MT HOOD SKIJORING
Chariots of Fur
Skijoring with Man’s Best Friend
You don't have to compete to enjoy skijoring with your dog. With just three pieces of equipment, an eager dog and a pair of cross country skis, you're on your way to an exciting new sport with your dog!
In skijoring, the idea is that your dog (or dogs) assist you along the winter trails, over the hills and through the woods, by helping pull while you ski behind them. No matter if to grandma’s house you go, racing for the finish line or hustling to that dark craft beer chilling in the snow, skijoring can appeal to anyone who enjoys the bliss of Nordic skiing and loves dogs. For many, it’s a natural pairing.
Some are surprised to hear that most dogs between 30 and 100 pounds can skijor. That’s because when they think of snowy mountains they think of burly mountain dogs, like the St. Bernard mascots of Timberline Lodge. But as Larry Miller of the Oregon Nordic Club suggests, bigger isn’t necessarily better.
Typically, medium sized dogs are full of energy and endurance while larger breeds can lack speed and, sometimes, ability to go the distance. And then there are the smaller spitfire dogs that weigh barely more than your weekend pack. In the recreational skijoring world though, all of these are great candidates depending upon your goals.
Regardless of the type of ride you are after, or in for, you’re still out there with them, which is good for both of you. Just be sure your dog is having as much fun as you are, and vise versa.
Here is the ideal scenario I imagine every time I think about getting my 2-year old pup out on the snow for our first skijoring session:
She’s pacing me out in front on a packed trail and together we are one fluid movement gliding through the wilderness. Except for her panting and my heavy breathing, we are silent, smoothly slipping around corners and steadily ascending the hills. My four-legged partner surges ahead, eager to please.
We have an identical look of excitement and determination on our faces, from the focused eyes to the open mouth, tongue flapping and all (not to mention the frosted chin hair).
Kim Tinker of Sandy, Oregon, has been skijoring for ten years and is a member of the Cascade Sled Dog Club. Once an avid down-hiller, she hasn’t ventured onto the alpine slopes since before the turn of the century. No need she says, in skijoring “I get the same adrenaline rush and I get to see awesome, beautiful terrain at the crack of dawn that no one else gets to see.” No crowds and no spendy lift tickets were also high on her list of perks of skijoring.
Popular Mount Hood Skijoring Trails
Snow covered trails are plentiful here in the Mount Hood winter wonderland, and what better way to explore them than by dog-powered travel?
Frog Lake is one of the local popular skijoring destinations. From expert to beginner, many enjoy the primarily level trails and multiple loop options. With ample parking and restroom facilities at the Sno-park, it’s a great place to harness up.
A little further down highway 26, Clear Lake and the Skyline Sno-parks (leading to Timothy Lake) are also popular. All three locations are groomed for snowmobiles, which provides a firm and easily identifiable track suiting dogs well. Don’t worry about mixing canines with combustible engines; the relationship between the two user groups is a good one.
You can skijor using either style of Nordic skiing, whether it’s skating or diagonal stride. On the wide groomed trails mentioned above and at Trillium Lake, skating is more efficiently matched with the speed of your dog. While on narrow and possibly untracked trails like at White River, your classic kicking is more effective. Whichever you choose, keep in mind the safety of the four legs in front of you and leave the metal edges at home.
Gearing Up for Skijoring
Assuming you already own skis and have a canine companion, you can pick up skijoring without having to empty your already not-so-bulging wallet. Three pieces of gear are needed before you can be on your way to the trailhead.
I found a complete set-up, including the dog harness, towline, and skier harness for under $100. Top priority of the three pieces of gear is a proper fitting dog harness. To ensure the correct fit, it’s best to bring the aspiring pooch with you on your shopping trip when possible. Equally important is teaching your dog to pull using a harness, not a collar.
The sport currently isn’t bursting at the seams in numbers, but interest is growing. Tinker, who also operates a skijoring outfitting business, is receiving a continual stream of inquiries from curious folks. Even before flurries started covering our windshields she was getting handfuls of emails almost daily from soon-to-be skijorers and expects that trend to continue. That’s why she believes it’s the next big boom sport.
Come See Skijoring
If your interest in skijoring at this moment is to watch the sport from a snow bank, you’ll have a chance in the new year. The Cascade Sled Dog Club is having their annual race at Frog Lake on January 3-4, 2009. The race is part of the Pacific Northwest Race Championship circuit — meaning there will be people from all over for a handful of events.
Perhaps you’ll even see my dog Tischer and me lined up in the novice race. My ideal scenario that I mentioned at the beginning of this article is just that — ideal. Not at all the reality I expect, but we all have to start somewhere!
For more information on skijoring in the Cascades, check out these links:
December 2008 /January 2009
