9. Dogsledding
Dog people will understand the joy of hanging around with 15 gorgeous, friendly Huskie mixes. Aside from the experience of spending the day outdoors in a beautiful setting and the feeling of having these furry athletes pull you along a snow-packed trail, I wanted to go dogsledding so I could meet the dogs. Nothing quite equals the feeling of saying hello to one of these beauties and having her hug (yes, hug!) you.
My daughter giving one of the dogs a smooch.
We followed our guides to a trailhead outside of Bethel, ME, where they parked their two trucks and unloaded dogs and sleds. Caroline and Andy, a wife and husband team who run Mornington Crescent Sled Dogs, clearly love being out on the trail and adore their dogs. Staff members of Outward Bound, they offer sled tours as a side gig to help defray the cost of keeping their 29 dogs healthy and happy.
Before hitting the trail, we got to spend time getting to know the dogs, and it was love at first sight, for sure. I gave my kids this experience as their Chanukah gift, and our friend Mark joined us as well. None of us could get enough doggie love.
When it came time to harness the dogs up and attach them to the sled, I fell, of course. I was bringing one of the dogs over to the sled and in her excitement to get going she pulled me and I slipped into an icy snowbank, scratching my lip. Minor injury aside, we split into two groups and off we went, my kids with Caroline, and Mark and I with Andy.
These dogs want nothing more than to pull. Their joy in running the sled shows up in their impatience to get going and their howling when we stopped, as if to say, “C’mon, let’s get a move on!”
Bundled into the sled and ready to go …
Mark and I switched off sitting in the sled and standing on the back of it as Andy expertly steered and handled the dogs. In the sled you can relax, take in the beautiful views, and watch the dogs with awe.
Standing up, though, is more fun. You feel more engaged in the experience and less like a spectator. As I stood behind Andy, I watched how he steered by shifting his weight. Mimicking his moves, I got a feel for what it’s like to drive a sled.
I especially liked standing when we went through a narrow part of the trail and over a few logs, where we turned a sharp corner and I had to duck under some branches.
Even with an extra parka wrapped around me when I sat inside the sled, standing made me feel warmer. We couldn’t have asked for better weather, with sunshine and a clear blue sky, but the cold felt sharp. Caroline brought Arctic boots for us to borrow, but my toes still got cold, and even with many layers and snowpants and a hat and neck warmer, sitting for a long time invited the cold in.
With our guides, Caroline and Andy
When our tour ended, we stayed for a bit to help unharness the dogs, feed them, and get in some final petting and hugs.
We all had a blast, and if you like dogs and enjoy the outdoors (and have warm snow gear), you will, too. While Andy and Caroline offer full-day tours, we opted for half-day, which was just enough for us.
They race their dogs, and have gone 250 miles or more with them, camping along the way. For me, the 15 miles we covered seemed just about right.
Mornington Crescent Sled Dogs, Bethel, ME: $175/person for a half-day (four hour) tour. I needed to save up for this one!
Paws Inn, Bethel, ME: If you have a dog and you’re skiing at Sunday River - or dogsledding with Mornington Crescent Sled Dogs - this is a great place to stay. A B&B that lets dogs have the run of the place, Paws Inn is clean and comfortable. Proprietor Carolyn will watch your dog while you’re out enjoying the area’s offerings, and she’ll cook you a delicious and filling breakfast.
