Hidden Secrets Dog Sledding Expedition – 14 Days

On this 3-day section, we will make our way into elevated plateaus composed of frozen lakes, alpine tundra, sparse spruce forest and particular glacial landforms indicating the recent past of the area. We will travel four to five hours per day. We’ll pass a series of impressive mountains ranges reaching 1100 m above us. These northern sceneries are home to caribou, ptarmigan, wolf and coyote. At the end of each day we’ll set up camp at wind sheltered locations specially selected for their open views and potential for seeing northern lights.  Your guide will teach the camp installation flow so that everything goes nice and smoothly. Your group of dogs will be yours to take care of (preparing dog food, feeding, providing straw bedding, and putting on dog coats), with the intention of creating your bond with them.

Evenings will be spent by a warm camp fire with an access to the wood-heated tent and top-of-the-line camping equipment to ensure your comfort. Warmed by the fire, evenings are the best time to discover more about the history, culture and geology of the area. If the sky is clear, we’ll watch for northern lights*, also called aurora borealis.

On Day 5 we’ll reach lower elevations and the forested area of Rose Lake, our home-base for two nights including a day off. The beautiful Rose camp is located directly by the lake where the spectacular Sandpiper peak towers 1400m above us.

Today is a rest day. Start with a hearty Canadian-style breakfast then pamper your hardworking dogs. Being in such a remote location will make you feel great respect for your furry friends and caring for them will come naturally by this point in the journey. In the afternoon enjoy ice fishing, reading or simply taking in the scenery. Then, enjoy an evening of adventure tales with your guide by campfire.

We’ll now leave the Rose lake environment and gain elevation to reach the spectacular glacial-sculpted headwaters of the Watson River, and follow its course for two days. In the evenings, your guide will introduce you to the principles of trapping and animal tracks identification.  We’ll also continue to keep our eyes in the sky, on the lookout for northern lights. On day 9 we’ll move to lower elevations and reach another picturesque mountain river, near where we’ll spend the next three nights at a cozy log cabin.

On day 10, we’ll leave most of the gear at the cabin and take off on a special 45-km day trip to explore the rarely visited Hodnett Lakes valley. Out there, keep an eye out for Dall’s sheep, as they enjoy steep-sided topography and west facing slopes. Back at base camp, and after a good dinner, you may choose to take part in a vegetation identification workshop, and learn to differentiate pine, spruce, fur and pick up the names of some other boreal plants.

Day 11 is a day of rest for the dogs and ourselves. After a sleep-in and a relaxed breakfast, we’ll make sure our dogs are well fed and comfortably installed on a thick straw bedding. You’ll notice after 11 days with them, that they’ll see a good caring chief in you. In the afternoon, we’ll have a visit by an Indigenous interpreter who will provide an introduction to Yukon First Nation culture and traditions. Later in the day, your guide will provide background knowledge about the landscapes we are about to travel through in the coming days.

We’ll load the sleds and take off for another 3-day stretch, during which you’ll get the exclusive chance (only on the 14-day tour) to travel on the frozen Alligator lake, and understand the singularity of its origin. During the evening we’ll discuss more about the glacial past of the area and your guide will share some of his winter survival skills during an atypical workshop. Our last two nights will be spent in our warm, wood-heated tent, with open views at our camp locations for more chances of seeing northern lights.

On Day 14, we’ll travel up a pass to reach the stunning Fish Lake area, our starting point 14 days earlier. By now you’ll be in the rhythm of the expedition and very likely feel like you could keep going!  After rewarding your dogs for their good work and company, we drive out to town for a hot shower and a good celebratory dinner.

Note: The itinerary may vary according to trail and weather conditions, changes in regulations and guests’ fitness level