#61 - Dog Sledding & #93 - Northern Lights

Sometimes if you wait till the perfect time you never get around to doing things. I realized this in December and, although I'm in school, and working 30 hours a week, and volunteering, and really don't have time for adventures, decided, on a bit of a whim in December, to book a flight to Whitehorse using Air Miles and asked my friend Kate if I could stay with her for a few days in March. I decided this winter I would finally cross off dog sledding from my bucket list. Kate has experience as a dog sled guide, so she knew which local outfit to recommend. And she wasn't wrong. Sky High Ranch was great. I did a day trip (about five hours including a lunch break), and they supplied me with a parka, snow pants, boots, and mitts, fed us a great lunch, and I got to drive my own team. What a day. 

The weather was perfect, the snow was powdery, and the dogs were super affectionate. I didn't have to say "gee" or "haw" since that was the leader's job, but I did have to say either "let's go" or "whoa" and use the foot brake, especially going downhill. Holy smokes, those dogs are strong. I tipped my sled and fell off, but the team still managed to pull me, holding on for dear life, for about 10 feet before slowing down.

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but the best way I can sum it up is to say that dog sledding is kind of like cross-country skiing, but with dogs and adrenaline.  You definitely need to be in half-way decent shape. My arms and quads will be sore tomorrow from all the work, and I was out of breath on the steep up-hills from having to help the dogs out by pushing with one foot (think skateboarding  to get momentum going). But if you want a True North experience, definitely give dog sledding a go. It was an experience unlike I've had before and will likely have again. 

Oh, and...! Last night Kate and I were walking home from the movies around 9:30 and noticed this great big, iridescent green streak in the sky. The Northern Lights! I saw it in all its glory! We drove up Grey Mountain and turned off the headlights and just stared for ages at the great shimmering green waving its way across the stars. It looked almost like smoke, but glowing. So incredible to see with my own eyes, even though I've seen very impressive photos of it, of course. I would've taken a photo, but only had my iPhone, which wouldn't nearly do it justice, if it managed to capture any light at all. So you'll just have to take my word for it that in Whitehorse on March 9, 2018, the Aurora Borealis was really pretty good. (Kate's lived here off and on for a few years and she gave it a 9 out of 10, so I'm pretty happy.)

Two things crossed off my bucket list in one weekend. Woot!

#13 – Canada, coast-to-coast

Oh.My.Canada!

I've now seen my entire country from the west to the east. All 10 provinces, all 10 capital cities, and both oceans. It's been an incredible journey, and one I'll always remember. I've covered the whole trip in a separate blog (canadabycar.wordpress.com) but I'll just say, if you've ever thought of being a tourist in your own country, (especially if you're Canadian) DO IT! It's so totally awesome.

Why travel?

This is Robin Esrock. He's been to 107 countries since 2005.

A few weeks ago I met this guy and his lovely wife Anna at a house party. We got chatting, and I asked him about the hat he was wearing. It looked like a faded old Australian outback hat that he said had been all around the world with him and that it was time to let it go because it had seen better days.

Anna is due to give birth to their first child imminently, and the hat wasn't exactly clean (and had even picked up some radiation at Chernobyl). So, like any good adventurer, he took it out to the backyard to give it the only respectful end a good hat can have – with a ceremonial burning. I'm sure either hairspray or lighter fluid was used to speed things along, but it sure did go up in a blaze of glory.

Back inside, we formally introduced ourselves and I learned his name is Robin Esrock. The Robin Esrock. As in moderngonzo.com and the TV series World Travels, seen in more than 100 countries in 21 languages. He's led an incredible life, and yet he really does seem to be just like anybody else. I really enjoyed what he had to say about where he's been and where he's at now. When he told me he and Anna live in Burnaby the lightbulb went off, and I thought, hey, I could write a feature about this guy for the paper I'm working at. So I did. You can read it here.

Sometimes being a journalist working for the mass media really is the (second) best job in the world, and a serendipitous job to have when you get the opportunity to interview one of the last great travel writers working today.

#30 - Grand Canyon

Living on the edge.

The Grand Canyon is aptly named, and I have now seen it, up close and personal. I wasn't surprised by the depth of the Canyon because I've seen a million pictures of it. What did surprise me was how cold it was at the south rim. Of course, it was March, and not July, but there were patches of snow still on the ground! I naively thought the Mojave desert would be full of hot dry sand and nothing else, but it was full of gently rolling hills covered in short scrubby trees. I saw a Joshua tree, which was kind of cool. Made me think of U2.

My great friend Lindsay and I went to Vegas for four days, and one of those days was spent getting to the Canyon on a tour bus. That was definitely the highlight of the trip. The Canyon is flippin' huge, and we were only there for about two hours. It goes down in giant steps, and you can't even see into the deepest part where the Colorado River flows. The rock faces are strangley layered colours: red, orange, sandstone and a kind of muted green. It's very beautiful and awe-inspiring and I need to go back and spend more time there. I want to take a mule trek down to the bottom, or hike down and raft on the river. Tours are all well and good when you don't have much time, but really, for the Canyon you need more time. It's just so big.

Vegas, on the other hand, was less than awe-inspiring. Frankly, I thought it was tacky and depressing. I spent a total of $6 gambling and I think I had a total of three drinks. Got to admit it was a novelty to drink Budweiser on the street and not be hassled for it, but on the other hand, the place is just another big hole. Unlike the Canyon, which fills the soul (or some other poetic description that eludes me right now) the Strip just leaves me feeling emotionally void.

Very glad to have seen the Grand Canyon. That was really just a taste though. One day I will go back for the whole thing.