Dog Day Afternoon
As we approached the Mendenhall Glacier, I could see several tiny black specks in the distance. The helicopter landed, and I took my first shaky steps onto the glacier. I was greeted by the overwhelming sound of nearly 200 barking sled dogs, letting me know they were ready to run.
I recently went on an Alaskan cruise, and although it isn’t my ideal style of travel, the ports we stopped in along the way offered some amazing things to see and do. Just outside Juneau, Alaska is the Mendenhall Glacier, which becomes a perfect spot for dog sledding in the summer. That’s right; it may be warm in the city, but there is always plenty of snow on the glacier.
The dogs greeting us were far different from the stereotypical blue-eyed, black and white Siberian Huskies showcased in movies. These Alaskan Huskies are mutts, but their speed and endurance are unmatched. They have the strength (and desire) to pull you around in a sled for days on end, but they’re just as excited to be patted, hugged and loved.
The staff running the show are extreme dog lovers and the epitome of committed ‘parents’. They live with their dogs on the glacier for six months out of the year without running water or electricity. Helicopters are the only way in and out, delivering their supplies every week or so. And at the beginning and end of each season, the choppers transport shelters, supplies, guides, and all 200 sled dogs to (or from) the glacier.
Once the sleds are all set up you’ll get to meet your team (the most important part), and then you can start carving new trails through the snow-covered glacier with your guide. Taking control of the sled on your own is a must, and it’s easier then you think. Within a short time, you’ll be calling out ‘hike’ and ‘mush’ without even noticing it. You’ll feel like you and your sled team can take on anything; even the Iditarod.
After all the hard work is over (trust me, you’ll be more tired than your sled team) what better way could there be to end the day than to hang out with the four puppies born this season, each one named after a character from “Winnie the Pooh”. If I had bigger pockets, I would have made off with Eeyore in my coat.
Victoria Marsh is our newest addition to the Trufflepig farm, bravely crossing over from intern to permanent truffle-sniffer. She has tried strapping harnesses to the dogs in the office, but says the experience just isn’t quite the same.
