A Trip to the Wilds Proves There’s No Medicine Like Dog Medicine
The author communing with his people. photo: David Wichman
It’s been a difficult year for me, not necessarily bad, but challenging. I’m entering a new career with a huge learning curve so living in my shoes has been a bit exhausting. At the same time, I’m in the midst of winding down my adventure travel business (at least I think I am).
On a recent trip to Alaska, a client and I found ourselves stuck. Denali National Park was experiencing its first forest fire in over a century. From our hotel room windows, we watched helicopters scoop up large cylinders of water from the nearby river to douse the flames. We had been booked on a small group tour of the park, and while the booking company did take us to some alternative spots, the experience lacked the uniqueness I crave. I also wanted my client to feel that we hadn’t lost anything despite not being able to travel through Denali.
Being the travel sleuth that I am, I’m very practiced at pivoting; after all, it’s my job to be flexible and ready for anything. The usual ATV rides and hikes in outer areas around lakes were plentiful. But then I searched "unique adventures in Healy, Alaska," and up popped Moon Dog Kennel. Right on the front page, it said:
To our future guests,
At Moon Dog Kennel, we're driven by our deep love of Alaskan wilderness, boundless companionship with our dogs and the inherent need to connect and share the Denali landscape with each and every one of you. Whether you join us for a summertime tundra walk with the dogs or a multi-day, winter expedition, mushing to our rustic cabin in the woods, we hope that you leave Denali feeling more connected to this place, our animals and to each other. We look forward to meeting you!
Happy trails and wagging tails,
Brian and Courtney
Right away, I knew this was something special. I picked up the phone and left a message. A few moments later, I was on the line with Courtney, one half of the Moon Dog Kennel team. She was joyful, caring, and totally honest about the situation in Healy. My main concern was the smoke from the nearby Denali fire. While the smoke was not affecting their area at that time, Courtney could not promise it would be clear the day we came.
But Courtney and her husband Brian were obviously sincere, caring, and passionate about their work. As I explored their website further, I found this description by the young couple:
At Moon Dog Kennel, dogs are our family and our life. We are an interspecies collective of passion for exploration and movement. We specialize in self-supported expedition travel during the winter months and spend our summers on evening walks in the tundra with people like you! The dogs in our kennel are with us through their entire lives and are not only working dogs but also cross-trained as indoor pets. We have an age range between 1 and 16 years old and a cult of personality.
After reading that and my phone call with Courtney, the deal was sealed: we just had to visit Moon Dog. And fortunately, our luck held true. The day of our visit was clear with a light rain, which was perfect. No smoke at all.
There are many sled dog experiences available in Alaska, all serving a great purpose. Visitors can learn about the sledding culture, the sled dogs' lives, their diets, their owners' wins of various races, and much more. But Moon Dog Kennel is very different.
While Courtney and Brian’s dogs do sled and go on adventures, they are not race dogs—they are family. During the summer months, at 6 p.m. every night, they go on tundra walks in the Alaskan wild, right on their own property.
Walking on Moon Dog’s tundra can be slow going, but it’s cushiony, soft, and wonderful. Better yet, you are surrounded by 15 Alaskan Huskies, all off-leash, running free, giving kisses, and rolling around in the bouncy flora with you.
The day of our visit was Husky Sela’s sixth birthday, and the dog seemed to know it, bouncing and sitting for treats in front of everyone. Jaco was goofy and sweet, while Puck loved being the center of attention. All the dogs were interactive, gentle, and free-spirited, each with their own personality, but Sela and another dog Basil melted my heart. Somehow, they knew I needed to sit and chill. My brain was in high gear, and I had forgotten to breathe for what felt like months.
Basil settled down in front of me and rolled on her side, while I lay down on the tundra next to her. I looked up and Sela began licking my face, with Basil and Sela taking turns giving and receiving affection. Once I took that long-needed breath, I got up and started jumping around so Jaco would play. All the while, Courtney and Brian were giving a talk about the environment, their wilderness, and checking on blueberries to see if they were ready. Our small group felt the power of being free in the wild with joy and love. And let’s just say it again: I really needed it that day.
As the treats ran out, the dogs lined up to accompany us and this lovely couple back home. We sat and looked at the sun still shining through the rain in the cool Alaskan evening. The Denali fire had been a bit damped down thanks to Mother Nature, and it occurred to me that we are better humans for stretching out a bit, falling in the grass, and allowing the dirt and wet dog kisses to take us to where we need to be.
Like many of us, I can be so hard on myself sometimes. All I needed was Basil and Sela to remind me to relax and breathe a little. Don’t be shy. Lie down on the tundra. You got this.
That’s the medicine of dogs.