Husky Works Mushing Co.
As both a nod to the passing last May of our beloved husky, Tundra, and a look towards the future, I thought that I would get Tara a dog sledding ride for Christmas. Scheduling it for Valentine's Day weekend was an accidental double-dip score for my calendar-challenged brain.
Husky Works Mushing Co. out of West Wardsboro, Vermont is run by the husband and wife tandem of Jeremy and Laura Bedortha. They and their 30-plus Siberian Huskies are really quite wonderful. Every step in the process, from selecting the teams for a given run, to hooking them up, to the various commands the dogs are given, is all gone over in detail.
The ride itself climbs up the side of a small, wooded mountain on the Bedortha's land to a timber-framed cabin milled and built by Jeremy that overlooks Stratton Mountain in the distance. There we stopped and gave the dogs a well-earned breather, while Laura served up hot chocolate and cookies to the non-canines in the bunch.
On our descent, the huskies really hit the jets and had us pitching to and fro as we weaved between the maples and birches along trails that Jeremy had cut over time. Overall, it's a really memorable experience if you enjoy the company of working dogs, like the snow, and don't mind being outside for a couple of hours on a crisp New England winter afternoon. Thanks again to Jeremy and Laura for their expertise and low-key Vermont hospitality. And thanks to all of the dogs for being the engine that drove such a good time!
