Dog sled – an unforgettable winter adventure

Åre is the place that never stops offering winter adventures. Here, Dagens publisher PS Mats Hedberg tells of a dog sled ride in a fantasy setting and an evening he won’t soon forget.

Having spent several weeks in over twenty I thought I had experienced most of it, but the January evening which I will now tell you about came quite unexpectedly to offer something quite unique.

It all started when my good friend asked me if we wanted to go on a dog sled ride in the evening, something the kids and I had done on several occasions before, but then during the day. Now the experience will be further enhanced, and we will have to go out into the dark to lead the dog team with a headlamp and the light of a starry evening.

The point of the evening was the little cabin outside, where a gourmet meal awaited. She also created the magical Northern Lights.

This is how dog sledding works

We met at the dog farm, which is just beyond Bjornen in Eure, i.e. East Skotan. There were three hard sleds waiting, and shortly thereafter they would be driven by six very anxious and howling dogs.

For those of you who have never tried snowboarding before, here is a brief description:

One leads the team, and two sit on the sled. The driver, standing at the back of the sled, must be prepared to bark in certain positions, stimulating full presence. Things go very quickly and the dogs provide the occasional surprise.

In some situations, you also need to help run a little bit to get rid of the dogs. Exciting, but not too difficult, even if it feels really “real.”

In short, you feel suitably adventurous, like you would a character in Jack London “the call of the wild”.

Fun and starry ride

This particular trip went over the swamp and up to Frou Lake. Route took us about 30 minutes, which was nice since it was about 15 minutes outside. With star clarity comes cold, because it’s a matter of high pressure as the clouds don’t slow the mercury downward on the thermometer.

Towards the end of the tour, we were able to see the light from a small hunting lodge, our aim, and welcome lanterns. Shortly afterwards we were inside the heat of the cabin where we met our host with a little warm drink.

This was followed by a delicious meal prepared on site, adapted to the environment.

A delicious meal without electricity

We started with tender venison charcuterie accompanied by a good, real bubbly. This was followed by fondue on venison thighs and related crafts. The tender, cubed pieces of meat were cooked in a broth, which was sometimes preferred over oil. The inner thigh also played its part in the delicacy.

To this we were served potato gratin and a few different sauces, including a well prepared pea gratin. Of course also French paprika improves the taste.

Not to romanticize alcohol too much, I’d also like to mention that there are good alcohol-free options on offer.

The meal was rounded off with a delicious cake that was just the right amount of sweet, along with coffee – we were in Norrland after all – and a traditional, locally produced afic flavored with a marginal finkel.

In short, a very tasty meal enjoyed in a cabin without electricity.

An unforgettable experience for all ages

We soon noticed that the setting with the wintry landscape outside, the gazebo, the food, and the fact that we were sitting close together on benches next to each other stimulated interesting and thorough discussions. A great experience for a wide range of ages – from 60+ to teens, many of whom are completely new acquaintances.

When we left the little hunting lodge satiated and happy, we partook of both serious thoughts and all kinds of amusing trifles, which had a perfect ending in the form of a powerful aurora.

When we parted for the evening, we feel uplifted by the combination of nature, food, and meaningful conversation. Yes, I think you get it!

The return trip was made with the help of a scooter-drawn cart. So lovely, in fact, that something trance-like crept into the set, even if it wasn’t late in the evening.

As you know, you get very tired from staying in a mountainous environment. However, it was magical.

facts:
The tour can be booked with a sled dog which Mats writes about via Karen Pub In Åre Björnen.
prize: 2000 to 2500 kronor / person depending on the choice of drink. Then the trip is included with a dog sled.
The number of people: 6 am to 6 pm

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Read also: Oculis Lodge – glamping under the stars [Dagens PS]