arrive back at the Ranch in the afternoon and drive to Whitehorse. The mushers Banquet will begin around 6 p.m. Here you can see all the Yukon Quest Mushers live, as they will draw for their starting positions. The entertaining evening has an all you can eat Buffet. Return to the Lodge Overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 7: Friday
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. Way too soon we return to civilization and most of all, you have to leave your new friends, the dogs, behind. In the late afternoon we drive you to Whitehorse where you spend your night in a downtown Hotel. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 8: Saturday
This is the big day the mushers have been training and waiting for. The adrenaline runs high and all the teams are prepared for the start, the sleds are packed, the dogs are massaged and bootied up, till if finally says: “three, two, one, goooo”. After the start the teams drop onto the Yukon River before crossing under the Takhini River Bridge, where we will be waiting to cheer them on. Return to Whitehorse and Overnight in Hotel.
Day 9: Sunday
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;
- Accommodation in Whitehorse (2 night double room);
- Accommodation in cabins (4 nights double room) or heated tent outpost camps (2 nights, group accommodations);
- All meals including non-alcoholic beverages, except dinner restaurants in Whitehorse day 8 to day 9;
- 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;
- Yukon Quest Banquet Ticket (Dinner Day 7).
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 (Meals day 8-9 while in Hotel);
- All expenses of personal nature.
Note:
This Dog sledding 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. Dog sledding 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 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 gravity 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.
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
Yukon
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Dogsledding
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