All Mush Dog Sledding Trips in Maine (4 Day)
This trip is three days of dog sledding on Umbagog Lake or trails in the Mahoosuc Mountains area.
This trip is three days of dog sledding on Umbagog Lake or trails in the Mahoosuc Mountains area.
| Date(s) | Price(s) |
|---|---|
| Custom trips only - call for pricing and availability | $TBD |
The trip starts with a Mushing 101 lesson. From there, we cross the lake or an easy trail through the woods to the first night’s camp. Camp consists of several wall tents with balsam fir bough floors and a wood stove for warming and drying winter gear. The dogs will be picketed right in camp, and you are free to go and visit them – especially since they all think they are pets! The second day is a mix of lake and trails covering approximately 15 miles. We allow time to snowshoe and cross-country ski from our camps, and if there’s interest, a guide can join you to teach about winter wildlife tracking. On the last day, we travel back to our vehicles across the lake and trails. The route varies depending on the trail conditions. To view a trip itinerary, click here.
For trip itinerary, click here
Our trips are conducted in a very safety conscious way. We spend a lot of time prepping the trails before a trip by removing branches and blown down trees, packing the trails by snowmobile once we get snow. This is for the guest’s comfort and also to make it easier for the dogs to pull the sleds.
We go out before a trip to check the ice if we are planning to go on the lake by using an ice chisel to find out the thickness of the ice. We often mark our trails with fir boughs so we can find our old base in case of snow storms.
All of our trips are snowmobile supported so we can lighten the loads the dogs are pulling, provide a better trail and also have a snow vehicle in the case of an emergency.
We carry spare warm clothing, the ability to start fires in all conditions, and a satellite phone and two-way radios for communication among the dog sledding guides, cross country ski guides and snowmobile support drivers. We do check in calls once or twice a day to Mahoosuc’s home base so any emergencies from people’s homes can be relayed on to them on the trail.
We always carry a first aid kit for both humans and canines. Guides maintain current Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification.
If weather or trails are unsafe for any reason we can always adjust our itinerary to continue to conduct a safe and enjoyable experience for our guests and our canine friends.
Our trips are alcohol free for both guests and guides.
The exact route and daily mileage will be determined just before the weekend based upon snow and trail conditions. The areas we do 4 Day All Mush trips can be Richardson Lake, Rapid River and Umbagog Lake. The route may be linear (point A to B) or a loop trip where we would retrace part of our route on the last day.
Meet at 7 p.m. at Mahoosuc Guide Service.
Meet other group members, get outfitted with boots, parkas, gaiters, sleeping bags, duffel bags, etc. Look at maps and discuss route. Talk on how to dress and keeping warm.
Stay in Mahoosuc Mountain Lodge or Mahoosuc farmhouse (need to make reservations for this).
A.M. Meet the dogs. Load up and transport to trailhead (30 – 45 minutes drive).
Lunch.
Load and rig dogsleds, dog sledding 101 lesson, mush 5-8 miles to camp.
Settle into camp, chop hole in ice for drinking water, heat wall tents, unpack gear.
Possible time to explore area by snowshoe or cross-country ski.
Day trip by dog team from camp on lake or trail system depending on trail conditions.
Possible hot lunch around a campfire on the trail.
Return to camp.
Optional snowshoe/ski from camp.
Load and rig sleds.
Mush 5-8 miles out to trailhead.
Lunch.
Return to Mahoosuc and finish by 3-4 p.m.
Deposits are non-refundable. From 0-14 days before trip starts, no money is refundable. Within 14-30 days before the trip starts, money is non-refundable, but you may apply the amount to another trip for one year (on a space available basis) minus your deposit. If you cancel within 14 days of the starting date, money is non-transferable and non-refundable. We go in all conditions including rain and thaws. If extreme weather conditions prevent you from traveling to Maine for your trip, you may use the full amount less the deposit for another trip for one year from the trip starting date. You may wish to purchase vacation insurance to cover this possibility. If you have to cancel due to Covid related issues we will not be able to give a refund, but will lock in the price of the trip and give a 2 year credit to be used toward any of our trips.
We only cancel a trip for safety reasons (i.e. flooding, bad ice, extreme windchill or lack of conditions – not enough snow or ice.) For canoe trips we may need to cancel due to safety issues such as extremely high or low water on rivers. If necessary we may need to change the itinerary to a river or route that is passable from the trip you signed up for due to the extremes of climate change (i.e. low water, flooding). If we need to cancel, we try to reschedule people to another trip. If we need to cancel for safety or lack of conditions you may use the full amount toward another Mahoosuc trip for 2 years.
If you are having any symptoms of Covid before your trip please test yourself before arriving at Mahoosuc Guide Service and if positive contact us to reschedule your trip.
Mushing can be physically demanding. We cannot predict trail conditions as they change daily, sometimes hourly. You should be in good physical condition for an overnight dog sledding trip. The dogs are strong; however, there are limits to their pulling ability. Therefore, we ask individuals who weigh over 215 lbs. to contact us prior to sending in their reservation form.
For canoeing trips sometimes there are portages around falls and we need to carry all of our gear and canoes around them. The better shape you are in will make these carries easier for you.
Tips are appropriate for your guides. If you feel you would like to recognize how hard they worked to provide a safe and reliable trip for you. A common amount is 5% – %10 of your trip cost. At Mahoosuc we split tips evenly among whoever is working on the trip unless people want certain amounts to go directly to certain guides. In this case they should give it to them individually.
I like the way you treat your dogs and how your dogs in turn treat your clients. It’s such a joy to be around them. Although the trips that you organize take us into winter wilderness, I’ve always felt completely safe, recognizing the preparation and foresight you put into every trip. Your knowledge and friendly guides with their guiding, cooking and companionship greatly contribute to the experience.
