15 Day Yukon Quest Trail & Sky High AdventureDates & Rates Dates: Nov 15, 2008 - April 11, 2009 Departs Saturdays Maximum 4 participants per Musher Guide on Yukon Quest trail Price: Can $4,260. + GST/Person Single room in Whitehorse Can $89 + GST add.
Interested in enjoying mushing on many trails in different areas? Then this extended dog sledding tour might be the right one for you. One week enjoying the historic trails around Sky High Wilderness Ranch and a second week exploring, and running dogs along the Yukon Quest Trail. Extended Dog sledding can be demanding so this winter adventure is for the musher with some experience but also for daring beginners! * Please note that dog sledding is comparable to cross country skiing and does require you to be in relatively good physical shape. * The Itinerary is an outline of the events that will be expected during the tour, however there is a good possibility that the Quest Trail part of the tour will be done the first week and the Sky High portion done during the second week. The max # of 4 clients for the Quest trail is due to the logistics of transporting dogs and equipment. * Depending on the dynamics of the group this tour may include a 3rd tent night and the itinerary may change slightly. * We do recommend that you arrive the day before your tour. Whether you arrive the day of your tour or days before don't worry we'll take care of you. All clients will be picked up at the airport upon arrival and taken to a hotel or straight to the ranch. Pre and Post nights can be booked for you upon request. |
|
Day 1 SaturdayThe morning on the day of your tour you will picked up at 10AM in the hotel lobby. As a group we will do some last minute shopping and pick up any items missing from the packing list as well as fishing licenses. Afterwards we drive to the Sky High Wilderness Ranch, 20km South of Whitehorse where we outfit you with your expedition clothing. Enjoy a hot lunch and then be introduced to your 4 legged companions that will be with you for the tour. Now you learn the basics of; dog care, checking their feet and shoulders, dog massage, sledding and parts of the sled. Harness your team, hook up and go for your very first run! After taking care of the dogs we can enjoy the sauna, have a shower, hot dinner and cozy up by the fire. Overnight at Sky High Wilderness Ranch. (L,D)
Day 2 SundayWhile the morning sun slowly lifts over the horizon we prepare for our daytrip after breakfast. We feed and water the dogs and harness them up at around 11 a. m. We cover about 35 km in distance, driving towards Jackson Lake. Just the slight sound of the working dogs and runners in the snow will be with you for that day. You get to know your dogs and start to form a personal relationship. With every stop, and praise for the dogs, they learn to trust you and you to trust them. Overnight at Sky High Wilderness Ranch. (B,L,D) Day 3 MondayThe dogs will pull us on a trail east of the Ranch. We are continuously climbing in elevation as we are heading on an abandoned mining road on MacIntyre Mountain. On occasional stops we can enjoy unprecedented scenery of the Coastal Mountains with Fish Lake nestled deep in the valley. Returning to the Lodge and overnight at Sky High Wilderness Ranch. (B,L,D) Day 4 TuesdayToday we head towards beautiful Bonneville Lakes, west of the ranch, part of the Kwanlin Dunn first Nation Traditional Land. The trails are narrower with some challenging up and downs. The Coastal Mountains are always in view to the South and West. Part of the trip we travel above tree line and easily cover between 20 and 30 km. Slowly, a new feeling of life will creep in. In harmony with the running rhythm of your team you will enjoy nature in a way you've never experienced before. Overnight at Sky High Wilderness Ranch. There is a gravity fed indoor shower waiting for you in the main lodge. (B, L, D) Day 5 WednesdayNow you leave behind the last remnants of civilization and head out to a real wilderness. The trail follows Fish Lake, climbs, and heads into the Coastal Range to the south. After aprox 2.5 hrs of running time we reach our wall tent camp at dry creek. Overnight in Wall tent (B,L,D)
Day 6 ThursdayFrom the wall tent camp, weather permitting we will make a run to the top of the mountain above tree line to Ptarmigan flats where there is a good chance of seeing large flocks of these beautiful white birds and having some wonderful sledding on miles of wind blown snowy hill tops along side the Ibex mountain range, and at the base of mount Granger. There have been frequent sightings of caribou & moose in this area. Back to the wall tent camp for night (B,L,D) Day 7 Friday/ TuesdayAfter a musher's breakfast, we will start mushing back to Sky High Wilderness Ranch. The dogs pull us steady westbound with the Coastal Mountains in plain view ahead of us. Way too soon you return to civilization and have one night at the Best Western Gold Rush Inn before beginning the second part of your adventure at Braeburn and on the Yukon Quest trail. (B,L,) In the late afternoon we drive you to Whitehorse where you spend your night in a downtown Hotel. Day 8 SaturdayYou will once again be picked up at 10am in the Hotel lobby. Here again you also have the chance to do some last minute shopping. We return to Sky High to start preparing your equipment, sleds, gear and dogs for the 2 hour drive to Braeburn, one of the official check points of the Yukon Quest. The rest of the day will be spent getting the dogs and equipment to the cabins at Skuttlebutt lodge. Settle into your new surroundings and take some time to just sit with your dogs while they also get a quiet day to rest.(L,D) Day 9 SundayWhile the morning sun slowly lifts over the horizon we feed and water the dogs and then enjoy our own hearty breakfast. Then we prepare for our daytrip, harness the dogs, hook up and we're on our way! This will be a shorter day of exploring and ice fishing on big & Little Braeburn Lakes. Test your skills and catch your dinner! These Lakes are excellent for Burbot, Lake trout, Grayling and Northern Pike. Then back to the cabins at Skuttlebutt lodge to cook the catch of the day! (B,L,D) |
Day 10 MondayToday we head across the Alaska highway north onto the Quest Trail, through the wilderness to Coghlan lake. Here we mush back into some real Yukon Wilderness where we take a well deserved break, give the dogs their well deserved snack, and have some lunch by the camp fire. We easily cover between 30 to 40 km. Slowly a new feeling of life will creep in. In harmony with the running rhythm of your team you will enjoy nature in a way never experienced before. The evening we spend again in our cozy log cabins. Time for a shower? Overnight in Cabins at Skuttlebutt Lodge. (B,L,D) Day 11 TuesdayFor three more days we leave behind all the comforts of civilization and head out for an unforgettable adventure. Your team of Huskies pulls you and your loaded sled to remote historical Kynocks Road House camp, along the Yukon Quest Trail. The Yukon Quest is the toughest Sled Dog Race in the World. Everything we need will be packed with us on the sled. We go out to cut some firewood, set up the Arctic oven tent, cook together and share stories. If the group decides, we might even take a few of our new four legged friends in the tent. We have a great chance to see Bison, moose or Caribou. Overnight in tent or under the stars. (B,L,D) Day 12 WednesdayAfter so many days of sledding the morning routine becomes a part of life - saying good morning and feeling the energy from the amazing dogs that have pulled you over numerous obstacles and hundreds of kms. Today will again be filled with wonder as you break camp and hook up your partners to the sled and head further down the Quest trail. If all goes well we will be setting up camp once again at Doolie Lake. Overnight in tent or under the stars. (B,L,D) Day 13 ThursdayWaking up after a night of watching the northern lights would make this a morning that is only written about in books. In the middle of the wilderness, in the Yukon, on the Quest trail, the dogs are now a part of your world and are excited to see you each morning. Time to pack up camp, which is getting easier with all the practice. With human and canine having had a good breakfast it's time again to hit the trail and head for the last camp of the trip by the banks of Little River. Overnight in tent or under the stars. (B,L,D) Day 14 FridayAfter a last musher's breakfast, the food is nearly gone and the sleds are lighter, we will start for our final day of mushing. The dogs pull us steady southbound with the Coastal Mountains in plain view ahead of us. Our destination is Flat creek where the transportation will be waiting for us. The truck and trailers will be loaded for the short drive back to civilization. After heartfelt goodbyes from the dogs and guide, a comfortable room at the hotel will be waiting for you. Overnight at the Best Western Gold Rush Inn (B,L)
Day 15 SaturdayOver breakfast you can start planning your next Sky High Wilderness adventure and contact us about even more challenging tours that we offer to out door enthusiasts. The Whitehorse shuttle service van brings you to the airport for your southbound flight…. Or better yet, complete your Yukon winter experience, by joining another tour offered. INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
NOT INCLUDED:
Please note:* This Dog sledding adventure is a challenging but relaxed fun trip! We supply you with the best equipment possible and teach you all the important aspects of mushing. * To participate you must be healthy, enjoy working with dogs and have a good team spirit. Dog sledding is a comparable physical activity to cross-country skiing, so you should be in relatively good physical shape.
* The camps have no power or telephone, showers are of basic gravity fed nature and not available in tent camp. Shower and sauna at Lodge. * You will be required to sign a "release of claims and waiver of liability form" prior to the departure of this tour. Packing List:*Note: No Cotton!
* Items on the above list can be purchased in Whitehorse but make note that near the end of the season some of these Items may be hard to find. |
|
Copyright © 2001-2007 Sky High Valley Ranches Ltd. |