Lodge-Based Dogsled Vacations

DAY 1: Arrive in Ely early afternoon by car or airport taxi shuttle. Stop at Wintergreen store for any rental clothing needs, continue to your lodge for check-in and site tour. Meet your guide & sled dogs. Welcoming dinner at 6 pm followed by trip orientation session and clothing check.

DAY 2: Sunrise kennel care (optional) followed by breakfast and "Dogsledding 101" training. The big moment arrives as your guide helps you launch your team and accompanies you on a dogsled training trip. Midday lunch in the lodge, skills review, extended rest break. Afternoon dogsled trip. Return to lodge 4-5 pm. Treat & water your dogs. R&R. Dinner. Optional socializing around the fireplace.

DAY 3: Kennel care & breakfast. Depart on a full day of mushing with trailside campfire lunch and rest stops at scenic sites. Your Wintergreen guide accompanies you on skis, providing tune-up tips on your mushing skills and sharing natural history info along the route. Return to the 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: Now that you "know the ropes," the guide will plan the day based upon your interests -- choose between easy or challenging trails and a longer or shorter routes. Scenic stops might include the ice caves, the Murphys Falls overlook, the river bluff, the old-growth forest and you may opt to include time for skiing/snowshoeing or to try "ski-jouring" (being towed on skis by a sled dog). Return to your cabin mid to late afternoon (or earlier if one or both pairs of guests would like more R&R in their cabin). Dog treats. Celebration dinner. Time to yourselves or optional evening activities which include (depending upon trip dates) "What's For Dinner?" program at the International Wolf Center to observe the wolves feeding or fireside arctic stories with Wintergreen director Paul Schurke.

DAY 5: Kennel care (optional), "bon voyage" breakfast buffet, "Mushers Graduation" event, kennel visit to bid your dogs adieu, check-out mid to late morning (or earlier if your travel plans require). OR if you'd like to extend your stay an extra day or two, we can often arrange for you to continue the same lodging at discount rates. If you weren't able to visit Ely's International Wolf Center (www.wolf.org) or North American Bear Center (www.bear.org) during their winter hours (Fri/Sat 10-5) before your dogsled trip, we can sometimes arrange a special visit to the wolf viewing area or bear exhibits on your check-out day.