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.
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The entrance to Baisley Lodges through the snowy,
tree lined road.
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Our cabin, complete with dog sled on the door step.
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Two of the cabins at Baisley Lodges.
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One of the outbuildings at Baisley Lodges.
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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.
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The bunkhouse serves as a meeting house for mushers
and others.
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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.
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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.
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Howliday Inn houses Gino's sled dog team.
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Gino out on the trail with his team.
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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.
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Catherine skijoring at Baisley Lodges with Zoë
and Okemo. |
T-Bone enjoyed this part of skijoring.
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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.
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A wide angle shot of the dog sledding trails.
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An excited Zoë leads the team through a snowy
pine forest.
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Catherine and the sled dog team prances through
the wintry wonderland.
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Linda and her four sled dog team head out on an afternoon dog sledding excursion.
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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.
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