Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/613959
W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A . C O M 35 scattered all across Montana, with a busy location running right out of Chico Hot Springs in Paradise Valley. Hannah Vogel and her husband took over Absaroka Dogsled Treks just three years ago, though the operation has been operating out of Chico Hot Springs for 22 years. Weather permitting, they open the day after anksgiving and run straight through March. Teams for guided tours are comprised of 6-12 dogs, and most operations have enough dogs for a half-dozen teams. e bigger teams run tandem sleds, which have space for both a guide and a guest driver. is is a common strategy for guest tours: the tandem sled acts almost like a driver's education car, with two sets of brakes. Guests also have the option of driving a team on their own, but guides will be in every other sled to keep things running smoothly. When the eager guests arrive, everyone meets at the office and layers up — it can get cold out on the trail! From there, it's a crash course in mushing terms, safety pointers, and what to do in the off- chance that something goes wrong. After that, it's meet the dogs, and head into the woods. e harnessing process of a sled dog team can only be described as a joyous cacophony of howls and barks. e dogs know what's coming, and they just can't wait. But once they're running, all is silent save for the sounds of paws and sled runners gliding over the snow. When these dogs get down to business, they do their job, and they do it well. e majority of sled dogs are Alaskan Huskies. ey weigh in at around 50 pounds, smaller than some people expect. Alaskan Huskies are not actually considered a breed, but more a "category" of dog — a highly specialized category though, bred to run and pull as efficiently as possible while working impeccably well as a team. Siberian Huskies are the other breed of dog used on a sled adventure. ese are the poster-dogs for mushing. ey are a little bigger, and have the distinctively mottled coat, stocky stature, and thick, curled tail. Like any athlete, the dogs have to get in shape for their season. ey live a leisurely life during the summer, and then in October, they start running in front of a four-wheeler to muscle up. From WILD RIDE: DOGSLEDDING WINTER'S