| Bergsvein Wongraven, who lives in Sweden shares | | | | congenial experience. Food comprises a mixture of |
| his expertise pertaining to dog sledding excursions | | | | European continental, English and local specialties from |
| with Norm Goldman, Editor of the travel site, Today, | | | | the wild life around us. The food is plentiful and |
| Norm Goldman Editor of is pleased to have as our | | | | nourishing, tasty and special. We do also cater to |
| guest, Bergsvein Wongraven. Bergsvein lives in | | | | guests with special dietary requirements. |
| Sweden with his wife Kim and he is a self-educated | | | | Since we offer package tours with everything |
| musher and guide. They are also owners of Husky | | | | included in the price, we do not charge for beer and |
| Holiday. | | | | wine consumed. |
| Good day Bergsvein and thank you for participating in | | | | Norm: |
| our interview. | | | | Could you describe a typical day on one of these |
| Norm: | | | | tours? |
| What is a musher? How did you become interested | | | | Bergsvein: |
| in mushing? | | | | Let me refer to our Munken Combi as an example. It |
| | | | is a tour where every day we return to the |
| Bergsvein: | | | | comforts of our farmhouse. The day begins at 8 |
| A Musher is the person on a dog sled who remains | | | | A.M., when we meet for breakfast and where |
| standing while he controls a team of dogs pulling the | | | | porridge and bread are served. This keeps you going |
| sled. He is in reality the dog driver. The art of driving | | | | for a few hours and our guests even enjoy it. Next, |
| is called mushing. | | | | the guests proceed to the changing room, where |
| I grew up in a tiny mountains village in North Norway | | | | they pick out suitable clothing for the day's journey. |
| where there was a great deal of snow. While I was | | | | We encourage everyone to have as much contact |
| cross-country skiing, I always dreamed of cruising | | | | with the dogs as possible. The huskies are attention |
| across lakes and over mountains with a dog pulling | | | | craving, friendly and loving animals. Group members |
| me. | | | | have the opportunity to join in performing daily duties |
| I started experiencing the skijoring (skiing while being | | | | in the dog yard before we venture out on a |
| pulled by a dog) more than 30 years ago, but the | | | | snowshoe walk with a pack of free running puppies. |
| actual sled driving was something I took up much | | | | Most days include a drive with the huskies. They love |
| later. This was due to the fact that I had acquired | | | | getting out and their enthusiasm is infectious. We |
| too many dogs to be able to control them on skis. | | | | quickly journey into the Swedish forests, and after a |
| When the mushing gets into your blood you are | | | | 15 mile run, we attend to the dogs' needs prior to |
| addicted! | | | | our enjoying in our teepee a big grill feast of meat, |
| A musher can drive any type of dog and almost any | | | | fish, bread, potatoes and vegetables. |
| dog will pull the sled, but the most frequently used | | | | After lunch we sometimes split up some guests |
| sled- dog is the Alaskan Husky. However, the polar | | | | enjoy cross- country skiing, while others want to |
| breeds such as Malamutes, Eskimo dogs and the | | | | have a quick ride on the snowmobile down to the |
| Siberian Huskies are also popular mushing dogs. | | | | lake and try their luck at ice fishing. Usually when |
| Norm: | | | | children are present there is often a great enthusiasm |
| What are dog sledding safaris and could you give our | | | | for tobogganing on our home- made slope. |
| readers a brief description of the ones you offer? | | | | We return around 5 P.M. for coffee and snacks, a |
| Where do they take place in Sweden and how long | | | | quick shower and some relaxation before we all get |
| does a typical safari last? | | | | together for dinner. If we aren't too tired after the |
| Bergsvein: | | | | day's activities in the snow we sometimes watch |
| Dog sledding safaris are the trips where we challenge | | | | films from the Iditarod in Alaska, or just relax talking, |
| our own and our dogs' physical and mental endurance | | | | getting a massage, reading a book or simply creeping |
| with long daily trips that includes outdoor camping | | | | into bed. |
| spread over 3-10 nights. We eventually return to our | | | | Norm: |
| homestead (farm house) proud and in high spirits. | | | | What is the average age group that participates in |
| Usually we associate a safari with Africa however our | | | | these tours? |
| challenging Mushing Survival and Minitarod are | | | | Bergsvein: |
| examples of true meetings with the elements. | | | | Since we offer 5 different tours, we cater to any |
| The region of Jämtland in Sweden offers, with | | | | age and ability. In fact, we have people of all ages |
| its vast woodlands, gentle hills, mountains and | | | | visiting there was even a baby of 6 month and a |
| numerous ice covered lakes, excellent opportunities | | | | lady of 82 participating in our activities and tours last |
| for great outdoor and wild life experiences. | | | | season. Since we have qualified staff to take care of |
| There is an initial training period from our lodge and | | | | our guests, we are confident that everyone will have |
| then we load up the necessary gear for ourselves | | | | the most enjoyable holiday with us whatever age |
| and the huskies in order to venture out on a several | | | | they are as long as they book the most appropriate |
| day safari trip, where we rely on our dogs, our | | | | tour for themselves. |
| equipment and ourselves. | | | | Norm: |
| The daily rides depend entirely on weather conditions | | | | Where do these tours start from and how would |
| and generally a typical steady tempo day along the | | | | one travel from North America or Europe to the site? |
| marked snowmobile will involve a 30 mile run. A group | | | | Bergsvein: |
| of a maximum of 8 persons, including guides, set up, | | | | Geographically we are situated centrally in Sweden, |
| before dark every day, a tent and a teepee camp. | | | | 40 miles north of the city Östersund, which is |
| Everyone shares the work which involves the | | | | an hour by plane from the capitol of Sweden, |
| feeding and taking care of dogs and people. There is | | | | Stockholm, and where all inland flights commence. |
| a bonding experience after a hard but rewarding day | | | | There are frequent flights from a number of |
| when we sit together in the teepee around a | | | | international airports to Stockholm and regular |
| light-smoky fire to keep us warm. Our journey | | | | transfers to Östersund, where we pick up our |
| continues after breaking camp in the morning- | | | | guests. |
| something that occurs every day until we return | | | | Norm: |
| home. Our participants have described these safaris in | | | | How safe are these tours? |
| a several ways, and one of our guests even called it | | | | Bergsvein: |
| "character building." | | | | They are very safe. Accidents can of course happen, |
| Norm | | | | but we haven't had any incidents that have caused |
| If you had to choose the most romantic and unique | | | | injuries to people. We place a lot of emphasis on |
| of your sledding safaris, which ones would you | | | | teaching our guests how to drive their team of |
| choose and why? | | | | huskies. It should be noted that we have highly skilled |
| Bergsvein: | | | | dog teams and well prepared trails. Above everything |
| Our Minisafari Husky Special is 3 days of learning all | | | | else, it is our experience and attitude to the task of |
| about dogs and driving your own team. There is an | | | | taking hundreds of people on dog-sledding safaris |
| opportunity every day to try other winter activities | | | | year after year without risk their to their health and |
| such as cross country skiing, tobogganing, snow | | | | still offering our guests the thrill of a speedy dog |
| shooing, where couples enjoy playing in the snow, | | | | team leading you around the vast wilderness of |
| while returning to the warmth of a house every | | | | Sweden. |
| night. | | | | Norm: |
| On the fourth day we pack our sleds and drive out | | | | When is the best time of the year to take one of |
| on an overnight tour. After taking care of your dog | | | | these tours? |
| team, participants enjoy many hours under the stars | | | | Bergsvein: |
| watching out for northern lights and simply enjoying | | | | The entire winter season has its charm. From my |
| the silence. Could this be why a number of | | | | personal experience, any week in our almost 5 |
| honeymooners have chosen exactly this trip? | | | | months of winter season is equally good. |
| Norm: | | | | November-December with the short days and winds, |
| What equipment and clothing must one have before | | | | snow drifts, swinging temperatures and northern |
| embarking on one of these tours? | | | | lights and the mushing in the dark with just a head |
| Bergsvein: | | | | torch January- with its true mystic and real winter |
| We recommend our guests bring warm, long | | | | February- when winter nights are getting shorter |
| underwear, preferably several layers, as well as | | | | March- with the beauty of the glittering sun and chilly |
| gloves, hats and one or more sweaters. As with a | | | | nights April- with its warm days and soft snow are all |
| number of our colleagues, Husky Holiday does supply | | | | what a fantastic winter is made up from. The |
| complete sets of warm winter clothing- insulated | | | | adventure is truly great what ever time one chooses |
| coveralls and Canadian boots that withstand the | | | | to come. |
| lowest temperatures. You can find a clothing and | | | | Norm: |
| equipment list on our homepage. We also send out | | | | Is there anything else you wish to add that we have |
| an individual information package prior to arrival, | | | | not covered? |
| covering what we suggest people should bring along. | | | | Bergsvein |
| Norm: | | | | We offer dog-sledding adventures to guests as our |
| What can one expect by way of lodging and food | | | | vocation and which we enjoy doing. It started with |
| when participating in one of these tours? | | | | the love for dogs and the outdoors, a hobby has |
| Bergsvein: | | | | been turned into profession, and I can still say that |
| Our homestead (farmhouse) has 4 guest rooms, 2 | | | | most days I still enjoy it. I am delighted to see how |
| with bathrooms, 2 sharing a bath. The rooms are | | | | cheerful our guests are after each day of mushing |
| pleasantly decorated and furnished, with good | | | | and after a week's husky holiday. The feed back we |
| ventilation and heating. Since we only accept very | | | | received only makes us more excited in receiving |
| small groups, our standard is 6, we can also accept | | | | new guests every Sunday. |
| up to 7 guests per week. Our house is open to our | | | | Thanks once again Bergsvein for your informative |
| guests to enjoy. The cozy atmosphere of the living | | | | interview and good luck with all of your future |
| room and the study help make our evenings a | | | | endeavors. |