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Overnight Dogsledding Adventure: Visit a Wilderness Yurt By Dog Team

Program Number: 7953RJ
Start and End Dates:
2/3/2013 - 2/8/2013; 1/12/2014 - 1/17/2014; 2/9/2014 - 2/14/2014;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Ely, Minnesota
Price starting at: $945.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Winter Sports Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 15; 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Low Fat; Vegetarian; Low Salt; Gluten Free    

Experience the wild beauty of Northern Minnesota as you embark on an overnight trip to a remote lakeside yurt and thrill in three days of dogsledding and two days of skiing, snowshoeing, and other activities. Feel a dog team's strength and share in their enthusiasm as you learn to harness dogs and navigate a team through the spectacular north country wilderness.




Highlights

• Get expert instruction on dogsledding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing, and join a naturalist for lessons on the plants and animals that call Minnesota their home.
• Observe the dynamics of a wolf pack at the International Wolf Center during prime viewing season, and listen for howls of wild wolves.
• Spend a night in a Mongolian-style yurt, insulated and heated to keep you comfortable in the quiet wilderness.



Activity Particulars

Snowshoeing up to four miles, skiing up to seven miles, dogsledding up to 20 miles — subject to weather, fitness.




Date Specific Information

2-3-2013

The Ely Winter Festival runs concurrently with this program. Featuring the International Snow Sculpting Symposium, the Ely Art Walk, and other activities, the festival dates this year (February 1-10, 2013) mark its 20 year anniversary.



2-9-2014

These program dates overlap with the last few days of the Ely Winter Festival.



Coordinated by Vermilion Community College.




Ely

The Superior National Forest, stretching 150 miles along the U.S.-Canada border, encompasses a variety of wildlife and terrain, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Ely is the area’s quaint but bustling gateway.
Accommodations
Lakeside cabins, adjacent to Boundary Waterway wilderness; kitchen, sitting room, shared baths for up to six people; additional bathhouse available. Yurt tent (one night), outhouse only.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Chris Hegenbarth
Chris Hegenbarth has been teaching enthusiasts about the outdoors for more than 20 years. She takes a special liking to gaining and imparting knowledge of an area's plants, animals, and geology. Her favorite outdoor pastime is picking wild blueberries —plentiful in northern Minnesota — with her children. Very much an outdoor person, she enjoys cross-country skiing, canoeing, hiking, and harvesting wild rice.
 
Peter McClelland
Peter McClelland, a naturalist by training and a professional musher by choice, has been running sled dogs for more than 15 years. He provides Road Scholar participants with the hands-on experience of driving their own dog team through his Wilderness Sled Dog Adventures. Peter has participated in several sled dog races, including the 375-mile John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and the 220-mile Hudson Bay Quest.
 
Jacki Fisher
Jacki Fisher is passionate about the Minnesota north woods, having shared her love of the outdoors with program participants for more than 10 years. Jacki's endless enthusiasm and depth of knowledge make her a favorite instructor of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing and hiking.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   YMCA Camp du Nord
  Ely, MN 3 nights
   Remote Yurt
  Ely, MN 1 night
   YMCA Camp du Nord
  Ely, MN 1 night
 YMCA Camp du Nord
Type: Other
  Description: Experience an area listed as one of the world's top 50 travel destinations. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, 15 miles north of Ely, is a winter wonderland for those traveling by dogsled, ski, and snowshoe. Explore scenic trails, eat delicious food, and relax in an authentic Finnish log sauna. Group size is small for active sessions. Shuttle from Duluth is available. Stay in beautiful cabins near the shore of Burntside Lake. Camp du Nord, operated by the YMCA of St. Paul, provides a private setting with miles of snowshoe trails, skier-groomed ski trails, brilliant skies, and quiet winter forests. The camp also features an authentic and historic Finnish sauna that will be fired up once during the week. Camp du Nord is a wonderful blend of cozy cabins and wilderness, providing a good setting for learning amidst snow-covered lakes, rocky shores, and evergreen forests. During the week experience a sunrise or sunset over the lake, explore the woods by following a set of animal tracks in the snow, or enjoy a starlit night from the frozen lake.
  Contact info: 3606 North Arm Road
Ely, MN 55731 USA
phone: 218-365-3681
web: www.dunord.org
  Facility amenities: You will be sharing a lakeside cabin with other participants. Cabins are varied, but each has two to six double-occupancy bedrooms, a cozy living room, a kitchen (with stove, refrigerator and dishes), and at least one bathroom. Several cabins also have a woodstove to provide ambiance. In the spirit of the hosteling approach upon which Road Scholar programs were originally based, your accommodations are plain and simple. During your stay, there is no maid service, and you need to bring your own towels, soap, and other toiletries. The rooms do not have telephones or televisions, however there are several phones available for you to use with your calling card (if you have one) or to make collect calls. Note that cell phone coverage in northern Minnesota is very spotty, and depending upon your carrier, may be non-existent. There are no laundry facilities on site (there are two Laundromats in Ely). Group meals are provided in the dining hall, which is a beautiful walk from the lodging. Delicious meals are single entree and are usually served family style to our group, camp staff, and occasionally participants of other programs.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Bathroom: Shared baths; 1 or 2 full or half-baths in each cabin are shared, with no more than 5 people per bath. Single occupancy sleeping rooms are available at an additional cost. Additional bath facilities are located nearby in a modern bathhouse.
  Additional nights prior: Please call for current rate. Check availability and make reservations directly with YMCA Camp du Nord.
  Check in time: 3:30 PM
  Additional nights after: Please call for current rate. Check availability and make reservations directly with YMCA Camp du Nord.
  Check out time: 12:30 PM

 Remote Yurt
Type: Other
  Description: This remote location truly provides a night away from it all---no roads and no neighbors. It's just our group (plus the dogs!) at a quiet yurt in the middle of the Superior National Forest. It's a great place to watch for the northern lights. The vast night sky and the incredible silence of winter in the north woods you will forever remember.
  Contact info: Superior National Forest
Isabella, MN 55607 USA
  Room amenities: Solitude
  Smoking allowed: No
  Bathroom: A temporary outhouse located a short walk from the yurt is the only toilet facility.


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Between 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM at camp. You will be staying at YMCA Camp du Nord that night.
  End of Program:
Ends after sack lunch. Check out by Noon. You will be staying at YMCA Camp du Nord the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Each participant is required to complete, sign, and return, both an Informed Consent Form and a Supplemental Questions Form. Please complete and return the Travel Information Form to reserve a seat on the Vermilion Duluth-Ely Road Scholar Program Shuttle.
  Parking availability:
Parking is available for free at the program location.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Ely, MN
  Nearest city or town:  Ely, MN
  Nearest highway: Minnesota Highway 169.
  Nearest airport:  Duluth International Airport (DLH), Duluth, MN.
  From End of Program
  Location: Ely, MN
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Ely / Duluth

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Vermilion Duluth-Ely Shuttle
phone: 218-235-2164
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$40
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

2 1/4 hours 
   

The pick-up shuttle runs once, leaving the Duluth International Airport at 1:30 PM on Sunday and arriving to the program site near Ely around 4:00 PM. The return shuttle also runs just once, leaving the program site at 12:30 PM on Friday and arriving to the Duluth International Airport by 3:00 PM. Limited flights sometimes require spending a night in Duluth before and/or after the program (reservations recommended). Sign up for the shuttle by completing and returning the Travel Information Form.
 
Driving Directions
  An Overview There are several ways to reach Ely. Choose a route that meets your time constraints and desire for sightseeing. The driving times indicated are all approximate, depending upon traffic conditions, your driving speed, and the number of times you stop.
  Duluth, MN (option 1) Quickest Route from Duluth (2 hours) Take Highway 53 North to Virginia. Just after passing Virginia exits, take Highway 169 to Ely.
  Duluth, MN (option 2) Scenic Route from Duluth (2.5 hours) Head northeast on the Highway 61 "Expressway" along the shore of Lake Superior. Once you reach the northeast end of Two Harbors, take County Road 2 North to its intersection with Highway 1. Follow Highway 1 northwest into Ely (turn left onto Highway 1).
  Duluth, MN (option 3) Most Scenic Route from Duluth (3.5 hours) Start out of Duluth on Highway 61 but take the immediate right-hand turn onto the "Scenic Northshore Drive". This road closely follows along the shore of the lake and ends at Two Harbors where it intersects Highway 61. Follow Highway 61 north until you reach its intersection (marked "Illgen City") with Highway 1. Follow Highway 1 northwest until you reach Ely.
  Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN Quickest Route from Minneapolis/St. Paul (5 hours) Take I-35 north to the Cloquet exit where you will join up with Highway 33 North. Highway 33 will merge into Highway 53 North. Just after passing Virginia exits, take Highway 169 to Ely. You avoid Duluth with this route.
  Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (variation) The trip from Minneapolis/St. Paul can include any of the scenic routes from Duluth described above if I-35 is taken all the way to Duluth. This adds to the total trip time, which will then be over 5 hours. (Duluth is approximately 2.5 hours from Minneapolis/St. Paul.)
  Once in Ely for a winter program... Once in Ely it will take another 20 to 30 minutes to reach YMCA Camp du Nord, located on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on Burntside Lake and about 15 miles north. To get there, start from the Ely Chamber of Commerce, a log building on the east end of Ely, and travel east approximately 1.5 miles on Highway 169 to Highway 88 where you will turn left. Drive 2.3 miles on Highway 88 and turn right onto the Echo Trail. Follow the Echo Trail 9.1 miles and turn left onto Road UT8211 (North Arm Road). Drive this for approximately 3.8 miles, at which point you will see the Dining Hall (and the delivery vehicle turn-around loop) on the left-hand side of the road. The Dining Hall (also marked by a Road Scholar sign posted on a snowshoe and Fire #3594) is where registration is held. Parking is available in a lot just beyond this point, on the right. Note that the North Arm Road, a public road, runs through camp property and sections of camp are only connected by this road. There are multiple camp roads off of the North Arm Road. Turning early at any point will result in you being in the wrong spot, so please carefully watch your odometer. (Very early on, you will see an official-looking registration sign which is for summer visitors to the camp, NOT Road Scholar participants; PLEASE IGNORE this sign and keep going on down the road to the Dining Hall.) Roads to camp are slow and windy, but you will get there. Also remember that mileages, although given to the nearest tenth of a mile, are approximate and that sometimes there are slight variations between odometers.
Equipment Requirements: All equipment is provided, however participants are welcome to bring their own. Warm winter clothing is required.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Arrival / Check-In / Welcome and Orientation
(Sunday, February 3)
   
 Afternoon: Plan to arrive to YMCA Camp du Nord, our program site on Burntside Lake, between 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM. Check in at the Dining Hall where you will receive your cabin assignment. Move in to your cabin, grab some warm clothes and your flashlight, and join the group for a 5:30 PM supper at the beautiful log dining hall.
 Dinner: Enjoy a delicious dinner, often served family style to our small group of participants.
 Evening: Following dinner, an orientation session will give you an overview of the week’s activities and an opportunity to formally meet several of the instructors and the other participants.
   
Accommodations: YMCA Camp du Nord
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Skiing / Snowshoeing / North Woods Plants and Animals
(Monday, February 4)

Note: Travel by ski and snowshoe a minimum of 1 1/2 miles each session. Difficulty is dependent upon snow, weather, and trail conditions, as well as the ability of individual members of the group. You will not be asked to ski on a trail too challenging for you.
   
 Breakfast: A hearty breakfast served in the log dining hall is a great way to start your day of activity.
 Morning: An indoor introduction to cross-country skiing covers history of the sport as well as aspects of technique and safety. Jacki Fisher has taught winter skills to Road Scholar participants for over nine years. Outdoor lessons on the flat, frozen surface of the lake follow. (Hills can be tackled later in the week!) Typically, there is one instructor or assistant for every six to ten participants. Beginning skiers---including those who have never skied previously---as well as intermediate and advanced skiers are all welcome, and lessons are tailored to the abilities of the group’s members. Plan to ski at least a half-mile this first day if not more, but distances will vary, depending upon your ability. User groomed trails allow frozen lake and forest exploration.
 Lunch: Compare notes from the morning’s ski lesson over a hot lunch in the log dining hall.
 Afternoon: After lunch, learn about snowshoeing, another traditional method of winter travel. See examples of several types of snowshoes used in different locations and by different people. Gain tips for negotiating snow in this equipment, and then head outdoors with your instructor for some off-the-trail exploration. Snowshoes are great for getting a closer look at things in the winter. Investigate trees, tracks, scat, sculpted snow, and more. This snowshoe hike will be a mile or two in length, depending upon the ability of the group, as well as snow and weather conditions.
 Dinner: Head to the dining hall for a well deserved, and scrumptious meal.
 Evening: With a Vermilion Community College instructor or naturalist, learn about the plants and animals that call northern Minnesota home. Some of what’s found here (and what’s not) might surprise you. Although not common to see the animals of the north woods, evidence of their existence is bountiful. Learn to identify this and use it on the rest of your outdoor sessions.
   
Accommodations: YMCA Camp du Nord
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Dogsledding / Dogsledding Presentation
(Tuesday, February 5)

Note: A full day of being invigorated outdoors, expect to travel by dog team (riding as well as standing mushing) for 10 to 15 miles over the course of four hours.
   
 Breakfast: Another hearty breakfast in the dining hall starts the day off on the right foot.
 Morning: After breakfast, prepare a bag lunch from the nutritious lunch items provided. Pack a small bag with your lunch, a water bottle, an extra layer, and anything else you want to bring on your day of dogsledding. Peter McClelland and other staff of White Wilderness Sled Dog Adventures lead day and multi-day dogsledding excursions all winter. They have taught dogsledding to Road Scholar participants in programs each winter since 1996. The kennel is located just over an hour away, by windy scenic road. At the kennel, meet your instructor guides, who will teach you the basics of steering and navigating your sled. Load up your sled, try the brakes, and get a feel for standing on the runners. Regroup to learn how to harness the dogs. A completely hands-on experience, expect to harness half of the four to six Alaskan huskies on your team (your partner will get the others). Either you or a partner will drive the team, while the other rides (an opportunity to take in scenery or to take photos). Together with the other teams, explore 10 to 15 miles of trails in the Superior National Forest.
 Lunch: Depending upon the day and the weather, stop at a sunny spot protected from the wind to eat. Enjoy what you packed plus hot chocolate, a perfect complement to a winter lunch.
 Afternoon: After lunch, trade places with your partner for the trip back home. Now it’s your turn to stand on the runners and navigate the sled on the snow covered trails, or if not, then it’s your turn to enjoy the scenery and snap a few winter shots from the sled basket as a passenger. Note that while on the trail in this remote location, our bathroom facilities consist of cat-holes in the snow with evergreen trees providing shelter and privacy.
 Dinner: Return to camp about an hour before heading to the log dining hall for dinner. Share dogsledding stories over another scrumptious meal.
 Evening: Conclude the dogsledding portion of the program, with a presentation on the history of dogsledding, as well as current aspects of the sport of sled dog racing. Gain a glimpse of what it might be like to participate in a race lasting several days. This is also your chance to ask any additional questions you might have about the dogs or this unique sport.
   
Accommodations: YMCA Camp du Nord
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Dogsledding to Yurt for an Overnight Trip
(Wednesday, February 6)

Note: A full day of being invigorated outdoors, expect to travel by dog team (riding as well as standing mushing) for 10 to 15 miles over the course of four hours.
   
 Breakfast: Another hearty breakfast in the dining hall provides fuel for the day.
 Morning: After breakfast, prepare another bag lunch from the nutritious lunch items provided. This time when packing for your dogsledding trip, be sure to include everything you will need for the overnight. Include your lunch, a water bottle, an extra layer or two, and warm slippers for the yurt. Head back to the dog kennel in the Superior National Forest to connect with your team. The morning’s lesson will include less introductory material and more focus on refining techniques for corners plus anything else the group wants to review more in depth. Then, hit a new set of snowy trails.
 Lunch: Select a lakeside location for your lunch and hot chocolate. Reflect on the differences between the two days of travel, particularly how it relates to the skills you have acquired and your increased level of confidence.
 Afternoon: Continue to explore the border lakes region by trail and over lakes. The quietness of the north woods in winter experienced with this mode of travel is refreshing. Reach the remote yurt by mid-afternoon. The Mongolian style yurt is a 20-foot diameter canvas structure set on a wooden platform. Heated, insulated, and furnished simply, the lakeside yurt is a wonderful way to integrate with our natural environment, but yet remain very comfortable. Bathroom facilities here consist of a small tent shelter outhouse.
 Dinner: Sit down with your small group of fellow dogsledders to a nourishing dinner.
 Evening: Wander out on the lake to enjoy the fresh air, quiet woods, and possibly some spectacular stars. Although certainly no guarantee, you might have a good night for viewing the northern lights. Relax in the yurt with others in the group, telling stories or playing games at a lantern-lit table. At bedtime, sleep on a cot in the yurt, or if you are the adventureous type, you can requst to sleep out under the stars. Whatever your choice, you will be staying warm in winter sleeping bags (provided).
   
Accommodations: Remote Yurt
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Dogsledding (return from yurt) / Closing Ceremonies and Sauna
(Thursday, February 7)

Note: A full day of being invigorated outdoors, expect to travel by dog team (riding as well as standing mushing) for 10 to 15 miles over the course of four hours.
   
 Breakfast: Wake up at the yurt and enjoy a hot breakfast.
 Morning: After breakfast, load up the sleds, harness the dogs, and hit the snowy trails. Recognize the skills you have obtained as you more successfully negotiate turns, and stay evenly on the trail. Relaxed and confident, you will be more comfortable now taking in the wonderful winter scenery.
 Lunch: Your last meal on the trail is a hot lunch, usually including locally-made bratwursts roasted over a crackling fire.
 Afternoon: A mid-afternoon return from the dogsledding overnight gives you some free time to relax and take a hot shower before dinner.
 Dinner: Enjoy one more scrumptious dinner in the beautiful log dining hall.
 Evening: After the Closing Ceremonies (unbelievably, the program is nearly over!), enjoy a free evening or relax in a wood fired Finnish sauna. A hole is prepared in the ice of the frozen lake for those wishing for the authentic dip in the lake experience---optional, of course!
   
Accommodations: YMCA Camp du Nord
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Skiing or Snowshoeing / International Wolf Center / Departure
(Friday, February 8)
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy one more hearty breakfast in the beautiful log dining hall.
 Morning: After packing a lunch, head out for a quick final ski or snowshoe. Then, depart by van for a field trip to the International Wolf Center. Learn additional wolf behavior and physical adaptations from naturalists at the Center and their resident pack of wolves. Take in the award-winning exhibit.
 Lunch: Prior to departure from the International Wolf Center, remember to eat your lunch.
 Afternoon: Check out from YMCA Camp du Nord is by 12:00 PM.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Ely, MN International Wolf Center
The International Wolf Center is a nonprofit educational organization that advances the survival of wolf populations around the world by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wild lands and the human role in their future. For additional information, visit www.wolf.org
  Ely Chamber of Commerce
Visit the website of the Ely Chamber of Commerce for additional information about the small town of Ely. For additional information, visit www.ely.org
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Born to Pull


Author: Bob Cary


Description: This fun to read children's book has stunningly beautiful watercolor illustrations.



Canoe Country Flora: Plants and Trees of the North Woods and Boundary Waters


Author: Mark Stensaas


Description: Introduces you to 96 of the most common trees, shrubs, wildflowers, fungi, ferns, lichens, and other plants you're likely to encounter during your travels north.



Canoe Country Wildlife: A Field Guide to the Boundary Waters and Quetico


Author: Mark Stensaas


Description: This enjoyable book highlights the important animals found in this region.



Cold Nights, Fast Trails: Reflections of a Modern Dog Musher


Author: Dave Olsesen


Description: This is a collection of great stories of running dogs in Minnesota and beyond.



Father of the Iditarod: The Joe Redington Story


Author: Lew Freedman


Description: This is a great inspirational story of what can be accomplished in a lifetime. It is also an informative history of the Iditarod and sled dogs in general.



Sled Dog Trails


Author: Mary Shields


Description: This is the story of a Midwestern woman who moves to Alaska and homesteads with dogs.



Tales from Jackpine Bob


Author: Bob Cary


Description: Imagine sitting near a crackling fire in a clearing surrounded by tall pines. A mug of hot coffee warms your hands. All that's needed is a tale from Jackpine Bob.



The Winter Wilderness Companion: Traditional and Native American Skills for the Undiscovered Season


Author: Garrett Conover, Alexandra Conover, Elliott Merrick


Description: Gain insight into the season of winter with details on to gain and build traditional skills and equipment.



The Wolf Almanac


Author: Robert H. Busch


Description: This is a well written book about the wolf.



The Wolves of Minnesota: Howl in the Heartland


Author: David L. Mech


Description: Take a look at the history of wolves with a focus on the Minnesota wolf population.



Travelers of the Cold: Sled Dogs of the Far North


Author: Dominique Cellura


Description: Although this might be out of print, it might be available from your library. It is a very comprehensive book about the history of sled dogs.



Winter Sign


Author: Jim Dale Huot-Vickory


Description: The author introduces the reader to the geology, plants and animals of the area, during the wonderful season of winter.



Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod


Author: Gary Paulsen


Description: This is a must read sled dog book, which will keep you laughing right up to (and perhaps through) your trip.



Women of the Boundary Waters: Canoeing, Guiding, Mushing, and Surviving


Author: Justine Kerfoot


Description: This biographical book provides a wonderful glimpse into the life of a woman who thrived in the boundary waters world of canoeing, guiding, and mushing.



Woodsong


Author: Gary Paulsen


Description: This is the 12 and up version of Winterdance.



Yukon Alone: The World's Toughest Adventure Race


Author: John Balzar


Description: A reporter covers the Yukon Quest sled dog race.





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