The "Mushing Experience" was not: just show up and sit in a sled.
Jack and his crew at Silent Run Adventures were great hosts.
Questions prior to arrival:
》What info or advice do you have for guests?
》I have an essential worker in the household, what precautions do you have in place?
》What is a ME? You don't expect me to come, learn how to drive a surprisingly expensive, specialized sled and control a team of dogs in an hour, right? [Hint, no.]
The precautions and safety stuff:
#1 masks are required for staff and guests;
sleds are wiped down between groups of guests; and
in addition to the sled driver wearing a mask, plexiglass shields have been installed to separate the sled driver from guests sitting in the basket.
#2 guests should dress appropriate for spending the entire ~hour+ outside -- in whatever the conditions of the day may be.
-This is 100% outside. Outdoor activities, combined with responsible distancing are the new chic.
-There is no warming shed, heaters, or hot beverages to offset your choice of boots and outerwear.
-If you customarily enjoy a hot beverage after enjoying cold weather activities, bring along your thermos in your vehicle to drink on your ride home. This means = zero worries about beverage service or bldg sanitary practices.
#3 under 18yo, need parental permission and the std boilerplate that every underwriter mandates. FYI no safety issues to date.
What is ME? = the fun stuff
Pulling in to the property, Jack and his staff we waiting and directed us where to park.
Taking a moment to don snowpants, the adventure started immediately.
After introductions, Jack introduced us to the stars: his purebred black & white Siberian Huskies.
If you've ever spent time with working breeds, you may find yourself thinking they are amazingly well mannered "ambassadors."
Jack shared some of the history about dog sledding, on the sleds, and about the purebred Siberian Huskies in his kennel.
We had a great time moving around from dog to dog giving them loving scratches!
Next, came the sled. Two passengers at a time were settled into the basket area, take pictures if desired, and then the fun begins!
It was neat to think about how THIS WAS TRANSPORTATION for some at one time.
Sitting in the basket watching the dogs excitement, how they respond to commands to ignore distractions, turn left or right, stop, and encouragement to pick it up and dig in for power approaching upcoming hills. There was no doubt these dogs were doing what they love and do best: run.
The run consisted of a lap around an ice & snow covered pond, and then a couple laps around the surrounding property (hence the name, "Mushing Experience").
While it was a great time, an additional lap around the property would have been nice to experience the dogs pull a little longer. With that said, we still recommend the ME!
We haven't been out except for essentials with COVID. It was wonderful to find an activity that was outside, close to home, and that we all wanted to do. It was especially nice that we were able to keep our experience to just our family.
Jack & crew were always mindful of social distancing, masks were required, and ample space was given in the couple of instances where the kids wanted to remove their mask for a picture.
For those who have previously visited, I'll note that Jack mentioned that he had recently relocated to this property. It seems well suited for his business being across from Lake...
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