Everyone has that one movie they watched religiously when they were a child. Maybe yours was the Little Mermaid or the Iron Giant; mine was Balto. Balto resonated with me on multiple levels: there were dogs and wolves, the prospect of a badass adventure, and it instilled the idea that life is not about fitting in - but finding who you are. I'm not here to get too sappy, I'm just saying that Balto is 10/10 and you're doing yourself a serious disservice if you haven't seen it.
So, after years of a Balto inspired sledding expedition being my ultimate dream adventure - CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW MUCH I LOST MY SH** WHEN NOAH SURPRISED ME WITH A SLED DOG ADVENTURE FOR CHRISTMAS?! Serious freak outs and some tears *may* have ensued.
After the initial excitement [temporarily] calmed down, our priority became ensuring we were choosing a company that aligned in support of animal welfare and prioritized the ethical handling and training of their dogs. Wilderness Adventures is a family owned and operated company that treats their dogs as members of their family. They provide high-quality care, nutrition, and respect the working relationship between the guides and dogs alike. Safety of the dogs and guests is paramount to Wilderness Adventures and they were more than happy to answer any questions we had beforehand.
When our adventure finally arrived, I was beyond excited to find THE HAPPIEST dogs! Watching them play and roll around in the snow will seriously make your heart SWELL WITH HAPPINESS. There may have also been more tears of excitement, but I relatively kept my cool.
Meanwhile, these guys were READY TO GO.
The check in process was a breeze and soon enough we were cozied up under blankets and ready to set-off! Our guide was the absolute best and was eager to answer all of my questions from how the dogs are cared for, to when their training begins, the importance of the team's varied genetics, activity levels - and even shared how the teams run cross-country trails and remain active year-round. There were of course moments where we just enjoyed the ride, that's what life is all about, right?
Photo: Noah Horn
GETTING THERE: Contact Wilderness Adventures to book your literally magical adventure. Their customer service was top notch and they were great about communicating possible time changes due to weather conditions. They'll only run the dogs on days where conditions permit safety for both the teams and their guests. If anything speaks to how much they care about their teams, this next photo was of our guide and one of the pups. *Heart melts*.
Parking lot GPS coordinates (Resort at Squaw Creek): 39.200738, -120.216150
Wilderness Adventures meeting point: 39.199520, -120.219444
LET'S CUT TO THE CHASE:
GPS Coordinates for the parking lot: 39.200738, -120.216150, and meeting point: 39.199520, -120.219444.
Blankets and cushions are provided, there is additional room to store personal items in the front of the sled.
Plan to be in the area 1-2 days before or after your booked adventure. If the tour is postponed due to weather, they'll try to accommodate you a day before or after your originally scheduled reservation.
Essentials: sunglasses (the snow gets bright) and a LOVE FOR DOGS. If you're not a dog lover, this adventure might convert you to be one.
This was a childhood dream come true, and as with any dream I'm fortunate enough to achieve, I always replace it with a bigger one. It's a STETCH, but I'm putting it out into the universe that I would one day love the opportunity to volunteer at the Iditarod. It's a big physical and mental commitment, and it's now officially on my list. Maybe I'll have the chance to share that with you one day; but for now, thanks for reading along!!
Happiest rambles always, Leah
Photo: Noah Horn