Gateway to the arctic – 5-day expedition in the arctic wilderness
If you are looking for the experience of a lifetime, we will confidently state that this is it. Whether you’re looking into experience an alternative way of transport through in winter or get a feeling of standing in the shoes of Amundsen when he made his way to the south pole, or just simply experience the pure bliss it is to stand behind a happy and focused team of amazing huskies taking you through the vastness and greatness of the arctic mountains, this is it. We leave the comfort of Wi-Fi and other familiar disturbances and welcome the great silence.
We take great pride in offering comfortable home-made food, good drinks and to many, a surprising amount of comfort on our expeditions. Our equipment is top quality, and will keep you comfortable in any conditions, even the coldest and harshest one should that be the case. Welcome to the arctic.
Our expeditions are set in April due to more stable weather conditions and longer hours of sunlight which provide much needed energy for such a trip, and nights dark enough to still see the northern lights. However, although the sun is back, we may still experience some harder weather, but do not let that frighten you, as our equipment, experience and dogs are more than up for it!
The first day we spend together at Run Wild Mushing’s kennel with the dogs, getting you comfortable, meeting your designated team members, learn the skills needed, and then the next day we set out on a new adventure. The next five days will take us high up into the mountains were the chances for seeing reindeer and ptarmigans are high. We will be fishing for trout and char and get to experience the luxury feeling a warm sauna provides after long days on the sleds. Become one with nature and your dogs, and build a unique companionship that few people ever get to experience. Throughout the expedition you will experience happiness, but also feel how hard the elements can hit you, and for some this becomes the ultimate test. However, when you feel the power of the dogs, see the vastness of the snow-white land and mountains, and a flock of ptarmigans leaping away right by your side, that’s when you feel alive!
Day 0 (training day)
If you arrive in Tromsø on this day we will come and pick you up at the airport, or if you are already staying in Tromsø we will come and pick you from your accommodation. It is a 1 hour 15-minute drive out to our kennel. Upon arrival we will show you to your overnight facilities, which will be a traditional Gamme/Lavvo-style set up with comfortable sleeping mattresses upon reindeer skins. There will be heating and electricity available here. At the kennel we will give you a full introduction to dog sledding and how to camp in arctic conditions. We will go through the areas we will sled through and give you an overview of how the day-to-day will be while we’re out. After, you will all get to try out dog sledding with your designated teams in order to feel comfortable and get adjusted to how to move around and get familiar with the movements of the sleds. In the evening, we will prepare a traditional Norwegian dinner with local meats and/or fish.
Day 1
We wake-up at 0600 and have breakfast around 0700. We check weather forecasts and pack up our gear into the car and trailer. Depending on our starting point the drive from our kennel is roughly 2 hours. We aim to leave at 1000. The first day of sledding will most likely be the most physical one, so time of sledding will be around 3 hours before we reach an area to camp. Because this is the most physical day for both you and the dogs, it is important that you help the dogs in the up hills. We will climb roughly 600 meters for the first 12 kilometers to a cabin known as “Gappohytta”. From here we leave the Norwegian boarder and sled into the Swedish mountains. Once we arrive at the camp site, we will make everything ready for our dogs before we set up our own camp to ensure they get the best possible care we can offer. This will be the daily routine while we’re out sledding. After we’ve lodged the dogs, fed them and praised them, it’s time to set up our own camp and prepare some good home-made food and snacks. If weather allows it, we will make a fire and talk about how the trip went and what tomorrow’s plan will be. Remember that the weather can change rapidly and thus so may our expedition plan. We cannot, after all, control the weather.
Day 2
We start with breakfast around 0800-0900. After breakfast we provide the dogs with fresh water and a light snack before we pack up camp and make ready the sleds for the next stage. We harness the dogs at last, before we set out. At this point, we are higher up in the mountains and you can expect temperatures to drop. There will be fairly high chances of seeing reindeers and ptarmigans here. Our aim for the day will be the large inland lake known as Rostujavri. This is a vast inland lake that stretches from Norway but with the majority of its body in Sweden. We will sled towards the little fishing campsite known as the Rostujavri Wilderness camp. Here we will comfortably lodge in warm cabins for the next two nights. Upon arrival we will park up the dogs at some distance from the cabins and prepare everything for the dogs here. Since we are lodged in cabins, we have the luxury of eating inside if the weather is bad, and we will provide you another home-made meal in the large cabin. As the evening draws in, the temperatures will most likely drop, but for those who want a little bit of extra pleasure, the camp master is more than happy to provide a properly heated sauna. The last thing we do before bed is to check up on the dogs and make sure they are happy and well.
Day 3
This is a day of rest for both people and dogs. For those that want to take a sled trip, we’ll take the dogs out to explore the area and come back. We will also try our luck at ice fishing. Raustujavri lake, among other lakes in the area are renowned for their abundance of trout, arctic char and grayling.
Day 4
We wake up around 0800 and have breakfast at 0900. After breakfast we go to check up on the dogs and start packing up our gear and take it to the sleds. We give the dogs a quick snack before we harness them and leave the comfort of the Rostujavri wilderness camp. And continue on our way towards the mountains again, before we set camp and prepare for a new night in tent.
Day 5
We wake up around 0800 and have breakfast at 0900. This is our last day of sledding, and we will slowly begin to leave the arctic tundra and mountains down to the more forestry areas. On this day we will sled until we reach the end point. Once we start descending, the dogs will pick up speed and it’s important that we brake as much as we can. When we arrive at the end point of the expedition, we praise the dogs for the amazing job they did, before we load them in the warm and cozy trailer. We pack up the cars with all our gear and head back to the kennel.
Upon arrival at the kennel, we will let the dogs run free in the running pen so they can loosen up and have fun. We take our time to give hugs, cuddles, and snack them before we put them back on their houses. There will be the option for a light meal at the kennel before we take you to your accommodation for the night.
Whats included:
One expedition leader and in some cases an additional guide.
Your own sled + team of dogs adapted to each person.
Pick-up and drop-off service in needed (either from the Airport or your accommodation).
Food and drinks for 6 days (1 training day + 5 day expedition)
Sleeping bag
Sleeping mat
Expedition clothing
All other necessary expedition equipment
Age restriction:
16 years
What to bring:
We will send a full packing list before the trip
Minimum to run the tour is 2 guest, and maximum number is 4. If you are alone and would like to book just for yourself, or a group of more than 4 people wanting to participate in the same trip, please send an inquiry on contact@runwildmushing.com
If you would like to make this trip fully private, please contact us on contact@runwildmushing.com for more information.
All participants are required to read and sign our terms and conditions prior to the start of the trip. This will be sent along with other important information when booking the trip.
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