| Saturday, September 4th, 2010 | Sky High Valley Ranches Ltd. | Whitehorse, YT 8°C   |
| Saturday, September 4th, 2010 | Sky High Valley Ranches Ltd. | Whitehorse, YT 8°C |
| Dates |
|---|
| November 14, 2009 - April 10, 2010 Departs Saturdays | Rates |
| Can $4,980 + GST/Person Additional: Room in Whitehorse Can $ + GST add. | Participants |
| Max. 6 participants / Musher Guide |
Sky High Valley Ranches Ltd is excited to offer this exciting tour filled with fun and adventure for the outdoor enthusiast who wants to experience the true north in both the traditional and modern way of transportation. Spend 4 days traveling the Yukon Quest Trail on a guided snow machine tour. Experience the beauty and the rugged wilderness in this area and appreciate the courage, will power and sheer determination of those who race the toughest dog sled race in the world - The Yukon Quest. Then step back in time and try your hand at the traditional transportation of the north at Sky High Wilderness Ranch. Spend your days mushing your own team through the pristine wilderness of the Fish Lake area. Relax in the evenings with a shower, sauna or snuggled up by the fire recounting your day's adventure with others on your tour! We do everything we can to ensure that this is your adventure of a lifetime and that you go home with many happy memories of your visit to the Yukon.
* Depending on the dynamics of the group this tour may include a 3rd tent night on day 8 and the itinerary may change slightly.
* Please note that dog sledding is comparable to cross country skiing and does require you to be in relatively good physical shape.
* All our tours are guided for your safety. Before commencing on any trip, we provide basic training on how to operate and ride a snowmobile/dogsled safely. Snow machine helmets are provided and we supply warm high-quality winter outer clothing and boots - if required. All our guides are fully certified, always travel with a SAT phone and a well stocked First Aid Kit on any snowmobile/dog sled tour.
* 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.
We will meet you at your hotel lobby at 10:00 am. After a brief stop at Up North Adventures for paperwork and gear check, we leave for the trailhead where guests receive their snow machine orientation and safety lesson. After checking to make sure everyone is ready, we leave for our 4 day adventure! The rest of the morning will be spent snowmobiling north towards Braeburn. Enjoy lunch on the trail before continuing to our first camp - an evening spent in a rustic wall tent! (L,D)
We start the morning with a hearty breakfast at the Wall Tents, after which we break camp and continue to Braeburn. We'll have a quick stop for fresh cinnamon buns at the Braeburn Lodge before continuing to Coghlan Lake Lodge, our stop for the evening. Lunch on trail. (B,L,D)
Day 3 includes a day trip north following the Yukon Quest Trail to Frank Lake for ice fishing. Lunch will be served on the lake by the camp fire. We return to Coghlan Lake Lodge for the evening. We can spend a relaxing evening by the wood stove or indulge in a hot sauna to finish our last night on the trail. (B,L,D)
This is our final day. The morning is spent packing up and checking gear before departing down the trail for Deep Creek on lake Laberge. Enjoy a hot lunch on the trail and then rendezvous with the shuttle driver in the early afternoon for return to Whitehorse return to the Best Western Gold Rush Inn late afternoon. (B,L,)
The morning on the Dog Sledding part of your tour, you will be picked up again 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. 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 for the week. 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.(L,D)
While the morning sun lifts slowly over the magnificent horizon, we sit in the comfort of our lodge dining room having breakfast and plan our day. Then we say good morning to our new canine friends and ensure they are fed, watered and happy before harnessing them around 11am. Today we cover approx 35km in distance driving towards secluded Jackson Lake. The only sound will be the runners in the snow, the working dogs, and your words of encouragement. This is the day that you begin to know each dog's personality and form a bond that only man and dog can understand. With every stop, praise and show of affection for your dogs, they will learn to trust you and you to trust them. Overnight at Sky High Wilderness Ranch. (B,L,D)
Today your team will pull you east of the ranch. As we climb in elevation we are heading onto an old abandoned mining road on McIntyre Mountain. Enjoy the pristine landscape of the coastal mountains nestling Fish Lake in it's valley. Keep an eye out for wildlife - you never know what you might see! Return to Sky High lodge for the night. Take care of the dogs and then curl up by the fire or sit around the dinner table recounting your adventures with others. There is a gravity fed shower waiting for you in the main lodge. (B,L,D)
This day takes us towards beautiful Bonneville Lakes, west of the ranch. The trails are narrower here with some challenging ups and downs. The scenery is breathtaking and the coastal mountains are always in view to the south and west. Part of the trip we are above tree line and easily cover 20-30km. In harmony with the running rhythm of your team you will enjoy nature like you have never experienced it before. There is a gravity fed shower and relax in our sod roof sauna before retiring for the night in the lodge. (B,L,D)
Imagine yourself years ago when only dogsled was used for transportation. Head out into the untouched wilderness for 3 days of winter camping at our wall tent camp at Dry Creek. The silence of the area seeps into your soul as you journey farther into the amazing landscape surrounding the Fish Lake Area. The trail on this day follows the shores of Fish Lake, climbs and heads into the coastal mountain range to the south. Enjoy the crisp freshness of this day and don't forget to take photos! Curl up at night by the woodstove for a cozy sleep in our wall tents. (B,L,D)
At dawn enjoy a hearty camp breakfast in our wall tent kitchen. From our camp, weather permitting we will make a run to the top of the mountain above the tree line to Ptarmigan Flats. Keep your eyes open for this beautiful white bird, while sledding on miles of wind blown hill tops. Over night at Wall tent Camp.(B.L,D)
On this day we wake to a hearty musher's breakfast, feed our dogs and start our journey back to Sky High. to get cleaned up, a good nights sleep and rested for the next part of your adventure where you step back in time and experience the more challenging trails to Coal lake. Night at Coal lake base camp (B,L,D)
Again be picked up by 10am and prepare to leave the last remnants of civilization, step back in time and become one with your team as you mush the historic trails to our trapper cabin at remote Coal Lake. Everything we need for this camp will be packed on our sleds. Here we live the simple life with just the basics; cutting firewood, cooking over the fire or on the woodstove, heating water for washing, mushing the scenic trails and sharing stories by the fire in the evening. We have a good chance of seeing Caribou or moose in this area so keep your camera handy! Over night at Coal Lake base camp. (L,D)
Today our journey takes us across Coal Lake towards Alligator Lake. The Alpine landscape is enticing and has a northern charm all it's own. Here your driving skills will be tested, as a few trails will demand your attention. Coal Lake is a favorite spot for ice fishing and has been used as a food supply for many an old time trapper. Over night at Coal Lake base camp. (B,L,D)
Wake with the sun and greet the day with a hot cup of coffee and a hearty breakfast. On this last day of mushing breath deeply the fresh clean air and take in the rugged landscape one last time as you run your team back towards Sky High Wilderness Ranch. As you mush over the clean white snow, listen one last time to the quiet whoosh of the runners and the soft panting of the dogs. Keep those memories forever with some last photos of your return trip. Back at Sky High we will have a hot lunch. Pack your belongings and enjoy the drive winding down Fish Lake Rd. to Whitehorse for your last night in the Best Western Gold Rush Inn. Once we arrive in Whitehorse you will receive your musher diploma and a shuttle pass. (B,L)
Over 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.
| Packing List |
|---|
| Ξ Thermal Underwear- 2 long sleeve shirts and 2 pants |
| Ξ Fleece Pants and Sweater |
| Ξ Neck Warmer and Balaclava |
| Ξ Fleece Hat(Toque) or Fur hat |
| Ξ Thermal Socks - 4 pairs |
| Ξ Thin Fleece Gloves - 2 pairs |
| Ξ Head Lamp, with Lithium batteries |
| Ξ Goggles or Sunglasses |
| Ξ Camera, with Lithium batteries |
| Ξ Indoor shoes or slippers |
| Ξ Thermos |
| Included | Not Included |
|---|---|
| Ξ Transfer from and to Whitehorse | Ξ Alcoholic beverages (we buy jointly before the tour) |
| Ξ Night 4 and 14 accommodation in Whitehorse (2 night double room) | Ξ Winter clothing rental of warm Northern Outfitters Jacket, Pants; $35/item, sleeping bag $45 each, mitts $10. Payable upon arrival in cash or credit card |
| Ξ Accommodation in cabins (6 or 7 nights double room) or wood heated tent outpost camps (5 or 6 nights group accommodation.) | Ξ Meals in restaurants (dinner day 4, breakfast day 1, 5 and 15) |
| Ξ All meals including non-alcoholic beverages, except dinner day 4, breakfast day 1, 5 and 15 in Whitehorse | Ξ All expenses of personal nature |
| Ξ Use of personal sled and 3 to 6 Huskies | |
| Ξ Musher Diploma & Shuttle Pass | |
| Ξ Winter Boots included, all other equipment see right |
* We strongly advise that you purchase travel/cancellation insurance before traveling.
* 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.
* We point out, that unforeseeable circumstances such as weather conditions, wind chill factor, extreme temperatures (-30 or lower), condition of the group or illness of the dogs may force us to change this itinerary. The safety of our guests takes precedence and our decisions are final.
* You will be required to sign a "release of claims and waiver of liability form" prior to the departure of this tour.