
Ontario's favorite winter sport!
Dogsledding is fun, it's thrilling,
and NOTHING beats Dogsledding
in Ontario for excitement! We're
just outside Algonquin Park - and
when you visit us, you'll see, it's about
the dogs!

ONTARIO DOGSLEDDING UPDATE - Feb 5 , 2009- WINTER IS ROCKIN AND ROLLIN!
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO BOOK THAT 'BUCKET LIST' ITEM - DOGSLEDDING !
Dogsledding in Ontario's
Algonquin Park area is
second to none. It's peaceful.
It's breathtaking,
with scenery to die for. It's a feeling of working
together with man's best friend
to experience a
fabulous season often overlooked. Dogsledding
in Ontario is an
invigorating way to get out and
enjoy our long Ontario Winters - and best of all,
it's really
good excercise, and FUN for the whole
family! It's amazing how time is
suspended while
you are
out on the trail. As the woods slip past,
all you hear is the panting of dogs, the crunch
of snow
under the pounding of padded feet, and
the muffled sounds of the forest, slumbering
under a
winter mantle as you scoot past. Anyone
can dogsled - young or old, brave or
timid -
we'll show you how, introduce you to your dogs,
and you can drive your own sled, or
jump
in my
basket, for a fun ride in the fluffy stuff. With
plenty of experience
in the sport,
you're in good hands.
Best of all, you'll learn how to handle
your own team.
No passenger to carry, just you and your own dogs!
Dogsledding is not merely
standing on the
runners - it's an interactive sport that
not only
gives you a surprising amount of exercise,
it will
inspire you! Best of all, it brings
out the
kid in everyone, and gets us outside to enjoy
some fresh air
& sunshine on a beautiful
winter day!
We take our business very seriously & want you to
enjoy your sledding experience!
On the runners, you quickly learn to work in harmony
with
the dogs
- it's like skiing with a twist! You will pilot an
enthusiastic team of dogs,
on a "closed loop" totally private
wilderness trail system set up to
safely
teach you the art of
driving without any pressure from outside distractions.
Each of our many interconnected loops are designed to help
you learn
easily and effectively - going from darn easy to
challenging at just the right
pace for each individual. This
flexibility means you will learn how to be
a musher while
working within your limits. The groups we've taught to drive
a
dogteam always enjoy plenty of hilarious laughing & take
the odd snow bath
- coming back every year to go again.
If you are a bit apprehensive about
driving a team, fear not!
Our friendly one on one instruction will make you
feel
comfortable and in good hands! You'll see that driving a
dogteam
is really just a matter of relaxing and enjoying the
experience for what it is
- ABSOLUTELY THRILLING!
A generous snowfall adds a special air of excitement to a mid afternoon run !

Our business is not a huge enterprise
with lineups of people waiting to try
the dogsledding, adding the unwanted
pressure
of a large audience.
We schedule all our tours individually,
so that just you and your group will
have the privacy of your guide's
undivided attention, to learn at a pace
that is suitable for your
skill level.
There's something for everyone here
at our business,
and we try to
accommodate everyone that comes
out to give it a whirl!
Dogsledding
is something the entire family can enjoy,
and youngsters love a ride in my basket!

READ on to learn about your
teacher & guides
and the package we offer - there's something for all ages
and experience
levels.
Whether you're a pencil pusher or
an accomplished athlete, you'll
enjoy a trip to our Ontario
dogsledding tours through the wilderness!
Or click to find out about our Ontario Dogsledding
Stars
and learn more about the dogs,
and what makes them
special. We have an outstanding group of alaskan huskies
and provide a quality one on one experience that will
'make a MUSHER' out of you!
Children from 8- 10 and up can enjoy a small dog team!
Join OFSS gold medalist Penny
Nicol & husband Matt for a run with their dogs......
Your guide is (me) Penny Nicol,
with over 17 years of experience in dogs
or (hubby) Matt, now a full member of the dogsled racing team.
Under the
POLESTAR prefix, Penny bred over ten American & Canadian Champion
Alaskan Malamutes between 1987 - 1994, with many specialty and group
wins. She learned to drive with those Malamutes, and they gave her a gentle
introduction to sledding back in the early 1990's. You might say she's hooked!
Pictured is A/C Champion Polestar's Bad Habit WLD/WTD (Darla)
taking
Best of Opposite Sex at Skydome, at the 1990 Canadian National Specialty.
(owner/breeder handled by Penny herself!)
By 1994, Penny had the urge to move
faster, so she moved on to
the Alaskan Husky, a dog genetically engineered to RUN!
In 1994 & 95 she began racing in Ontario & Michigan, competing
on the
Ontario Federation of Sled Dog Sports
mid-distance
race circuit. Mid-Distance races average twenty to sixty miles
in length,
and are run straight
through without stopping. After a very successful
racing career, she retired
from racing,
and in 2000 began outfitting
for the public, by dogteam and on horseback. Matt (*pictured above)
took up dogsledding when he and Penny married in 1999 - and he's
suddenly been bitten by the 'racing bug' Watch for Matt at the Bancroft
races in 2009 - he's competing with 'outfitting' dogs so it's going to
be anybody's guess as to how well he does in the 20 mile 6 dog race!

Penny jokes that she has aged (and spread) a
bit,
but back then, she was the 1997 OFSS Gold Medalist
in the 60 mile race division. And although she still
grins when she speaks of it,
back in 'the day' her peers
dubbed her 'The First Lady of Mushing',
& 'Queen of
the Trail' It was her time to shine, AND SHE LOVED
IT!
Matt has lots to live up to (*I'm sure she reminds
him)
but dogsled racing is FUN!! and that's the whole idea.
The 1997
Marmora Sled Dog Championships
- our team placed third in a huge field!
When
we run our dogsledding tours from the farm,
we always keep in mind that very first run that WE had
with a new team of Alaskans - it was THRILLING to say
the least! Having a nice
mixture of dog talent here in
our dogyard, we're very good at judging the size
& strength
of team for each individual. WeI teach the driving lessons
not just in the yard,
but throughout
the tour. We take breaks,
and while stopped along the trail weI will
give you techniques
needed to handle everything you'll encounter on our trails.
The goal is to thrill
you & give you a
great run to
encourage
newcomers
to our great sport. The welfare of our sled dogs is
of paramount
importance, and the care they
receive is obvious.
From their well bedded, 2" thick wooden
doghouses
to their
picturesque view of the wilderness - our dogs are our best
buddies, and we take great pride in caring for them
every day.
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OUR DOGSLEDDING PACKAGES
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BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!
Our dogsledding trip package means
*more quality time on the sleds/with the dogs
* a chance to try 'more power in the tank'
* DRIVE YOUR OWN TEAM!
All of the fun, none of the frigid!
TRY OUR TWO HOUR
"HIT THE TRAILS DOGSLEDDING TOUR"
After we sign you in, it's off to the dogyard
to get some in depth instruction on how to
drive your sled and learn the in's and outs
of harnessing a team. It's important to know
because it helps you learn about the dogs.
Then it's off to our 8 km of onsite trails
to take a ride and enjoy what driving a
dogteam is all about!
Approx driving time = 1 hr 20 min
We get rave reviews on this one!
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This tour
introduces you gently to dogsledding - and teaches you to drive a team.
Perhaps you enjoy speed,
and are a thrill seeker? Or are you timid and not sure?
This tour allows for flexibility in team sizes - here's something for
everyone.
We've taken everyone from 8 year olds right up to grandma and grandpa
(well, really fit ones that is) and everyone agrees, it's LOADS of FUN.
There is no greater joy than flying down a fast trail, powering around
corners and
scooting down
straightaways, with the wind in your face and
the snow flying from sixteen
galloping paws! This package is
geared for everyone
- two hours is JUST right, because it's more work than you think, just hanging on!


Our business
prides itself on providing a program
that TEACHES the ART of being a good musher.
There is so much more to dogsledding than
sightseeing.
Our friendly and talented dogs are
chosen for their ability,
so they are no slouches
- they have some real 'zoom' and
LOVE their SPORT
and they love to put their energy to good use!
Our groomed forest trails have plenty of curves
and
thrills and 'interesting' corners to keep new
drivers on their toes! But with the help of your
instructor, everyone can do it - it's a MUST do!
You'll be amazed at the
speed, strength and stamina of the Alaskan Husky
- born and bred to run! When
you've completed
this adventure, you'll have a
much better understanding of what it takes to be a
musher, and you will have
a new respect for the
awesome Alaskan Sled dog! Dogsledding here means friendly,
one on one
instruction ~ you and your group will be treated to an
exhilarating
dogsledding adventure without a lineup of people behind you,
waiting
to try it!
Best of all, you stay
outdoors for a comfortable amount of time, for an
exciting adventure ~ yet you're
working in your comfort zone.
There's no danger
of getting stuck on a trip too long for you to enjoy, too far
from your
car, and too far from comfort!
All the winter fun, without the frigid!
Our trail system is a fantastic set of groomed loops, hills and straightaways
through the forest surrounding our wilderness farm property near Algonquin.
The trail system we have developed is PERFECT for your run & very popular!

Safety is
very important, so your package
MUST include the 'hands on' hookup of dogs.
This is mandatory, because learning to control
a four dog team of Alaskans is more difficult
than you think, and helping to hook up is a
sensible stepping stone and gives you a better
idea of the strength of these small but strong
sled dogs. You'll be amazed at just HOW strong!
And, to be a good musher, you have to learn
to drive properly. Good sled dogs deserve
a good driver who isn't going to make their
job too difficult! So don't worry - you'll
have plenty of instruction time, and we'll
match you up with a sled and a team that
will suit you to the best of our ability.
*if you have
some dogsledding experience already, let me know,
and we can work out a modified package for you*
Of course,
the best part about this dogsledding tour is getting to know the dogs.
Our dogs are
happy, very
enthusiastic love sponges, that lap up the excitement
and will prove to you once
and for all, the Alaskan Husky was
born and bred
to run! Friendly characters, you'll have the time to enjoy
visiting with them
- learning how to harness them up for their run - and experiencing the fun
of
working
with man's best friend while you enjoy this winter season.
Best of all,
this package is great for kids!
All kids love dogs!
(and the dogs love kids!)
Children excel at the sport of dogsledding -
the
key
is giving them lots of encouragement,
and giving them a team size they can handle
with ease. For some reason, good balance
comes
naturally to the young,
and the
children usually put us adults to shame!
With
youngsters, we start with two dogs,
but we bring along some extras on our
a guide team, to boost the power later.
Dogsledding here in
Ontario is a great way
to get out and enjoy the day with your
children, your
partner
or spouse, or with
your whole darn family. While children ten
and up can
usually
manage their own team,
children from 4 & up can enjoy a ride in the
guide's basket, learning
what 'gee' and 'haw'
mean, and watching firsthand how leaders work.
A great experience you won't find just anywhere!
Here, twelve year old Nicole hams it up for the camera
- her six year old sister was actually a passenger in MY basket!)
Sound like a
blast!!?? Our price hasn't changed
- IT'S STILL THE BEST PRICE AROUND -
This package is
available for
$125 for
2 hours (plus gst)
*minimum age for this tour is 4
years
*We reserve the right to limit team size in icy trail conditions
*tours are private for your pleasure, UP TO FOUR DRIVERS per run
(*we can take up to two children in the baset of the guide sled)
IF STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL OR WRITE!
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Wondering why the KIDS get all the FUN???
Give yourself a winter holiday of your own with our
"Adults Only" Dogsledding Boot Camp
A great Ontario Getaway, this
weekend camp is your chance
to learn all
about winter camping, dog care & dogsledding,
and outdoor fun and
adventure!
Best of all, it's open to only
EIGHT persons per weekend, so its a great way to relax
and enjoy a taste of winter fun in a small and personal
group. Click here to read
more about dogsledding boot camp!
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Got an aspiring dogsledder in your family?
Have a look at our wildly successful
"Ontario March Break Children's Camp"
Click here to find out
more about this camp. It's one
of TEN completely original children's camps
that
we offer right here in North Central Ontario. The kids
have a
blast!
You might want to act fast - they fill fast!
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And
of course, nothing will thrill you more than meeting the critters,
those SUPERSTARS that
make
it all happen! Just click here to visit
the dogyard, and meet the gang.
There's Rory, and Pierre, & Cayenne
.....every one a personality onto
themselves!
People ask, "Do you
REALLY know ALL their
names??!" Oh yes, and their personalities,
what position on the team they are best suited to, who they like to run
with, & what their strengths are
- it's all part of being a good musher!
You'll see first hand how we handle
& care for our loveable sled dogs,
and
best
of all, the ear positively earth shattering uproar they make
in their eagerness to get
harnessed & be chosen to go for a run!
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Perhaps you'd like to click here and read more about
"The History of the Alaskan Husky"
Our outfitting breed
of choice!
Having raced this breed for
years, I can honestly tell you
this incredible and
unique breed of dog has a few surprises!
And while it is not recognized by any
kennel club,
it is the fastest sled dog in the world!
CHECK OUT
OUR PAGE ON THEIR EVOLUTION FROM PAST TO PRESENT!
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Here at Highland Wilderness Tours, we
also offer
(see links below)
- Ontario Horseback and Trail Riding Stables
- Algonquin area Guided Snowmobile Tours
- Ontario Children's Riding Camps
and of course Ontario Dogsledding Tours!
Join us this winter for a frolick in
the snow -
we just might make your winter!!
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OUR HORSE CAMP & PUBLIC TRAIL RIDING FACILITIES
Our Ontario Riding Stable Ontario Trail Riding Rates Weekend Trail Riding Excursions
Ontario Horseback Riding Lessons Ontario Horse Camps Meet the Trail and Camp Horses
How our Riding Stable is Different! Horseback Riding in Spring Horseback Riding in Fall
What to bring to Horse Camp Ontario Horses for Sale Ontario Horse Breeder
Ontario Dogsledding Tours Meet our Dog Team What is an Alaskan Husky?
Ontario Snowmobiling Tours Ontario Snowmobile Tour Rates
Licensing for Ontario Snowmobiling Dressing for Our Tours
Cancellation/Damage Policies Email Us Printable Directions Our Links Page