Come and join us for an outdoor winter wilderness adventure led by qualified guides and support staff with over 30 years of experience. Your group will trek through beautiful winter forests and wildlife areas as you travel to your winter camp where a hot hardy meal and heated tent awaits you under the shimmering winter stars. After the huskies have been fed and bedded down for the night join your guides in a wolf howl and explore the surrounding area for wildlife tracks.
These programs and courses will teach you all the necessary skills required to handle your dog team and sled on as you drive your team a memorable winter holiday.
We run our dog sled trips in the beautiful north-west corner of Algonquin Park wilderness which insures good snow conditions well into April. We strongly suggest that you plan to spend the night prior to your trip departure in the area so that you will be available to start the training at South River on Hwy 11 at 8:30 am on the first day of your adventure. Comfortable motel accommodation is available and round trip transportation from Toronto is also available.
Clothing Requirements
When considering your clothing for any winter trekking experience remember to layer loosely to stay warm. Your layers should be easy to remove as you warm up from exercise and conversely to add layers as you begin to cool. This is not the time to make a fashion statement or to bring everything you own. Remember the more you bring the more it will affect your progress. Most people can come up with practical layers without spending a fortune, if anything at all. Think of organizing your clothing into three different layers.
First Layer: This layer is next to your skin. It is important to wear something that will "wick" any moisture away from your skins surface. A synthetic material such as "polyester" works best but wool, silk and thermal underwear can provide adequate protection. Different material blends such as polypro/wool or polyester/wool blends provide an excellent compromise and sometimes are preferred.
Second Layer: This is your insulation layer. Any materials that will provide warmth will work in this layer. Synthetic materials such as polar fleece are ideal but not essential. Quite often sweaters of all kinds are used along with any warm loose fitting pants. Blue jeans or any cotton material are not recommended or acceptable for this activity. Wool is fine.
Third Layer: This layer is your protective outer layer and the key element to block out the wind and wetness of the snow. A loose fitting overcoat should provide the necessary protection. A ski jacket and pants can also be a good choice, but remember the water proof factor. If this layer is not waterproof there are safe products on the market to add protection, such as Scotch Guard sprays and Dubbins.
Extremities: Your hands and feet are the first appendages that will become cold. Protecting your feet will require wool socks and warm boots with removable liners. Hiking boots or ski boots are not adequate. Warm mitts with pull out liners for general use and thin gloves for handling and harnessing the dogs are both essential. Do not forget that a warm wool hat will keep 60% of your body heat from escaping.
Optional: Personal items such as sunscreen, lip balm, camera, a light pair of boots and a change of clothing for the ride home could be included at your discretion. We also recommend that you bring a supply of disposable hand and foot warmers.
The following itinerary is provided for the 2 day trip, however, 3, 4, 5 and 6 day trips are also available (see rates below).
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: The morning of your trip date we meet at our orientation centre where you will meet your guides and train with your dog team in preparation for the journey into the Algonquin wilderness for a day long trip to your remote camp which is approximately 30 km from the staging area and a 2 1/2 to 5 hour dog sled ride depending on the snow conditions. We like to allow plenty of time for rest stops, lunch on the trail and the many incredible photo opportunities that will present themselves in this beautiful winter wilderness area.
At the remote camp you'll be greeted with warm, wood stove heated tent and will make preparations for a hot hardy meal. After the dogs have been fed and secured for the night and the necessary camp-chores completed the pace slows down and everyone can relax. Your guides have many activities that can be enjoyed like a night hike to explore the wilderness area surrounding your camp for wildlife and tracks, a wolf howl, star gazing, northern lights or numerous campfire games or even a very active moonlight game on the lake. Or just sit back and enjoy sharing the day's adventure around a roaring campfire with your fellow adventurer's.
Day 2: After a good night's sleep in your heated tent you will arise to a hardy breakfast and start preparing for the return trip to the staging area by a different route, arriving back around 3-4 pm for the ride back to Toronto.
Although we will set the pace and the experience to the group's ability, this adventure will challenge you physically. You will be active from the time you arrive until the time you leave. You will help move the dogs in and out of the yard and harness and hook them into a team, drive the sled yourself along with a partner.
Driving a team involves controlling the sled by leaning pulling on the handle bar in turns, applying brake pressure to slow the sled on descents, running or walking uphill and pushing or peddling to help the team as needed. After all these are strong energetic dogs that work best when the driver becomes part of the team by working along with them.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Trip Fee: Adults - Adults $399.00 CAD plus gst. Children 8 yrs. and under - $296.00 CAD plus gst. Rates do not include applicable taxes. Sleeping bag renting - $10.00 per day.
3 Day Trip Fee: Adults - $548.00 CAD plus gst. Children 8 yrs. and under - $399.00 CAD 4 Day Trip Fee: Adults - $699.00 CAD (plus gst. Children 8 yrs. and under - $519.00 CAD plus gst. 5 Day Trip Fee: Adults - $879.00 CAD plus gst. Children 8 yrs. and under - $649.00 CAD plus gst.
Also see tour packages in:
Canada
Ontario
Dogsledding
National Parks
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