Skijoring In Southern Idaho!

What The Heck Is It?

It is part walking the dog, part cross country skiing. Boise real estate agents Mike Carr & Erica Carr love their dogs and cross country skiing! A marriage of the two only seemed natural. It is easy and fun. One common misconception is that the dog does all the work. The tug of the dog does allows the skier short respites, but basically it turns an out of shape 50 year old realtor into a high quality athlete. At the end of a 5 mile ski, you are still drenched in sweat and exhausted. The benefits are many, the heart is healthy, the dogs is thin and lays quietly at your feet for a good day! Not to mention the skier's low key demeanor after whizzing past all the natural goodness!

What If My Dog Goes The Wrong Way?

Generally you are in total control, if the dog strays left, right or backwards they stop at the end of the tug line. To stop going forward, a classic stem christie or a hard snowplow will get the job done.

Bikjoring too. We also use the dogs with mountain bikes to get back in on closed roads for hunting and morel picking! Utilizing a kids Burley trailer  my son Noah and I hauled my whole camp in 4 miles and Noah and I enjoyed fine food and beverages. Without the assistance of our canine companions we would have been doing freeze dried instead! I have yet to lash one on to the fat tire snowbikes, but that is the next on the list!

Where Is The Best Place To Skijor Near Boise?

Typically a groomed cross country facility is the best. But one of the best days I have ever had was on a crusty meadow near Stanley. We found a turn out and skied 4 or 5 miles up one of the side canyons until we were looking straight up at mount McGown. Epic....There are a lot of variables in regards to where and what is best. Some factors include, the type and age of your dog, your skiing ability, skating vs classic. Basically I think skating is the only way to go, as my dogs are in shape and athletic. If I tried to do classic and cruise along my dogs would wander circles around me.

Bogus Basin Does NOT Allow Dogs, They Are Now Allowing Snowbiking, Kudos For That. You Would Think, Given The Lack Of Capitol & The Increased Pricing For Passes, They Would Want To Attract As Many Users As Possible.

Groomed Facilities That Allow Dogs...

Some facilities like Ponderosa State Park and Bear Basin in McCall and the Idaho Park and ski areas allow dogs only on limited trails. Some facilities that DO allow skijoring on all the trails are, Tamarack, Idaho X Winter Sports Park in Garden Valley, Stanley area trails like Park Creek and Alturas are groomed by the Sawtooth ski club, and allow dogs. There is a donation box at the trail heads to help with costs associated with grooming! The free trails in McCall and Sun Valley allow dogs and are free of charge. Another free groomed area is down the Cabarton road just north of Round Valley at the Hasbrouck Ranch. There are roughly 5 miles of groomed trails and it is dog friendly. Since it is free expect conditions to be variable as it is groomed less often. I believe the activity barn in McCall allows dogs. Some areas have an additional fee for dogs, at others it is included. 

What Equipment is Required?

A minimum of equipment is required. The on;y have to is a harness for the dog. There are specially made skijoring kits that include the harness for the dog, a belt or fanny pack for the skier and tug line to connect you and your best friend. That said the only thing you really need to buy is the harness. Any good on line sled dog supply has just a harness, or the whole kits. Any fanny pack or leash can be rigged to work. I use an old Bucks bags fanny pack. 

Bikjoring Too

We also use the dogs with mountain bikes to get back in on closed roads for hunting and morel picking! Utilizing a kids Burley trailer  my son Noah and I hauled my whole camp in 4 miles and Noah and I enjoyed fine food and beverages. Without the assistance of our canine companions we would have been doing freeze dried instead! I have yet to lash one on to the fat tire snowbikes, but that is the next on the list!

Not Sure & Want To Give It A Try?

Give Mike or Erica a call. We may be able to loan you a harness, or even go with and give you some help!