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Home » Food » Dog Sledding with Mountain Man Adventures at Sun Peaks

Dog Sledding with Mountain Man Adventures at Sun Peaks

28/08/2017 by Amanda

Tucked into a cosy nest, dog sledding is the most exhilarating way to experience the Canadian winter countryside at Sun Peaks Resort.

Mountain Man Adventures dog sledding

The recent cold, grim weather at home has reminded me that this is not the first winter I’ve experienced this year and also that the first one, at Sun Peaks Resort in Canada, was hugely enjoyable. You can check out some of my other posts on Sun Peaks here and here, but the day we went dog sledding with Mountain Man Adventures was simply one of the best experiences in my life.

We were dropped by our driver at the edge of a forest, where we met up with our guide, Chris, and introduced to some of his wonderful dogs. Chris and his wife Taryn have a team of 60 dogs and have been sledding in the region for over seven years, offering 10km runs for four months of the season, plus six km night time runs, weather permitting.

Dog team waiting to begin dog sledding

Waiting - dog sledding

Tied to lines under the trees, it’s plain to see that these dogs are born to run and keen to get going. They are alert, with some straining and barking – anxious for the fun to begin. Their devotion to their musher is obvious, and they rarely take their eyes from Chris.

He encourages us to get up close with them and say ‘hi’, to get to know these friendly, happy dogs, rather than to just treat them like an engine, before rugging us cosily into the sled and hitching our team up.

As soon as the harnesses go on the dog’s excitement level ratchets up appreciably (actually, so did mine) and, without any delay, we are off. Chris has no more than three teams on the trail at any one time and, with us in the lead sled, periodically pauses for the other teams to catch up, before taking off again.

dog sledding begins

The ride is exhilarating, rushing through the almost totally white landscape, through the forest of trees heavy with snow and across a frozen lake, with Chris pointing out landmarks such as a frozen beaver dam and wild cat footprints in the snow.

He is alert to all of the dogs in a team, monitoring each attentively, especially on the uphill climbs. Sonic, one of his older dogs tires more easily these days, but hates to be left behind, so, just a few kms into the trek, he is released from his harness. However, he has no intention of missing out on this and paces our sled for the whole run, shamelessly begging for cuddles and hugs from us each time our sled pauses, but refusing all offers to come on board.

At the side of the frozen lake, dog sledding

Once back at base, and after we’ve unwound ourselves from our warm nest, Chris asks us to help feed the dogs, to thank them for their work. The dogs burn a huge amount of fat when working so, after each run, each dog is given chunks of beef fat and a brew of ground chicken, kibble and water. In a working day, Chris will go through 50-100 pounds of raw chicken, 25 pounds of kibble and at least 30 pounds of beef fat.

There has been quite a bit of discussion about the welfare of sled dogs, but Chris and Taryn are utterly devoted to theirs. They have a warm, respectful, personal relationship with each dog, all of their retired dogs stay with them, unless they can find a totally acceptable home for them, and many end up sleeping inside next to the heater. Not a bad retirement for these eager working dogs.

Dog sledding with Sonic

Me and my new best friend, Sonic.

Chris and Taryn Schwanke
Mountain Man Dog Sled Adventures
3240 McGillivray Creek Rd
Heffley Creek, BC
V0E1Z1

Ph 1-250-578-0011    mmadvdogsled@gmail.com

Mountain Man Adventures dog sledding tours can be booked at the Sun Peaks Adventure Center at 1-250-578-5399.

Lambs’ Ears enjoyed this wonderful experience as a guest of Mountain Man Adventures and Sun Peaks Resort.

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz (Good Things)

    August 28, 2017 at 3:04 pm

    Wow, Amanda! What an experience!

  2. sherry MacKay

    August 29, 2017 at 10:06 am

    oh what gorgeous dogs! how wonderful to go for a ride with them.

  3. Tandy | Lavender and Lime

    August 29, 2017 at 3:08 pm

    What an amazing experience!

  4. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

    August 30, 2017 at 9:24 am

    Oh you’re back in Canada! How wonderful! 😀

  5. Amanda

    August 30, 2017 at 1:24 pm

    Not right now, Lorraine – but I was earlier in the year.

  6. Oliver terry

    September 01, 2017 at 2:31 am

    I love this kind of experience. I read about this in my childhood and love it.

  7. Anna @ shenANNAgans

    September 01, 2017 at 2:32 pm

    Brilliant. Dog sledding is absolutely on my bucket list, so glad to hear the Musher treats his dogs with love ‘n care too.

  8. Heather Reburn

    September 09, 2017 at 10:45 am

    Did you get to see where these dogs live? I’ve seen some pretty heartbreaking scenes with fields of sled dogs chained to dilapidated houses or chewed up plastic barrels. Hope these guys have it better ❤️ I’ve got a retired sled dog myself and she’s the most gentle well behaved dog ever though still skittish about the house.

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