Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of questions that we hear all the time. A special thanks to Maureen O'Neill of Illinois who went on our trip in December of 2003 and finally got me to upload this page.

  1. How did you become interested in sled dogs?
  2. How did you get experience as a musher?
  3. How did you start your business?
  4. How many dogs and mushers do you have?
  5. How do you get your dogs?
  6. What is your sledding season?
  7. What kind of dogs do you have?
  8. Have any of your dogs raced?
  9. When the dogs are going crazy before the ride, are they saying "Pick me! Pick me!"

1. How did you become interested in sled dogs?

While on vacation in Aspen in December of 1995, I met a musher named Harry Portland in a bar in Snowmass Village. I was there with my best friend from college (Brian Donning) and we played a couple games of pool with Harry. We asked him what he did for a living, and I was fascinated with his story of driving dog sleds for Krabloonik Kennels. It sounded like so much fun. Harry's words stuck in my head for several weeks. Finally I made the descision to go for it and try the life of a musher. It wasn't until June of 1996 that I resigned from my job as a computer software programmer for Compuware in Michigan and started my journey west to Colorado.

2. How did you get experience as a musher?

After an interview and tryout process at Krabloonik, I was lucky enough to be one of five new drivers hired for the 1996-1997 season. That Novemeber we had very good snow which allowed us to drive sleds early and gain lots of valuable experience on the sled. After many trips with experienced mushers helping me out, I was finally ready to drive a sled with paying guests by myself on December 17, 1996. I have driven tens of thousands of miles since and met people from all over the world.

3. How did you start your business?

I did not actually start Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park, I bought it. After working two years full time and two years part time for Krabloonik, I was looking to start my own dog sledding business. Tracie and I were thinking of moving to Idaho or Montana, because the price of land and other materials are cheaper there. Through my work on the website dogsledrides.com I came to find out that Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park was for sale. After a short visit to the Fraser Valley and reviewing all the facts and figures, we decided this was our best option. We signed the final purchase contract on December 21, 2000.

4. How many dogs and mushers do you have?

The number of dogs and mushers changes throughout the year. We try to maintain about 70 dogs in the kennel who can actually pull for us during the season. Some of the older dogs can only pull a little, and the puppies don't pull guests until they are 18 months old. As for mushers, we try to have the ability to run 5 sleds at a time, which requires at least 5 drivers on staff and usually we have 6.

5. How do you get your dogs?

Most of our dogs come from other kennels or homes. When racing kennels have a dog that does not fit into their program anymore, they look for another home for the dog. Sometimes that is another racing kennel, a pet home or a touring kennel like ours. Also, when somebody adopts a husky for a pet, they don't always understand what it takes to care for them. We will occasional take huskies that are too much to handle for their original families. Finally, we do have a litter of puppies every once in a while. If we have two dogs that we think will make great puppies and we have openings in the kennel, we will breed the two in the hopes that they will make more great sleddogs.

6. What is your sledding season?

We sled for as long as we can. For us here in the Fraser Valley, we usually have snow by the middle of November, and it will melt away by the middle of April. Most of our customers come to Winter Park for the skiing, so we try to stay open for the same days as the resort.

7. What kind of dogs do you have?

We have Siberian huskies and Alaskan huskies. Our Siberians are registered with the American Kennel Club, but don't always fit within their standard. We prefer dogs that are narrower, taller and less "fluffy" than what the AKC calls for. Alaskan huskies are a mixed breed without a standard. Mushers mix different kinds of huskies and many other kinds of breeds including greyhounds and pointers to get the different features of the breeds to come out in the new puppies. With a short gestation and short time to breeding age, it does not take long to develop a whole new line of huskies.

8. Have any of your dogs raced?

Yes. One of our dogs has raced the Iditarod, a few have raced in the Yukon Quest, one was on the 4 and 6 dog sprint world championship team, 12 have raced in the Race to the Sky, and several others have competed in smal races in the lower 48 states.

9. When the dogs are going crazy before the ride, are they saying "Pick me! Pick me!"

Yes. The dogs get very excited to go out for a walk, and they express that by making a lot of noise. This sometimes scares people, because the dogs can look like they are mad. They are just excited though and quickly quiet down once we are moving.