I've always wanted to do some dogsledding - I had the chance when I was in Scouts when I was younger, but monetary wise wasn't able. I really want to get back outside something fierce (was a woodsy, outdoorsy woman pre-SCI), and as winter is coming I'd like to do something I've never ever done before. So...

MUSH!

Has anyone had experience doing dogsledding? There's a few great outfitters/programs up here in Minnesota (especially going along the North Shore, BWCA, Voyagers, and the Iron Range), but I'd like to hear of anyone's firsthand experiences, or if there's even interest? Wilderness Inquiry has a trip (with a steep pricetag, unfortunately for me right now), and I stumbled across their outfitter: http://www.dogsledding.com

I mean, who could resist faces like these?!

You can adapt a dog sled so that you steer while sitting down. Also, if you're having someone else drive, it's easy to find one that you sit in. You need to make sure you keep yourself warm, and really take precautions to bundle up below injury, especially your feet.

I have a friend who has her dog pull her up and down the road in her wheelchair! She told me it was not possible until she got a FreeWheel.

Pat

Never forget you might have to EAT them! That's assuming they don't get you first.

I guess if you get out there and spend enough money.
Then take the time, countless days and hours designing and then building some ridiculous contraption.
Then finding the right dogs. Training them. Training yourself.
Spending years in preparation. Adjusting mental attitude. Psyching yourself up to the task.

Eventually yes, you may very well possibly be able to maneuver a dogsled for a foot or two before falling over and landing flat on your face making you look like a complete, (or maybe incomplete, as the case may be) idiot.

I'm wondering though. Is the need to cling desperately to what you once may have had so important?
I understand I'm being a big fat stick in the mud, but gee whiz, watching all these paralyzed people work so hard at trying to do what once came so naturally. It's gotta be a bit anti-climatic to put so much effort into an endeavor only to find it just isn't quite like what it used to be.

Is it really worth it?
I suppose if I had the money I could have the hydraulic robotic legs designed and then fitted to my body. Then spend years practicing.
Learning, being coached, trained and so forth to become a ballet dancer. But in the end what would we have?
A big fat goofy, waterbed looking fool with robotic leg thingies attempting to ballet dance.

I'm not saying "it can't be done."
Spend enough money, use shear force of will, put virtually every thing you have into it, and yes, most things are possible.
For most anyone.
But in the end when all is said and done, will it have been worth all that effort?

I am now a paraplegic. Like it or not. And I am now better suited to activities of a more sedentary nature. Doesn't mean I gotta stop living.
It's just more practical to live a life that befits my physical limitations.

Just my dos centavos,
E-dog

Hmmmmm... I see what you're saying, but I was thinking along the lines of a Wilderness Inquiry trip. They provide adaptive equipment, have staff that know how to help paras, etc. Being in MN, I have loads of cold weather clothes and good winter boots. I was wondering if anyone else had done something like this? I'm not one that can be cooped up indoors (I don't mind sedentary, but I do like being away from civilization). The way I'm looking at it is a friend of mine is going with, who would drive the sled, and I get the posh navigation job, and viewing dog butts, for the majority of the time.

I don't feel like I'm grasping for straws in terms of 'pretending' I'm all hunky-dory and can do it all. It just looks like WI has an awesome setup close to home. I've heard wonderful things about their BWCA trips, and would love to get out for winter, but would like to feel secure and safe with an outfitter who knows what's up. Plus, the price isn't bad - $400 for the trip (minus getting to the BWCA gas cost), all inclusive - less than what I typically spend on vacation.

However, I don't doubt it's not for everyone. But I can't deny I wouldn't mind a little adventure back into my life, and the wind in my hair, and maybe something fun to 'celebrate' my one year mark.

I was planning to dogsled with a friend who also works at Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra out in Mammoth Lakes when I was there earlier this year but ended up not having the time. I'll probably do it this winter instead. There wasn't much adaptive equipment needed if I recall her saying. You just sit in the sled if you are not driving the sled yourself, especially as you are a low level injury and I'm assuming you basically have full use of your abdominals and can hold yourself in the sled, right? You don't need to have something strapping you in like someone with a higher injury level would. If you ARE planning to drive it yourself, you need to not only find a rig in which you sit down in (or adapt one yourself, I have a para friend who is working on building his own rig) but you also need to actually know how to drive a team of dogs whether or not you have an SCI. Undertaking an expedition on a dog sled is no joke for anyone, you have to know what you're doing in what can be extreme conditions. If you are doing this with an adaptive sports org, they will hook you up. In your last post, you mentioned you want someone to drive the sled for you so I'm not sure what else you need to do. It's pretty basic for anyone who is either AB or SCI--you just enjoy the ride and keep warm. If you've skied, you can use most of the same cold weather gear. Base layers, those little hot packs in your boots (be careful with this if you don't have some sensation in your feet), appropriate snow clothing, wind protection, etc.