When I was a kid, one of my favorite movies was Balto. If you haven’t seen it, you need to rearrange your day, because you now have other priorities. It’s the heart warming tale of a sled dog team, led by Balto, that race to get home with medicine for sick children. It’s loosely based on a true story – there’s even a statue of Balto in Central Park. All this to say, that my childhood favorite movie is a large inspiration to a lifelong dream to go dog sledding. I mean, if Cuba Gooding Jr. could do it, how hard could it be?
This was a childhood dream that stayed with me, and one I started to research to see if I could make a reality. I found a place in Breckenridge, Colorado called ‘Good Time Adventures’, that led Dog Sledding tours where you didn’t just ride in the sled, but actually drove it. The price was beyond fair for the hour and a half tour, and I had no hesitation in booking it.
I had high hopes for the tour, and the reality blew all of them out of the water. This was without a doubt, one of the coolest things I have ever done. On the tour, I got to drive the sled twice, and ride on the sled twice through incredible mountain scenery. I also got to shout “mush Balto, get the medicine for the children”, so I can cross that off my bucket list. The touring company also provided boots, and snowsuits for those that didn’t have there own gear. We didn’t end up taking advantage of this, but it was a nice amenity. The tours took out six people at a time, and when you weren’t riding or driving on the dog sled, you were on a snow mobile ahead of the sled team. It was a system that we thought worked really well. The guide that led our expedition was friendly, professional, and good with both the dogs and people.
I want to reiterate that this is one of the coolest things I have ever done. It’s also incredible affordable, if you’re already going to be in Colorado on a ski trip. Go out and make some mushing memories!
