Sled Dogs Visit the University of Wisconsin-Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. – “It’s really cool, I’ve never been on a dog sled before, so that was my first time and definitely wasn’t all what I expected,” UWS student, Molly Mason says.

The sled dogs were out at UWS, an event organized by TRIO Student Support Services with Cast Outdoor Adventures, Inc., a wilderness based company who strives to educate people on the sport of dog sledding.

“We do a lot of education, we take people out into the boundary waters via sled dog. We do ice fishing and winter camping, so winter is kind of our main season,” Cast Outdoor Adventures, Inc. Co-Owner, Heather Hicks says.

While learning about commands and harnessing techniques, attendees were introduced to the dogs who each require a unique approach.

“All of our dogs are kind of unique, and so sometimes when we do our education based thing we can find people, just like everybody is unique and has their own personalities, to kind of pair them up just like the dogs,” said Heather Hicks.

“She’s a lot like me, I can tell,” Molly Mason says.

Once a dog’s gifting’s are established, it can then be determined where they fit with the team.

“A lot of our dogs come from race teams, are retired, or they’re just not racing,” said Heather Hicks.

Running at a pace of 8 to 10 miles per hour, these dogs aren’t up to speed for big races like Beargrease. Rather, they are better suited for educational events like this.

“Anytime we can get people outdoors and particularly understanding in a climate like this, there’s a lot of cold weather for several months out of the year and so finding outdoor pursuits that we can engage in that are fun and enjoyable and good learning experiences I think is super important,” TRIO Student Support Services Director, Danny Frank says.

After learning about the dogs and what goes into the sport, students were able to take a ride around the UWS track, allowing a taste for what mushing is like.

“It wasn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be. I like running for fun, but definitely not when I’m being dragged by something,” Molly Mason says.

In order for a sled dog team to run like an efficient engine, it must be fueled by the trust built between the dogs and the musher.

“When that dog earns your trust, they’ll do anything for you and we see that a lot on trail too. It’s really cool to see that magic happen out there,” said Heather Hicks.

During the warmer months when they aren’t out on the trail, Cast Outdoor Adventures also hosts wilderness first aid sessions and canoe trips.