Canada > Dog sledding through the forests

Today we leave Clearwater and head toward Jasper in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. After breakfast, we load our luggage into the minibuses and also take a packed lunch from the hotel for the journey. We drive north along the Thompson River. Along the way, we make a short coffee stop at a roadside gas station, which is a real stopover for truckers.

Canada - Herm Jan and Anna at the starting point

Several impressive trucks are parked in the lot. At the foot of the Rocky Mountains, we don’t yet head straight to Jasper but continue a short way along the Yellowhead Highway. After about half an hour, we arrive at the dog sledding site. We go sledding in two groups. The dogs are already impatiently waiting for us. Two people go in each sled: one sits in the sled while the other stands at the back to steer. Midway, the positions are switched. We get a quick explanation about the sleds because the dogs are getting restless and eager to start running. Over the barking of the many dogs, we are told that it is important to always hold on to the sled and brake in time. “The idea is that on the downhill the dogs should arrive first, and then the sled.” One by one, the teams are unleashed and set off. The first few meters are especially exciting. Until the dogs settle into their own rhythm, light braking is necessary. Then we glide through the winter landscape, and the view is overwhelming. Occasionally, you have to help push if the sled has to go uphill. The dogs look back, as if to ask, “Do we have to do everything?” Along the way, there are occasional stops for a toilet break for the dogs or for the sled riders. Just past the 5-kilometer point, we turn the sleds around, switch places, and head back. The return is slightly faster since it’s mostly downhill. After an hour and a half, we’re back with an incredible experience.

Canada - The Canadian Rockies on the way to Jasper

Now it’s the turn of the other group. After the second group returns, we continue toward Jasper. This is where the Canadian Rockies begin. Jasper is in Alberta, and between British Columbia and Alberta, there is a one-hour time difference. Now we are only eight hours ahead of the Netherlands. Around six o’clock, we arrive in Jasper. In the evening, we eat together as a group in town. Afterwards, we play a game of darts in a pub. On the way back to the hotel around midnight, we see a herd of elk on the main street near the station. The animals are feeding on the bushes around the station. It’s difficult to get a good photo because of the darkness. The elk are approachable to within a few meters. Later in our hotel, we read warnings that this is not entirely safe and that a minimum distance of 30 meters should be maintained.