"Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)"
What is a tag sled?
A tag sled is a second dog sled, attached behind the main driving sled via a length of rope. One team of dogs can accommodate two adult visitors and one guide. Your guide will drive the main sled, with one visitor seated in this sled. The second visitor will drive the tag sled. Driving the tag sled is a great way to experience the thrill of dog mushing without the added pressure of actually controlling the team! It is normal to fall off the tag sled at least once on your tour, and it can be great fun! Plop down in the fluffy snow bank and then give us a holler. We'll stop the sled and wait for you to jump back on. But please hurry! The dogs hate to stop and wait. Tag-sledding is only appropriate for people who are in good physical condition. If you fall off the tag sled you must be able to pick yourself back up and get back on the sled unassisted. Your guide and your friend/family member need to stay put on the front sled to try and keep the dogs from running away without you!
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How do we get to the tour?
We strongly encourage all visitors to rent their own vehicle for getting to/from our location. Public transportation is not an option, and taxi/uber/lyft tend to be VERY expensive and unreliable. For more information on driving to our location, please visit the Getting Here page >>>
What is the cancellation policy?
To cancel your tour and receive a full refund, we require you give at least 24 hours advanced notice before the start time/date of your tour. If you do not give at least 24 hours advanced notice of your cancellation you will not receive a refund. No partial refunds are given.
On rare occasion, we must cancel or reschedule tours on account of poor weather or dangerous road conditions. In winter, high winds or temperatures below -20 F may cause a cancellation. In summer or fall, cancellations may be prompted by wildfires, forest fire smoke, or heavy rain. If we need to cancel your tour it is for reasons of safety and comfort for you and our dogs, and we will try our hardest to find a time in which to reschedule you. If we are unable to find an alternate tour time for your group, you will receive a full refund for your tour. Please be aware that weather conditions can be drastically different between our kennel and the Fairbanks/North Pole area. Don't assume that tours will be canceled based solely on weather conditions in these areas. We will always contact you in the event of a cancellation or need to reschedule.
On rare occasion, we must cancel or reschedule tours on account of poor weather or dangerous road conditions. In winter, high winds or temperatures below -20 F may cause a cancellation. In summer or fall, cancellations may be prompted by wildfires, forest fire smoke, or heavy rain. If we need to cancel your tour it is for reasons of safety and comfort for you and our dogs, and we will try our hardest to find a time in which to reschedule you. If we are unable to find an alternate tour time for your group, you will receive a full refund for your tour. Please be aware that weather conditions can be drastically different between our kennel and the Fairbanks/North Pole area. Don't assume that tours will be canceled based solely on weather conditions in these areas. We will always contact you in the event of a cancellation or need to reschedule.
How should we dress for our tour?
We offer two different "Preparation Checklists" with suggestions for how to dress in both warm and cold weather. You can see them on this page of our site: How to Dress. In all seasons it's important for people to wear clothing that they are comfortable "playing" in. Our dogs are not typical pet dogs -- they like to jump and lick and wrap their arms around you. Please wear clothing that can get dirty or even possibly torn by the dogs in their excitement to see you. We do have some clothing to lend as well - although we currently have nothing in children's sizes.
Is dog sledding difficult or dangerous? Are there restrictions based on age, weight, pregnancy or ability?
We do not have any specific age or weight restrictions on our tours. But in general, we do not recommend our tours for people who are pregnant, have serious back/hip/knee problems, or people with general mobility impairments - including impairments caused by obesity. These are outdoor tours, conducted on uneven surfaces which can be challenging to walk on in both winter and summer.
Winter dog mushing can be great fun, but it can also be challenging - especially for beginners. There is always some amount of risk when you are a passenger in a dog sled as well - even when being driven by experts like us. Trail and weather conditions change constantly. Deep snow, icy hard-pack, ruts and holes can all cause a person to lose control of their sled, causing it to tip over or crash into a tree or brush. Minor wipe-outs are typically cause for a good laugh, but participants must have the physically ability to stand up in deep snow and get themselves back on the sled.
Summer tours are generally safer, but may still not be a good idea for people who are pregnant or have serious back/hip problems as our tour trail can be VERY bumpy. Please talk to your doctor before booking a tour with us.
Special considerations for children:
Children five years old and younger must ride on the lap of an adult or older child while sitting in the dog sled. In most cases young children are still allowed to try driving the dog sled on the safest, easiest portion of the trail. Please keep in mind that our tours are designed to be educational, and the content we cover is sometimes too complex for children. We find that while all kids are thrilled with the dog mushing, a significant portion of our tour also involves standing around, petting dogs and answering adults' questions about raising and training dogs, running 1,000 mile races, living off-grid in Alaska, etc. Not all children are mature / calm enough to act appropriately during these times of the tour. This can degrade the experience for all of the adults who are also present.
Winter dog mushing can be great fun, but it can also be challenging - especially for beginners. There is always some amount of risk when you are a passenger in a dog sled as well - even when being driven by experts like us. Trail and weather conditions change constantly. Deep snow, icy hard-pack, ruts and holes can all cause a person to lose control of their sled, causing it to tip over or crash into a tree or brush. Minor wipe-outs are typically cause for a good laugh, but participants must have the physically ability to stand up in deep snow and get themselves back on the sled.
Summer tours are generally safer, but may still not be a good idea for people who are pregnant or have serious back/hip problems as our tour trail can be VERY bumpy. Please talk to your doctor before booking a tour with us.
Special considerations for children:
Children five years old and younger must ride on the lap of an adult or older child while sitting in the dog sled. In most cases young children are still allowed to try driving the dog sled on the safest, easiest portion of the trail. Please keep in mind that our tours are designed to be educational, and the content we cover is sometimes too complex for children. We find that while all kids are thrilled with the dog mushing, a significant portion of our tour also involves standing around, petting dogs and answering adults' questions about raising and training dogs, running 1,000 mile races, living off-grid in Alaska, etc. Not all children are mature / calm enough to act appropriately during these times of the tour. This can degrade the experience for all of the adults who are also present.
What wild animals might we see on this tour?
Ptarmigan, grouse and snowshoe hare are sometimes spotted darting across our trails, and occassionally other dog teams. While our area does have an abundance of large wildlife, we do not usually see many of these while actually mushing. We encourage questions and comments while moving down the trail with the dogs, and our conversation typically alerts animals of our presence. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as moose are actually one of the biggest concerns when mushing a team (they are territorial and love to walk down the hard packed dog trails).