It wasn’t that long ago that the best way to get around frozen, snowy lands was with a team of dogs pulling a sled. The tradition is immortalized in the annual classic Iditarod race from Anchorage to Nome, 1,000 miles through Alaska. Since that might be a bit extreme for most us, for a taste of what these “mushers” and their dogs might experience, try a dog sled tour in West Yellowstone, Montana.

Our driver, Kevin, picks us up at our hotel with a truck full of Alaskan huskies and drives us to the edge of town where we prepare the sled. We help Kevin unload the 11 dogs, harnessing them and hooking them in tandem to the line. These dogs are specifically bred to run and pull a sled for long distance. Each dog has its position and personality on the team — the leader, point dog, swing dog and wheel dog (the one closest to the sled). The leaders are usually the smartest and most reliable, able to listen to commands and steer the sled as well as being the best pullers. Our lead dog is named Maya, a former Iditarod competitor.

As the dogs are attached, a cacophony of yelping, barking, and yapping starts. These dogs are very excited. They want to hit the trail and run. Carefully we climb into the sled, a low-slung vehicle, which is nothing more than runners. a frame and a canvas cover that you sit it. The driver of the sled stands behind the canvas on the runners and controls the brakes.

Kevin lifts his foot from the brake pad, and the dogs explode into action, straining at their harnesses to pull the sled forward and onto the path through the woods. We glide into a winter wonderland of tall evergreen trees, covered in snow. It is completely silent except for the sound of the dogs panting and the crunch of the sled runners over the snow and ice.

Because you are sitting low to the ground (basically the same height as the dogs), your perspective is quite different, and you can actually feel the ground beneath you. From time to time bits of snow and ice kicked up by the dogs comes flying into the sled. Contrary to popular lore, the dogs do not respond to the word MUSH. Kevin uses words like “All right,” “Haw,” and “whoa” to tell the dogs what he wants them to do. Controlling these dogs is not that easy. Usually, they listen, other times they demonstrate a mind of their own. It is obvious that they really enjoy what they are doing.

About halfway through our 15-mile ride, we reach a large meadow and stop to stretch our legs. Of course, the first thing that happens is that we sink into the snow up to our armpits. A thermos of hot chocolate and some freshly baked cookies quickly warm us up.

Kevin is a font of information about dog sledding. He tells us about the dogs, their personalities and their foibles and encourages us to be active participants in the trip, even suggesting that we might try to drive the sled. The dogs wait impatiently. They don’t like all this sitting around. As soon as we get back in the sled, they begin to jump around, straining to run and we are off again through the snowy woods and back to our starting point.

Dog sledding has been around for hundreds of years, first introduced by the Inuit People of Canada. If you have a spirit of adventure and want a unique way of enjoying the winter, try a dog sled ride.

IF YOU GO
Ask your hotel concierge to recommend a reputable dog sledding company.

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