Dog sledding

We have started our Alaskan experience with a sled dog excursion to Punchbowl Glacier.  It will be hard to top as an experience. 

We were picked up at 8am from the hotel and taken to Girdwood airport - a small airport with a few sheds.  The people at Alpine Air were friendly and organised.  If we didn't have waterproof jacket and pants , they had them to lend.  They did provide sturdy overboots for walking in the snow.  The small helicopter ( pilot and three passengers) was expertly flown and there was an instant smile on James' face.

We had a short ride over the mountains to Punchbowl Glacier which is the summer home to the racing dogs and met by Peter and Chinook.  Chinook is a pure bred Alaskan Malamute - these dogs were the original working dogs but over the years they have been bred into Alaskan Huskies which are leaner and faster - perfect for sled dog racing.

 

 

The dogs are routinely dosed in sunscreen to prevent sunburn their noses / feet and boy bits

We were given a short history of the Alaskan malamute and sled dog racing, along with the techniques needed for racing the sleds and we were off.

Coming back to base camp

There were some 7 week old puppies that we were able to play with. And they with us

 The puppies loved chewing on the GoPro - it made for great footage

Our flight back 2hrs later gave us great views of our hotel

A short rest before taking the Arial Tram to the top of the mountain - a 2000 foot gain. There is a little hike at the top - just enough to justify a lunch stop of hotdogs at the Bore Tide Deli overlooking the mountains.  

 

This afternoon we visited the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Centre - a rehabilitation and education park for Alaskan wildlife.  We arrived just as a baby Elk had been born 10 minutes earlier:

 Brown bear:

Wood Bison:

Musk Ox:

Moose:

Home for dinner at Ponds Steak House - a beautifully cooked steak with mash, bernaise and asparagus.  The sun is ridiculous here, full daylight at 8pm - sun does not set until 11.42pm and rises at 4.23am - the curtains get a good workout.