Thread: Dog sledding

Thinking about doing the dog sled tour in Alaska next year. Is it an experience going on a sled with wheels as opposed to going on the snow?

Not quite sure what your question is. Are you talking about the difference between dog sledding on snow on a glacier, as opposed to the dog sledding on wheels through the forest over dirt that they offer in Skagway?

Well I've never done the second, but I did do the first last year. It was an amazing experience. And while pricy, I felt that it was worth every single penny I spent on it. Would I recommend others try this? Yes, if they can afford it. Would I do it again? Even at the high prices, I would do it again!

Its one of those great thrills to be standing on the back of a dog sled, to hear the dog musher yell for the dogs to start running, you release your break and then your sled takes off at 15-20 mph, all pulled by the might and strength of the 8-9 dogs on your dog sled team. Its amazing and humbling and awesome.

Yes, I was talking about the one in Skagway. How do you go about finding out about the one on a glacier?

all the dog sledding excursions in Juneau and Skagway are on glaciers. But in reality you wouldn't know it was a glacier unless you were told. What happens is that they set up the dog sled camps, way back into the glacier, where there is at least 6-8 feet of snow on top of the glacier so that the dogs can run. Basically you're standing on 600-800 feet of ice covered by 6-8 feet of snow. its like being on a regular mountain, except its not dirt beneath the snow, but ice.

this is a different experience than glacier walking where you're walking directly on the ice and you can see the blueness of the ice and the crevasses.

in skagway, temsco usually sets up dog camp at Denver glacier. in juneau, ERA, TEMSCO and Coastal run operations at various glaciers located in the Juneau Icefield system.

With the high cost of doing a dog sled on a glacier, I think we are going to have to stick with the sled that has wheels. I will still get to see and hold the puppies, won't I?

We did the dog sledding on wheels in Seward and loved it. They had a kennel and we were able to interact with the dogs. It was a great day and I'd do it again. Not sure about the Skagway one. If you can find a company website you might get more answers.

I did the dog sledding on wheels (Musher's camp) out of Skagway. It was fun. Not exactly the experience of a lifetime but definitely enjoyable. The dogs take you on a quick run (maybe ten minutes) around the camp on the sled, and you can see how eager they are to run, and how much they enjoy it. It *is* rather a rough ride, so with my bad back, I was glad I'd brought a cushion.

After the run, we got to interact with the dogs (very friendly!) and then went back to the main area for a presentation on mushing and a chance to pick up & pet the puppies.

Plus, the camp is in a GORGEOUS area. Seriously. I got some really great shots in the area outside the camp, and on the drive back.



sayhello

The area around the musher's camp

More views

Thanks so much for the pics. They are lovely. I can't wait.