Horsepower? Pfft, we’ve got huskypower.

If you’re looking to do something fun and classically Canadian this winter, consider dog sledding.

Many people wrongly assume dogsledding is only something you see in movies set in Alaska and the Arctic. But last year my girlfriend and I decided to give it a shot.

The first step involved doing some research online, looking for the best place to dogsled near Saskatoon. I found a company called Sundogs operating between Prince Albert and Waskesiu that seemed to offer everything we were looking for.

We set a sled date in March, 2012 — luckily they were open and there was enough snow. The company offered half- and full-day tours, which required in-depth instruction and some training. However, our request to sled for an hour was granted and required little instruction. We took a trip onto an area of nearby Anglin Lake.

Our guide, Bradley Muir, started off by explaining the process of sledding and brought out a select few of his many mushing dogs to lead us on our adventure. I helped him keep the sled dogs in order and get the harnesses ready. I was pleased to help and to prepare for the excursion.

Truly the finest mode of transportation this side of the arctic circle.

It was exhilarating being pulled by a group of sled dogs and satisfying participating in such a renowned wintertime activity.

With over 20 years of dog sledding experience, Muir opened up and shared with us his wealth of knowledge regarding the finer points of his hobby and job.

Muir told us why he has unique names for his dogs — most of which are named after astronomical features — and, once I took the snow filled trek, I soon realized that the names were very fitting. The dog sledding trek took us far away from the bright city lights. A gaze upward during the evening sled illuminated the starry sky, showing me why the naming scheme was so adept. From constellations, to stars, to mythical figures, the names of his dogs — Arcturus, etc.— were well selected to fit the mood of the trip.

Midway through the sled Muir told us that he generally allows passengers a chance to drive the sled. Both my girlfriend and I jumped at the opportunity. The feeling that comes with commanding an entire team of dogs across a frozen hinterland, even for just a few minutes, was unforgettable.

With at least a few more months of winter remaining, there is still plenty of time to master a dog sled yourself and try out this magical winter activity that we Canadians are internationally famous for.

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Photos: KK/Flickr &
Max Cranston