Coal Lake Adventure Tour
15 Day Coal Lake Adventure Sled Dog Tour
Interested in enjoying mushing on many trails in different areas. Then this extended dogsledding tour might be the right one. One week enjoying the nice trails around Sky High Valley Ranch and Fish Lake, the other enjoying remote trails in the Coastal Mountains region. Extended Dogsledding can be a little bit demanding so this winter adventure is for the musher with some experience but also for daring beginners! You should be in relatively good physical shape.Day 1 Saturday / Wednesday - [top]
Arrival at the Airport in Whitehorse. You will be picked up by our van and do a short tour of Whitehorse. Here you also have the chance to do some last minute shopping. Afterwards we drive to the Sky High Valley Ranch, 20km South of Whitehorse where we outfit you with your expedition clothing.
You move into your cozy cabin, or nice double room in the main lodge. The Lodge is overlooking beautiful Fish Lake, with southern exposure. The dogs are waiting to meet you. Lunch in the main lodge. Do you want to know what a bootie is? Well you learn it today. We show you how to harness the dogs and give you an instruction on how to drive the sled.
Depending on the weather and time of the day we hook up the dogs and go for a short first run. Three dogs pull you on this first day.
After taking care of the dogs we enjoy a hearty meal. You might want to take a shower or just relax beside the stove, and of course listen to the dogs howling outside. Overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. (L, D)
Day 2 Sunday / Thursday - [top]
While the morning sun slowly lifts over the horizon we prepare for our daytrip after breakfast. We feed and water the dogs and harness them up at around 11 a. m. We cover about 35 km in distance, driving towards Jackson Lake and the Copper Haul Road.Just the slight sound of the working dogs and runners in the snow will be with you for that day. You get to know your dogs and start to form a personal relationship. With every stop, and praise for the dogs, they learn to trust you and you to trust them. Overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. (B,L,D)
Day 3 Monday / Friday - [top]
The dogs will pull us on a trail east of the Ranch. We are continuously climbing in elevation as we are heading on an abandoned mining road on MacIntyre Mountain. On occasional stops we can enjoy unprecedented scenery of the Costal Mountain with Fish Lake nestled deep in the valley. Return to the Lodge Overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch (B, L, D)
Day 4 Tuesday / Saturday - [top]
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Today we head towards beautiful Bonneville Lakes, west of the Ranch. The trails are narrower with some challenging up and downs. The Coastal Mountains are always in view to the South and West. Part of the trip we travel above tree line and easily cover between 20 and 30 km. Slowly, a new feeling of life will creep in. In harmony with the running rhythm of your team you will enjoy nature in a way you�ve never experienced before. Overnight at Sky High Valley Ranch. There is a gravity fed indoor shower waiting for you in the main lodge. (B, L, D) Day 5 Wednesday / Sunday - [top]
Now you leave behind the last remnants of civilization and head out to a real wilderness. The trail follows Fish Lake and climb and heads into the Costal Range to the south. After aprox 2.5 hrs of running time we reach our trapper�s wall tent camp at dry creek. Overnight in Wall tent (B, L, D)
Day 6 Thursday / Monday - [top]
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From the wall tent camp, weather permitting we will make a run to the top of the mountain above tree line to Ptarmigan flats where there is a good chance of seeing large flocks of these beautiful white birds and having some wonderful sledding on miles of wind blown snowy hill tops, before heading back to the wall tent camp (B,L,D) Day 7 Friday / Tuesday - [top]
After a musher's breakfast, we will start mushing back to Sky High Wilderness Ranch. The dogs pull us steady westbound with the Coastal Mountains in plain view ahead of us. Way too soon you return to civilization and have one night at a down town Hotel before beginning the second part of your adventure at Blue Kennels. (B,L,)
In the late afternoon we drive you to Whitehorse where you spend your night in a downtown Hotel.
Day 8 Saturday / Wednesday - [top]
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You will once again be picked up by our van at 10am in the Hotel lobby. Here you also have the chance to do some last minute shopping. Afterwards we drive along the Alaska Highway through a frozen winter world until we reach, after 50 km, the base camp at Blue Kennels. You move into your cozy cabin. The dogs are waiting to meet you. After lunch in the main cabin you will be introduced to your new dog team and Guide and then taken on a short run to get the feel of your new team and surroundings. After taking care of the dogs we enjoy a hearty meal. You might want to take a sauna or just relax on the couch beside the stove, and of course listen to the dogs howling outside. Overnight in Cabins in Base Camp. (L,D)Day 9 Sunday / Thursday - [top]
While the morning sun slowly lifts over the horizon we prepare for our daytrip after breakfast. We feed and water the dogs and harness them up at around 11 a. m. We cover about 40 km in distance, mainly going along a flat training trail and over the frozen Takhini River. Just the slight sound of the working dogs and runners in the snow will be with us for that day. Overnight in Cabins in Base Camp. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Monday / Friday - [top]
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Today we head towards beautiful Ibex Valley. This used to be an old trading route of the Champagne Aishihik First Nations. We easily cover between 40 and 60 km. Slowly a new feeling of life will creep in. In harmony with the running rhythm of your team you will enjoy nature in a way never experienced before. The evening we spend again in our cozy log cabins. Time for a shower? Enjoy and relax in our sauna. Overnight in Cabins in Base Camp. (B,L,D)Day 11 Tuesday / Saturday - [top]
For three more days we leave behind all the comforts of civilization and head out for an unforgettable adventure. Your team of Huskies pulls you and your loaded sled to remote 37 Mile Lake, along the Yukon Quest Trail, the toughest Sled Dog Race in the World. Driving across unnamed lakes we reach our preset wall tent camp. Everything we need will be packed with us on the sled. We go out to cut some firewood, cook together on the woodstove and share stories. If the group decides, we might even take a few of our new four legged friends in the tent. We have a great chance to meet Elk or Caribou. Overnight in Trappers tent. (B,L,D)
Day 12 Wednesday / Sunday - [top]
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From Camp we start a daytrip further down the Quest trail. If the weather allows there is a possible ascent to the Sifton Range. This offers stunning views in all directions. Aishihik Lake to the west, Whitehorse to the east, Braeburn to the north and the impressive Coastal range to the south. The evening we spend in our trappers tent, where warm tea or soup are waiting on the stove. In this surrounding the meaning of freedom gets a new dimension. Overnight in Trappers Tent. (B,L,D)Day 13 Thursday / Monday - [top]
Today we head to 57Mile Lake, a high mountainous lake. We visit old Annie Ned's cabin, drive through high alpine landscape with its very own charm. Your driving skills will be tested again, as a few trails demand your attention. By now you and your team travel in harmony. Overnight in Trappers Tent. (B,L,D)
Day 14 Friday / Tuesday - [top]
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After a last musher's breakfast, we will start for our final day of mushing. The dogs pull us steady southbound with the Coastal Mountains in plain view ahead of us. Way to early we return to civilization and most of all, you have to leave your new friends, the dogs, behind. In the late afternoon we drive you to Whitehorse where you spend your last night in a downtown Hotel. Overnight in Hotel (B,L,)Day 15 Saturday / Wednesday - [top]
The hotel van brings you to the airport for your southbound flight�. Or better yet, complete your Yukon winter experience, by joining another tour offered.
Scale of benefits - [top]
- Transfer from and to Whitehorse
- Accommodations in Whitehorse (2 nights in double rooms)
- Accommodation in cabins (7 nights in double rooms) or heated tent outpost camps (5 nights, group accommodations)
- All meals including non-alcoholic beverages at SKY indicated with (B=Breakfirst, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), meals in restaurants and hotels are not included
- Use of personal sled and 3 to 5 Huskies
- Musher diploma with picture of one of the lead dogs
- Winter Boots included, all other equipment can be rented see below
- Alcoholic beverages (we buy jointly before the tour)
- Winter clothing rental of warm NORTHERN OUTFITTERS Jacket, Pants and sleeping bag Can$ 25 each item, mitts Can$ 10 payable upon arrival in cash or credit card
- Meals in restaurants
- All expenses of personal nature
Rates - [top]
- 3.500 Can$ plus 6% Gst p.P.
- 2 single rooms in Whitehorse Can$ 89 plus 6% Gst each
Important:
This Dogsledding adventure is a challenging but relaxed fun trip! We supply you with the best equipment possible, teach you all the important aspects of mushing and prepare the trails as good as possible.
To participate you must be healthy, enjoy working with dogs and have a good team spirit. Dogsledding is a comparable physical activity to cross-country skiing, so you should be in relatively good physical shape.
We point out, that unforeseeable circumstances such as weather conditions, extreme temperatures, condition of the group or illness of the dogs and may force us to change this itinerary. The safety of our guests takes precedence and our decisions are final.
The camps have no power or telephone, showers are of basic gravaity fed nature and not available in tent camp.
You will be required to sign a "release of claims and waiver of liability form" prior to the departure of this tour.
dayPossible add-on trips:- Flightseeing with Alpine Aviation, approx Can$ 360 hr/ plane
- Skidoo Daytrip with Up North Adventures approx Can$ 220 day Person
- Rental Car Norcan Leasing appox $ 79 for economy car.
- Pre/ post Hotel nights dbl. at Downtown Hotel Can$ 99 +6% GST
