W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A . C O M
37
YOU CAN
GET YOUR
DOGSLED FIX
ALL ACROSS THE STATE.
SPIRIT OF THE NORTH takes guests out by Moonlight Basin,
with views of the Spanish Peaks and Big Sky.
DOGSLED ADVENTURES operates out of the Flathead Valley,
with stunning Glacier National Park as the backdrop for their tours.
If you're nearer to Yellowstone than Glacier, check out
YELLOWSTONE DOG SLED ADVENTURES near West Yellowstone.
www.YellowstoneDogSledAdventures.com
command, and the lack of lines or reins in the musher's hands can be a little
nerve-wracking on a first outing. For some, having a foot brake is all it takes to
relax. With a little pressure, the brake digs into the snow, similar to an ice pick.
Full pressure is needed when stopped on the trail, which means standing with
both feet on the brake. Since the brake works like an ice pick, semi-packed snow
is ideal; tours won't run if the trail is too icy.
Most people who head out on these tours have never gone dogsledding, but
the tours make it easy, fun, and stress-free. e trails for guest tours are straight-
forward and safe, which means no hairpin turns or unexpected terrain. Absaroka
Dogsled Treks takes guests up Mill Creek, where the thick trees shelter the trail
from the wind while maintaining ample snow cover throughout the winter. Most
companies offer several different distances — some outings as short as an hour,
and some nearly 20 miles long, making for an all-day trip.
e biggest challenge that comes with running this type of business is being
able to be flexible, since seasons are dependent on weather and trail conditions.
An unseasonably warm or low-snow year will end up with a shorter seasons and
canceled tours. Last year, the Vogels lost time and money because of the warm
winter and below-average snowpack.
No matter where in Montana you find yourself, take a break from traveling by
car, and hit a trail on a dogsled. "It's such a connection to nature and the connec-
tion to the dogs," says Vogel. "Seeing a creature so in its element is a powerful
thing. If the whole world woke up with their attitudes, the world would be a
different place."
Watch the feeding and caring
for a sled dog team:
www.distinctlymontana.com/sleddog161
DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL
