Our "SHORTER" trip option (with family pricing!)

To maximize your dogsledding time and minimize check-in/check-out time, on most of these trips you'll spend all 3 nights in the same lakeshore lodge (either Timber Trail or Wintergreen -- both have fireplace and sauna). Suited for singles or pairs and specially discounted for families: The first child 5-16 years gets $100 off. A 2nd & 3rd child get $200 and $300 off respectively (when accompanied by a second adult). Kids have a great time on these trips & families can often get their own cabin.

• "mush" a team of our friendly Eskimo dogs on beautiful northwoods trails
• each trip typically includes 8 guests, 2 guides & 4 dogteams with our extra wide & stable 2-person sleds
• 2 days of guided dogsledding to sites of scenic, historic and wildlife interest  
• double-occupancy bedrooms/shared bathrooms (single occupancy when
• available with surcharge)
• indoor lunch 1st day;  trailside lunch on 2nd day plus snack breaks
• great dinners prepared by our staff cook, served family-style
• evening socializing at the fireplace and northwoods stories with your guides
• optional chance to try snowshoes, skis, ski-jouring and our Finnish sauna
• welcoming dinner on first night and final "Mushers Graduation" morning

GUEST PROFILE: These trips often overlap with our 4-night standard trips and thus have a similarly diverse social mix, with about 50% of guests as family groups, 25% as couples, 15% as pairs or groups of friends and 10% as singles. Our 3-night trips have our highest percentage of youth, with about 20% of guests 16 or younger. Last year’s ages ranged 5-78. If you’re considering this as a family vacation option, chances are there’ll be other kids on board for yours to connect with.

MEALS: You’ll enjoy great food – and plenty of it! Dinners and 1st day luncheons are prepared by our staff cook under the direction of our French chef Bernard Herrmann. Your guides (who love to cook nearly as much as dogsled!), will prepare your breakfasts and your campfire lunches on the 2nd and 3rd days of dogsledding. Meals are served family-style around a big long table with guides & guests eating together and sharing tales from the trail.

LODGING: The Dec 9, Jan 6, Feb 24, Mar 9 & Mar 23 trips are based at Wintergreen. The Jan 2, Jan 20, Jan 30, & Mar 15 trips are based at Timber Trail Lodge (either the White Pine or Blue Spruce group cabins). The other 6 trip dates (Dec 16, Jan 13, Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 17 & Mar 2) include a night or two at both Wintergreen and Timber Trail (and thus are "lodge-to-lodge" trips) and we arrange to shuttle luggage and vehicles as needed. All these trips are "3-night/4-night combos" meaning that some guests book them as a 4-night itinerary (see our 4-night Standard Trips) and stay on for an extra day.  Lodge dress is very casual (loafers & a sweat suit are just fine!)

Sample Itinerary (may vary with trip dates)

DAY 1: Arrive in Ely early afternoon by car or airport taxi shuttle. Visit Ely's International Wolf Center if time allows (tickets compliments of Wintergreen, winter hours: 10-4 Sat/Sun, http://www.wolf.org/). Visit Wintergreen store for any rental clothing needs, continue to lodge (Wintergreen or Timber Trail) for check-in and site tour. Meet your guides & dogs. Welcoming dinner at 6 pm followed by trip orientation session and clothing check. Optional night visit to the kennel (a chance to 'howl' with your dogs at the moon and watch for northern lights!)

DAY 2: Sunrise kennel care (optional) followed by breakfast and "Dogsledding 101" training. The big moment arrives as your guides help you launch your team and accompany you on a dogsled training trip. Return to lodge midday for lunch, skills review and rest break. Depart on afternoon dogsled trip. Return to lodge 4-5 pm. Treat & water your dogs. R&R. Dinner. Optional socializing with guests & guides around the fireplace.

DAY 3: Kennel care & breakfast followed by full day of mushing with trailside campfire lunch and rest stops at scenic sites. (If your itinerary involves changing lodges on Day 3, your luggage and vehicles will be shuttled ahead.) Wintergreen guides accompany your group on skis, providing tune-up tips on your mushing skills and sharing natural history info along the route. Arrive at lodge late afternoon. Treat & water your dogs. Optional skiing/snowshoeing or R&R. 6 pm dinner. Optional evening activates include Finnish-style sauna, campfire gathering, fireplace stories, and/or 'film fest' to view the National Geographic documentaries on Wintergreen adventures.

DAY 4: Kennel care, goodbye breakfast, kennel visit to bid your dogs adieu, check-out mid to late morning (or earlier if your travel plans require).