Canada, even southern Canada, is often believed to be an eternal land of snow and ice. Even relatively northern parts of the United States think of their northern neighbour as a kind of Arctic wasteland inhabited by huskies, polar bears, and pack ice. In the midst of a bitter January in Ontario, the idea seems plausible.
The Bruce Peninsula juts out between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, catching winter weather with the limestone ridge of the Niagara Escarpment and dropping heavy snowfalls on fields and cedar woods, farm houses and drystone walls. Mountain Lake, where Singing Dogs – one of a handful of Ontario operators – bases their dog sledding adventures, is, in January, as close to the Arctic as I’m generally willing to go.
Moments after arriving I’m out in the dog yard meeting the dogs that will make up our team. They are friendlier, fluffier, and more excited than you’d imagine or expect. By the time we have them harnessed and hitched to the sled I’m as eager to go as they are. They jump with anticipation
Standing on the back runners of the sled, I am instantly transformed. Snow-covered cedar branches whisk by us. I imagine the excitement running the Iditarod, or mukluk-clad with a team speeding across the frozen barrens under the angled winter sun. The dogs are quiet now they’re running, and the only sound is of the runners on the snow. I could be anywhere, at any time. I’m enchanted.
I’m exhausted by the time we leave. The dogs are back in the yard and the little log house lies quiet under snow. As the car pulls out of the long laneway, the dogs begin to sing, a wild howling music in the winter landscape.
http://www.singingdogs.ca
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Comments
Hugo says...
Sounds fantastic. How much did it cost and was it easy to oganise?
Posted 756 days ago.
camillaskye says...
It's not cheap -- but as a special treat it was fantastic! Not too hard to organise either, the contact details are here: http://www.singingdogs.ca. I'm told dog sledding gets cheaper the farther north you go though....
Posted 756 days ago.
Amelia says...
The dogs are so beautiful! Looks amazing - was it absolutely freezing? Shame we don't have nice warm coats like the dogs!
Posted 744 days ago.
Amelia says...
The dogs are so beautiful! Looks amazing - was it absolutely freezing? Shame we don't have nice warm coats like the dogs!
Posted 744 days ago.
Amelia says...
The dogs are so beautiful! Looks amazing - was it absolutely freezing? Shame we don't have nice warm coats like the dogs!
Posted 744 days ago.
Alexandra says...
Looks like a beautiful experience! I'm dog-sledding at Whistler next month, and I hope it's half as good as your experience!
Posted 744 days ago.
Alexandra says...
PS Any tips on what to wear/bring?
Posted 744 days ago.
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