Though the windchills were probably below zero, Alena and I (thanks, Dad, for staying home with little Vi!) traveled to Ledge View Nature Center near Chilton for their dogsledding demonstration. When we arrived, the dog owners/dogsledders were already giving rides, but soon the dogs needed a rest! The dogs haven't been run as much this year since the weather has been so mild, with no snow! After stopping, however, the workhouse dogs at the back end of the line, near the sled, began whine. They wanted to keep running! We learned that the strongest dogs are near the sled and the front ones have to be good leaders (but not as strong).
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| Alena LOVED the opportunity to pet the dogs! She went up and down the line about 10 times, petting each and every dog. She got quite a few kisses and snuggles in the process! Since the dogsled team owners have them as a hobby and as pets, they are also super friendly Siberian Huskies! |
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| Dogs on both sides of the gangline got to sniff and lick her! |
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| And they're off! |
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| Back end of the 16 dog team and the sled! |
We got to ride in the sled, too! It was so neat to think of how the dogs were actually pulling us, and relatively quickly, too! Alena wanted to go again, but we had to let others have the opportunity as well. I think that this program is a yearly one, and we will definitely be back again next year! The Ledge View Nature Center was really neat, too, so I'm sure we'll be back there much sooner!
