Dog Sled Day

It was an early day yet again, I was up at 6.30am today because I had to be at The Snowy Owl Dog Sledding Tours' Office in Canmore at 8.15 am.
So after a shower I had a bowl of cornflakes (I could'nt face another round of bacon and eggs), then wrapped up warm in my thermal tights, yes what a nice sight!... then I was off to Canmore.
It didn't take very long at all to drive there in fact I was 30 mins early so I went in to McDonalds to have a cup of coffee and a muffin.
When I got to the Snowy Owls Office I checked in and waited to be put into a van which was to take us all to the venue which was some 30 mins away up by a reservoir. I bumped into my friend from the BBC who came along as well.
There was about 24 people for this particular tour ranging in age from 2yrs to 60 yrs we all piled into one of three vans. As we were escorted along the driver gave us a waver form for us each to sign, I thought it might be in case one of us was eaten by a dog!!
When we got to our destination it was gloriously sunny but unfortunately it was -17 so it was worse than cold it was brass monkey weather!
There were some people from Scotland there as well so we had a quick chat and I had my photo taken with them as well as a photo with a family of Australians.
We were given a 30 min briefing where we told how to start, stop and how to get back on when we fall off.
I was on a sled with the daughter of the owners of the tours, she has been driving dog sleds since she was 4yrs old, and she was only 22 now, she was small and light so I thought we may go quite fast especially with my trim figure as well!
We were the lead sled and we stopped every few hundred yards or so to see if everyone was ok and to wait for those who had fallen off. The dogs were great they moved along at quite a good pace, the driver had to help the dogs when going up hill by jumping off and running or by using one's foot as if on a scooter, but the downhill sections were the best as they were quite bumpy in places and this is where most people were likely to fall off.
The track is about 10km in total with the first 5km going out on a track through trees this was where it was at its most bumpy going up and down a little following the natural terrain, the 5km coming back was along a frozen lake and then alongside a canal so this was flat. There was a photographer taking pictures of everyone as they went along and the photos were available to buy some 5 mins later when everyone had finish their ride and was sitting next to the fire having warm cider and a biscuit.
It was a great experience and one that is a must for anyone travelling through or staying in Banff as it is one of those 'once in a lifetime' experiences that will never be forgotten. The dogs were very friendly and loved any attention that was given to them, I wanted to take one home with me as they were so lovely and cuddly, just like me.
It was 12 by the time we all got back to the Tour office so I had a quick bite to eat then headed back to Banff. I thought it was abit late to go skiing so I went shopping in Banff, took my rental skis back to the Ski Hub in the main street in Banff, they gave me a pair of racing skis to try out when I ski in Jasper and if I like them I can buy them when I pass through on Thursday from Jasper back to Calgary, so that was nice of them.
I went back to the Hotel for a shower and to change because I was meeting Maude, Colin Nicholson from Ski and Board Magazine and Alistair Barnes Executive chef for the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge for dinner.
Maude, and myself started our dinner and then Alistair popped over for a quick chat and gave me a book of recipes, this'll be nice as I cant even boil an egg so it might spur me on to try something when I get home.
Colin eventually turned up just as we were about to leave, he had been skiing in Jasper and was told it'll only take 2 hours to drive to Banff, ....yeah right!
It took him over 4 hours but he did get here in the end, we had a quick chat then I went back to my room as I was shattered, I watched a bit of TV then went to bed safely in the knowledge that I ccould sleep in in the morning as I did'nt have to be anywhere first thing.