Скачать или смотреть Sled Dogs and Puppy Breath - Our experience at Sled Dog Discovery & Musher's Camp near Juneau, AK

Welcome to Sled Dog Discovery and Musher’s Camp. Did you know Dog Sledding is the official state sport of Alaska?

In June 2022, we went on this 2.5 hour excursion that we booked through our Alaska Cruise website (we went on the Carnival Spirit). It was easy to book and did not disappoint.

A guide picked us up at the cruise ship terminal in Juneau, Alaska, and transported us by shuttle to the musher’s camp on Douglas Island, approximately 20 minutes away.

When we arrived, everyone was split into groups of 6 to ride the summer sleds, tour the camp, and take part in a 25 minute presentation on the history of dog sledding. This dog sledding experience is NOT in the snow. Your sledding experience is part of the team’s summer training. As you sit back and experience the power of a team of 16 Alaskan huskies pulling you through the Tongass National Rainforest, they are working on commands, older dogs are teaching the younger dogs, and the dogs are building up the strength needed to complete the roughly 1,000 mile Iditarod race.

After we finished our one-mile run with the dogs, we were able to get to know the team a little. Our musher guide is the grandson of one of the men that founded the Iditarod. He is an Iditarod racer. He gave us a lot of information on his experience running the race, told us about his dogs, and also explained why each dog holds the position on the team that they do. A few that I remember…one dog was a cheerleader in the back, the two girls up front were the leaders teaching the young ones the ways, and another on the right kept the young, spunky husky on the left in line.

As we headed over to the presentation area, we were met by the rugged beauty of Fish Creek lined with Sitka spruce and hemlock trees, and an array of equipment used by the Iditarod mushers both past and present. The presentation lasted approximately 25 minutes and was chalked full of interesting information. Gear for both dogs and their humans, food and nutrition, route information, race funding (mostly self-funded by mushers), and strength requirements/training were all covered.

Lastly, we were able to play with the sweet puppies. Alaskan huskies are not bred for their looks, like the Siberian husky. They are bred for their pulling strength, agility, temperament, and ability to be a team player. These puppies are bred specifically to be highly intelligent, exceptional athletes in order to cover great distances in the cold Alaskan terrain. Socializing these puppies is a vital part of their training so they can feel confident when they encounter new people, sounds, smells, and environments. So snuggle away we must.

Overall it was a great experience and we’d do it again.

WHAT WAS INCLUDED:
-Round-trip transportation to Musher’s Camp on Douglas Island. Our driver gave a brief narrative of the history of the area and pointed out wildlife as we drove by.
-20-30 minute educational presentation on dog sledding, including information about mushers, their gear, their dogs, and the Iditarod.
-20-30 minute dog experience and mushing run in the summer sled
-20-30 minutes of puppy playtime and photos
-Hand-washing station
-Hot and cold beverages. We had hot cocoa, hot cider, and several tea options.

REQUIREMENT: You must be able to walk short distances on uneven surfaces. You should be able to bend your knees to step up into and get down from the shuttle and sled.

There is limited space for collapsible wheelchairs and walkers. There is no storage available for motorized scooters. Please contact the company or your tour/cruise company if accommodations for collapsible equipment is required.

WHAT TO WEAR: Check the weather. When we participated in this excursion, Juneau was experiencing unusually warm and dry weather so shorts and a light jacket suited us well. However, had we had the typical summer weather, it would have been wet, which means muddy. Plan to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and wet. Pack a poncho and take protective measures for your phone/camera.

WHAT WAS NOT INCLUDED:
Lunch/food/snacks. The entire tour was 2.5 hours.
Guide tip: Please tip your guides. A good rule of thumb, depending on your experience, is 10-20+% of your total excursion price. If your experience was bad enough not to tip, please let them know so they have a chance to rectify the situation.. If budget is a concern, the tip should be something that you figure into your total trip cost. This goes for any service-type experience.

MUSIC:
Title: Punky
Artist: Benjamin Tissot
Royalty Free Music: https://www.bensound.com

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