You can hear them before you see them. About 30 four-legged endurance athletes chomping at the bit for another chance to prove their worth and provide you with an ear-to-ear grin that will last an entire day.
But just at the peak of barks, yelps and howls it goes immediately silent as a pack of dogs lead a metal sled into the woods. The dogs left behind realize their turn is gone, but know another shot is right around the corner. They’ll have plenty of chances to stretch their legs.
Calm and relatively relaxed now, the dogs welcome belly rubs and scratches on the head behind the ears. Some chill out laying on the snow, others seem just too excited to sit for long.
And the silence is short lived.
If You Go:
* Weekdays: $85 for adults/$45 for anyone under 80 lbs.
* Weekends and Holiday Breaks: $99 for adults/$45 for anyone under 80 lbs.
* Rides begin at Mt. Bachelor’s Sunrise Lodge parking area.
* Rides start at 9:30/10:30/11:30/12:30 and last about 1 hour.
* More information can be found on the Oregon Trail of Dream website.
If there’s any question whether the dogs enjoy pulling 100-pound sleds filled with people, it’s quickly answered seeing (hearing, actually) just how excited they get as their handler readies a sled. They know the time is near.
The barking begins again. The leaping, lunging, howling. Hoping to get noticed by one of the handlers and hoping to get chosen for the next sled of the day.
“They all want to go,” a handler says.
The handlers choose the sled’s anchor dogs first, moving up the line until the leaders are clipped into place. You settle in to the padded sled and prepare for takeoff. The brake is released, the musher shouts “hup! hup! hup!” and away you go.
On the trail, the ride is surprisingly smooth. And the dogs are mostly silent save for panting you’d expect from the effort required to pull the sled and three adults. They stay on the trail as they wind their way through the pines, hugging the inside snowbank like a thoroughbred hugs the rail at Churchill Downs.
“They’re always in race mode,” the musher says, as he keeps the sled on course.
You feel the wind in your face, along with some snow as it’s sprayed from some of the 40 legs furiously churning in front of you.
The musher steers and brakes, telling tales of the dogs’ past exploits – a 300 mile race here, 1,000 mile race there, the 12-year-old dog that still leads a sled like a puppy. The life the dogs lead training at a 40-acre ranch east of Bend on the edge of the High Desert.
“Good dogs….gooooood dogs,” he says with a smile under brilliant blue skies and balmy temps that have made the snow a little sticky in spots. Still, the Presidents Day weekend’s runs are sold out.
Going downhill, the dogs cruise and need just one stop to catch their breath. On the way back, we stop a couple of times after a couple of steep hills – and you feel out of breath for them. But they need just a few seconds of recovery before they start to bark again, eager to get going. The musher obliges and they make their final push toward the top of the hill and their friends, brothers and sisters who start howling once again at the sight of the sled.
After nearly an hour of hard work, they’re rewarded with water, leftover hamburger, hot dogs and other meats from the kitchens at Mt. Bachelor. They’ll get to rest for a while before heading out again.
You walk up the line petting and thanking the crew who pulled you through the forest. You can help feed them if you want.
And as you continue to smile and walk back to the lodge you’re left wondering who had more fun – you or the dogs.
Oregon Trail of Dreams is operated and owned by Jerry Scdoris and his daughter Rachael. Rachael is a world renowned athlete and had her first Iditarod finish in 2006. You can learn more about Rachael and the dogs in this amazing video.
Other stories
More inspiring stories, adventures, and tips & tricks for planning and experiencing the best Central Oregon has to offer.
-
Top 10 Winter Activities in Bend and Central Oregon (Besides Skiing)
Central Oregon is a mountain lover’s dream. No matter the season, you can expect constant adventure at your fingertips. But, make no mistake: Winter is not just for the thrill seekers. Luckily, Bend, Oregon has far more to offer in the chilly months than Mt. Bachelor, its world-renowned ski resort and backcountry mecca. If you don’t fancy zooming down mountains on planks, are out for the season, or just want some diverse fun in your world, read on to learn about Central Oregon’s best endorphin-boosting activities (without the skis!).
-
Winter Tours You Have to Try in Bend and Central Oregon
Twinkling lights, fresh snow and fire pits bringing people together; it’s winter in Central Oregon! Bend and the surrounding towns within Central Oregon are great places to cozy up when the snow falls, and even better places to take part in winter recreation. Locals love to explore the nearby Cascade Mountains, with Mount Bachelor and plenty of sno parks located just a 30 minute drive away. Back in town, there are several breweries, cideries, wineries and distilleries waiting to be sampled. With so much to do, it can be tough to know where to start. Luckily, tours in Central Oregon that showcase the best outdoor and indoor recreation are available to help visitors make the most of their winter vacations.
-
Our Favorite Sledding Hills in and Near Sunriver
The town of Sunriver sits on the edge of Deschutes National Forest, surrounded by tall Ponderosa pines and, as the name suggests, plenty of sunshine and the meandering Deschutes River. However, Sunriver isn’t just a great spot to spend sunny days on the water. The town gets an annual 50 inches of snow, about 20 inches more than the nearby city of Bend receives, on average. Central Oregon weather can vary heavily within relatively small areas, and Sunriver is a huge benefactor of this. As a result, snow in Sunriver falls fast and hard, and leads to the perfect opportunities to break out winter sleds. Whether it’s an old school tobogan or something a bit more modern, be sure to visit Sunriver and the surrounding area for plenty of sledding options.