
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 all about
the dogs!

ONTARIO DOGSLEDDING UPDATE - DECEMBER 4 , 2007 - WE'RE GETTING BURIED!
IF YOU HAD SNOW, DOUBLE OR TRIPLE IT AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE - GET READY TO ROLL!
DON'T FORGET, GIFT CERTIFICATES MAKE AN EXCELLENT CHRISTMAS PRESENT!


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 so 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 it's 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 the
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'll be in good hands. Best of all, you'll learn how to handle your very
own team.
No passenger to lug around - just you and your own dogs!
Dogsledding is not merely
standing on the runners - it's an interactive sport that will
not only give you a surprising amount of excercise, it will inspire you! Best of all, it brings
out the kid in everyone, and gets us outside to enjoy some fresh air 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 and 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
- a thrilling, totally unique experience that will get your blood flowing!
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 unnecessary pressure
of an 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
dogsledding teacher and guide,
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!
Starting small and working your way up, we keep you in
your comfort zone.
Join OFSS gold medalist Penny
Nicol for a run with her dogs......
Your guide is (me) Penny Nicol,
with over 17 years of experience in dogs.
Under the POLESTAR prefix, I bred over ten American and Canadian Champion
Alaskan Malamutes between 1987 - 1994, with many specialty and group
wins.
I learned to drive with those Malamutes, and they gave me a gentle
introduction to sledding back in the early 1990's.
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 1994, I had the urge to move
a little faster, so I moved on to the Alaskan Husky, a dog genetically engineered to RUN!
In 1994 & 95 I began racing in Ontario & Michigan, and competed 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, I retired
from racing,
and in 2000 began outfitting for the public, by dogteam and on horseback.

I've aged (and spread) a
bit, but back then, I was the 1997 OFSS Gold Medalist
in the 60 mile race division. And although I still grin when I think about
it,
back in my race days my peers jokingly called me 'The First Lady of Mushing',
& 'Queen of the Trail' It was quite the time for me, AND I LOVED
IT!
I was very proud of how my dogs always pulled through for me, and learned
a tremendous amount about the sport of mushing. I still have some
of those dogs here at the farm - Happy & Cooper are here to stay, and at
eleven years old, they're going strong! We love our alaskans, & so will you!
The 1997 Marmora Sled Dog Championships - our team placed third in a huge field!
When
I run our dogsledding tours from the farm, I always keep in mind that very first run
that I had with my new team of Alaskans - it was THRILLING to say the least! We have a nice
mixture of dog talent here in our dogyard, and I am very good at judging the size
and strength
of team for each individual. I teach the driving lesson not just in the yard,
but throughout
the tour. We take frequent breaks, and while stopped along the trail I will
give you the techniques
you need to handle everything you'll encounter on our trails. My goal is to thrill
you & give you a
great run without scaring you, and I put my experience to good use in order to
encourage newcomers
to our fantastic sport. The welfare of our sled dogs is of paramount
importance, and the care they
receive is obvious to newcomers to our yard. From their well bedded, 2" thick wooden doghouses
raised over well drained sand, to their picturesque view of the wilderness
right from the yard
- our dogs are our best buddies, and we take great pride in caring for them
every day.
READ ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR FACILITIES

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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'
* a nice place to warm up between runs!
All of the fun, none of the frigid!
COMFORTABLE
and FLEXIBLE - OUR TWO HOUR
"HIT THE TRAILS DOGSLEDDING TOUR"
(learn to sled 'GENTLY' ~ take a
break ~ then turn it up a notch!)
(FOR THOSE WANTING A
RELAXING RIDE, TEAM SIZE NEED NOT CHANGE!)
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This tour
introduces you gently to dogsledding - THE FIRST half teaches you to drive a small
team.
It's very important to get a chance to try dogsledding without having to worry
about thrills and spills!
Getting a face washing in the first half hour isn't much fun. So two or three
dogs is perfect
(team sized based on snow conditions) for your 'maiden voyage'.
Then, after
a short break to grab a hot drink, if you've found your sea legs and
want a bit more power, we can turn it up a notch! Perhaps you enjoy speed,
and are a thrill seeker?
This tour allows for plenty of flexibility in team sizes, so there's something for
everyone.
Now that you
know the ropes, most people feel comfortable enough to experience
of the power of a larger team, and learning a bit more about what it takes to drive
some really great dogs.
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 - one hour wasn't enough, so we've made our dogsledding tour
even better!


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 - so they love to put their energy to good use!
Our groomed forest trails have plenty of curves and
thrills and 'interesting' corners to keep you on your toes!
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! This was a very popular package last year,
and our clients thought it was a great thrill! Many of them have already been
back to do it again this year! 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
through the forest surrounding our wilderness farm property near Algonquin.


Safety is
very important, so your package
starts with a fairly 'gentle' introductory tour.
This is mandatory, because learning to control
a four dog team of Alaskans is more difficult
than you think, and starting small is the safe
sensible stepping stone. This is how ALL
dogsledders started (myself included)
- 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 time to learn how to drive,
and then you have the choice of increasing
your speed, or continuing on to enjoy a nice
relaxing jaunt through our wilderness trails.
*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 and caring for 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 kids usually put us adults to shame! With
youngsters, we start with one
dog or two dogs, but I bring along some extras, and they quickly graduate to
driving a two dog team (once they've learned the ropes) 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 4-9 will enjoy a ride in my basket, learning
what 'gee' and 'haw' mean, and watching firsthand how the leaders work.
It's 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
$100 for
2 hours (plus gst)
*minimum age for this tour is six
years
*We reserve the right to limit team size in icy trail conditions
*tours are private for your pleasure, one to four persons per run
(SPECIAL PACKAGES AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS - CONTACT THE FARM FOR DETAILS)
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 two couples per trip, 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 what we teach you during 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 four completely original children's camps
that we offer right here in North Central Ontario. The kids last year had a
blast!
Have a look, but act fast - our camp for 2006 is almost half full!
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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 Brownpaw, Skeet and Honey.....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 the dogs, and
best of all, the ear shattering uproar they make in their eagerness to get
harnessed & 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 - 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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Click here and read more about
"The Greatest Ontario Dogsled Racer"
Our business is proud to
sponsor Ontario Dogsled Racer
Bruce Langmaid and his Amazing Team
on their ultimate challenge - the YUKON QUEST!
Many of our
dogs here came from Bruce - Brownpaw, Honey, Rory, Rhino
- and now it's our turn to give back. So put your hands on the keyboard and
take the time to visit his site and cheer him on for his gruelling 1000 mile
challenge in 2005!
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Here at Highland Wilderness Tours, we
also offer
(see links below)
- Horseback riding all year
- Guided snowmobile tours
- Hay & Sleigh rides
- Ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing available
in the area
- An affordable, fully equipped cottage for
rent
Join us this winter for a frolick in
the snow -
we just might make your winter!!
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