Dec. 07, 2011 - Issue #842: Hroses
Going to the dogs
Take some supercharged walkies with a sled dog team
» This team from Cold Fire Creek Dogsledding enjoys a ride along Small River in the Robson Valley
In the Arctic regions of the world, sled dogs were one of the main methods of transportation for many thousand of years before the invention of motorized vehicles. Survival in remote areas like Northern Canada wouldn't even have been possible without this special relationship between man and dog.
While the Inuit used dogs for transportation, hunting excursions and fishing trips, as communities and outposts sprang up in Northern Canada the dogs' role grew to include the delivery of mail, supplies, news and even medication. But in the modern day, the sled dog's role of pulling cargo has become secondary to another purpose: winter recreation.
"It's pure freedom, that's the beauty of it," says Connie Arsenault, owner and founder of Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours in Canmore. "Dog sledding is a huge part of our Canadian history ... a very natural, environmentally-friendly sport that connects you with the wilderness and nature."
One of the advantages of the sport, she explains, is the relative ease with which you can get started. New riders are encouraged to take an active role in proceedings and to learn how to work with their team of dogs and try steering the sled. A few simple commands and a keen sense of balance can find you rushing through the snow with your own dog team within half an hour.
The real magic comes from the close working relationship between human and dog, Arsenault says. Unlike horse riding, where you try to control the horse with reins, dog sledding is about developing mutual trust, a true interdependent relationship between riders and dogs which ensures their cooperation.
"I love the bond between you and the huskies," Arsenault enthuses. "It's a real unshakable bond of love and respect. Our guests get to experience that when they come out on a trip."
And while the economic slump may be slowing the stream of international visitors sampling the sport, dog sledding is becoming a more popular activity for Canadians, explains Amanda Sinclair, owner of Cold Fire Creek Dogsledding in Valemount, B.C.
"It's something a lot of Canadians haven't tried yet and it's definitely on a lot of bucket lists, we're gaining more and more regional visitors," she says. "Once people have come once they come back over and over again. It is truly a Canadian thing to do, right in your own backyard, and allows you to reconnect with nature."
Suitable for all ages and physical ability levels, dog sled tours can last anything from a one-hour introductory trip to a multi-day trek in the backcountry. Along with guided adventures, many operators also offer team building trips, time to interact with the dogs and frosty, moonlit tours.
"For me it's about getting away from ringing phones and modern living and being out there enjoying time to myself and the area in which we live," Sinclair adds. "I'd encourage everyone to try it."
In the local area, dog sled companies operate in and around Canmore, Fernie, Jasper, Lake Louise and Perryvale.
More stories in Snow Zone »
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