This is NOT a sit on ride! You are in charge of your own sled
with three sometimes four dogs to pull it and you. The dog Sledding activity
is an energetic, sometimes hard work experience that can be incredibly
rewarding. This experience is not around a flat lake its through woods,
up and down hills and occasionally under trees. You will have to help the
dogs up hill only then to balance on, and brake the sledge at the same
time coming back down.
Excursions are
available daily throughout the season but only when the weather and snow
conditions permit. Early in the season the weather does not really pose a
problem it is only later in the season when the temperature warms that
many of the problems arise. If it is snowing the dog sledding activity
will still operate (when it is snowing it just makes the dog sledding
activity feel more authentic and the surroundings and scenery are
beautiful when all covered in snow).
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It is only when it
starts to rain that the dog sledding activity gets cancelled altogether
or alternatively if possible - arranged for a different time. The reason
for canceling when it rains is not only due to the discomfort for you the
client being out in the rain for an hour but also when the dogs get wet
they have a tendency to shake themselves dry when the dogs do this
clients get covered in dirty, smelling doggy water. (Not very nice!).
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There are three sessions daily with time in between each in
order to give the dogs time to rest. There is no better time than
another, it is purely up to personal preference. The 1100hrs slot is
ideal if you wish to have a lie in and a leisurely breakfast with a ski
after the activity. Whereas, the 1530hrs slot is ideal if you wish to get
up early have most of a days skiing and then take part in the dog
sledding activity. Ultimately the choice is yours!
The Dog Sledding activity operates from La Plantin a small
village about 1km on from Meribel Village (Village NOT Meribel). From
Courchevel 1850 the dog sledding activity is a 35-40 minute drive.
.
how
to get there
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WHITETRACKS HOST
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Collected from your chalet or Hotel you and the other
participants will be transported straight to the Dog Sledding activity.
The Whitetracks host will then introduce you to the Instructors, answer
any final questions or queries that you may have about taking part. The Host
will then stay there for the safety brief making sure that you have
understood everything that has been said. As you leave for the excursion
the Whitetracks host will be taking photos. Whitetracks Photography
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As your Dog Sledding excursion finishes the Whitetracks host
will be at the finish point waiting for your return taking further
photos, ready to escort you back to your chalet or hotel in Courchevel. Whitetracks Host
40
minutes - 45 minutes - driving the dogs or Vice-Versa
5
minutes - 10 minutes - handing in equipment and saying goodbye to the
dogs
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Unlike many other
dog sledding experiences that you may have seen or taken part in the dog
sledding experience in Courchevel is not around a flat area of land. It
takes place in and around part of the Altiport forest and consists of up
hills, down hills, the occasional flat bits but will also require you to
duck under branches and such like. There are no sit on rides YOU are in
control of your own sledge with three dogs or sometimes four to pull you
along.
.
When you turn up to
the activity you will all be gathered around a single sledge where one of
the operators will guide and instruct you on how to control the sledge
and the dogs. You will be taught how to stand on the sledge, how to
balance and transfer your weight and very importantly how and when to use
the brake in order to slow yourselves down not injuring the dogs in the
process. PLEASE listen to the instructions carefully they are not only
for your safety but also for the dogs as well!
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Once you have listened and understood the instructions (If
there is something that you have not understood Please do not be shy -
ASK QUESTIONS!). You will then be told to get yourself a sledge, the
operators will then gauge you all and work out which team of dogs will be
best suited to you. When they have decided and they start to put the dogs
to each sledge you will need to be ready with your foot on the brake, so
as soon as the dogs are attached you and the sledge don't go anywhere.
When your first dog is attached to your sledge, your lead dog the
operator will tell you its name - this is the dog that you shout commands
at. You will need to remember this dogs name as you will be required to
shout ALLER and then the dogs name to move!
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When all the dogs are attached to the sledges and the
operators are ready to leave, you will all follow in a line leaving the
right amount of space that you have been told to between you and the
sledge in front. There is NO OVERTAKING throughout the excursion - some
of the dogs don't like each other so if they get close to each other they
will fight - KEEP YOUR DISTANCE.
Need
to be reasonably fit - Dog Sledding is a Physical Activity
.
Dog Sledding is quite a strenuous and physical activity -
obviously this does all really depend on your own level of fitness and
ability. Skiers and boarders seem to get on with the activity better than
non skiers and non boarders this is because of the balance required to
control the sledge down hills and around corners. Skiers and boarders
seem to understand the dynamics that little bit more because they are
doing it on a daily basis on the mountain. Please do not let this put any
non-skiers or boarders off we have many people that don't ski or board
take part in this activity and 99% of the time they all love it.
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There are no sit on rides which means that there is an age
restriction of 12 years old - this age has been set because the dogs
although, small are surprisingly powerful. A 12 year old is going to have
the strength and weight to control the sledge and dogs and not vice
versa.
All the equipment
needed for dog sledding will be supplied by the dog sledding company all
that you will need to bring is yourselves and the clothes that you are
dressed in. You will not be expected to bring any equipment for the operation
of the activity itself.
Ski
Clothing - Jacket, ski pants, hat, gloves, glasses/goggles &
Normal shoes
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Depending on the
time of the season will depend on how much clothing you will be wearing
at the start of the dog sledding activity and how much clothing you will
be wearing at the end. Early on in the season December to February the
winter is much colder and although the dog sledding activity is quite
strenuous and energetic you will need to dress for very cold conditions.
Later in the season it is still advisable to dress for cold conditions as
it will be more comfortable for you to be warm and as you get hotter you will
be able take items of clothing off. If you start the activity feeling
cold it will spoil part of your experience.
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Footwear is very
important - to take part in the dog sledding activity you will need to
wear normal footwear ideally a pair of walking boots, trainers are O.K.
but your feet might get wet causing discomfort during and after the
activity. Snowboarding boots are fine as long as you have flex in the
ankles. SKIING BOOTS ARE UNSUITABLE.
During your excursion there will be two members of staff
looking after a minimum of three clients or a maximum of seven. They will
be keeping an eye on all the participants throughout the excursion
stopping every so often in order to let everyone catch up or to get back
to the sledge and dogs if someone has fallen off.
There are four
different official breeds of sledge dogs, the most famous being the
Siberian Husky, the others are the Alaska Malamute, the Samoyede and
Greenland dog, they all have the same features in common, they are all
hard working and resistant to very low temperatures. They are
affectionate but also unfortunately prone to escape to hunt.
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Each dog in the
team wears an individually fitted harness that is made of lightweight
nylon webbing material, each harness is padded around the neck and
shoulders for the dogs comfort. The team of dogs are then hitched to a
rig or sled by means of a central rope or gang line as it is otherwise
known. Other equipment includes the snub line and snow hook used to
secure the team when stationary.
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SLEDGE
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Although
introduction of new materials and designs have increased both speed and
performance, sleds have changed very little from those used in the early
days of racing, they have basically remained of the traditional design
and construction. Even when there is a lack of snow, nothing will stop
the die-hard followers of this sport as wheeled rigs are used which is
often the case outside mountainous and far northern areas.
