Steve’s review - Having sledded the same week in 2007 (see previous review)
the anticipation of returning for another week of sledding was very high.
Meeting Bergsvein and Lassen at Ostersund and the trip to the farmhouse
only served to build up the excitement, having followed the progress of the puppies
and the work around the farmhouse online throughout the year.
After dropping off the luggage and getting suited and booted, it was down to
the yard to see old friends. Greeting the dogs was as much, if not more,
fun the second time around as you knew the characters of a most of them
from the previous year. For myself, I made a bee line for my lead dog from
the previous year, Ghandi, a.k.a Maniac! One of the quieter dogs in the yard,
until he sees his harness, then watch out! Lol!

Kimmie (to avoid confusion I will refer to my partner Kim as Kimmie) had managed
to be mugged by the glove thief, you’ll know him when you meet him, and was
being turned over by the puppies! We then reacquainted ourselves with Kim (owner), Jennie and met Johannes (tour guides) and our fellow mushers for the week.
The evening, after the usual lovely home cooked dinner, was spent getting to
know the group and chatting with Bergsvein and Kim.

In the morning, after feeding the dogs and poop scooping (even that can be fun)
and the training sessions for our fellow mushers completed, it was time to harness
up and go for our first run. The noise as you begin to harness your team has to be
heard to be believed, and you start to see the characters of the dogs come out,
(hi Ghandi) and when all are ready (also my very favourite part), it’s off with the
brake and you leave the yard.

As in our last review I will not try and describe the sledding through the forests
and trails, and over frozen lakes, you simply have to come and do it for yourselves.
What I will say is that the second time around it was even more fantastic.
The week went far too quickly for us, and all too soon it was our last morning
in the yard and saying goodbye to the dogs. I would challenge anyone not to
feel sad at this point.

So, to Bergvein and Kim (by the way, thanks for the hills KimJ)
Jennie, Hannis, Sten, Lassen, Richard, Sarah, Nick, Joanne, Carl, and as always,
the stars of the show, the dogs, thanks for another week that will never be forgotten.

---

Kimmie’s view - well what a different trip for me as well!
I think I was like a rabbit in headlights last year on our first visit and feared
everything as I tried to remember what seemed like lots of things.
This time, my confidence made it so much better. On telling our friends back home,
I have compared it to learning to drive where you think there are so many things
to remember on the first few drives and after a while it becomes second nature.
Now don’t get me wrong - sledding is still not second nature but it’s just so much
easier to know what to do the second time around.
We still made many mistakes which just adds to the stories we told around
the fire while having lunch.

As most people know hindsight is a wonderful thing and we used our experiences
from the first trip to make ourselves much more comfortable on the overnight stay
(and it wasn’t quite as cold as last time!). Jenny and Hannis were great hosts
(despite the poor taste in made up stories….) on the overnight trip and I will say
that starting off from a camping trip in the morning is NEVER as easy as starting
from the yard, the dogs are so excited that they ended up get mixed up before
we set off!

The Husky holiday this time had a few differences and they were all great.
Having lunch back in the tepee after sledding was great and taking an afternoon
out to go sledging was just a great change and a fantastic giggle.

Kim and Bergsvein were, as always, the prefect hosts and the food was always
welcome and delicious. Also, our last night’s dinner (still can’t remember
our hostess’s name) was just as memorable as the Moose burgers the previous year.

Last, but certainly not least, the dogs. Fabulous, gorgeous, lovable as ever,
especially the ones we remember from the previous year and the “O” puppies
were just adorable! We’ve still not managed to sneak a few in our luggage though!

Thank you for an even better experience, we look forward to coming back again
sometime soon!

Best Wishes,
Kim & Steve

Personal note - we will put in our request to buy some vodka and wine
in advance of our visit next time.

Picture Gallery from this tour >>>

The Husky Special Winter Holiday >>>