Baisley Lodges Training Trip to New Brunswick and Quebec

Catherine, Eric and the four pups recently traveled to Baisley Lodges in New Brunswick to train the Maryland Sled Dog Adventures LLC team on snow. The trip was probably one of the most relaxing dog sledding trips we have ever taken.

Gino and Fran Roussel are the wonderful hosts at Baisley Lodges. Baisley Lodges includes three winter equipped cabins, two additional summer cabins, an active custom cutting sawmill, the bunkhouse, and the Roussel's own house. Whenever we asked about something, they helped find it (internet access at the library) or had it brought to the cabins (some really awesome maple syrup). The cabins are modest in size, but relatively well equipped. Our cabin had a full kitchen, a comfortably sized bathroom with shower, a living room, and an upstairs with two bedrooms. The cabins were plenty warm with a wood stove and electric heat. Visitors from the United States will probably want to bring or purchase groceries.

The entrance to Baisley Lodges through the snowy, tree lined road.	Our cabin, complete with dog sled on the door step.
Two of the cabins at Baisley Lodges.	One of the outbuildings at Baisley Lodges.

The bunkhouse was a common area where every one would meet after dog sledding. The bunkhouse had TV, phone, dial up internet access, couches, wood stove, and Ralph Murphy (a very friendly cat). Gino and Fran hosted dinner one night by the fire in the bunkhouse.

The bunkhouse serves as a meeting house for mushers and others.

Dogs are allowed in the cabins, although the 'Ruffin It' lodge is provided as housing for guest dogs. The Ruffin It lodge has drop chain tie outs inside and wood shaving bedding for the dogs.

Ruffin It Lodge is a home away from home for some of the sled dogs who visit Baisley Lodges.

Gino provided guide service running his six to eight dog team on several days, helping to show us which trails were most suitable for dog sledding, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing.

Howliday Inn houses Gino's sled dog team.	Gino out on the trail with his team.

The lodge is not quite sled in, sled out, but it's pretty close. One set of trails begins across the street, while several of the other trails are about 3 miles (4.6 km) down the street... and in the next province over, Quebec. There is also a trail that circumnavigates the Baisley Lodges that is nice for snowshowing, cross country skiing or connecting into one of the other trails. Our friends Linda and Kevin went dog sledding around the property one day.

The trail across the street joined into a larger trail network and allowed at 3+ miles of trail directly accessible from Baisley Lodges. We found the trail scenic and ideal for skijoring. The trail had not been groomed in, but we wished we had more opportunities to explore the trail.

Catherine skijoring at Baisley Lodges with Zoë and Okemo.	T-Bone enjoyed this part of skijoring.

The trails down the road were longer, with runs from starting at 8 miles. A down side of the trails, however, was that the first - and last - 3 miles were the same regardless of which trail you chose. The main trails were scenic and included a loop to a trappers cabin, the very scenic tadpole loop, and a loop circumnavigating the 'Quebec Alps' aka the sand pit.

A wide angle shot of the dog sledding trails.	An excited Zoë leads the team through a snowy pine forest.
Catherine and the sled dog team prances through the wintry wonderland.	Linda and her four sled dog team head out on an afternoon dog sledding excursion.

Although we were there the same weekend as a snowmobiling convention in Edmundston and Fort Kent (Maine), we saw no snowmobile traffic on the main trail. We saw 3 snowmobiles on a 6 mile run on the trails across the street from the lodges. From the cabin, you could hear snowmobiles running on the other side of the river.

During the week that we were there, it snowed 10" (25 cm) on one day and 6" to 8" (15 to 20 cm) on another. Gino and friends used snowmobiles to groom the trails, although equipment problems (burned piston) with one of the snowmobiles cut short some grooming.

All in all, this was one of the best dog sledding trips we have taken.