Wow what an experience! This amazing dog sledding operation is 10 minutes from Mt. Snow in VT and a must do activity if you are in the area!
The cost is approx. $135 per person but well worth it. The owners are a married couple who started the company from a hobby. Now they owner 40-45 huskies and 200 acres of trails. When you arrive you will first get an introduction to how it all works. The dogs are kept in a fenced area outside- and yes they even sleep outside in hidey holes with hay which apparently they love. As an animal lover I was concerned about this until the owner explained that huskies love cold weather and actually feel really hot unless it's below 40 degrees. They try to keep the older dogs inside the house and they cry to be let outside. Also, the dogs are a pack and they don't like to be separated.
After the introduction about the dogs, you will then learn how the sled works (about 10 dogs to a sled) and then you are off! (all of the dogs wanted to be picked to run and they all start howling at once when they know the owners are picking dogs which was so cool) Its two people to a sled plus the musher. There were 4 of us who went - so we had 2 sleds and one sled chased the other. It was quite cold when we went, about 10 degrees, but the sled is warm and cozy with blankets and you are zipped in like a cocoon. The ride is about 4 miles (1 hour) through the snowy woods and there is a rest at the half way point at a cabin the owners built. The cabin has a beautiful overlook, great for pictures. You stop at the cabin for about 10 minutes and they treat you to hot cocoa and cookies.
The ride itself is so much fun and it's clear the dogs love to pull! After the ride is over they let you help to unhook the dogs and you get to pet them. The yearlings (dogs about 1 year old) are shyer but the older dogs love the attention.
I will definitely go back next year- so much fun! read more