It was a very pleasant drive and we saw horses and a bison farm on the way.  Our goal was to visit Helcken Falls.  It’s 3 times as high at Niagara Falls and with all the cold weather [...]]]> After the dog sled adventure we took a little drive down the road (40kms?) into Wells Gray Park.

It was a very pleasant drive and we saw horses and a bison farm on the way.  Our goal was to visit Helcken Falls.  It’s 3 times as high at Niagara Falls and with all the cold weather it was surrounded by a beautiful ice funnel.  I’m not sure these pictures do it justice.

After that we started back for home when I realized I left my new sunglasses (which were a gift from my friend Shawna) back at the lookout point, so we had to turn around to go get them.  They were still there, too.

Headed out to the woods.

Hooked up the team to the sled.

Harnessed the team.

And took off.

Then we stopped to take photos.

And took off again back down the mountain.

The names of the dogs.

Carrying on [...]]]> We awoke from our room bright and early.

Headed out to the woods.

Hooked up the team to the sled.

Harnessed the team.

And took off.

Then we stopped to take photos.

And took off again back down the mountain.

The names of the dogs.

Carrying on with our day.

Some other wild animals we saw.

We arrived at the homestead yesterday and got settled in.  The proprietor told us that the sledding would start early since it was so warm, the dogs get too hot by the afternoon, so we were told to meet our guide at 8:00 am at a [...]]]> So here’s the rundown (see pictures in Steve’s post above).

We arrived at the homestead yesterday and got settled in.  The proprietor told us that the sledding would start early since it was so warm, the dogs get too hot by the afternoon, so we were told to meet our guide at 8:00 am at a downtown Clearwater hotel.

 We met up with Steve the Guide and piled into his gigantic diesel truck loaded with dogs and we drove up an old logging road to a staging area.  Steve the Guide set up the snowmobile and sled, and tied the rear of the sled down to his truck, so the dogs wouldn’t be able to take off with it until everything was ready.

Andrew helped pull the dogs out of the truck and attach them to the tow line.  The dogs get a little excited and pee alot.  While they were settling down, we were given training on how to control the sled and the dogs and what to expect.  There are various skids and brakes on the sled that you can use to control the speed, as well as instruction on voice commands and how to turn the dogs. 

Then we had to harness up the dogs with their special harnesses, and properly attach them at two points to the tow rope.  When they get harnessed up, they really get excited and want to take off.  Everything was ready – Steven was loaded inside the sled, Andrew on the back, and then we took off!

Steve the Guide drove his snowmobile out in front and the dogs were pretty well trained to just follow him, but as the driver, Andrew had to use the various skids and brakes to regulate the speed of the dogs.  They tend to want to go as fast as they can, but that can be injurious to the dogs so you have to keep them regulated at a steady speed.

It was quite exhilarating to be in control of ten dogs and after some initial trepidation, it was quite easy to operate the whole conglomeration.  We would stop at various strategic points to give the dogs an opportunity to rest and we swapped out drivers a couple of times.

The scenery was incredible and the dogsledding was a riot.  We recommend it, even for the “only slightly adventurous” types!

“Hike it UP!”