The first day

Training round

After we have received our warm polar clothes, we drive together to the sled dog camp.

The sled dog center
Around 500 huskies await us here and we are glad that we don't have to choose ours ourselves. The dogs are kept in large kennels, which are divided into certain "regions". Our dogs live in "Greenland".

Alaskan huskies
As in most places in the far north, there are no purebred Siberian huskies here, but the widespread Alaskan huskies. These are well suited to longer tours because of their great stamina. The dogs look very different and are also of different sizes. Offspring are also "produced" here, but only as many as necessary. This is also necessary, because of course every dog ​​becomes an "oldie" once it has done its job and retires, so to speak. These older dogs are then allowed to enjoy their lives, for example by going hiking with guests.

Your own dog team
Now each of us gets our 4 dogs, which we have to look after ourselves. Harnessing the dog team to the sleigh is not that easy. Some dogs are very calm, others very excited. Harnessing the dogs is also something you have to learn.

Training round
The first training round today is about 35 kilometers long and takes us through beautiful winter landscapes, over lakes and through forests. We can practice driving the sleigh. It is also important to brake early so that your own dogs do not run into the front sleigh, because we all drive one behind the other. When it goes uphill, you have to help the dogs by pushing the sleigh.

Survived well
In the end, everyone survived the first sleigh ride well and we returned to the camp, where we had to say goodbye to our dogs. But tomorrow we will be on the big tour. After a warm soup, we drive back to the lodge with the other groups.

more...