HUSKY HIKING TOURS
Hike with huskies through the boreal forest of Interior Alaska.
Welcome to our off-grid Alaskan homestead & kennel!
After a brief tour of the kennel, we will introduce you to our yard of 47 Siberian Huskies. Choose your own hiking buddy for the day. They are all so sweet -- it's a tough decision! You will learn to harness your husky, and then together we will embark on a nature walk through the old-growth boreal forest that surrounds the homestead. The dogs will demonstrate their pulling instincts as they help you up the hill. We will point out wildflowers, trees, and animals on our walk up to the top of the ridge, where vast panoramic views of the Chatanika River Valley and the White Mountains await.
We will sit on top of the ridge and enjoy a snack and a hot drink before we descend back down through the cranberry bushes and ferns to the kennel. On this tour, you will have the opportunity to learn about Siberian Huskies, the natural history of Alaska, sled dogs, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, and off-grid living.
THE BASICS
-
Time: 1:00 PM
-
Duration: 2-3 hours from arrival to departure.
-
Season: June 1, 2022 - September 30, 2022.
-
Max 6 Participants: Larger groups please inquire directly. Private tours available upon request.
-
COVID-19: This tour takes place outside. Guides are vaccinated. Masks are not required.
-
Transportation: We do not provide transportation. Taxi and Uber/Lyft do come out for $120-140 roundtrip.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
✔ Off-grid homestead tour
✔ Kennel tour
✔ Learn to put a sled dog harness on a husky
✔ 2-3 mile Husky Hike with your own dog.
✔ Lots of hands on dog time
✔ Home-baked (human) treats
✔ Hot drinks
✔ Local spring water for water bottles
✔ Scenic mountain views
What's NOT
INCLUDED
✔ Transportation to/from the kennel
✔ Water bottles
✔ Bug spray
HUSKY HIKE SCHEDULE
Dec 11 - Dec 17
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
This trip is suitable for families with children of all ages. Babies and toddlers must come with a backpack carrier.
Please note: The 2-3 mile hike is moderate, with steep sections at the beginning and end (300 feet of elevation gain/descent within 1 km). The ground is uneven, with multiple roots, ruts, and rocks to avoid. Your husky will help you up the hill, but will also drag you back down it as well. We switch the dogs to their collars for the downhill. Some of the dogs know how to heel, but only a few not the majority. Anticipate a downhill pull, which can be hard on knees and backs. If you feel uncomfortable on the downhills, please ask your guide for assistance. It is also ok to hike without a husky.
HUSKY HIKE TESTEMONIALS
My wife and I did the Husky Hike with Lisbet. It was a lot of fun. She was a very friendly and knowledgable. We got to select the dog we wanted to hike with and then we went on our hike. About half way through we stopped and she gave us hot tea and a homemade muffin. The views were awesome too. The whole experience was incredible.
— Cody, September 2021
This was an AMAZING activity! I’m not in shape, so I was huffing and puffing, but it was beautiful! Definitely book this experience if you have even the slightest love for dogs. I got Yksi, and she was pretty mellow, which is good for my pace. Lisbet is a wealth of information about the area and the history of sled dogs, and she’s genuinely interested in her guests’ hometowns, so it was wonderful to have conversation with her. She gave us homemade rhubarb muffins at the top of the ridge and they were to die for! Overall a wonderful value.
— Ashley, August 2021