Skagway Shore Trips

Musher’s Camp

Skagway shore trips like the Musher’s Camp are a fun way to experience Alaska. This photo is not the Musher’s Camp, though. It is from the Yukon Quest dog sled race.

Do you like dogs? I sure hope so. Only bad people don’t like dogs. Here in Alaska, dogs are a way of life. We use dogs to pull our sleds in the snow because there aren’t any roads and moose simply will not cooperate. Alaskan huskies are the most famous sled dogs in Alaska. Sled dogs like Togo and Balto became famous for saving the children in Nome from dying of diphtheria. If you’re looking for one of the most authentic Skagway shore trips, why not check out the Musher’s Camp?

What is a musher?

A musher is a person that rides the dog sled while the dogs pull them along. They take care of the dogs and tell them when to stop, go, and turn. In return, the dogs run really fast. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. The Musher’s Camps is one of our most popular Skagway shore trips because you actually get the be the musher along with a few of your friends. That’s pretty special.

How can you be a dog musher when there’s no snow?

Sled dogs are bred to run. Just because the snow melts when summertime arrives, doesn’t mean the dogs want to stop running. Quite the contrary. It’s vital that the dogs stay conditioned and release their energy.

If you’ve ever tried to keep a dog in your house without taking it for walks, you know what happens. That little dickens will chew your shoes, bark, and may even start licking its own butt. That’s not healthy. You see, dogs need to get outside and run. All dogs were bred from wolves. Even your little yapping chihuahua is a descendant of a wolf. Try keeping a wolf inside of your house for a month without a walk and see what happens. You won’t like it.

Because there is no snow in the summer, dog mushers invented “sleds” with wheels. I call a sled with wheels a cart. Whatever you call it is your business. Mushers use the carts to keep the dogs healthy and train them during the summer months. 

You see, the dogs at the Musher’s Camp are athletes. They run in the many Alaskan and Canadian dog sled races that happen during the winter, including the Iditarod. The dogs pulling your sled/cart at the Musher’s Camp are probably in better physical condition than you or me. Especially me. I like french fries and milkshakes way too much.

The best Skagway shore trips are fun

The Musher’s Camp tour is a lot of fun. You drive out to Dyea, which is an old Gold Rush ghost town. Then you meet the Alaskan huskies, ride the sled/cart, and pet some husky puppies. You read that right – puppies. Little baby dogs are super cute and adorable. You get to nuzzle their tiny noses and say, “You’re a good boy. Yes, you are!” until your heart is content. Take a selfie and put it on your Instagram. Send a photo to your bae in the DMs. Whatever floats your boat. 

The best Skagway Shore trips are fun and that’s what the Musher’s Camp is all about. You become a dog musher for a while, learn about dogs, and make memories that will last a few years.