Uncommon Journeys Ltd. selected for the "Robb Report"
Readers will find a familiar name in the July edition of the "Robb Report" a luxury lifestyle magazine published and distributed internationally by the Luxury Media Corportaion and editor Paul Dean. The magazine recently profiled the "best adventure travel trips" in an article entitled "Wild at Heart" authored by well known travel writer Gary P. Joyce. On the "Pulse Monitor Scale" devised by Joyce to differentiate the excitement quotient of these trips, Uncommon Journeys' dogsledding trips were rated as an "Adrenaline Surge!" Joyce is also quoted as describing our dogsledding experiences as "pure wilderness". Bullfighting, deep sea diving a 300ft., and rafting the Karnali river in Nepal were some of the other trips chosen.
The Toil of Trace and Trail
Those who have read Jack London or heard anything about the Iditarod sled race have already gotten a glimpse into the world of dogsledding. The next best thing, of course, is to actually attempt mushing in the place that's almost synonymous with this kind of travel, the Yukon. Uncommon Journeys, a Canadian outfit based just outside Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory, offers several options, from single days to custom trips. But people who really want to live out London's Call of the Wild imagery should join the weeklong Aurora Classic, which tours the Ibex Valley and the Rose Lake Corridor in the southern reaches of the Yukon. Participants learn all aspects of dogsledding, having the option of caring for the dogs themselves (or not), and spend downtime in vary comfortable cabins or yurts back at base. Complete the six-day trip early in the season (December to March) and perhaps you'll gain enough experience to try a serious eight-day expedition from Aklavik to Herschel Island in Mackenzie Bay in April. Don't expect warm, comfortable accommodations on that trip - it's pure wilderness. Click Here to read the entire article.
A new litter of puppies arrives!
On July 12th Annie delivered 6 beautiful black puppies! One female and five males, the female has already been named Orion (the Hunter) and the first born male ( a BIG guy) has been named Herschel after the arctic island, he will someday pull our sled too. The vets at the Yukon Veterinary Service remarked that they were the largest puppies that they had seen in a long time. Annie was bred with "Chubby" a breeding male we borrowed from Chris Hutchins. The puppies have the same parents as "Zoot", "Colman" and "Oscar" all of whom are big beautiful dogs who will definitely be running on the Quest trail and Herschel Island expeditions. The puppies will be weaned from mom by the 5th to 6th week, and will be fitted for their very own harness at 6 months. If they grow up to be as big and strong as we hope, some of our Aurora Classic guests may get an opportunity to run them in late March! Annie is an outstanding mom, and is remarkably tolerant of the childern with whom we are introducting the puppies to in order to begin thier socialization process early. Way to go Annie!
"Women of Courage" course offered by Uncommon Journeys and Outward Bound.
In early August 2000, Uncommon Journeys Ltd. in conjuction with the Canadian Outward Bound Wilderness School will offer the first "Women of Courage" course in the Yukon Territory. This course is being offered to women who have experienced family violence in their lives and are interested in challenging themselves during this period of self-recovery and healing. The seven-day course is a time for participants to explore their perceived limitations and to expand their capabilities, and for each woman to experience herself as a strong and competent person. The course is instructed by two senior instructors who provide valuable leadership and outdoor expertise from a women-centered perspective. Many of the participants are referred by health agencies in the Yukon. All expenses, including the cost of child care services for participants who have young children to care for, are provided for by individual and corporate supporters of Outward Bound. Uncommon Journeys Ltd. is proud to be associated with this exceptional program and hope that each of the participants has a wonderful experience. Women living in the Yukon Territory interested in participating in the 2001 course should contact the Registar's office at Outward Bound at: 1-888-688-9273 or Uncommon Journeys at: 1-867-668-2255.
