Sled Dogs

Sled Dog Adventures on the Husky Farm in Patagonia, Chile
Winter 20010

Sled Dog Expedition
" Andes Crossing " from Chile to Argentina
3+7 days

Tour description

The goal of our sled dog expedition is the crossing of the Andes from Chile to Argentina. This dog sled adventure on hidden smuggler trails between Chile and Argentina leads through lonely, untouched landscapes in northern Patagonia. Impressive, thousands of years old araucaria forests, raging mountain streams, cascades and active, steaming volcanoes and mapuche villages far away from civilization are your companions on this once in a lifetime sled dog tour. This demanding tour is suitable for beginners and advanced mushers. But because of the duration of the tour you need a certain amount of passion, fitness and spirit of comradeship.
In the two days before the tour begins, you will have time to get to know the dogs, the other participants and the tour guides. You will receive your equipment and a class in general mushing abilities. This way, also beginners are able to participate. After these important two days the adventure can begin.
On the tour you will handle your own team consisting of 6-8 dogs. We will spend 4 nights in a tent and 2 in mountain cabins.

Tour details

Day 1:
After your arrival we will pick you up at the airport in Temuco or the bus terminal in Villarrica. You will stay in one of our comfortable cabins on the Husky farm between
Villarrica and Lican Ray. In the evening we will have dinner together so the group can get to know each other.
Day 2:
After a good night’s sleep in the cabin, the howling huskies will wake you up. After we had breakfast together, we will make new friends right away by feeding them. The remaining day is reserved for equipment check and basic instructions in mushing. You will ride on a wheeled sled for training purposes.
Day 3:
Today we will travel with the Land Rover the expedition close to the sleeping volcano „Sollipulli“. Here our adventure Andes crossing” will begin. The summit of the volcano is filled with ice and snow. The ice is up to 650 m thick. We will mush along this sleeping giant heading northeast into a narrow valley. Tonight, after a lot of uphill sledding we will camp next to a crystal clear creek where we and the dogs can drink the ice cold, clean water.
Day 4:
During the second part of the tour we will get to even lonelier landscapes with a slight decline. We will pass an old mountain- pass to Argentina which was used by smugglers. Along a mountain creek we will descent to the “Nevados de Sollipulli”.
Before reaching the cabin, whose owners are an Australian/New Zealand Ian couple, we have to cross a few rivers, which is not an easy task. If you get wet, don’t worry. The cabin and a hot meal await you.
Day 5:
The third part of our journey brings us further northeast close to the Argentinean boarder. At the beautiful lake „Laguna Icalma“we will spend another night in a rustic log cabin. From here you can already see the border.
Day 6:
Today we will cross the boarder. The friendly policemen are happy to assist you and you will have time to take pictures. The dogs are eager to continue and so we will descend to the lake “Lago Alumine” and the idyllic Andes village Villa Pehuenia. With enough snow it is possible to go into the center of the village by sled, where friendly villagers will greet you.
Day 7:
It is time to say goodbye to Villa Pehuenia. We will continue our expedition with an incline towards “Batea Mahuida”. A little bit above the tree line we will continue our trip until we will camp high up in the Argentinean Andes.
Day 8:
We will continue from “Batea Mahuida” to “El Arco”. Still above the tree line up and down many hills we will continue heading northeast. Up in the Argentinean Andes you will probably experience the famous “viento blanco”, a blizzard that does not allow you to see your lead dog. Just trust the husky’s instinct. He will guide you to the next camp.
Day 9:
Today we will reach our destination, „Pino Hachado“. We will stay in the rustic log cabins of „Huskies de los Pehuenes“and the dogs will rest in the kennels. After feeding them it is time for a hot meal, some home brewed beer and some stories about the adventurous expedition.
Day 10:
It will not be easy to say goodbye to your hairy buddies today. But it does not have to be forever…
After breakfast you can get transfer to either Temuco, Chile or Zapala, Argentina.

Included are:
2 nights in a cabin on the Husky farm IX Region, Chile
Basic mushing class
7 days dog sledding
4 nights in a tent
2 nights in mountain cabins
1 nights in a cabin on the Husky farm „Huskies de los Pehuenes“, Argentina
Food, beverages
Your own dog team and sled for the tour
Mushing equipment
Snow shoes and trekking poles
Tent, sleeping bag, mattress
Transfer to/ from airport Temuco (Alternates possible on request)

Equipment:
Warm, weather proof gear, warm boots, sticky gloves, sunglasses.
With your booking confirmation you will receive a detailed equipment list.

Prerequisites:
Mushing experience is not required. But you should be in good shape and be calm and patient in handling dogs.

Number of participants:
2-6 persons
Single person on request

Price:
1.950.000 CLP per person (ca. 3790.- USD or 2590.- Euros)

Depending on the weather conditions we reserve the right, for the safety of our clients, to make changes to the route.

If you are interested contact us.

Other Links regarding the topic Andes Crossing with Sled Dogs:

ARD, Das Erste (German Television): Mit Schlittenhunden gegen Umweltzerstörung
(Weltspiegel Sendetermin Sonntag 11.10.2009)

DOITE Outdoor DOITE Heritage: Chilean Outdoor Clothes and equipment

Expe News - Real Time Expedition Tracking

DOITE Outdoor DOITE Heritage: Picture Gallery

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