Please browse the Frequently Asked Questions below by clicking on title question. If you have any questions unanswered, please don't hesitate to call us.
How is your Cell Phone coverage?
We are located in a beautiful, romote Vermont Mountain area €” cell phones have little to no coverage in here and on your journey to get here. If you have to make a long distance call, please bring a calling card.
NO!!! Because impassable logging roads and no longer connected roads appear on GPS and Mapquest as real roads - people have gotten baddly lost and stuck with no cell phone coverage!!! Relying soley on GPS systems in our area have left some visitors lost for hours. We live in a rural, remote area €” please do not use GPS systems for directions or mapping such as MapQuest. Guests get stuck on the snowmobile trail and it is very difficult to remove the vehicles, a skidder has to be brought in and it is very expensive! Please visit our DIRECTIONS page. Please call ahead of time if further clarification with directions is needed. Cell phones also have little to no coverage in our area.
Alaskan Husky is a fancy name for a mixed Northern breed. Basically they are mutts! Mushers breed to create what they personally need in a dog. Mush racers who are racing in short distance sprint races may breed Grey hounds into their line for greater speed. Some are breeding English Pointers into their lines feeling that it can make a dog that is good for leading a team and has great energy.
Here at Eden Dog Sledding musher/owner/champion racer Jim Blair breeds for temperament first because he believes that our dogs should be people oriented and child friendly - it makes for dogs that can bring joy to our many guests and who can retire to good family homes in the future when they are no longer mushing. He also breeds for endurance and speed. Our dogs can cuddle with guests, help them learn how to harness sled dogs and then take them for a fast, fun adventure AND win races!
The mushers who bring their kennels of dogs to Eden Dog Sledding have personal priorities for acquiring dogs and breeding their own lines. These priorities depend on whether they are racing - and if so - if they are racing long or short distances. If they are not racing, but pleasure mushing and doing other dog powered sports such as skijoring (on skis), scootering or biking - they may have other traits they want to see.
So - Alaskan Huskies are as varied as their owners needs. They may be small and fast - our Jessie is black and about thirty-five pounds - or big and sturdy - our Buster is big, wolf-like and about eighty-five pounds. People are always surprised when they first see The UN-Chained Gang because they differ so greatly from the well known and beautiful Siberians - but they soon fall in love with them.
Tour Times for Winter on the snow?
Alaskan Sled Dogs are at their peak condition in winter. We have convenient tours at set times throughout the day (all times are EST):
And if you arrange with us a few weeks in advance (many folks are booking our unique tours six months in advance . . . ) then we can have mushers with their own beloved and well cared for dogs come in to take you dog sledding so that we can accommodate larger groups at the same time.
Tour Times for Spring, Summer and Fall Dogsledding-on-Wheels?
The UN-Chained Gang are Alaskan Huskies – so they have shorter coats than Siberians and Malamutes. However over-heating is a very big concern for ALL dogs during the warm weather. Thus our tours in peak summer heat run only at 10:00 a.m. In the spring and fall, depending on what the weather the week is bringing, we can arrange late morning tours and afternoons. Call us and we will let you know what the current weather is allowing in terms of dog health and tour availability. Please call us at 802-635-9070 so we can answer any question you have on Dogsledding-On-Wheels.
(Please do not e-mail as our wonderful, hufgable, fun loving kennel of free-range doggies keeps us very busy in chores to keep them and fun, enrichment activities for their quality of life. Typing on the internet is not Luna, Peaberry, Buster and their many friends' idea of what we should be doing with our hands! We can speak with you as we pat many heads, throw balls and keep them happy!)
In Winter we offer hot chocolate, warm apple cider, tea, coffee and snacks by the woodstove for your enjoyment after your tour. We do not have a food permit – so please bring snacks to tide you over as the nearest deli is about fifteen minutes from our Dog Tour Center – and good eateries about twenty-five minutes away.
Spring, Summer and Fall we offer Lemonade and cookies après sledding-on-wheels. However many people bring a picnic basket and cooler and/or have the inn that they are staying at prepare box lunches. (Many of the local inns will gladly prepare a wonderful picnic lunch – from simple to gourmet – if you ask a day in advance.)
Yes! We keep a large area plowed for your vehicles. As you drive in our driveway the parking is located on the right, by the 4-Bay garage, just down from the Welcome/Educational Center in the Barn. Please do lock your vehicle doors as things are safe with us and the dogs. . . But we cannot guarantee that the local deer, moose, chipmunks and squirrels can keep their paws and hooves to themselves.
What should we wear for dogsledding-on-wheels?
Our tours are hands-on and interactive. Being with the dogs is an important part of our Discovery Channel type tour – they are the stars! Our dogs are exuberant and want your attention – and out on the trails there is a possibility that their feet can kick up mud and stones. We suggest that you wear long pants and stable footwear – tie shoes or boots are the best so that you can easily play and interact with the dogs. Dress in layers according to the temperature of the time of year.
Sandals and shorts are not good for safety reasons. We understand that in the summer heat many people find them most comfortable. We encourage you to bring sturdy footwear and long pants to change into. Also, as the trails can be muddy in places and you may get dirty – you might bring a change of clothes if you intend to go shopping, site seeing or dining after your tour.
What should we wear for dogsledding in winter?
Please dress warmly or bring warm clothes to change into. If you are in Vermont skiing your ski clothes and a comfortable, warm pair of boots or shoes, gloves or mittens, hat and ski goggles are perfect for the sledding adventure. If you don’t ski then warm clothes – layers are great, warm socks, boots or shoes, a warm hat, gloves and a scarf will be keep you comfortable. If you don’t have your own goggles then we can supply them. We also have hand and toe warmers. We provide blankets for your warmth and comfort on the sleds.
Are there flush toilet facilities?
Absolutely! Your comfort is an important component of having a great experience. In our Welcome and Educational center in our fabulous, large barn there are two large bathrooms for your convenience. They are also handy for changing clothes if you plan to go shopping, dining or site seeing after your Dog sledding adventure.