Review of Dogsledding in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania

Standing on a sleigh with both feet out like a duck, holding on to the handle bars in a squat-like position, seven bushy tails wagged in front of me while enthusiastically pulling me through the snow. I was dog sledding in the Pocono Mountains, PA, and it was the experience of a lifetime.

Prior to our hour long journey, the owners of Arctic Paws which operates out of Pocono Manor Inn in Pocono Summit, PA, gave us a little bit of background on the 14 Siberian Huskies they own. Many of them were raised in Colorado while others were rescued from poor circumstances. Each dog can pull 50 pounds. In the summer, the owners of Arctic Paws, along with many of the dogs make their home in Cape May, NJ. In the winter, they run Arctic Paws giving the dogs the opportunity to work and be important - that's how the dogs see it anyway.

Each dog was hooked to a beam on the building that the business ran out of, each happy to play in the nearby snow or stretch out for a nap on occasion. But once tourists arrive they know that can only mean one thing - it's time for a sleigh ride. That's when the process of picking which dog will go out on the run this time. Each dog gets rotated from ride to ride which is usually done on the hour. Who is chosen depends on the experience of the rider and which dog hasn't been out in a while. Paws start digging in the snow, back legs stretch out in the air and howls are heard throughout the air as if to say, "Pick me! Pick me!" It was adorable to watch. Then one-by-one, each dog gets attached to the sleigh and then the leader is picked. He or she takes their place in the front of the line but not before doing a scan and a sniff of who they will be leading.

What was particularly different and fun about this business is that they allowed you to be the Musher, or the person that operates the sled, which is not something that is done often in other parts of the world where dog sledding is done. This gave me and my husband an opportunity to ride on the sled, put the break down to get the dogs to stop, and to push off with one foot to encourage the dogs to get started. Meanwhile, your spouse and anyone else on the sleigh ride rides in a separate sleigh that is pulled by a snowmobile. Each run side-by-side giving great photo opportunities. After a short period of time, mushers are switched giving someone else the opportunity to stand behind the passionate dogs pulling them along.

I was really impressed with the owners who allowed so many photo opportunities. They even straddled me backwards on their snowmobile so I could get a great shot of my husband as the Musher coming right at us with the dogs. With their tongues hanging out, I swear their happy little faces were smiling for the picture.

I'd highly recommend doing this if ever in the Pocono Mountains. It was a wonderful experience that you really can't do in many places. The people were nice, the dogs were sweet, and the ride was a lot of fun. The only downside? It was a bit pricey. During the 2008 season it was $98 for my husband and I to go on the ride. Like I said though, I feel it was worth it.

Give it a try!

Name: Arctic Paws Sled Dog Tours
Location: The Inn at Pocono Manor, off Route 314 in Pocono Manor, Pocono Summit, PA
Phone: (570) 443-9267 or (609) 602-1469. Reservations are required.
Email: ArcticPawsSled@yahoo.com