Dog Sledding

If it’s always been your dream to ride a dog sled through the snowy wilderness, then a visit to Mammoth Dog Teams should be on the top of your list.

Located in Mammoth Lakes, California, this dog sledding company has been raising and training world-class sled dogs since 1984, when New Zealand native Paul Marvelly opened Dog Sled Adventures in his back yard with 12 recruited neighborhood dogs and a baby freight sled purchased in Alaska.

One of his first major acquisitions was Duran, an Alaskan dog sled race veteran who ran in the Iditarod and became one of the company’s premiere sled dog racing studs.

“This was an excellent retirement opportunity for him, “ said former musher Kris Emery. “There were also three other veteran dogs from the Alaskan dog sled races, so we have some pretty good stock.”

In 1996, Marvelly’s associate Jim Ouimet purchased the business and changed the name to Mammoth Dog Teams in honor of Mammoth’s first musher,  Tex Couchane.
In the true spirit of Alaska dog sledding, Mammoth Dog Teams offers several dog sled tours with a group of lovable Malamutes, Siberian and Alaskan Huskies. Day tours leave from Mammoth Mountain Inn at the Main Lodge during the winter season.

The 25-minute Minaret Loop ride ($65 adults and $40 kids), is a great family adventure. This scenic adventure takes you through quiet narrow paths dotted with snow-sprinkled pines. For a little more ($125 adults and $60 kids), the one-hour Minaret Vista Lookout Ride is a beautiful trip through the Inyo National forest wilderness.

For $90 adults and $50 children, guests can pack into a full fledged dog sled, and accompanied by a professional musher, be led on a 50-minute ride through Smokey’s Run at Smokey Bear Flats. Two additional, and longer tours, are available with your choice of hot drinks provided.

Overnight 2-day, 1-night dog sled tours through the Sierra backcountry are offered January, March and April. For $900 adults ($140 children 12-16), you’ll get hands-on dog sled training before getting your own dog sled team for an overnight dog sled tour you’re sure to remember.

These overnight dog sled rides include camping gear, dog sledding equipment and all meals and beverages.

This is a real working vacation, where you’ll learn how to dog sled just like a pro.
Each participant is required to feed, water and care for your own dog sled teams during the trip. During the day, you’ll also have the chance to snowshoe, go skijorring or learn to cook at camp.

According to Emery, dog sledding history goes back thousands of years. He cites Canadian trappers, Alaskan gold rush miners, eskimos and the regents of Siberia as some of the people who have used dog teams throughout history.

Mushing has come a long way since then. Although in some parts of the world, teams are still used for work, it is now exclusively a tourist attraction in Mammoth Lakes.

Mammoth Dog Teams boasts three full-time handlers and mushers, all of whom have developed special relationships with the dogs in the kennel.

“The relationship between the musher and the team has to be close,” said Emery. “There is a lot of respect between the two. There’s a lot of love there.”

Dog sledding trips are also offered in the spring and fall. “It’s the same setup — only with wheels,” said Emery.

Free kennel tours are offered during the summer at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (except Wednesday).

Mammoth Dog Teams
PO Box 7791
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
760-934-6270
http://www.mammothdogteams.com