Day tours that feature hometown heroes are usually a safe bet for agents. But combine one with a dozen Alaska sled dogs, and you have a winner that is a hit with clients.
Mary Shields’ Tales of the Trail tour doesn’t include hands-on dog mushing, and for good reason — generic dog-sled rides are commonly found throughout Alaska. Rather, Shields offers several hours of entertaining fun, and neither she nor her stories about sledding disappoint.
Mary Shields’ day tour takes place at her private residence and kennel.
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Mary Shields was the first woman ever to finish the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. In international racing, she participated in the Yukon Quest and the Hope Race from Alaska to Siberia. She is the author of five books and has been featured in a PBS documentary.
Shields’ place is a little hard to find, but worth the effort. The hand-built log home with a sod roof is hidden on several acres of birch and spruce forests, well off the main road in the remote outback of the Goldstream Valley. Located a few miles outside Fairbanks, the surroundings set the stage for her presentations.
When our van of 13 tourists arrived, Shields warmly welcomed each of us to her home and kennel. It wasn’t long before she had our group spellbound with stories about camping on the dog-sled trail, the mechanics of harnessing a dog team and surviving blizzards and whiteouts in below 30-degree temperatures.
In the nearby kennel, the dogs behaved themselves. But when Shields walked over to a dogsled, the dogs stared barking uncontrollably. She introduced and pointed out the habits of each canine, then had them give us a short performance of "king of the mountain," where the dogs leaped on top of their doghouses. We were then able to enter the kennel and pet the dogs, each bubbling over with tail-wagging friendliness.
The stories continued to flow effortlessly. Other topics included dog handling, close encounters with moose on the trail and survival tips for staying alive in the Alaska wild.
When Shields gave the cue, her dogs begin a symphony of howls, saying "goodnight" to us as we stepped into our host’s home for refreshments of cake and tea.
Around a large dining room table, we reviewed her photo albums and maps. The questions flowed nonstop, but she replied quickly with thoughtful and entertaining answers. Shields’ love for dogs, dog mushing and Alaska shined through — she is truly a person who dared to be different and succeeded.
As I left the homestead, I observed a sight that travel agents covet: The guests didn’t want to leave. They stayed huddled around the table, enjoying the long lost art of Alaska storytelling from a professional who has gone the distance.
www.maryshields.com
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