A morning driving a sled dog team - dreams do come true

I’d arranged to meet up with Underdog NZ at 10.30am at the Snow Farm to start my tour. After a brief talk about what to expect I was taken across to meet the dogs, and what a greeting it was. It seems the dogs absolutely love these tours and get incredibly excited about it all. I was smothered in doggy loves very quickly. There were a mixture of Alaskan Huskies, Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes all keen to get started. My human guide gave me a brief outline on how to use the kart and a demonstration on how to control the dogs – yeah right, it was more the dogs controlling me I think, and we were all set up and ready to go. I started off cautious, pressing the break to check it was working and trying my hardest not to tangle up the reigns. Four animated and eager dogs were ready to pull me along and I was a bit nervous at first in case I fell off!!! The snow was smooth but compacted and I had visions of being dragged along on my stomach by four excited animals. My concerns didn’t last for long, well only until my hands could no longer cope with the discomfort of gripping on so tightly! Within a few minutes I was riding the cart like a professional – well in my opinion anyway - and we were off soaring across the snow-covered landscape as one. Well maybe not quite. I had to get off on any upwards slope to take the pressure off my four-legged friends and help push the cart. I also spent a significant amount of time trying not to get them all tangled together so that the back two didn’t trip over the front twos’ reigns – there was a lot of responsibility looking after these keen racers! None of this distracted from the sheer joy of directing my dogs as we ploughed across the snow. The setting was majestic with the perfect clear blue skies reflecting off the brilliant white of our snow-covered carpet. It was a truly memorable moment in time.

Dan and I attempting to be in charge of 4 four legged bosses! Yeah right…..

Reluctantly I drew up to where I had started and had to discard our cart. The fun didn’t stop there though as now it was time for doggy pats and treats as my new best friends were rewarded for their endeavours and sheer hard work in dragging someone as clumsy as me along. I was allowed to spend as much time as I wanted with my new mates and soon learnt the names and mannerisms of most of them. I was also rewarded with puppy cuddles as two new members of the team were taken out of their kennels and introduced to me.

Dan enjoying lots of cuddles after the race.

I returned to the lodge brimmed with enthusiasm and chuffed to bits. There are lots of other options to take in here with snow shoe routes laid out and cross-country ski-ing lessons available. I was personally exhausted so settled for a warming hot chocolate from the bar upstairs with great views across the ski field and
beyond. Underdog offer night runs and even overnight stays – I will undoubtedly be back…