Dogsledding in Tromso
Huskies taking a break from dog-sledding in Tromso
No wintertime trip to Tromsø (or any winter wonderland) is complete without a dog-sledding trip. For larger groups, or those who prefer a slower ride, I’ve heard reindeer-sledding is quite enjoyable. We set up our dog-sledding activity through the Norway in a Nutshell website (I discussed this site here ).
Group Dynamics
Ideally, you’d have an even number of members in your group, with pairs of approximately the same weight. Generally one person stands and guides the huskies to a midway point while the other sits on on the sled. After a short break for some photos at the midway point, the roles are reversed. I would suggest that you reach out to your tour group ahead of time if you are unable to be active, if you have an uneven number of members or if you are a pair with very different weights i.e a child and an adult.
Although the huskies do most of the work, dog-sledding does require some physical activity and good maneuvering in order to successfully get to where you need to go. Asma and I are not particularly active but we managed to do well and enjoy the activity.
Huskies in the dog house, Tromso
The Huskies
When I first saw the dogs, I was worried about their treatment as they were tied up and looked quite thin compared to the huskies I’d seen previously. Apparently, their diet and exercise is closely monitored in order to ensure their peak health and strength. In addition, the ropes (or reigns) are tied in such away as to evenly distribute the passengers weight. Although the dogs do spend most of their time outdoors, they are very sweet, loving and kind.
Safety is very important of course, so the session begins with a tutorial on how to use the dog-sled and how to interact with the dogs to help you familiarize yourself with the equipment. There are about 5-6 dogs per sled and 3-4 sleds per tour group. It is important to keep a safe distance between the sleds, the dogs are competitive so they will want to speed up if you are in the back so be sure to maintain that space without falling behind.
Clothing
The tour I booked included warm clothing and gloves which are essential as you will be going fast and the wind will make it seem even colder than whatever temperature is stated on your weather app. I would recommend layering up under the clothes provided, if you have some waterproof gloves that allow for movement, be sure you use those. Your fingers will be super cold even with the professional gloves but you will want to make sure you can move your fingers for the awesome shots you will take during your stopover. As I mentioned in my Northern Lights post, your electronics will act up in the cold so do bring back up batteries.
You can find Asma Al Jailani on Instagram, twitter and on her book reviewing website, she also occasionally writes for The National. Look for her self-published book of Poetry, "Constellations of Home" on Amazon.
Shot from the sled, Tromso
