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).
.
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!).
.
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 MeribelVillage
(Village NOT Meribel). From Meribel
the dog sledding activity is anything from a five to ten minute drive.
.
how to get there
.
FREE BUS
.
From
outside the Tavern in the centre of Meribel,
you can catch a free bus to MeribelVillage
you do not need a lift pass to travel free on the Meribus,
it is free to everyone. When the bus pulls in to MeribelVillage it will stop next to a
large roundabout. When you get off the bus you will need to follow the
road back out the way the bus came in. Turn right at the main road and
walk about 1km to La Plantin - you will hear
and see the dogs when you get close - You can't go wrong!.
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WHITETRACKS HOST
.
Collected
from your chalet 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
.
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 Meribel.
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
.
Unlike many other dog sledding experiences that you may have
seen or taken part in the dog sledding experience in Meribel
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!
.
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.
.
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
.
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.
.
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.
