Today was THE DAY we've been waiting for. Not only since we were last in Alaska, but since the very first time we visited Alaska in 2004. On that trip we brought the entire family and were (a) on a budget and (b) didn't know what Alaska offered. As soon as we had visited this great state we KNEW we had to someday go for a dogsled ride. Who knew that when we would finally reach that goal we'd actually DRIVE the sled! Just let me say it's a good thing that there wasn't much traffic! The excursion today was a dual one - the first part was about a 45 minute helicopter ride from Skagway up into the mountains and over the glaciers - the scenery was absolutely breathtaking....especially with a 360 degree panoramic view like you see above. Here are some photos from that first segment of the day's adventure.
It was very interesting throughout the ride as the pilot gave us a "guided tour" of the area. Two statistics which caught my attention was that we were flying at 10,000 feet - you'd never have guessed we were that high - and he said we were flying along at about 120 mph - and that you'd NEVER have guessed! We went very, VERY high up the sides of several mountains and then would dip down into the valleys. Finally as we came into the final valley we saw a glacier and then around the bend, there was the dog camp waiting for our next adventure!
When we landed we were delighted to discover that the surface was covered in snow (we'd read about one dog-sled excursion that you "drive" over gravel and another over the iced surface of a glacier). We made our way to the guides and were sorted into three different teams of four people.
As we walked along it was explained that the humans in camp stay up here all summer with very few trips "back to the real world." They have their barracks, kitchen, dining area and an entertainment area. There are 240 dogs that stay up here all summer. At the end of the season in September they are all - humans & dogs - transported via helicopter - back to Skagway and the place is completely emptied so there is nothing but snow left behind on the glacier! Each team was led to a driver and he introduced us to the team of dogs that would be our transportation for the afternoon.
As soon as we approached the "musher" and his team of dogs they perked up and were anxious to meet us. We were introduced to each dog individually and they seemed genuinely happy to be petted and talked to. But as soon as the first dog was hooked to the sled the entire camp of 240 dogs went berserk! It was a dog version of "Take me, take me! PLEASE let me run.....pick me!" We had a tandem sled where one couple would take the back sled and another couple the front sled. We were promised that we'd stop four times so everyone got an opportunity to ride in both sleds and to drive the sled.
And so we boarded our dog sled and away we went! Yes, it was cold, but not so cold for example that I minded taking my gloves off to film. Our guide, the musher, explained at one stop that sometimes it was in the upper 70s or 80s but today was one of the few times this season he'd worn a coat. He also said that we had picked the perfect day to do this! The only thing I can put down in words about the experience is this......you can look at the photos, and yes, it looks p-r-e-t-t-y cool; and you can watch the video, and THAT looks even MORE COOL. But truly, none of it in any way, shape, or fashion comes even remotely close to what it was really like. We have crossed off one of the big "bucket list items" today and it did not disappoint.
After making the trip, and the four stops to switch positions, we returned to the camp and got to meet some of the newborn pups. They were adorable.
We had been told prior to leaving camp that one of the members of the team would be positioned to take an "action shot" of us on the sled, so she now had the photographs available for purchase. Well worth the price for this once-in-a-lifetime event! Moments later the helicopters returned and our time in the dog camp had come to an end. The flight back was only about ten minutes and there was very little sight-seeing but everyone was grinning from ear-to-ear with the thrill of the day's excursion.
Dog Sledding On A Glacier
Day 4 Video Highlights
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