VOS HÔTES
Stéphanie Prades & Jean Philippe Pontier – Hodalsveien 1155 – N-2540 TOLGA
Stéphanie Prades & Jean Philippe Pontier – Hodalsveien 1155 – N-2540 TOLGA
★ Easy
★★ Fairly easy
★★★ Medium
★★★★ Difficult
★★★★★ Very difficult
Arrival and installation. Discovery of the farm and kennels. Baptism/carrying in a sleigh with Jean-Philippe Pontier according to arrival time.
“Mushing training”. First contact with the sled.
Dog sledding day trip. Welcome by the fire in a lavo (A traditional Sami tent).
Typical itinerary, can be modified according to weather forecasts, special conditions, group wishes and objectives. Departure/arrival dates are subject to change depending on availability.
PRICE INCLUDES
Anything not mentioned in the “Price includes” section.
Stéphanie and Jean Philippe welcome you to the heart of Norway in a renovated old wooden farmhouse. Two chalets and guest rooms are available for accommodation, and the rough-hewn wooden dining room welcomes you by the fire for warm gourmet breaks in the heart of winter. The Hedmark region, Norway’s inland province, is renowned for its ideal snow conditions, extreme temperatures, local produce, traditional wooden houses and wild, isolated mountain landscapes. Set off to discover nature and experience the adventure of the extreme cold through the practice of mountain activities such as Nordic skiing, ski touring, snowshoeing and dog sledding, ice fishing, Nordic bathing and wood-fired saunas, nature hikes, photographic expeditions …
All while benefiting from our knowledge of the region and our experience in a warm setting where we reserve you the best welcome.
Multi-activity discovery week:
All-inclusive stay with full-board accommodation and activities including a half-day introduction to driving a dog team with Jean Philippe, a one-day dog-sleigh outing (passenger in the sled or driving the team according to your wishes and the musher’s advice), a day at the Os ski resort (downhill skiing, toboggan runs with lifts), a spa day with wood-fired Nordic bath and use of the sauna. We can also organise other activities to suit your interests, such as traditional sledging (spark), hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing (with the possibility of an overnight stay in a refuge), ski jumping at the Tolga ski jump, ice fishing and a visit to Røros (a UNESCO World Heritage mining town). We take particular care with the meals, combining local gastronomy and French tradition, with one and only objective: to please and satisfy you.
For the children, we offer “trapper” tests crowned by a diploma and fun activities at the end of the day (board games etc.). Visits to the kennels and dog care are available every day. The content of the stay can be adapted to your wishes
The dogs share our life and the kennel is perfectly integrated into the farm. As guests, you will be asked to take part in various daily tasks such as caring for the dogs, feeding them, cleaning the kennels, etc. These tasks help to create a bond between the musher and his dogs, and this bond will be very important when you are asked to drive the dog team.
During the ½ day training course, you will learn the basics of life as a musher: daily routine, care, equipment, how to put on and take off a harness, boots, coats, harnessing the dogs, the sled, driving and many other tricks that Jean Philippe will share with you, the fruit of many years of passion and experience with his dogs and his sport.
During the raids or multi-day outings, you will also be asked to take part in the various tasks inherent in life in the mountains with dogs. Jean Philippe directs the raids and divides up the tasks: setting up camp, fetching water, making a fire, preparing meals, etc. The aim is for the whole group to ensure the well-being of the dogs and the people, so that your raid is an unforgettable experience. You are a full participant in the adventure, not just a spectator.
For those who wish, and as part of a “Discovery, multi-activity” holiday, it is possible to spend the day sledging as a passenger in a sled driven by an experienced musher rather than driving a team. This gives you plenty of time to relax and admire the work of the dogs and the immaculate scenery.
Grand Nord Adventure” holidays are aimed at a discerning public with a thirst for new sensations and adventure. They require you to be in excellent physical condition, possibly proficient in snow sports, and prepared for a physical effort that may be considerable depending on the conditions encountered.
Dog-sledding activities require a good level of physical fitness. Participation in sledging trips will therefore be at Jean Philippe’s discretion so as not to penalise the group. We recommend that you take out specific insurance and that your doctor gives a favourable opinion.
You will need to bring appropriate clothing and footwear for the cold, as well as a sleeping bag if you are staying in a refuge. A swimming costume is recommended for the spa/nordic bathing day. We provide sheets and towels. We have dungarees and cold-weather shoes that you can borrow if you need them (please let us know your size).
The temperatures encountered can be extremely cold. To enable you to fully enjoy the experience in the best possible conditions, we recommend the following equipment (or equivalent):
– Ski goggles / ski mask (very useful in bad weather)
– Ski gloves: 2 pairs
– Spare clothing and underwear (Damard® type) (NB:possibility of buying woollen underwear (long-sleeved T-shirt + tights) on site, which are very commonly used in Norway and therefore offer excellent value for money)
– 170-lumen Led Lenser® H7 headlamp
– Waterproof gaiters for walking in the snow
Eventually : Shoes adapted to the cold type ” SOREL”® (use until -30°C) and sleeping bag -15°C comfort approximately (in case of bivouac) or sheet of bag type ” silk “.
All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.
In the event of an established risk or unfavourable weather conditions, we give ourselves the power to take various actions, such as increasing the number of guides on accompanied tours, adjusting the itineraries of our tours, or even temporarily suspending a tour or holiday if we consider that the degree of risk is unacceptable.
Our primary commitment remains your safety and complete satisfaction.
Customers who enjoyed this stay : Learning to be a musher.
