Canada Cool

So the new feature pic you can see above was taken in beautiful British Columbia on our recent family trip. WHAT A PLACE! So much fun. Thousands of Australians flock to BC every year to take in the abundant snow and warm Canadian ski hospitality and this year the Lloyds joined in the fun. I'm posting a series of blogs from the trip which share with you my best bits. Part 1,

DOGSLEDDING

I mean seriously, how could the combination of SNOW and DOGS not be a great one. I've long dreamed of taking our doggie Renzo (see below, isn't he just the greatest?) to the snow but unfortunately here in Aus, our ski resorts are largely in National Parks which makes them a no dog zone. But in Canadia as I prefer to call it, the doggies run free.

Renzo, with the boys.

This was a special family day trip that I planned in advance to give us all a break from skiing, spend some time together and embark on an adventure. And it was just divine.

We went with Blackcomb Dogsledding Tours (BDT) which are about 1 hour out of Whistler, BC. The tour bus, which collected us from the Hilton in Whistler, pulled into the secluded forest location where you see a large yurt and a kennel block. It's basic but raw and wild.

Some sled groups preparing to go with the meeting point yurt in the background.

We have a short safety briefing (all very low key and lots of laughs about how not to roll out of the sled) from a guy who looks like a mixture between a Bondi hipster and an extra from Northern Exposure. Then we're divided into groups of 2 or 3 and taken to our sleds and waiting doggies.

Our guide introduces us to all the dogs who would mush for us and gave us some background on where they've come from and how they come to be at BDT. Turns out, many of their dogs and all new dogs are rescue dogs which I was stoked to learn. They had beautiful Malamute, Husky, German Shepherd crosses - even some Australian Kelpies there. The dogs apparently love the "work" and you can tell, they really do. They bark, howl, wrestle each other and pounce around in anticipation of the departure. And when the guide hops on the back of the sled with us securely ensconced in the wrap-up front sled pouch, she calls out "HUP - GO!" and we're off! The long sled lurches to life. It's a little slower than I'd imagined being honest, but still very enjoyable.

Trent and Riley on their dog tour.

Along the way, certain dogs stop to do their doggy business and misbehave as some doggies do but they are all pulled into line by the guide or by their fellow hounds. They're remarkably efficient whilst also retaining their wild, playful dogginess. As a real dog lover, this pleases me greatly.

Look at this gorgeous boy.

Special shoes for doggies whose paws weren't built for snow.

The dogs each do about 2 or 3 tours per day. The tours themselves are not long, maybe 20 minutes to your destination point where you stop, let the dogs rest, take photos and take in the incredible view. Then you turn around and head back to the yurt.

Family shot at the half-way point. 

It's not cheap but it does serve as a great family experience that you won't forget. Magnificent scenery, beautiful animals, and really great people all make this a really special day out. Do it!

The little boys and I.