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Going to the Dogs"A Family Dog Sled Adventure"By Jamie RossIn 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 British Columbia. My wife and I had experienced some dog sledding, and felt it would be a wonderful thrill for the rest of the clan.
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 Yukon" series, French-Canadian dog handlers were heard to tell their dogs to "marche." Producers thought they were saying "mush," and, ever since, a dog sledder has become known as a musher. 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 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 Moose Valley Provincial Park.
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 Maitland Lake, the sleds scatter a herd of wild horses. When the dogs pick up the scent of wildlife, their intensity increases, but it does not disrupt their work habits. 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 GoWhile 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 Images by Kevin Smith |
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On a warm winter's day in late March, we set out to
Moose Valley Provincial Park, just west of 100 Mile House on B.C.'s Fraser
Plateau, with the Siberian Huskies of The Wolf Den Outdoor Adventures. We
have planned a very interactive adventure, where the children can visit the
dogs and take part in the mushing. It would be a truly family affair, four
generations worth; my wife, Chantelle, and myself, our children Kayla (10),
Victoria (8), Sean (5), and Jenna (2), their grandparents and their Great,
Great Aunt Kay (77). Accompanying us, in their straw-filled, mobile kennel,
were the thirty-two huskies who want nothing more than to go to work.
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.
On the wide-open lakes and at the gentler pace, we
switch positions on the sleds and Kayla and Victoria are given their own
sled to operate. Their legs are stretched wide between runners and they can
barely see over the back bar of the sled, but their chests swell with pride
as they screech out commands to the dogs, and their sled glides off on the
trail of the lead team.
After lunch, the dogs are anxious to hit the trail
again. They are off with a flourish and, after skirting the lake to the
north, we find that we have graduated from the wide open terrain to a
winding trail. We rest the dogs briefly at the bottom of the steeper
inclines, although the dogs are not always happy with the pause. Away from
the level lake surfaces, we are forced into a little exercise ourselves,
helping the dogs up the hills. As we approach the trail head, the team gives
one last burst, charging home with a show of pride. In all, we have covered
25 miles in the day. The huskies have earned their dinner.