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TRAVEL UPDATE
Yukon River Watershed

Hiking with Huskies Combination

Cathers Wilderness Adventures

Hike through Yukon wilderness with husky companions who carry lunch or overnight camping gear in their backpacks.

Overview

This trip allows you to explore the beautiful Lake Laberge area by foot, boat, and canoe. It is also a chance to spend time with sled dogs during the summer season. Our unique wilderness location is off road and off grid. We return most nights to our wilderness cabins. Overnight backpacking or canoe campouts are optional add-ons.

Highlights

  • Hike through the wilderness with canine companions – our sled dogs. On day hikes, the dogs join us for fun and exercise and one or two will carry backpacks with the lunch.
  • Return each night to our home cabins at our wilderness homestead and sled dog kennel.  
  • Our wilderness homestead is off road and off grid, so you get here either by boat or by canoe.
  • Optional add-on: an overnight backpacking trip supported by pack dogs. The dogs carry the food and tents, so you just need to carry your personal items.
  • Other activities available during the week include canoeing along the beautiful shoreline of Lake Laberge or boating to the island or to points of historical interest in the area.
  • Spectacular scenery of the lake and mountains and forests.
  • Trips personally guided by our family. We have been guiding backpacking trips with pack dogs since the 1990's and living year-round in the Yukon wilderness since 1983.

Details

Duration
4–7 Days
Level
Moderate
Dates
June–September
Price
$960–$1,820

Operator testimonials

DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR DOGSLEDDING WITH THE CATHERS

Julie

Our family, two middle-aged but fit parents, plus energetic 17- and 20-year-old sons, had the experience of a lifetime over five days in January this year. Temperatures plunged to minus 45 on one memorable morning which was incrediblly challenging but we had the balmy temperature of minus 30s for most of the time whilst we enjoyed clear, bright, sunny days at this wonderful winter wonderland location. The whole experience is very "hands on" from collecting your dogs from their kennels to hitching them up to the sled as well as the scenic rides, doing the same in reverse and making sure they are fed and watered. It’s strenuous but exhilarating. Our eldest enjoyed going out feeding the dogs with Jeninne and Ned. You build a real rapport with the dogs and owners in such a short time, such is the intensity of the experience. Cannot recommend this family-run company highly enough. We have developed a real passion for dogsledding and the wild Yukon landscape and will be back. Thanks so much.

BEAUTIFUL HUSKIES AND A CARING FAMILY

Lee

My husband, 16-year-old son and myself just spent three days with the Cathers family. We had the most amazing experience on our dogsledding adventure. Ned, Jennine and Mar were wonderful hosts making us feel extremely welcome. We sledded throughout the day stopping for campfire lunches and then at night spent time together over dinner swapping stories. I can't say enough about the beautiful huskies. They are working dogs that just want to run and run and run. They all are named and have their own kennels and the family knows each and every one just by a glance. Our log cabins were fantastic with log fires to keep us warm. Nothing was a problem for the Cathers family and their knowledge was outstanding. You see the most amazing scenery including night skies with depth you can't imagine. We thoroughly loved our time with the Cathers family and can't wait to visit again. We have come away from this adventure with knowledge and friendship and most importantly an experience of a lifetime.

AFTER TEN YEARS, I KEEP COMING BACK

Dave

I first booked for dog mushing with the Cathers in 2004. BEST THING I have ever done. The family are incredible hosts! You learn all aspects of mushing. You meet the stars of the program, those great lovable huskies, you learn to harness them, to feed them, and to drive a sled. The Cathers are fantastic teachers and guides! They help each person with lots of encouragement. They demonstrate everything one needs to learn and really work to ensure you have an enjoyable experience. The location, spectacular scenery, forests, lakes, cabins, the northern lights that can occur, and the winter atmosphere are spectacular! Did I mention the food? Great home cooking and lots of it! Having lunch on the trail in the Yukon wilderness, sitting around a campfire and meeting folks from around the world is another big plus! After the first week, I was hooked! I have been coming back for over ten years! Each time I learn new things about mushing, and the Yukon, and make new friends – human and dog!