Local students go on a dog sled adventure

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The Rainy River High School Outdoor Activities Class has gone to the dogs! Literally!
The first group of grade 11 and 12 students travelled to Vermilion Bay, Ontario on Feb. 15, 2011 for a two day dog sled adventure with Borealis Dog Sled Adventures!
Teacher Guy Arpin said that the class prepared for this amazing experience by studying winter survival techniques. They practised building quinzhees in the school courtyard in anticipation of sleeping in the shelters made from snow on their trip. However, the weather did not cooperate. “It was that warm spell when we were there so instead of quinzhees we stayed in cabins and double lined canvas tents,” said Arpin.
Before they took the dog teams out on the trails, they had an orientation session with Burton Penner, owner and operator of Borealis. “He taught the kids how to harness the dogs and told them how they would be responsible for their teams,” said Arpin. Once ready the students had to harness the dogs to their sleds and in teams of two students took turns driving and riding the trails.
The trails follow Penner’s trap lines so there were numerous stops along the trip to check traps. The students then learned how to check the traps and how to take the animals out of them. That evening Penner skinned out a beaver which the students had for breakfast the next morning.
The first day’s trip was 14 km long and ended at Penner’s camp where there are two small cabins. Once there the students had to help get the cabins and tents ready for sleeping that night. They also had to help organize, feed and situate the dogs for the night.
On the second day they began by checking traps around the cabin and tried some ice fishing. Then it was 14 km back to where they started.
Arpin said that Penner told the students that no matter what they did, “Don’t let go of the sled/team!” They did have one team get away. “The runaway team did not get too far before we caught it,” said Arpin. He noted that the dogs are so eager to run that once harnessed all they want to do is go!
Another group of RRHS students are in Vermilion Bay for the same experience this week. “He can only accommodate 10 students at a time,” explained Arpin. “I was supposed to be with them but am taking the girls (volleyball team) to Ofsaas this week.” So teachers Jenelle Lowes and Dan Mack are taking them. Lowes went with the last group.
This spring the class will be going on a canoe trip near Quetico. Certified instructors, from Atikokan, will be taking them out and Arpin hopes that this summer he will achieve his certification so he can take them out next year.