"I've been looking forward to this for years and it fulfilled all of my expectations. I had 2 weeks mushing and my lead dogs Willow and Puma made it easy for me! I will be doing this again someday."
Scott Badcock Sydney, Australia
HERSCHEL ISLAND ARCTIC DOG SLED EXPEDITION - 13 DAYS
Mushing along the north coast of the Yukon, this dog sledding expedition on Hershel Island in the Yukon is our most remote mushing trip at Uncommon Journeys. Temperatures and weather conditions on this dogsledding adventure can be extreme, but the thrill of travelling and camping on the sea ice makes this spectacular dog sledding trip a once in a lifetime experience.
Uncommon Journeys secured the first ever commercial travel permit to Herschel Island in the winter of 2000. The first Territorial park designated in the Yukon, Hershel Island is a fascinating combination of history and exotic wilderness. Arctic fox, polar bears and caribou inhabit the island and many of the original buildings from the whaling station established in 1890 still remain. We stay at the old whaling base in Pauline Cove in a wood heated cabin, as we explore this fascinating island.
Our guests begin this dog sledding adventure by flying to Whitehorse where they spend the night at the Uncommon Journeys Lodge. Clients sleep in guest log cabins or comfortable yurts and are briefed and outfitted with arctic gear for the dog sled adventure that awaits them (the hot tub is often enjoyed as well!). The next day our team of mushers flies to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, above the Arctic Circle, where they are met by our Uncommon Journeys Hershel Island guides. After a two hour drive on the famous Mackenzie River "Ice Road", we arrive in the Inuvialuit village of Aklavik. Here we enjoy a tour of this historic village where Albert "The Mad Trapper" Johnson is buried. The group homestays in "Bessies" an Inuvialuit B&B that evening, as gear is re-packed and maps are reviewed one last time.
The next six days or our Hershel Island Dog Sledding trip see us mushing our dogteams over the Mackenzie Delta and coastal sea ice eventually arriving at Herschel Island. We sleep in arctic tents, specifically modified with small stoves for these conditions, which bring the inside temperatures up into the 80 degree range (25 C) for a couple hours in the evening and morning. We then spend two days exploring the Island, and creating a landing strip for our ski-plane to arrive with our second group of musher clients and the provisions necessary for the return leg of the expedition. Our first group of mushers will board this plane and fly back to Inuvik for a connecting flight to Whitehorse.
This dog sledding adventure is demanding. Temperatures can be cold (-25 C) and the coastal winds are legendary. Clients must be prepared to sit out coastal storms in a tent for at least 24 hours in duration. Previous dogsledding experience is not necessary, however guests must be capable of camping in serious winter conditions.
Mushing along the north coast of the Yukon, this dog sledding expedition on Hershel Island in the Yukon is our most remote mushing trip at Uncommon Journeys. Temperatures and weather conditions on this dogsledding adventure can be extreme, but the thrill of travelling and camping on the sea ice makes this spectacular dog sledding trip a once in a lifetime experience.
Our guests begin this dog sledding adventure by flying to Whitehorse where they spend the night at the Uncommon Journeys Lodge. Clients sleep in guest log cabins or comfortable yurts and are briefed and outfitted with arctic gear for the dog sled adventure that awaits them (the hot tub is often enjoyed as well!). The next day our team of mushers flies to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, above the Arctic Circle, where they are met by our Uncommon Journeys Hershel Island guides. After a two hour drive on the famous Mackenzie River "Ice Road", we arrive in the Inuvialuit village of Aklavik. Here we enjoy a tour of this historic village where Albert "The Mad Trapper" Johnson is buried. The group homestays in "Bessies" an Inuvialuit B&B that evening, as gear is re-packed and maps are reviewed one last time.