10-day Back Country Expedition Tour

If you want to experience what it means to be a true dog musher then this is the tour for you. Head to the beautiful wilds of Yukon where you will spend three days at the Sky High Wilderness Ranch, getting to know your friendly husky team and familiarising yourself with your sled and equipment. Then it is time to head out on seven adventure-filled days of mushing and winter camping.
Please be aware that husky sledding requires a reasonable level of fitness. We will provide you with boots to wear during your trip, but you will need to hire or bring high-quality outdoor winter clothing with you. Please let us know at the time of booking if you wish to arrange for hire.
We highly recommend that you arrive the day before your tour so that you are relaxed and fully prepared for the start. This can be arranged for you at the time of making your booking. Regardless of when you arrive, you will be picked up from the airport and taken to either your hotel or the Sky High Wilderness Ranch.
Tour Itinerary
These tours are on request, and so can start on a date convenient for you.
Day 1
After being picked up from the lobby of your hotel in Whitehorse around 10am, you will head out with the rest of your tour group to do any last minute shopping for the tour ahead. Then you will drive approximately 20km south of Whitehorse to the Sky High Wilderness Ranch. After a hot lunch you will be able to meet your huskies who will be very excited to see you! Then you will learn everything that you need to know about caring for your four-legged companions and looking after your sled and equipment. Then it’s off and out for your very first mushing experience! Take it easy and your guide will be on hand to provide assistance as you get to grips with your sled and dog team.
During the evening relax with a shower, sauna and a delicious hot dinner served by the fire. Overnight in the ranch lodge.
Day 2
After a night of refreshing sleep you will be up early to greet your furry friends and provide them with breakfast. Sitting in the dining room for your own breakfast, your guide will run through the plan for the day which will include mushing approximately 35km towards Lake Jackson. Listening to the soft crunch of your dog’s paws on the lonely, frosted trail as they pull you closer to your destination. Rewarding them for their hard work is the perfect time to create a real bond with these noble creatures.
Overnight again in the ranch lodge where a hot sauna will help you to unwind your body and mind.
Day 3
Another glorious day of husky sledding will take you west of the ranch towards the famous Nicholas Vanier’s cabin, which was created especially for the movie ‘The Last Trapper’. Then you will head on to the magnificent Bonneville Lakes. Your previous days of mushing will be great experience, for the trails here are narrower and slightly more challenging. Be prepared for some breath-taking scenery, and the incredible coastal mountains are always at the edge of your vision. Today you will cover between 20-30km across some of the best terrain Yukon has to offer.
Back at the lodge you can feed and care for your hard-working huskies, before enjoying dinner with the rest of your tour group. We are sure you will have plenty to recount from the day! Overnight in the ranch lodge.
Day 4
Step back into a real slice of Yukon history today as you journey along historical trails to a genuine trapper cabin at the remote and mysterious Coal Lake. All of your equipment for the trip will be packed on to your sled, so you can be sure you will have everything you need when you arrive at this atmospheric location. During your journey to the camp you will likely see wolves, moose or caribou as well as other native wildlife.
Camp life is simple and basic, fetching and heating water, chopping wood and cooking over the fire or on the woodstove will be part of your daily activities and the tour group will work as a team to ensure that everything gets done. After taking care of your furry friends you will enjoy a hearty dinner over the fire and trade tales of your memories from the day. Overnight accommodation will be either in the cabin or in the wall tent.
Day 5
A challenging day awaits you mush your sled dog team along the famous Watson Trail. Your journey will take you across an array of creeks and rivers as you sled silently through the Boreal Forest. Lunch will be on the trail, and in the evening we will make camp at a selected location and you can curl up in your cosy wall tent for a refreshing sleep.
Day 6
Delving further into the Boreal Forest your tour group will make its way to an area known as the Big Ben Area – named after a famous bear, and renowned for its population of grizzly bears! Fear not, our tours only operate during times of hibernation, so you will be perfectly safe from these dangerous but fascinating creatures. Teamwork will ensure that your huskies are taken care of, and after a tasty dinner cooked by the fire, you will retire to your tent for the night.
Day 7
Make sure your camera is ready for this day of your tour, which will see your tour group heading along the coastal mountains (which sit around 2500-3000 meters above sea level) which is alive with wildlife and boasts some spectacular views. Your destination is Rose Lake, and the surrounding area is the winter home of the southern lakes caribou and moose herds.
After a busy day filled with sensational sights you will relax with your tour group over a hot dinner, and enjoy a good night of sleep in your cosy tent.
Day 8
Day eight of your tour is a day of rest - for both you and your dogs! Guests will have the opportunity to try their hand at ice-fishing or snowshoeing, or simply relax and enjoy the tranquillity around you. Meet up with the rest of your tour group, and tell stories about your adventures that day.
Day 9
Enjoy watching the sun come over the horizon, ready to start a brand new day of mushing. After breakfast and taking down camp, you will mush your huskies up the trail to Mud Lake. Again, there will be plenty of wildlife for you to watch out for, including caribou, wolves, moose, ptarmigan and lynx. Another night of sleeping under canvas ensures you will continue to have a truly authentic musher experience.
Day 10
Sadly, today will be your last day of mushing. After a hearty breakfast with the rest of your tour group, you will take your husky team back towards Sky High Lodge. Take a few moments to drink in the beautiful, quiet and serene landscapes before you leave. You may also see a glimpse of some of the wild horses that often roam the area.
You will arrive back at the lodge by lunchtime, where you can eat and then bid a very fond farewell to your canine companions who have served you so well. Then you can pack your belongings and transfer back to Whitehorse, where you will receive your musher diploma. Enjoy a final night in the Best Western Gold Rush Inn, before you head on your journey home, taking with you some incredible memories of your time husky sledding in Yukon.
Departure Dates: can be customised – please call for more information
Cost: Can.$4860.00 + GST per person (plus Can$119 + GST for room in Whitehorse)
Max Participants: 6
Please be aware that the camps have no power or telephone, showers are gravity-fed and not available in the tent camp. Shower and sauna are available at the lodge.
We reserve the right to change the itinerary of any tour should weather conditions, temperature or condition of the group or animals demand it. The safety and wellbeing of our guests and dogs is paramount, and our decisions regarding itineraries are final.
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