NORTHRIDGE INN SERVICES FOR CHOCPAW CLIENTS – October 19
In addition to the outstanding accommodations on the shores of Lake Bernard, the Northridge Inn will be providing a hot breakfast to clients of Chocpaw Expeditions prior to their departure for their dog sledding expedition.
CHOCPAW RACING TEAMS UPDATED – October 1
The Chocpaw Racing Teams page has been update with a listing of races to be entered this year and complete summary of past race results for the Chocpaw Teams.
KRIS SAMPSON IS RETURNING -October 1
Kris Sampson is on his way east. Kris is an outstanding guide. This will be his 4th season guiding dog sled expeditions. Last year he teamed with Rene to run the 2nd Chocpaw race team and to handle at races for Rene. Together they were a formidable pair. We received word yesterday that Kris is on his way east to pick up where he and Rene left off last year.
Welcome back Kris!
E-mail PROBLEMS WITH YAHOO – September 28
We can receive your e-mails from Yahoo but can not e-mail or reply to a Yahoo account. It is very important when contacting us by e-mail, that you include your telephone number. If you are using a Yahoo account, please give us an alternative e-mail account (other than Yahoo) if you have one. We have fallen victim to a filter of some sort. Have tried to contact Yahoo. That was an exercise in futility!
DOG TRAINING HAS STARTED AND STAFF AND SUMMER UPDATE – Sepember 27
Greetings from South River
This is one of my favorite times of the year. The leaves are changing and I expect they will be at their height of colour this week. Just in time for our group from France, who are taking a canoe trip. It is a great time to be out and about.
Fall Training Run
Totom and Clair After Training Run
The temperatures are also dropping and we – dogs and guides- are into fall training. This gives the dogs an opportunity to stretch muscles. There is general excitement in the kennel as the dogs sense the coming winter. Do you realize they are calling for snow on October 1? Of course it won’t stay.
This is a reminder to BOOK YOUR WINTER EXPEDITIONS SOON. Martin has posted some full dates and many of our weekends are filling quickly. We have some changes lined up for this winter which will enhance your sledding experience.
Jen MacFarlane is back full time and will likely be the person answering the phone and helping to schedule trips this fall. Lisa who is on reduced activity this fall andwinterwill also become a voice in the office. They have both lead trips for Chocpaw Expeditions for several years and are very knowledgeable about our experiences.
Big changes in staff this year, but we have some super people coming on.
Matt and Keri will be in the Yukon this winter handling for Gerry Willomitzer, a Yukon Quest racer. Keri hopes to compete in the Yukon Quest in the next couple of years. You can check out the kennel at www.gerrywillomitzer.com.
Speaking of running the Yukon Quest, Cindy Barrand, a former Chocpaw guide, has signed up for the Quest this winter. She is running dogs for Bruce Linton www.dogsledvt.com. For those who remember Cindy, she is looking for sponsors. Running the big races is a huge expense. Cindy can be contacted directly at www.Cindybarrand.yolasite.com.
Speaking of the Yukon Quest – did you see who won the Quest this year and then placed second in the Iditarod? Sebastian Schnuelle! Sebastian started his slewing career here as a guide abut 10 years ago. He has pursued his dream to become a dog sled racer. This year he established himself among the very elite of mushers. Well done, Sebastian.
Kris is in the west. He is working for Kingmik putting together a mid-distance race team. We wish him well.
Tyler is in Labrador trying his hand as a house mother and guidance person for teens involved in Katimavik. Pretty challenging postion.
Kevin and Dries, our Belgian contingent, are trying to get their papers in order to work another winter.
I won’t get into the new staff yet. We are pretty excited about these people. Some tremendous perience in the guiding field and solid sledding skills.
We have had a very busy summer doing canoe and hiking trips. Far busier than we had anticipated. Have done at least one trip every week and often 3 or 4 trips in a week. Really great to get back into these summer adventures. We are already taking bookings for next summer. Never to early to start planning. Still several trips to do this fall, both canoeing and hiking.
As said before, fall is such a great time to be in the northern bush.
We are really looking forward to the winter. Looking forward to seeing everyone on trail and sharing our little piece of heaven.
Be well and dream on!
Paul
PREPARING FOR THE WINTER SEASON – September 25
The sleds are lined up and ready for the winter season. Book early for your preferred dates.
NEXT GENERATIONS OF SLED DOGS
The next generation of sled dogs have arrived at Chocpaw. Currently there are five litters of puppies with more on the way. Most will start training the fall to become team members for the upcoming winter season.
We like visitors.
We are looking forward to pulling your sled.
MARCH 17 UPDATE — SPRING, SUMMER, FALL ADVENTURES
Greetings to all on St. Patrick’s Day. As I write this there are 42 teams on trail and another 4 heading out this morning. Trails are still good — hard packed and fast. There is still close to a foot and a half of snow in the bush. Great time to be sledding — hard trails and warm sun. But it will come an end.Therefore it is time to be thinking about hiking and canoeing adventures and making your reservations.Hiking trips begin as soon as Easter Weekend. We have a large school group hiking in the Algonquin to witness the melting of the snow, the rushing of water, and the awakenings of spring. We offer up to 10 days of hiking in Algonquin, Killarney and Temagami. All our routes are suitable for youth and family adventures. As well we have some very technical and challenging hikes.Canoeingbegins mid-May and we offer a variety of adventures in Algonquin, Temagami and Killarney. Again, our adventures are very suitable for families and youth/school groups. The pace is relaxed allowing time to exlore and play.The website will be updated this week to show the 2009 spring, summer, and fall adventures. Check these pages often.We do many trips for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Programme. We do schedule blocks of time throughout the spring, summer and fall specifically for Duke of Edinburgh participants. As well we will accommodate groups of 4 (four) or more at anytime. Check the Duke pages on our website http://www.chocpaw.com/duke-of-edinburg/ and the Duke of Edinburgh website www.dukeofed.orgLooking forward to seeing you this spring, summer or fall.PaulContacting Chocpaw ExpeditionsOPP CENTENNIAL PATROL COMPLETED
The Ontario Provincial Police Centennial Patrol has been completed to a renounding success. Photos, videos and audio from the patroll can viewed at www.OPP100.ca.
KEARNEY 15th ANNUALL DOG SLED RACES - CHOCPAW RACING RESULTS
In the 40 mile race Rene Marchildon placed second and Kris Sampson placed third.
The next races is a 125 mile race near Quebec City, Quebec on the weekend of February 14th. Results will be posted when received.
CHOCPAW OFFICIAL OUTFITTER FOR OPP CENTENNIAL PATROL
The Ontario Provincial Police Centennial Dog Sled Patrol started from Hearst on Sunday, February 1 with OPP Constables Erik Howells and Guy Higgott and Chocpaw GuideAndrew Pace. Updates on the progress of this trip can be found at www.OPP100.ca.
Chocpaw is the outfitter for this Centennial Patrol by providing the guide, dogs and sleds, camping equipment, food and other supplies.
CHOCPAW RACING TEAM RESULS – MARMORA SNO-FEST 2009
Results of the RBC Dominion 60 Mile 8 Dog Race on Sat. January 31
Chocpaw’s Rene Marchildon placed 1st with a total time of 5 hours, 49 minutes and 27 seconds
Chocpaw’s Kris Sampson placed 2nd with a total time of 6 hours, 6 minutes and 24 seconds
The third place team took 6 hours, eleven minutes and 41 seconds
Results of the Crowe Valley Lions 25 Mile 6 Dog Race on Sun. February 1
Chowpaw’s Rene Marchildon placed 2nd with the 6 of the dogs which raced the day before.
Next Races are the Kearney Dog Sled Races on February 14 and 15.
CHOCPAW RACING TEAM REULTS – JANUARY RACES
The dog sled racing season has started for the Chocpaw Racing Team.
Results of races in January 2009
World Mid-Distance Championship in Daquaam, Quebec – January 17 to 19
Three days of races with each team covering a 33 mile course each day.
Rene Marchildon placed 3rd overall against the best teams in the world.
Eldorado, Ontario – January 24
A one day race over a 50 mile course
Rene Marchildon placed 1st
Kris Sampson placed 3rd
Congratulations on your efforts from Chocpaw Management and Staff
CHOCPAW LEADS CENTENNIAL DOG SLED PATROL
Chocpaw Expeditions of South River, the continent’s largest provider of guided dog sled, has been awarded the contract to outfit and lead the 100th Anniversary Ontario Provincial Police Dog Sled Patrol through Northern Ontario.
The 21 day outing will commence at Hearst and travel wilderness trails southwards to Chapleau and then on to Shining Tree before heading northwards to Cochrane and finally ending at Moosonee on James Bay. This 1,000 kilometre outing will consist of two OPP Officers, an experienced Chocpaw Guide and three teams of Chocpaw’s sledding dogs. The dog sled patrol will occur during February 2009
This dog sled patrol is a celebration of the Centennial of the Ontario Provincial Police in 2009
Paul Reid, owner of Chocpaw comments‘this centennial sled trip will both celebrate the Centennial of the provincial police force and demonstrate the ability of Chocpaw in providing a historic dog sledding outing. This trip will highlight the outstanding ability of the Chocpaw sled dogs to complete a long distance sledding trip.’
Chocpaw is North America’s largest provider of dog sled outings with over 360 trained sled dogs and crew of experienced guides. Annually over 4,500 days of sledding are provided to clients ranging from individuals to school, young and adult groups. Each participants learns how to drive a sled, care for the sled dogs and winter wilderness camping skills.
for further details contact
Paul Reid, Owner, Chocpaw Expeditions
