Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

albertGQ · 01-09-2012, 12:53 PM

http://www.snowyowltours.com/?page_id=73#sunfeather

So my wife and I are going this Friday (provided there is enough snow) on the 4 hour tour. One of my brothers gave us this gift certificate for Christmas. Anyone gone on any of their tours before?

What should we expect? Any tips or advice?

Would love to hear people's experiences so far

Bring_Back_Shantz · 01-09-2012, 12:57 PM

I went with a different company about a month ago, and had a great time I'm sure you'll love it.

If it's anything like the company I went with, which I'm sure it is, you won't have to bring anything but warm clothes. There's plenty of room on the sleds, so dont' be afraid to pack extra just in case.

moncton golden flames · 01-09-2012, 12:58 PM

as a former concierge in the mountains, i've sent numerous people to them. quite a few people came back slightly appalled by the treatment of their animals. i have not seen them myself, so i can't comment on the validity of their perspective.

Locke · 01-09-2012, 01:00 PM

I've done it and it was a blast. Highly recommend it.

Just be careful if you're driving in tandem, I hipchecked my girlfriend into a snow bank. Apparently thats unappreciated.

Knalus · 01-09-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

as a former concierge in the mountains, i've sent numerous people to them. quite a few people came back slightly appalled by the treatment of their animals. i have not seen them myself, so i can't comment on the validity of their perspective.

They probably were concerned that they were being to "mean" to the dogs. Apparently you have to be quite strong with them - to the point where if you don't kick the one dog off the other, they may seriously hurt or even kill each other.

CofR · 01-09-2012, 01:20 PM

I went with my family a couple of weeks ago. Lots of fun, and highly recommend it.

Locke · 01-09-2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knalus

They probably were concerned that they were being to "mean" to the dogs. Apparently you have to be quite strong with them - to the point where if you don't kick the one dog off the other, they may seriously hurt or even kill each other.

Yeah, they're pretty clear up-front that the dogs arent pets, they're work animals and that the trainers have to be pretty forceful with them.

moncton golden flames · 01-09-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knalus

They probably were concerned that they were being to "mean" to the dogs. Apparently you have to be quite strong with them - to the point where if you don't kick the one dog off the other, they may seriously hurt or even kill each other.

i think they might have been more concerned with how the dogs were treated when not attached to sleds, that is to say their 'accommodations' to and from the trails.

albertGQ · 01-09-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CofR

I went with my family a couple of weeks ago. Lots of fun, and highly recommend it.

Did you go on the 4 hour tour as well?

CofR · 01-09-2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Did you go on the 4 hour tour as well?

No, just the shorter one. I kinda wish we did the longer one because it went by incredibly fast. It was a lot of fun being able to drive the sled, and everybody got a chance to do so. We had great weather for it, so that helped make it even better.

4X4 · 01-09-2012, 06:34 PM

If you would have asked me how much I figured a 4 hour dog sled excursion would cost, I probably would have guessed ~$125. Maybe $175? I sure as fudge wouldn't have guessed $385.

Bane · 01-09-2012, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I've done it and it was a blast. Highly recommend it.

Just be careful if you're driving in tandem, I hipchecked my girlfriend into a snow bank. Apparently thats unappreciated.

Did you get a bogus 5 game suspension for this too?

Northendzone · 01-09-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bane

Did you get a bogus 5 game suspension for this too?

Worse, cut off for the weekend.....

morgin · 01-09-2012, 07:53 PM

I went this past Saturday with Snowy Owl. It was really fun. Personally, I got the impression that everyone working there loved and respected the dogs. One of the guys made a comment when asked by another guest about how the dogs are treated that basically it takes years to train them and without them there is no business so they are treated as such. You can kind of tell too.. all of the dogs we saw are super chill and friendly and pretty much did all the hard work for us (I think it's kind of an illusion that you have any say... the dogs run these trails all the time and know what to do. They listen, but if you didn't tell them to stop, they won't crash into the sled in front or anything).

Hope you have fun!

albertGQ · 01-09-2012, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morgin

I went this past Saturday with Snowy Owl. It was really fun. Personally, I got the impression that everyone working there loved and respected the dogs. One of the guys made a comment when asked by another guest about how the dogs are treated that basically it takes years to train them and without them there is no business so they are treated as such. You can kind of tell too.. all of the dogs we saw are super chill and friendly and pretty much did all the hard work for us (I think it's kind of an illusion that you have any say... the dogs run these trails all the time and know what to do. They listen, but if you didn't tell them to stop, they won't crash into the sled in front or anything).

Hope you have fun!

Did you take the 4 hour tour as well?

The reason I ask is because we actually had another appointment booked but cancelled due to lack of snow. They said there was enough snow for a 2 hour tour, but not a 4 hour one.
Not sure what difference it makes

morgin · 01-09-2012, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Did you take the 4 hour tour as well?

The reason I ask is because we actually had another appointment booked but cancelled due to lack of snow. They said there was enough snow for a 2 hour tour, but not a 4 hour one.
Not sure what difference it makes

Just the 2 hour. My guess is that the 4 hour probably takes you to a bit lower elevation where there isn't as much snow. We were right up on the spray lake reservoir and it was frozen with tons of snow in the woods and on the lake. All that said, it's pretty cold up there and snow is forecast for this week so I doubt it will be an issue.

Flames89 · 01-10-2012, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morgin

You can kind of tell too.. all of the dogs we saw are super chill and friendly and pretty much did all the hard work for us (I think it's kind of an illusion that you have any say... the dogs run these trails all the time and know what to do. They listen, but if you didn't tell them to stop, they won't crash into the sled in front or anything).

Complete opposite of my experience. Not sure if the same group. But never let go of the sled. Me and the gf went around a tight corner and as I weigh almost 2x of her, the sled almost rolled. She fell off, and I thought I would put my feet down to push sled back upright - however my feet sunk in and the sled was going fast, so I soon lost my grip.
The slid went bombing down the track, towards the first sled, which had my 12 yr old cousin in the front, driven by a tour guide. The guide ran at my sled to try and veer them away, and yet my sled still went barreling through his before he could set the brake. My cousin was a little shaken and out of breath, but was more worried that all the yelling was that the ice was breaking while he was in the sled.

It is a great experience, and the operators love their dogs more than anything.