Through the silence rang the pulsating sound of silence. The frozen crust of the snow stuck and drove like corn in a hot cauldron. Hulking cocoon fell from the top of the pines, the path and scattered snow powder coated in a fine, misty powder on the dog sled team.

Continue through, continue with "called Ed Stielstra his dogs as they came to a fork in the long tortuous.
From the first snow fall until early May, leading Natures Kennel dog sledding adventuresfor the general public. They can be taken for a two-hour ride, or if you are an adventurous spirit, Ed and Tasha musher Lessons granted. After about an hour training, you can then decide whether in fact the sled on a 50-mile overnight trek through the invisible pulp regions of the Eastern Upper Peninsula.

I chanced on a TV program that features outdoor activities that families can enjoy together generate. When searching and researching stories for my program, I look for activitiesnot reserved for the extreme. I know that the "extreme make" for visually stimulating imaging, but these extreme measures rarely make good stories. They also do little to the typical person to be involved pry off the couch and be inspired. With the discovery of history's Steilstra I soon realized that this adventure is the perfect solution for the adventurous people ask the question, "What would you do next weekend?"

Learning to mush sled dogs inthe barren Upper Peninsula in 20-degree weather can not be anyone's first choice of things to do on their day off, but if you can dig deeper, you realize that it is the perfect adventure vacation. I mean, hell, almost everyone does not like dogs? Everyone can appreciate the beauty of a beautiful winter's day, where every moment you can create a weightless spring deer on the track in a sentence. As a child, I remember that was one of my favorite winter sledding past. So it is allmeaningful. Dog sledding is a combination of everything we do that, you just do not know it ... yet.

Ok, I realize that there are sides to an activity like this, but let them look out of the glass half full perspective. First, let us to the issue of cold weather. In advanced society today, manufacturers have developed a kind of warm clothing. Today's materials to protect people from biting cold to a level of 40 degrees below zero. It's true! By TashaStilstra, the most common complaint of the participants warm. I want her advice, as I shed at the end most of my clothes because I was sweating like an ice hockey players have followed. Each of the guests on my trip had the same problem. Evidence was the numerous pairs of gloves, socks and T-shirts hanging from a line above the wood stove at the end of the first day dry.

With regard to the actual act of sledging, it is a breeze. For me it was theChallenge of learning something new that made the experience even more fun. Ed and Tasha spent more than a considerable amount of time with the guests, which teaches us how to correct the dogs that work seamlessly with the sleigh, and what if one of you from slipping off the slide. It's pretty amazing to watch the transformation of the guests from a little anxious, restless viewers to a confident, enthusiastic participants. Bill Walters, 45 of Fenton, said: "It's amazing. We hear again and againStories about how sled dogs are vicious, unrelenting beasts. "Bill continued, as he hugged and cuddled with his furry team leader," I did it as quite the opposite. These dogs are affectionate, docile animal I've ever met "

As much as I hate to deviate from the sled experiences, I think it is important to comment on Bill for a moment to explain. Perception of cruelty to sled dogs are the "stone in the shoe" of a sport that is in fact very humanto their animals. "Bill's sentiment seems to ring true with most of our guests," said Tasha, "and I hope that's an experience like this is a long way to dispel the idea is rooted in that sled dogs are averages of abuse." And in fact, the Steilstra is proud of the fact that they have won over a number of humanitarian awards for the impeccable service, their animals. In fact, said a veterinarian monitors a checkpoint at the 2006 Iditarod "this is one of thethe best kept teams I've ever seen, "a reaffirmation of this Steilstra's who are their dogs either" their children ".

I guess I joined you at this point. I mean, after all, there's nothing stopping you, that the time of your life on a dog sledding adventure, once the common concerns are addressed. All you need now is an open mind. "If you try a dog sled adventure waiting to be cold, you get really cold," says Tasha: "I f you are thinking thatYou can also afraid of the dogs, you are really afraid of the dogs. Have "Grand Council, as I visited the Steilstra's on three occasions now and the response score reflects this philosophy.

The typical night sled dog adventure begins around 10.00 clock, however, begins in the day when the sun begins to comb the jack pine and birch forest, an eerie howling wolf shatters the stillness of dawn, followed by another, and then ten more filled . Then a hundred and fifty. Chaosthe yips, barks, groans and chains wrapped the dog even air. It is the nature of alarm. Soon, the sound of tin pans bang, and the soothing sounds of the handler greeting to their friends with their morning meal revealed. It is at this point you begin, you recognize yourself in an experience of a lifetime. As you busily rolling out of bed, your heart starts to beat with the same enthusiasm as the dogs that are waiting their day activities, to.

Around ten the fun begins. You areIntroducing your dog "team". Mine were "Yzerman", "Hatcher", "Datsuk" and five other players overactive. "These types of the hockey team," said Ed, "If the puppy was born, we knew we had our hands full. They were active and mischievous, so we named it after a number of hockey players," Fine by me. Remember, open mind! Harnessing After an apprenticeship, how and drive (porridge), the team, we were given a demonstration of how to fall and keep out, that is being dragged. All I Really Gotfrom his speech was simply "Do not let go!" We then removed the dogs from their homes and left them one by one with the sled, which was confined to a 3-inch diameter metal spike driven into the ground several meters. The timid dog barking, jumping and shaking uncontrollably with excitement. I saw bow their head and lift the frozen ground with every tug. "These guys are wired to run," says Ed. "Of course, all dogs are not on the trip and those who go that has left, areget pretty pissed off. ". As our group climbed into the sleigh and is close to our pathetic little on the thin runners I looked over my shoulder to see a dog named Maple. Maple was miserably at her kennel, her head on his paws and looked away from the top of the forehead . I kind of pity for her. Ed was right. excite you. So much for cruelty.

It was finally time to go. One of the rules, the number one dog, it is not let go. It was something that was in mind when they hookedthe chains that held the sled. "Do not let go!" Was immediately postponed as the dogs in anticipation GO! This is perhaps the worst part of the whole trip. There are no slow acceleration. It's easy to go! If you can get through this, is all cake from there. Really, it only takes a few adjustments and a few minutes to get the balance. Two or three times, starting and stopping and it is old hat.

Our trip was longer than anyone can imagine. The road systemgently suspended by an endless series of wound pine forests, lake shorelines, and open fields, the natures most delicate treasures. Frost shone the reflection of the sun on the various leaves and stems, the thistle lined the route. Once running, the dogs stop barking quickly. The silence was amazing. The stealth manner in which we allow ourselves, traveled secretly to various animals that you never see on a snowmobile. Without a trace of fear, deer, snowshoe --Rabbits and Red-tailed Hawk, Sat and curious as to how we looked passed.

The road system led us through the Tahquamenon National Forest. We drove through the heart of some of the most beautiful country in the world. Just to the north of us was Lake Superior, where you could have ice volcanoes of waves bounced hard from the coast to explore. In the east, Tahquamenon falls, which is even nicer to see in winter than in summer. In the West the famous wasIn the picture to explore cliffs, the spectacular and to ice climbing this time of year. This area is a veritable winter wonderland, and we had to investigate it in a way that few people ever know. Funny, including in the middle of wonder and awe, I began to feel sorry for people who are not brave enough to get off the couch and try something new. This is really easy. The next trip, I'll put my daughter in her teens.

As quickly as the day began, the day came to an end. It was likethe time that you met the love of your life on a dinner date. The next thing you got to know that you spent ten hours in conversation and dawn. This was the same. I was a sad day was over, but more was to come.

We anchored the sleds and took the dogs by their leads. Hay was delivered to their beds and we fed the dogs their evening meal. "This is how we are most generous sponsors," says Ed, as he patiently walked by a dog hard in the next searching their paws for cracks or bruises. ThisExperience is experience so close to the Iditarod, as you can without getting there. Ed who has the Iditarod race three times ensures that every detail of the journey overnight, the real experience mocked. From the tent and bunks to sleep at the hobo dinner cooked over an open fire, the dogs that you used to get to camp. All are genuine items of the Iditarod.

After a nice evening around the campfire stories about the Iditarod, coffee and stories about Iditarod, hot cider andMore stories about the Iditarod, it is to make time for the evening. Winter camping is not what you would think. Open again. "There are rewards for winter camping," said Ed "There are no mosquitoes or people in motor homes with generators to keep running for you all night. Good point. Each had a different idea of what they can for the night, but their fears were quickly laid to rest. berth with a hammock type ground lined the walls of the tent. There was enough room tosleep 8 people and a wood stove in the corner was being held at the tent of "errors in the ceiling" status. It was not a Sheraton, but you would not always a dog sled ride, if you stayed at the Sheraton. I was to make trade-off I was happy.

The morning came, when I smell eggs and bacon and sausage ... was awakened, and pancakes and coffee. As I stretched, I heard stories of others to share, how well they had slept. The dogs were barking again with excitement, and abroad smile came over my face because I knew we had a full day of sledding. It does not get any better than this.