Dog Sledding through a Pink Snowscape
While Tipsy stayed comfortably in the (warm) hotel (with a plentiful supply of chocolate), we decided that we hadn’t had enough of sub zero temperatures and had to also try dog sledding , so the next day, we were taken out to a farm by Arctic Adventures, not too far away from Tromsø.
After getting kitted out in boiler suits, several more pairs of socks and boots, we went out to the kennels to meet the dogs.
They aren’t huskies (who aren’t so agreeable), but a very agreeable mixed breed, who are adorable rascals who know how to make puppy dog eyes at you, jump up to give you a hug, but don’t listen to a word you say (mush, and stop, stop stop, isn’t in their vocabulary).
We were given brief instructions by the nice owners about how to handle the sled – however, a slightly longer introduction might have been nice as we were quite nervous. It’s also a long course (13Km), so be prepared if you are going – you have to do the work and concentrate throughout.
The dogs are tremendously excited and long to be off on the snowy road.
You have to drive the dogs, and you need to use your body and weight, so be ready to do this and stand on a lever at the back to brake, but if you are tiny, like us, you have to use your full weight by standing on it with both legs, and even then, the doggies don’t listen when it comes to going home. Several others in the group fell off, like us, and one of us actually damaged their shoulder rotatory cuff (didn’t know till we’d gone home, after the holiday). The staff were kind and helpful – but since the cold numbed the pain, it wasn’t obvious till later.
Despite this, it was still was an amazing experience. The landscape is simply stunning – it’s just out of this world. White snow, and the pink setting sun, tinges the snow with a delicate pink. Go at sunset if you can, because it’s amazing. So magical, but impossible to get photos due to the speed of the doggies and the freezing cold weather – 20! We also had a full moon which added to the beauty.
The tour ends in a warm log cabin with steaming hot cups of tea and coffee and chocolate cake. The dogs leave a musky scent on your clothes, but a good wash in the machine cleared that.
All in all, an unforgettable experience. Tipsy was very interested in our stories when we got home, but seemed to have had fun with her friends while we were away.