Dog Sledding Adventure!
We did a Dog Sledding adventure! We’ve done a lot of wonderful Disney Cruise Excursions, but this is my most favorite.
I promised earlier to post about the “super fantastic best-excursion-ever in Skagway” and this is it! It is a sled dog camp.
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Helicopter Ride
We started this journey by being transported from the ship to the heliport. They did a safety presentation and fitted us with snow boots and vests. For about 15 minutes we flew over the forest, snow-topped mountains and glaciers. The helicopter ride was an adventure of its own. Seeing Alaska from the air is hard to describe.
Helicopter to Denver glacier dog camp Snow topped mountains on way to Denver glacier
Snowcat Ride
As we approached the dog camp, the pilot decided it was too foggy to go all the way up to the camp. Instead, he landed a little below the campsite and we took a snowcat to the camp – which was actually an added bonus! In case you don’t know, a snowcat is an enclosed truck-like vehicle with treads to be able to maneuver on snow. It was cool!
Sled Dog Training Camp
The sled dog camp is the summer home to over 300 Alaskan Sled Dogs! At the camp, we saw these beautiful dogs waiting to run! We talked with professional mushers who tend the dogs all summer in the largest sub-arctic sled dog camp in the world.
One of the mushers took us to meet our dog team. The team had 9 dogs and a sled. The sled was built where 2 of us could ride while the other drove the team with the trainer. The trainer stopped a couple of times so we all had a turn driving, What a rush!
Definitely an experience we will never forget! Another group of people and their team were several minutes ahead of us. Our team kept trying to catch up with them, just like it was a real race!
Sled dogs at the Denver glacier training camp Dogs at camp
Sled Dogs at their houses Happy dogs ready to go!
The Dog Camp Staff
We talked a while with our musher/trainer and found her story very interesting. Everything they use has to be flown up by helicopter because that is the only way to get there. They also remove everything, as to not change the icefield. This includes human and dog waste. Each time the helicopters make a trip to the glacier, they take and remove things.
The crew stays in tent structures and use a portable potty. There is no running water and each crew member has one day off a week. That is when they go into Skagway for personal supplies and showers. There is no electricity so they use generators for the
They also do some research and scientific measurements. The camp operates under a permit from the U.S. Forest Service because the Denver glacier is part of the Tongass National Forest. The sled dog camp operates from mid-May through late August.
The Dog Sledding Puppies
Before flying back to Skagway, there was one more “little” highlight – a chance to snuggle with the puppies, which are possibly the cutest, most lovable creatures you’ll meet during your entire Alaskan adventure. We had to pry our daughter away from them!
This was a bit pricey for an excursion, but I would not have missed it for anything! If you ever have the opportunity to be a musher – go for it!
Read about Juneau here.
And Ketchikan here.
Get a FREE Alaskan Cruise Packing List here.
We are longtime Disney cruisers, having taken 15 cruises so far. We have sailed on each of the 4 Disney ships and have been to Alaska, Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas, Southern Caribbean, Canadian Coastline, and a special Mexican Mayan itinerary. If you have any questions, please contact me. I love to talk about Disney cruising!
I would’ve taken one with me if I could’ve fit it under my jacket.
HAHA! I know you would have!