Dog Sledding Adventures 2012 with Bettles Lodge
This is an all-inclusive package from Fairbanks – we take care of the details so you can enjoy the experience of authentic Alaska at its best.
Included in the trip package price: Round-trip Airfare from Fairbanks, all Meals, 2 Nights Lodging at the Bettles Lodge, Village Tour of Bettles, use of the Wood Fired Sauna, use of the Aurora Viewing Cabin, use of the Snowshoes & Cross Country Skis, Dog Sledding Lessons, Arctic Gear to stay warm (clients will be asked to bring some items for the trail, please inquire) - last but definitely not least - 2 Professional Dog Sledding Guides. There is a minimum of 2 people per trip, ask about our Grand Opening discounts! Being it is our first year, we would like to reward you with a treat – and since we are talking about sled dogs and dog mushers, we know all about treats.
All trips can be customized with more days/nights on the trail and/or more nights in Bettles at the Lodge. Please ask for quotes or trip ideas to have a trip customized to fit your unique needs!
Please note that extreme weather can shorten, delay or cancel dog sledding trips in severe conditions. All activities at the Bettles Lodge are weather dependent.
A word from Sven: “This overnight trip is guided by me, Sven, along with a snow machine support partner. Most of the dogs are veterans of the Iditarod sled dog race and are very well behaved and friendly with people. I recommend that you like dogs but you don’t have to be a dog fanatic in order to enjoy this trip. You do need to be an outdoor enthusiast and ready to tackle the cold. The Alaskan wilderness is not your typical backyard. We will possibly have encounters with wild animals, cross frozen rivers, lakes and tundra. Safety is our number one priority, fun is our number two priority - unplanned events and encounters can occur when mushing dogs in the Brooks Range. If you really want to experience an adventure in the beauty of the arctic, hopefully under the northern lights - then this is your trip. Jump on the runners with me for an unforgettable experience. “
The Touch & Go Day Tour
2 Nights at Bettles Lodge + 1 Day Tour Mushing = 2 Night Tour Package
An exciting all day excursion, get to know the huskies without sleeping on the trail.
Day 1
You will arrive in Bettles. The Bettles Lodge team will greet guests at the airplane. Check in with the Lodge, enjoy a warm meal, cooked by our chef and get outfitted in the gear that will keep you warm for the next few days. Now it’s time to meet your new furry friends, socialize with them and maybe even feed them a treat or two. We also will be taking the dogs out for a short run to get you comfortable on the sled and with your team.
Day 2
Now we’ll harness the dogs and take off. We pack our sleds with goodies and drinks. After a short intro you will be mushing your own team of athletes north into the mountains. You will enjoy lunch and hot beverages while out on the trail. An optional bonfire to warm up while you ask questions about the trail, driving the sled and the team. Mushing time will depend on the trail and weather conditions – 4 to 5 hours. Arrive back at the Aurora Lodge in time for Dinner. Enjoy a wood fired Sauna while you wait for the Northern Lights.
Day 3
Have breakfast with the crew and get ready to catch your airplane back to Fairbanks and civilization. Thank you for coming and enjoying some of the last wild places left on this planet, the Alaskan wilderness.
2012 Rates and Booking Codes, based on double occupancy
USD 1740.00 per person in a Jaccuzi Room, BLGT A
USD 1680.00 per person in a Standard Room, BLTG B
No minimum passenger requirement. Surcharge of USD 100.00 for single occupancy.
Northern Exposure
2 Nights at Bettles Lodge + 1 Night on the Trail = 3 Night Tour Package
Without getting too far from the comforts of the Lodge or if you have time constraints – this is the trip for you ! Experience the experience while being able to keep on schedule with your other plans. A taste tester that just might have you coming back for more next season!
Day 1
You will arrive in Bettles. The Bettles Lodge team will greet guests at the airplane. Check in with the Lodge, enjoy a warm meal, cooked by our chef and get outfitted in the gear that will keep you warm for the next few days. Now it’s time to meet your new furry friends, socialize with them and maybe even feed them a treat or two. We also will be taking the dogs out for a short run to get you comfortable on the sled and with your team. Dinner at the Lodge prepared by Chef Roger and a night hopefully with the Aurora Borealis dancing over Bettles.
Day 2
Now we’ll harness the dogs and take off. We pack our sleds with goodies and drinks. After a short intro you will be mushing your own team of athletes north into the mountains. 22 miles away is the first trapper cabin. It’s located in the trees around Timber Creek. You are encouraged to help with the dog chores if you want, otherwise you can enjoy the warmth of the cabin or check out the beautiful surroundings. After an Alaskan style dinner cooked on the wood stove, we will make a big bonfire and hopefully see the dance of the northern lights or witness the singing between our sled dogs and the local wolf pack. We will sleep in our sleeping bags next to a warm & crackling wood stove.
Day 3
This morning we will feed the dogs, eat breakfast and even take our time to go for a short walk with our snow shoes . Around noon it’ll be time to head back to Bettles with our gang of dogs. Of course we don’t want to be too quick to return to Bettles, therefore we will take some rest stops, snack the doggies and drink some warm beverage ourselves. Arriving in Bettles you will say goodbye to your new friends and stay another night at the cozy Aurora Lodge. Hot meals prepared by Chef Roger while you share stories from the trail with guests and guides. How about ending your day by trading in your cold weather gear for a hot sauna or a soak in our “Alaskan” hot tub? You choose….
Day 4
You have breakfast with the crew and get ready to catch your airplane back to Fairbanks and civilization. Thank you for coming and enjoying some of the last wild places left on this planet, the Alaskan wilderness.
2012 Rates and Booking Codes, based on double occupancy
USD 2240.00 per person in a Jacuzzi Room, BLNE A
USD 2180.00 per person in a Standard Room, BLNE B
Minimum of 2 people required
The Alaskan Trapper
2 Nights at Bettles Lodge + 3 Nights on the Trail = 5 Night Package
For a little more adventure join me on this trip. Get a feeling of a multi-day trip in the arctic and of greater possibility to see the occasional moose, fox, ptarmigan, caribou and if we are really lucky… wolves.
Day 1
You will arrive in Bettles. The Bettles Lodge team will greet guests at the airplane. Check in with the Lodge, enjoy a warm meal, cooked by our chef and get outfitted in the gear that will keep you warm for the next few days. Now it’s time to meet your new furry friends, socialize with them and maybe even feed them a treat or two. We also will be taking the dogs out for a short run to get you comfortable on the sled and with your team. Dinner at the Bettles Lodge prepared by Chef Roger following a night hopefully filled with the dancing of the Aurora Borealis.
Day 2
Now we’ll harness the dogs and take off. We pack our sleds with goodies and drinks. After a short intro you will be mushing your own team of athletes north into the mountains. 22 miles away is the first trapper cabin. It’s located in the trees around Timber Creek. You are encouraged to help with the dog chores if you want, otherwise you can enjoy the warmth of the cabin or check out the beautiful surroundings. After an Alaskan style dinner cooked on the wood stove, we will make a big bonfire and hopefully see the dance of the northern lights or witness the singing between our sled dogs and the local wolf pack. We will sleep in our sleeping bags next to a warm & crackling wood stove.
Day 3
Today brings us even deeper into the Brooks Range. Again we’ll mush around 20 miles along the beautiful John River valley with its rugged peaks and mountains. This is where the scenery gets more and more spectacular. We complete the day by crossing Crevice Creek to arrive at the Crevice Creek cabins, owned by the Fickus Family. This is one of my personal favorite spots along the trail. It is located right on a creek and has its own runway. If we are lucky and the weather is right we might have Jamie drop by with her airplane to join us for a warm meal. Let’s hope she’ll bring us dessert. Of course a big bonfire at night is mandatory. Together we will share stories from the day’s adventures and along with our dogs rest up in our cozy cabin from the days exciting happenings.
Day 4
Nothing is like waking up to an exciting bunch of huskies that can’t wait to get your attention. We’ll feed the dogs and ourselves, harness the raw power and make our way back to Timber Creek. By now you will be quite comfortable with your team and really get to enjoy the scenery instead of holding on like crazy & trying not to fall off. The team will have found a nice, smooth rhythm while you and your dogs will start to create more of a bond. You will really enjoy the experience of working together with your athletes and overcoming obstacles such as deep snow and the frozen tundra. It is extremely rewarding to feel the urge of our sled dogs to want to please you with their performance, to see their love of running and team work – an experience that will stick with you for a very long time. We will arrive at the cabin in the evening, take care of chores and take in the last night with our doggies in the wild Brooks Range.
Day 5
It’s time to head back to Bettles. Now you can officially call yourself…. Dog Musher!! After 4 unforgettable days on the trail we will arrive in Bettles, time to say goodbye to your new friends and stay another night at the cozy Aurora Lodge. Hot meals prepared by Chef Roger while you share stories from the trail with guests and guides. How about ending your day by trading in your cold weather gear for a hot sauna or a soak in our “Alaskan” hot tub? You choose….
Day 6
You have breakfast with the crew and get ready to catch your airplane back to Fairbanks and civilization. Thank you for coming and enjoying some of the last wild places left on this planet, the Alaskan wilderness.
2012 Rates and Booking Codes, based on double occupancy
USD 3490.00 per person in a Jacuzzi Room, BLAT A
USD 3430.00 per person in a Standard Room, BLAT B
Minimum of 2 people required
The Brooks Range Explorer
2 Nights at Bettles Lodge + 5 Nights on the Trail = 7 Night Package
The “Brooks Range Explorer” is a mushing trip for the avid Outdoor person who really wants to experience the true spirit of mushing dogs in the Arctic. You will be on the trail a total of 6 days and 5 nights. Excellent physical health needed to participate in this 5 Night trail adventure.
Day 1
You will arrive in Bettles. The Bettles Lodge team will greet guests at the airplane. Check in with the Lodge, enjoy a warm meal, cooked by our chef and get outfitted in the gear that will keep you warm for the next few days. Now it’s time to meet your new furry friends, socialize with them and maybe even feed them a treat or two. We also will be taking the dogs out for a short run to get you comfortable on the sled and with your team. Dinner at the Lodge prepared by Chef Roger and a night hopefully with the Aurora Borealis dancing over Bettles.
Day 2
Now we’ll harness the dogs and take off. We pack our sleds with goodies and drinks. After a short intro you will be mushing your own team of athletes north into the mountains. 22 miles away is the first trapper cabin. It’s located in the trees around Timber Creek. You are encouraged to help with the dog chores if you want, otherwise you can enjoy the warmth of the cabin or check out the beautiful surroundings. After an Alaskan style dinner cooked on the wood stove, we will make a big bonfire and hopefully see the dance of the northern lights or witness the singing between our sled dogs and the local wolf pack. We will sleep in our sleeping bags next to a warm & crackling wood stove.
Day 3
Today brings us even deeper into the Brooks Range. Again we’ll mush around 20 miles along the beautiful John River valley with its rugged peaks and mountains. This is where the scenery gets more and more spectacular. We complete the day by crossing Crevice Creek to arrive at the Crevice Creek cabins, owned by the Fickus Family. This is one of my personal favorite spots along the trail. It is located right on a creek and has its own runway. If we are lucky and the weather is right we might have Jamie drop by with her airplane to join us for a warm meal. Let’s hope she’ll bring us dessert. Of course a big bonfire at night is mandatory. Together we will share stories from the day’s adventures and along with our dogs rest up in our cozy cabin from the days exciting happenings.
Day 4 & 5
Weather- or trail dependent we will either mush on the frozen sixty mile river or cross a mountain range which would get us up and over a small mountain chain. Either way tonight we will sleep in one of our comfortable and warm arctic oven tents. This is the real deal. Camping next to our dogs and almost being able to hear them breath is about as close as it gets to feel like a mail carrier from back in the late 1800’s when man and dog delivered the mail per dog team. Many stories have been written about those heroes and I’m more than happy to share a few with you over a warm campfire.
Day 6
We will mush back towards Bettles. Don’t worry it’s still a long way back and we will have plenty of trail time before arriving in civilization. Arriving back in Bettles, it’s time to say goodbye to your new friends and stay another night at the cozy Aurora Lodge. Enjoy a hot meal prepared by Chef Roger while you share stories from the trail with guests and guides. How about ending your day by trading in your cold weather gear for a hot sauna or a soak in our “Alaskan” hot tub? You choose….
Day 7
You have breakfast with the crew and get ready to catch your airplane back to Fairbanks and civilization. Thank you for coming and enjoying some of the last wild places left on this planet, the Alaskan wilderness.
2012 Rates and Booking Codes, based on double occupancy
USD 4990.00 per person in aJacuzzi Room, BLBE A
USD 4930.00 per person in a Standard Roo, BLBE B
Minimum of 2 people required