Dogsledding: Let's Go Dashing Through the Snow

One of the most popular winter experiences at Nemacolin is dogsledding. Overnight guests and members truly clamor for this experience, but there are others that love it even more — the dogs!

At this time, Nemacolin is home to 17 sled dogs, with more joining the team very soon. Do you have this experience reserved for your next Nemacolin resort getaway? If so, you’re probably excited. As you’ll see when the dogs get dressed in their harnesses for your ride, they are excited, too! The Wildlife Team likes to say that every dogsledding run for the dogs is like their birthday and Christmas morning wrapped up in one. Their big hearts and enthusiasm will win you over before the sled begins moving.

Dogsledding at Nemacolin

The Wildlife Adventures Team at the resort offers dogsledding from the end of November through March, with the weather as a determining factor. Snow is one element, but the temperature is even more so. Once real-feel temperatures reach 40˚F or below (4˚C), the pups are ready to go, go, go. The Nemacolin team is a group of working dogs, and for the safety of the animals, that real-feel temp is a safe threshold for the work they do. It can be disappointing to a guest to have the experience canceled or postponed, but it’s done for the dogs’ safety when the weather is too warm for them to risk overheating.

When the temperatures are right but the snow hasn’t yet covered the ground, a team of 9-12 dogs will pull a Fritz Dyck Touri cart over the grassy fields and meadows along the Mystic Rock and Shepherd’s Rock golf courses, past Falling Rock, and along the former polo field at the resort. The cart (pictured above) can handle the grass, mud, water, and light snow giving riders a thrill! A musher serves as a safety guide for guests and dogs, and guests are seated in one or both of the seats (with weight considerations). A resort Club Car made for the terrain follows along to assist the musher and dog team and to carry additional guests in the same party.

When the snow falls to a solid thickness, the sled comes out. Instead of wheels, the dogsled has runners that glide over the snow. The ride’s scenery is similar to the three-mile course on the Touri Cart, yet the path and course differ to handle the sled’s runners. No matter the course, cart, or sled, the ride is exhilarating during this unique experience.

Many of the dogs at Nemacolin are from generations of pups working at the resort. Others come from long lines of dogs who have pulled sleds, raced, and worked across the snowy parts of the United States. At Nemacolin, you’ll see Alaskan-Type Huskies and an Elkhound mix. The gene pool from this mixed breed is diverse, and you’ll see that in their size, personality, coat, and look. In other parts of the world, a number of different breeds serve as sled dogs: Siberian Husky, Alaskan Husky, Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, Chinook, Norwegian Elkhounds, and more.

Dogsledding Terminology

Let’s become familiar with some dogsledding terminology:

Touri Cart:  The dogsledding vehicle Nemacolin uses most frequently.
Sled:  The dogsledding vehicle used when there’s a good snowpack.
Hike:  Go!
Gee:  Go right!
Haw:  Go left!
Musher:  The person controlling and giving instructions to the dogs.
Lead Position:  The dog that listens to commands and pulls the least amount of weight.
Swing Position:  The dogs who help turn the team with placement behind the lead position.
Team Position:  The dogs in the middle keeping the line tight and maintaining speed.
Wheel Position:  The back four dogs pulling the most weight. These dogs have physical strength and tenacity as the engines of the team, pulling more weight than the other dogs.
Gangline:  The line that attaches the dogs to the cart or sled.
Mush:  This word isn’t a dogsledding term to make the dogs go. Movies about dogsledding often use it, but dogsledding teams don’t. A musher is a person on the sled or cart telling the dogs where to go, and hike actually means go!

Meet the Dogs

And now let’s get to know some of the dogs you may encounter:

Pi | Male | 8 years old | photo unavailable | Pi is one of a kind. He is the hardest-working dog on the team, and his drive is unmatched. Pi came to Nemacolin from a competitive racing kennel, and he brings that power to the team when he runs in the wheel position. He is always eager to go on a sled run, putting 110% into every single experience. The Wildlife Team likes to say that the cart is pulled using Pi Power! It is undeniable that he loves what he does.

Vinny | Male | 10 years old | photo unavailable | Vinny is one of four brothers who are veterans on the Nemacolin sled dog team. His brothers are Squirt, Scooby, and Diesel. Vinny is energetic and in his younger years, he often ran in the wheel position. Vinny now often runs in the team position, and he is a patient teacher for younger dogs joining the team.

Doggie Downtime

The dogs have heated dog boxes and fresh straw in their kennels in the winter. It’s in their genetics to have a thick, water-resistant double coat that naturally keeps them warm, so they are often seen sleeping on fresh snow. They’re fed a performance blend food, and they enjoy special treats, baths, enrichments, and care from their keepers. The dogs will go on one or two runs a day, with two or more days off a week.

The sled dogs at Nemacolin are well-loved and cared for by the wildlife and veterinarian teams. In the off-season, they enjoy their summer vacation with playtime in the yard, smaller playgroups with their best buddies, some mild weight training, endurance exercises, and strict protocols and cooling systems in place to keep them from overheating.

Reserve Your Experience

To reserve a dogsledding experience as a part of your overnight winter getaway or membership with The Woodlands Club, please contact a Resort Reservations Specialist at 866.344.6957. There’s often a waiting list for this popular adventure, so it is recommended to make your reservations well in advance. Click the following for more suggestions on dining, spa, wellness, golf, and experiences at our Pennsylvania playground. There’s an adventure for everyone at Nemacolin!