Dog Sledding Safaris in Sweden

Bergsvein Wongraven, who lives in Swedenmake our evenings a congenial experience. Food
shares his expertise pertaining to dog sleddingcomprises a mixture of European continental,
excursions with Norm Goldman, Editor of theEnglish and local specialties from the wild life
travel site, Today, Norm Goldman Editor of isaround us. The food is plentiful and nourishing,
pleased to have as our guest, Bergsveintasty and special. We do also cater to guests with
Wongraven. Bergsvein lives in Sweden with hisspecial dietary requirements.
wife Kim and he is a self-educated musher andSince we offer package tours with everything
guide. They are also owners of Husky Holiday.included in the price, we do not charge for beer
Good day Bergsvein and thank you forand wine consumed.
participating in our interview.Norm:
Norm:Could you describe a typical day on one of these
What is a musher? How did you becometours?
interested in mushing?Bergsvein:
Let me refer to our Munken Combi as an
Bergsvein:example. It is a tour where every day we return
A Musher is the person on a dog sled whoto the comforts of our farmhouse. The day
remains standing while he controls a team of dogsbegins at 8 A.M., when we meet for breakfast
pulling the sled. He is in reality the dog driver. Theand where porridge and bread are served. This
art of driving is called mushing.keeps you going for a few hours and our guests
I grew up in a tiny mountains village in Northeven enjoy it. Next, the guests proceed to the
Norway where there was a great deal of snow.changing room, where they pick out suitable
While I was cross-country skiing, I alwaysclothing for the day's journey.
dreamed of cruising across lakes and overWe encourage everyone to have as much
mountains with a dog pulling me.contact with the dogs as possible. The huskies are
I started experiencing the skijoring (skiing whileattention craving, friendly and loving animals. Group
being pulled by a dog) more than 30 years ago,members have the opportunity to join in
but the actual sled driving was something I tookperforming daily duties in the dog yard before we
up much later. This was due to the fact that Iventure out on a snowshoe walk with a pack of
had acquired too many dogs to be able to controlfree running puppies.
them on skis. When the mushing gets into yourMost days include a drive with the huskies. They
blood you are addicted!love getting out and their enthusiasm is infectious.
A musher can drive any type of dog and almostWe quickly journey into the Swedish forests, and
any dog will pull the sled, but the most frequentlyafter a 15 mile run, we attend to the dogs' needs
used sled- dog is the Alaskan Husky. However,prior to our enjoying in our teepee a big grill feast
the polar breeds such as Malamutes, Eskimo dogsof meat, fish, bread, potatoes and vegetables.
and the Siberian Huskies are also popular mushingAfter lunch we sometimes split up some guests
dogs.enjoy cross- country skiing, while others want to
Norm:have a quick ride on the snowmobile down to the
What are dog sledding safaris and could you givelake and try their luck at ice fishing. Usually when
our readers a brief description of the ones youchildren are present there is often a great
offer? Where do they take place in Sweden andenthusiasm for tobogganing on our home- made
how long does a typical safari last?slope.
Bergsvein:We return around 5 P.M. for coffee and snacks, a
Dog sledding safaris are the trips where wequick shower and some relaxation before we all
challenge our own and our dogs' physical andget together for dinner. If we aren't too tired
mental endurance with long daily trips that includesafter the day's activities in the snow we
outdoor camping spread over 3-10 nights. Wesometimes watch films from the Iditarod in
eventually return to our homestead (farm house)Alaska, or just relax talking, getting a massage,
proud and in high spirits.reading a book or simply creeping into bed.
Usually we associate a safari with Africa howeverNorm:
our challenging Mushing Survival and Minitarod areWhat is the average age group that participates in
examples of true meetings with the elements.these tours?
The region of Jämtland in Sweden offers, withBergsvein:
its vast woodlands, gentle hills, mountains andSince we offer 5 different tours, we cater to any
numerous ice covered lakes, excellentage and ability. In fact, we have people of all ages
opportunities for great outdoor and wild lifevisiting there was even a baby of 6 month and a
experiences.lady of 82 participating in our activities and tours
There is an initial training period from our lodgelast season. Since we have qualified staff to take
and then we load up the necessary gear forcare of our guests, we are confident that
ourselves and the huskies in order to venture outeveryone will have the most enjoyable holiday
on a several day safari trip, where we rely on ourwith us whatever age they are as long as they
dogs, our equipment and ourselves.book the most appropriate tour for themselves.
The daily rides depend entirely on weatherNorm:
conditions and generally a typical steady tempoWhere do these tours start from and how would
day along the marked snowmobile will involve aone travel from North America or Europe to the
30 mile run. A group of a maximum of 8 persons,site?
including guides, set up, before dark every day, aBergsvein:
tent and a teepee camp. Everyone shares theGeographically we are situated centrally in
work which involves the feeding and taking careSweden, 40 miles north of the city Östersund,
of dogs and people. There is a bonding experiencewhich is an hour by plane from the capitol of
after a hard but rewarding day when we sitSweden, Stockholm, and where all inland flights
together in the teepee around a light-smoky firecommence. There are frequent flights from a
to keep us warm. Our journey continues afternumber of international airports to Stockholm and
breaking camp in the morning- something thatregular transfers to Östersund, where we pick
occurs every day until we return home. Ourup our guests.
participants have described these safaris in aNorm:
several ways, and one of our guests even calledHow safe are these tours?
it "character building."Bergsvein:
NormThey are very safe. Accidents can of course
If you had to choose the most romantic andhappen, but we haven't had any incidents that
unique of your sledding safaris, which ones wouldhave caused injuries to people. We place a lot of
you choose and why?emphasis on teaching our guests how to drive
Bergsvein:their team of huskies. It should be noted that we
Our Minisafari Husky Special is 3 days of learninghave highly skilled dog teams and well prepared
all about dogs and driving your own team. Theretrails. Above everything else, it is our experience
is an opportunity every day to try other winterand attitude to the task of taking hundreds of
activities such as cross country skiing,people on dog-sledding safaris year after year
tobogganing, snow shooing, where couples enjoywithout risk their to their health and still offering
playing in the snow, while returning to the warmthour guests the thrill of a speedy dog team leading
of a house every night.you around the vast wilderness of Sweden.
On the fourth day we pack our sleds and driveNorm:
out on an overnight tour. After taking care ofWhen is the best time of the year to take one
your dog team, participants enjoy many hoursof these tours?
under the stars watching out for northern lightsBergsvein:
and simply enjoying the silence. Could this be whyThe entire winter season has its charm. From my
a number of honeymooners have chosen exactlypersonal experience, any week in our almost 5
this trip?months of winter season is equally good.
Norm:November-December with the short days and
What equipment and clothing must one havewinds, snow drifts, swinging temperatures and
before embarking on one of these tours?northern lights and the mushing in the dark with
Bergsvein:just a head torch January- with its true mystic
We recommend our guests bring warm, longand real winter February- when winter nights are
underwear, preferably several layers, as well asgetting shorter March- with the beauty of the
gloves, hats and one or more sweaters. As withglittering sun and chilly nights April- with its warm
a number of our colleagues, Husky Holiday doesdays and soft snow are all what a fantastic
supply complete sets of warm winter clothing-winter is made up from. The adventure is truly
insulated coveralls and Canadian boots thatgreat what ever time one chooses to come.
withstand the lowest temperatures. You can findNorm:
a clothing and equipment list on our homepage.Is there anything else you wish to add that we
We also send out an individual informationhave not covered?
package prior to arrival, covering what weBergsvein
suggest people should bring along.We offer dog-sledding adventures to guests as
Norm:our vocation and which we enjoy doing. It started
What can one expect by way of lodging and foodwith the love for dogs and the outdoors, a hobby
when participating in one of these tours?has been turned into profession, and I can still say
Bergsvein:that most days I still enjoy it. I am delighted to
Our homestead (farmhouse) has 4 guest rooms,see how cheerful our guests are after each day
2 with bathrooms, 2 sharing a bath. The roomsof mushing and after a week's husky holiday. The
are pleasantly decorated and furnished, with goodfeed back we received only makes us more
ventilation and heating. Since we only accept veryexcited in receiving new guests every Sunday.
small groups, our standard is 6, we can alsoThanks once again Bergsvein for your informative
accept up to 7 guests per week. Our house isinterview and good luck with all of your future
open to our guests to enjoy. The cozyendeavors.
atmosphere of the living room and the study help