EUROPEAN SNOW ADVENTURES
TEXT: KEN DERRY Last winter may not have lived up to all that snow seasons were in the past. With the horrific events of September 11 th , many stayed closer to home, enjoying the North American resorts instead of venturing afar. If your appetite for travel and adventure are at their peaks this year, here are some blue snow trips in Europe that will revive all your winter fantasies.
Oh c'mon, you've always wanted to say it: Mush! Mush! With a team of 4-5 dogs pulling you and your gear, you'll definitely step out of your everyday shoes. For those who are a little more courageous, you're invited to skijor, where 2 dogs pull you on cross-country skis. You'll begin in Urnnas, Sweden, an isolated town at the base of the GardfjaUet mountain and home to only 40 people. You'll mush through dense forests of conifer and mountain birch towards deep valleys with frozen lakes, untrodden snow and endless views. The eerie silence may ironically keep you up at nights, however. No worries, the northern lights will tuck you in. 7-12 days, January-May. $1,300-$2.300, max four guests. The Silent Way Tours. www.dogsledding-adventures.com. 46 0 951 520 43. Info@silent-way.com.
Slap on a pair of snowshoes and explore sections of this mountain range that are normally inaccessible to hikers. Ergo snowshoes. This eight-day trip begins around the expressive Oueil and Larboust valleys and ventures into the Aure, Nistos and Barousse valleys. Beginning around 4,000 feet, you'll snowshoe as high as 9,000. Watch for wildlife in the picturesque Collor of Aouet. You'll surely encounter silvertail fox, coyote and deer and you might catch a glimpse of rabbits, ferrets and the occasional beaver. 8 days, January-March, $675 (airfare not included). KE Adventure Travel. www.keadventuretravel.com. info@keadventure.com. 800-497-9675.
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