Mike and I just returned from a trip to the Yukon. I mentioned in my last article that I was going to draw up a GHG (greenhouse gas) and fuel volume comparison between car and airplane transportation options, and I will do this using this trip as an example. First, however, I want to share what moved me more than numbers. Muktuk is a small locally owned business near Whitehorse, Yukon. Muktuk specializes in guest adventures all year round and specifically dog sledding and winter camping in the winter. Mike and I got to experience dog sledding and winter camping this February with Muktuk. We had the opportunity to spend 8 days with Manuela and Jeff (co-owners), Vicki, Savana, JF, co-guests Cheryl and Laureen, and so many of Muktuk’s amazing pups! I had the opportunity several years ago to dog sled in Quebec for a few hours. I remember this first experience dog sledding was super challenging. I remember nearly missing trees! I wasn’t sure what to expect in the Yukon. This time, learning to dog sled with Muktuk was challenging and an amazing learning experience! To be fair, we had more time to get a verbal overview with some of the equipment, attempt sledding, get feedback and practice several more times over the course of several days. Practice makes better, right?! I would also add “practice makes me more relaxed”. We also had a super cool teacher who had a wonderful sense of humour. Jeff was a ski guide before becoming co-owner and guide at Muktuk. His relaxed, subtle but potent phrases made for some good funnies. Combine Jeff’s good jokes with his love of dogs, and we became part of a positive atmosphere for good learning and a good time. Some of my key dog sledding takeaways that I want to share are: 1) Learning when to break is really important for reasons not so obvious. 2) A dog sledder doesn’t always stay on their sled’s runners but they never let go of their sled. 3) Always take care of my dog team first. Learning when to break is really important for reasons not so obviousRemember when I said my first experience dog sledding was trying to just avoid trees? If I had known when to break, I might have fared better. Breaking is not just for slowing down my team to prevent me from hitting something. Here are a few less obvious reasons: a) Breaking going around a turn makes me and my sled run into my inside corner and if that is a corner where a tree lives - ouch! Jeff’s advice is to break before you start to turn and then let up on the break and let yourself slide through the turn. b) Breaking helps me pace my dog team. Some dogs get so excited, they forget to check their Garmin and go super fast. Breaking helps remind my team to keep a steady pace that won’t tire everyone out as fast. c) Finally, most importantly, I found breaking helps keep my sled aligned with my dog team. For example, if I was going down a really steep hill, the sled would often start skidding and traveling faster than my dog team. By using the break, I slowed the sled down, keeping the lines between the sled and dogs tight so the sled didn’t get out of control and 1) potentially run into the dogs, 2) tip the sled or 3) run the sled off course. A dog sledder doesn’t always stay on their sled’s runners but they never let go of their sledIf you have never heard of Lance Mackey, check out the film “The Great Alone”. The Great Alone is an amazing story of the champion dog sledder’s struggles and triumphs personally and in dog sledding. In the film, Lance is frequently seen helping his dogs move their sled. He is seen running beside the sled on a steep uphill section so the dogs don’t have to pull him up the hill too. He’s seen kicking with one foot when the added momentum will help move the sled. Sometimes you see Lance shift his weight off center and stick a foot out off the sled runners to help keep the sled upright. All the while, however, you never see Lance let go of his sled. Why is letting go of my sled not a good idea? There are a few reasons but the funniest one is that I’ll likely never get my sled or dogs back! Unless my team and I are very well trained, like at the level of Lance Mackey and his team, my dogs may not realize that I am no longer on the back of the sled! Or, as Jeff said, my dogs will take a peek back at me flailing around in the snow, chuckle and keep running ;) Therefore, I should help my dogs out, but I should never let go of my sled unless it’s tied to a tree or I have a sled hook secure in the snow! Always take care of my dog team firstThis goes without saying, right? This takeaway is the basis for all other takeaways I’ve mentioned thus far! Not only does taking care of my dogs first apply when I’m sledding, it also applies when my sled is parked. We were travelling multiple days via dog sled and camping at night. When we stopped for the night and before we ate, Jeff would boil some snow water on the campfire for thawing purposes. He’d transfer the hot water to coolers to thaw the frozen meat for the dogs. We then dished out the thawed meat to each dog. We did the same in the morning before eating ourselves. As some of you might know, Mike and I are vegan. The meat thawing and distribution, as you can imagine, did turn my stomach but only for a few minutes! After spending a full day on the trail sledding, we were pretty hungry in the evening and in the morning! Right after dinner and before getting into our sleeping bags, we would help our dogs into their dog blankets to help keep them warmer. If there was straw available, we would put straw down for the dogs to make a bed. It is amazing how much warmer it is sleeping on straw, which separates you from the frozen ground. Another aspect of the film “The Great Alone” that really impressed me and applies here is the amazing level of care provided for the dogs that take part in the northern dog sled races. The dogs are treated like athletes, just like the humans. Full body checkups by licensed veterinarians are required before dogs are allowed to participate and checkups are done at several locations during the longer races to ensure the dogs are still fit to race. To conclude, Manuela and Jeff lead and run a wonderful business that supports learning and adventure with dogs. I love how Muktuk is an organization that truly integrates their values into their daily operations and practices with guests. Mike and I truly appreciate our Muktuk experience dog sledding and winter camping. If you are game for an adventure and you love dogs, Muktuk might be a good place for you!
9 Comments
Lillian Desorcy
2/27/2022 11:34:32
Thank you Cher, and Mike, for taking the time to share your interesting experience/kowledge from an active, very active, holiday. And you mentioned; but not in this profile, how they also cover the cost of providing a home for many retired dogs. A truely humain operation that also teaches some of the joys in Nature.
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Cher Dignan
2/27/2022 20:57:54
Glad you enjoyed the read. Yes, Muktuk pup veterans have a cozy and caring home for them at Muktuk. <3
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Alan Cameron
2/27/2022 11:38:46
Wow !!!! Great experience. Pics are awesome and narrative is thoughtful and informative.
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Cher Dignan
2/27/2022 20:58:42
Glad you enjoyed the read. Thank you for your perspective!
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Diana Earle
2/28/2022 10:54:03
Well, Cher and Mike, I am impressed by your energy and commitment to an enriched life. What an adventure of a lifetime.
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Cher Dignan
3/1/2022 12:12:37
Diana <3
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Patrick Voo
2/28/2022 16:52:35
What a great read! A fabulous adventure/learning experience, and so well written. I'm inspired by your constant curiosity and desire to grow in understanding how we relate to our environment and fellow inhabitants of the planet! :)
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Cher Dignan
3/1/2022 13:17:59
Thank you for the kind words Patrick! Hope you had a great time at your recent tournament. See you soon! :)
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Kaitlyn Dignan
3/5/2022 14:24:31
Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! What an amazing experience!! I had no idea I needed to go on a dog sledding adventure until right now! :P And, Muktuk sounds like the absolute perfect place to do it! :)
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