Discovering the Joys of Dogsledding in the Canadian Wilderness
Getting Oriented
By Michael and Allison Goldstein
At first, I was terrified of doing something dumb. After a half hour, I was confident. In two hours, I was an expert. I loved every minute of it!
Speaking of concerts, what was that line from Service's poem? . . .
" . . . the huskies, 'round in a ring, howled out their woes
to the homeless snows . . . "
Sitting around the fire in camp that night, we listened to the dogs as they sang. It really was singing, not just howling, with one or two dogs doing a solo, and the rest joining in for the chorus. I think they were telling the world who they were, where they were, and how much fun they were having.
Enjoying tall tales such as these, 'round our own fire at a winter ski lodge, has brought us to Chocpaw Expeditions in South River. Located just outside Ontario's famous Algonquin Park, they offer the experience of dog sledding. Paul and Marg Reid have been outfitting dogsled trips for years, providing instruction in winter camping, sports, and cooking, and thorough lessons in dog sledding skills. Their expedition guides are experienced bush travelers.
Marg greets us at the door, introducing us to our guide, Rene. While Rene explains the intricacies of wheeldogs and quick-release clips, Marg regales us with tales of the trail. "On one of our trips, a dog became entangled in the traces, with one loop around his neck. With the other dogs still pulling, he was literally strangled into unconsciousness. The guide stopped the sled, grabbed the dog, and started blowing down his throat, giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The dog regained his senses, and was pulling again within an hour!"
We are walked through the complete process, from carrying the dogs to the sled and harnessing them, to using brakes and anchors. Rene uses a real sled to demonstrate technique, and a real dog is provided to practice harnessing. The sleds, made near Barrie, Ontario, are an interesting combination of technologies. Constructed mostly of wood, they are extremely flexible, to withstand the rigors of the trail. Simple in design, they are easily repaired. The tips of the anchors are made of carbide steel, to reduce wear and tear.
"Were you ever out in the Great Alone,
When the moon was awfully clear,
And the icy mountains hemmed you in,
With a silence you most could hear.
With only the howl of a timber wolf,
And you camped there in the cold . . . "
Many an overconfident dogsled driver has had this experience, after bringing his team to a halt with a "Whoa!", and stepping away from the sled. A moment's inattention results in a last glimpse of sled and dogs, as they vanish over the crest of the next hill. We are cautioned to always set the anchor carefully, and to keep one hand on the sled whenever possible.
Return to 
Top
RELATED GORP LINKS
GORPtravel - Canada
GORP Snowsports
Canada Resources
|
