Sled ride in Clarée with Sophie and Dakota
Welcome behind the scenes of the fascinating world of sled dogs, where the fusional bond between mushers and their four-legged companions creates a singular harmony. Let's immerse ourselves together in this inherent way of life, shaped by complicity with dogs and a profound respect for nature.
When we sit down at her kitchen table for a coffee and a chat, Dakota comes along. She lays her head on my lap to say she could do with a little cuddle. Dakota is the lead dog, the leader of the sled dog team. She's the one who perks up her ears to listen to Sophie's orders and tells her teammates which way to go.
Alaskan sled dogs
In the big races, they dominate. They also have a strong desire to pull coupled with the ability to form a close relationship with humans and therefore obey the musher's commands." The dogs are my colleagues at work, but also my buddies and my family," says Sophie.
But all this energy needs to be channeled. To work well together, you have to train; to find calm and focus, you have to expend energy. Sophie runs the dogs at least 20 kilometers two to three days a week, except when it's hot. These dogs from the far north don't tolerate heat well, so in the summer you have to get up early and then take a nap, a good habit from the south.
Vacations in Scandinavia
The dream destination? Scandinavia, to rack up more miles running at full speed across snow-covered high plateaus and sleigh rides in the far north.
When you like to exert yourself, you don't count the miles.
A dream of calm and wide-open spaces
She then went to nursing school, but after ten years in the profession, the desire to be out in nature took over. She became a musher not only because of her desire for wide open spaces and freedom, but also because of the special bond created between work colleagues, dogs and sled leaders.
When she worked at the station, she took on two huskies to learn the art of driving a dog sled team. In the evenings, she trained on her own. Ten years later, she came across a sled and something clicked. Her path forward was clear. In 2016, she left her job as a nurse. Her mind was made up: her new job would be filled with peace, nature, and companionship with dogs! The choice of location naturally fell on La Clarée, because she lived there and because it offered space and wilderness. Sophie grew up in the city, but as a young woman she caught the mountain bug and then the bug for the tranquility of wide open spaces. She is keen to have a job that is in keeping with the spirit of this unspoiled valley.
Activities with dogs
Throughout the winter, Sophie offers introductory sessions, which are sleigh rides where you sit in the sleigh, in the Rosier plain. After the ride, there is time for petting.
She also organizes night-time outings, where we set off in a sleigh by headlamp light to reach a lavvo (Scandinavian tepee) and warm up with a hot soup.
For the latter, you take part in Finnmarksløpet, one of the world's biggest sled dog races, which takes place in the very north of Norway. You're caught in a storm and have just one hour to find shelter, pinpoint your exact position and alert the emergency services. A great family activity for teenagers or children aged 7 and over, who will need the help of adults to solve the riddles.
