Heritage, wilderness, and husky adventures
Get whisked away into the wilderness of Yukon by some four legged friends.
The Yukon was the promised land in the late 19th century. The land was untouched, with pure, fresh water, rugged mountains, glaciers, and a stunning wilderness landscape that looked like a painting. However, it wasn’t the scenery that attracted Klondikers to the Yukon, but what lay beneath the surface – gold. Nearly 100,000 prospectors, along with about 5,000 dogs, flocked to the Klondike between 1896 and 1898.
The Inuit already knew dogs were hardier and easier to care for than horses, and they had been part of the family unit for thousands of years, helping to travel across the stunning yet harsh Yukon terrain. During the Gold Rush era, dogs and their sleds transported food, wood, and mining supplies to prospector camps and makeshift settlements, and for the lucky, they delivered gold back. Dogs were the earliest mail couriers, and when the RCMP arrived in the region, they served isolated communities with dog sleds. Barking was the Yukon siren, and it remained this way until 1969, when the last police sled was replaced by aircraft and snow vehicles.
Nathan Coleman (left), Host, with Manuela Larsen, MukTuk Adventures
At Muktuk Adventures – guided canoeing, hiking and dog sledding, Manuela and Jeff Larsen have something much more valuable than gold—they have a pack of 100 Alaskan Huskies. These cherished sled dogs are considered family, and together, the entire team is determined to provide an authentic experience which captures the Yukon’s true spirit. Seamlessly, the Larsens and their dogs immerse guests in the rugged scenery and cultural heritage, helping connect visitors with nature and sharing their deep love for the wilderness. With the Huskies leading the way, sledding creates a memorable moment like no other.
The desire to pull a sled is ingrained in them, inherited through generations. If a dog doesn’t want to pull in a harness, there isn’t much Manuela and Jeff can do about it. “Training them not to eat their harness, not to take their booties off, really depends on each individual; some of them will never learn,” says Manuela. But when they are ready, they show their excitement when you come to them with a harness. “We do train them to get used to touching their paws, to clean their teeth, to cut their nails, and that starts from the moment they are born. Socializing is another big one for us; from a young age, we have them interact with visitors. You still might end up with shy dogs; sometimes it is just part of who they are, and it takes them a bit to warm up to strangers.”
Nathan Coleman, Host, with Manuela Larsen, MukTuk Adventures
Each dog plays a role on the team. “For the leaders, they have to keep that line out on the sled. If we stop along the trail, we need them to ‘stay tight’ and not turn around, otherwise we end up with a huge tangle of lines,” explains Manuela.
The pair of dogs at the back, positioned directly in front of the sled, are called the wheel dogs. They are the team’s strongest dogs.
“If you have good wheel dogs, they will help you to get the sled around tight corners, which is much more important when running large teams. For us, we only run small teams with our guests.”
Nathan Coleman pictured with Luann Baker-Johnson, Lumel Studios owner/glass blower, creating a glass orb together.
When a beloved Alaskan Husky goes to the big kennel in the sky after a long and joyful life, Manuela takes the ashes to Whitehorse’s Lumel Studios, an artisan glass-blowing studio. There, with loving hands, she melts her own glass orbs, gently nestles her dog’s ashes inside, and then hangs them along a tranquil trail, creating tributes to their beloved memories together.
A finished glass orb. (The Weather Network)
This lasting devotion expresses a broader commitment to a tradition that endures. Manuela and Jeff Larsen’s dedication to their Alaskan Huskies illustrates a historical, necessary, and affectionate bond. At Muktuk Adventures, the Yukon’s wilderness spirit and canine heritage thrive.
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