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Try Something Different -- Dog Sledding
from: Maxx Sports GuidesIf you're looking for a truly adventurous vacation, forget about skydiving and white water rafting, why not try an activity gradually gaining more popularity -- dog sledding. Just think about the thrill of navigating a snow covered wilderness with your loyal team of dogs? You'll discover a vacation resort in snow filled country may be just what you're looking for since they offer a great opportunity to try a completely new activity. You don't require your own team of dogs, or even months of training, or any previous experience. In fact, families with children are now discovering this marvelous new way to connect with nature together.
You'll discover many dog sledding adventure vacation available. You might consider a short trip that lasts just a few hours or a longer trip or day trip that provides a campfire and meal out in the wilderness, but a return to your lodge in the evening where you'll be snug and safe. If you're more into having an extreme adventurer, you'll find overnight trips as well as weeklong adventures that take you and your dog team into the backcountry or a prized fishing location. However, any outdoor adventure is going to require some caution to make sure everyone stays safe along with having a good time.
Choose a Reputable Vacation Promoter. The best promoters will have well trained dogs, properly maintained equipment, and experienced guides to ensure your safety. It's a good idea to be sure the outfit has been in business for a while and completed a number of successful expeditions. Your best bet is to find previous clients and get their testimonials.
Know Your Limitations. Are you a dog lover? If not, or if there's anyone in the group who isn't, then perhaps this isn't the right adventure for you. Let's face it, you certainly wouldn't want to spend so much time with a child who's extremely afraid of dogs and will probably scream in fear whenever he's placed into the sled. It's also recommended that if you're new to outdoor vacations in very cold climates, you should start slow. It would be an absolute disaster to sign up for a weeklong expedition and then find yourself freezing and miserable a half hour after leaving camp.
Be Prepared to Learn and Work. Even with a guide along during your outing, don't expect him or her to rig up your dogs. Snce it's your extreme adventure vacation it will be your responsibility to get the work done. Your guide will train you in proper dog handling techniques and show you how to rig them to the sled, remove the rigging, as well as caring for the dogs when the sledding day is over. Your guides will likely give you a helping hand, but don't expect to leave all the work to them. You're going to have to get down and dirty and pitch in with most of the work yourself.
Choose Your Clothes Carefully. Even though you many have lots of winter gear already in your closet, remember, this trip isn't a Sunday shopping expedition where you may have deal with a few snow flurries. This is a completely different setting where you'll be dealing with potentially harsh snow and ice, so keep in mind the first rule of keeping warm in a winter environment is to stay dry.
When choosing winter clothing, wilderness survival kits warn you to never wear cotton because this fabric takes much too long to dry. When cotton gets wet, it retains moisture against your skin, which will freeze or at least become very uncomfortably cold, making it difficult for you to stay warm. Get clothes made from synthetic fibers because they don't retain water the way cotton does. Wool should be avoided as it's similar to cotton, but not nearly as bad.
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