Gone To The Dogs Some Ski Areas Relaxing Rules About Canines On The Trail

After years of people barking at them to “Get that dog off the tracks!” canine owners now have their dog day at a few dozen cross-country ski areas across the continent.

“Usually dogs are the great evil of cross-country skiing,” says Tom Downey, manager of Galena Lodge, 24 miles north of Ketchum, Idaho. “But now, 60 percent of our season-pass holders also buy season passes for their dogs!”

That equates to over 700 season-pass-holding hounds. The pups even get their own photo ID card.

The miracle salve that brings dogs and skiers together harmoniously is the Blaine County Recreation District’s open trail system. Dogs romp along 75 kilometers (45 miles) of groomed ski trails within the Galena Lodge/North Valley Trails/Wood River Trails systems.

“This is our sixth year of including dogs on the cross-country trails,” says Shelly Preston, trails and special projects coordinator for the Blaine County Recreation District in Hailey. “We all have dogs, and we all love to ski with them.”

The recreation district maintains 200k of groomed track. A season pass runs $60 per person and $10 per pup. Dogs must be under voice command, not necessarily on a leash. People are limited to two dogs maximum per tour and are encouraged to clean up “brown klister” after their hounds.

Galena’s canine course is separate from people-only tracks. As yet, Galena’s overnight customers cannot bring pets because guests stay in yurts and must melt potable water from snow. In the future, says Downey, another yurt could accommodate both dog and master if a different water system were available.

Currently most powder hounds live in nearby Ketchum and Hailey, where they work on their good manners.

“There is a skier code of ethics which dogs don’t know about,” says Downey, who skis with his dogs, Neige (French for “snow,”) and Telemark. “The downhill skier has the right of way. People can work with their dogs so that dogs stay clear of skis. A lot of dogs will step off the tracks to let skiers go by. In the two years I’ve been here, we’ve never had a dog injury nor a dog-related skier injury.” Many areas still won’t allow dogs because of potential conflicts.

Explains Mike Dye of Red Lodge Nordic Center outside Red Lodge, Mont., “We don’t allow dogs because if some kid gets bit, it’s a big liability thing. I don’t believe our insurance would allow dogs. It won’t allow sledding on our area.”

In an effort to protect skiers from dogs, track-damaging paw prints and dog dirt, Royal Gorge XC in California’s Sierra Range opens a portion of the trail system to dogs and their owners only on Sundays.

“We offer 20k of trails to dogs,” says John Slouber, Royal Gorge general manager. “We only do it on Sundays because dogs and skiers don’t mix well. We set aside a tiny portion of our 328k of trails in a remote area for people to go skijoring.”

In skijoring, a dog wears a harness, and pulls a skier. At Royal Gorge, a dog’s trail pass runs $5 per day. An adult skier pass is $19.50.

“This is an answer to our locals from Sacramento who want to skijor with their dogs,” says Slouber. “We have a list of how dogs are to behave.”

At the Breckenridge and Frisco Nordic Centers of Colorado, owners Therese and Gene Dayton opened short loops to dogs “so they wouldn’t just have to sit in cars awaiting their masters,” says Therese. “We separate the dogs from other trails where dogs are not allowed. People either ski or walk on snowshoes with pets.”

“People ski with dogs on the pet trails, then put them in the truck and hit the skier-only tails,” says Chris Frado, president of Cross Country Ski Areas Association, located in Winchester New Hampshire. “It keeps everyone happy.”

Many non-machine-groomed trails remain open to dogs, often in national forests. Skiers should check with local supervisory offices for pet restrictions.

For a complete list of areas with puppy paths, The Best of CrossCountry Skiing booklet is available from Cross Country Ski Areas Association. A copy costs $3 and can be ordered by calling (603) 239-4341.

Skiers should check with individual areas for leash and behavior rules before arriving with dogs, since some of the booklet’s listings are out of date.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Information For information about dogs and ski areas: Blaine Country Recreation District, (208) 788-2117; Breckenridge/Frisco Nordic Centers, (970) 453-6855; Galena Lodge, (208) 726-4010; Royal Gorge XC, (800) 500-3871; or Cross Country Ski Areas Association, (603) 239-4341 or www.xcski.org. Ski tips and dog tips Check with the ski area for special rules concerning dogs, and ask if a harness or leash is required. A dog’s first time out with skis can be frightening when the dog takes a ski tail in the chin. Skiers can teach dogs to trot ahead or well behind them. Bring water and a small bowl for dog. Carry a “pooper scooper” plastic bag and deposit dog dirt in a garbage can. Never leave brown klister. Bring a leash in case one’s needed during breaks, in the parking lot or to avoid conflicts.