Small Animal Alaskan Mushing CE Experience
Sat, 28 January, 2023
- Wed, 01 February, 2023
Species
Small Animal
Venue
Happy Trails Kennels
Contact Hours
18 (RACE approved)
Early Booking Deadline
Sun, 11 December, 2022
Registration Deadline
Fri, 30 December, 2022
Language
English
Extras
Printed Set of Course Notes (pick up at venue) - $ 70.00
Full Day Mushing Experience - Mushing Attendees only - $ 499.00
Discipline
Other
Industry Partners
Global
Veterinary Partners
Global
REGISTRATION OPEN NOW - PROGRAMME TO BE CONFIRMED
EVENT DESCRIPTION
This event will be held at Happy Trails Kennels, run by four-time Iditarod Champion Martin Buser in Big Lake, Alaska, 1 ½ hrs north of Anchorage International Airport. Attendees will be provided with the unique opportunity to get hands-on experience with some legendary canine athletes that compete each year in the famous Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Most of the dogs at the kennel will be actively training for that race during the event. They will however take some time from their arduous training program to give event attendees a taste of what it is like to race these impressive athletes.
On Sunday afternoon, the attendees will learn how to handle sled dogs, including harnessing and other preparations, before taking a 1 ½ - 2 hour wilderness ride to become familiar with the experience of traveling by dogsled. This will be the preamble for a longer half-day sled dog trip either on Monday or Tuesday afternoon, during which the attendees will be able to drive their own sled and a team of dogs through the Susitna Valley of Alaska
Alternative optional outdoor activities, such as flightseeing around Denali, guided glacier hiking/climbing tours, backcountry snowmobile adventures, etc. will be on offer for all attendees on their free afternoon (Mon or Tue, depending on group assignment) and especially on the last day from 10 am onwards.
Regardless of whether you choose to mush, fly, climb, or hike, you will see parts of Alaska that very few ever get to see!
VETERINARY PROGRAM
The program will soon be published and will consist of Lectures & Case-Discussions focussing on Emergency & Critical Care Medicine & Related Diagnostic Imaging (Ultrasound & Radiography).
Speakers:
Dr. Elke Rudloff DVM, DACVECC – BluePearl Specialty & Emergency Pet Hospital, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Radiologist - further information to follow soon
| Available Activities | |
| Full Day Mushing |  |
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$499 - Book as an 'Extra' via the VetPD Registration |
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| Talkeetna Denali Flightseeing |  |
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From $230 per person - For more information and to book click HERE |
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| Backcountry Snowmobile Adventure with Snowhook Adventure Guides |
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From $200 per person - For more information and to book click HERE |
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| Matanuska Winter Glacier Tours Glacier Hike |
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From $125 per person - For more information and to book click HERE |
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| Alaska Bike Adventures |  |
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The event fee does not include flights, travel to and from Happy Trails Kennels (event location), accommodation, and any of the outdoor activities on the free afternoon (either Mon or Tue) and on the last day of the event, including the all-day wilderness sled dog ride. Attendees can book the all-day wilderness sled dog ride as an optional extra through VetPD. All other outdoor activities on the free afternoon and on the last day need to be booked directly with each provider listed under the ‘Travel Information’ tab. |
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Additional Terms & Conditions:
- VetPD Ltd, accepts liability for the event program only (lectures, refreshments and wine & cheese reception).
- Liability for travel, accommodation, lunches, course dinner, sled dog rides and alternative outdoor activities rest with the respective service providers. Cancellation of these components of the event is subject to the Terms & Conditions of each service provider (see here for further details).
- Attendees are expected to take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance in the event of unforeseen circumstances leading to attendees falling ill, suffering an accident or having to cancel their trip.
Dr. Rudloff is a 1991 graduate of Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her residency training at the Animal Emergency Center and achieved board certification in the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 1995. She has supervised/mentored 28 ACVECC Diplomates and is currently a clinical supervisor at the Lakeshore Veterinary Specialists in Glendale, Wisconsin.
She has served as the IVECCS Program Director from 1998-2009, and from 2013 until now. She is the 2008 recipient of the Ira Zaslow Award for distinguished service in the field of veterinary emergency and critical care and is an internationally recognized educator in the field of veterinary emergency and critical care.
She routinely incorporates her medical acupuncture skills into her everyday practice to enhance the well-being and pain management of critically ill and injured patients. Her special interests include fluid resuscitation, emergency surgery, and trauma management, topics on which she has published in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters.
Venue
19391 West Lakes Blvd,Big Lake, Alaska, 99652
CONTACT DETAILS FOR CLINIC
Happy Trails Kennel
19391 West Lakes Blvd
Big Lake, Alaska USA 99652
907-892-7899
DIRECTIONS
From Anchorage:
North on Hwy 1 (Glenn Highway)
Hwy 1 turns into Hwy 3 (Parks Highway )
Go through Wasilla
Turn left on Big Lake road at mile 52
Go 3 ¼ miles on Big Lake road turn right on Beaver Lake road,
Go 1 mile, turn left onto West Lakes Boulevard (long name, short sign "W.Lks.Blvd")
Go 4 ½ miles to our driveway on right. Look for tripod with sign.
Please head the following advice on driving in Alaska:
- Make sure everything on your car is working and in good shape, including good tires, wiper blades, and lights. Make sure you have an ice scraper for the windshield and windows, and maybe also some paper towels or napkins to clean grime and ice off your headlights if they seem to be getting dim. In January, you will only have a few hours of bright daylight so headlights are a real necessity.
- Very few rental cars will be equipped with winter tires because the cars mostly get used during the summer tourist season. Don’t try to keep up with the locals driving metal studded winter tires – just because they can drive safely at a certain speed (or think they can) doesn’t mean your rental car can too. Make your own decisions regarding your speed on a particular surface and let them go around you if they want to go faster.
- Know the road conditions before you leave. Alaska maintains a very informative, very useful website (https://511.alaska.gov/map) with all of the road conditions posted daily. In many cases, these conditions are updated several times a day as the highway department trucks travel down the roads. If the report on the section of road of interest is more than a day old, it usually means the highway department hasn’t been able to get down it. So you probably shouldn’t try.
- Road conditions can change rather abruptly – one moment the road is dry because it has been in the sun for a few hours, the next moment it is wet ice because it is in the shade. Take your time and enjoy the scenery.
- Watch out for wildlife, particularly moose. In areas of deep snow, moose will get frustrated at having so much difficulty moving around, so they go looking for someplace with less snow – like that nicely plowed 2 lane highway. And they won’t leave just because there is a very large vehicle bearing down on them at a high rate of speed. If you see moose anywhere (on the road or just alongside it), slow down. They are extremely stupid animals and will quite willingly walk right into your path just because….well, who knows why moose do what they do.
- Don’t let your gas tank drop below half-full. Gas stations can be few and far between, and may or may not be open in the more remote areas. Besides, you needed to stop for some coffee and stretch your legs.
NEARBY AIRPORTS
Distance from Anchorage International Airport: approx. 67 miles
ACCOMMODATION RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend lodging in a B&B in the Big Lake area to enjoy the complete experience of the Alaskan wilderness. Happy Trails B&B (http://buserdog.com/visit), where the event will be held, has 4 rooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom. Not only is it the most convenient, but you will have the unique experience of staying onsite at a world-class racing kennel. To book a room, please contact the B&B direct by emailing martin@buserdog.com.
Other B&Bs in the Big Lake area can be found on www.AirBnB.com.
The actual village of Big Lake is about a 20 min drive from the kennel, depending on road conditions. For more standard lodging, we recommend the Best Western Lake Lucille in Wasilla (https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-wasilla/best-western-lake-lucille-inn/propertyCode.02011.html, about a 30-40 minute drive from Happy Trails Kennels, depending on road conditions). Rooms at the Best Western will generally be less expensive than Big Lake area B&Bs and more convenient to a variety of restaurants and shopping centers, but will not provide as authentic an experience as staying in the Big Lake area.
Please note that at the time when the event is held, the Big Lake will be frozen, which means that accommodation around Big Lake is also very suitable as the venue Happy Trails can be accessed via the frozen lake.
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Happy Trails B&B Mile 4.5 West Lakes Blvd 19391 West Lakes Big Lake Alaska 99652 4 rooms only Book direct! |
0 miles |
$149 |
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Best Western Lake Lucille in Wasilla 1300 W Lake Lucille Drive Wasilla Alaska 99654 https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-wasilla/best-western-lake-lucille-inn/propertyCode.02011.html |
26 miles |
From $99.99 |
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Cole' Cabin Wasilla Alaska 99652 |
0 miles | From $133 |
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Walle's Place on Horseshoe Lake Big Lake Alaska, 99652 |
0 miles | From $165 |
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Blue Lantern Lodge- "Hannah's Room" Big Lake Alaska |
15-20 miles | From $150 |
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Blue Lantern Lodge- "Holly's Room" Big Lake Alaska |
15-20 miles | From $150 |
NEARBY ATTRACTION
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Attraction |
Description/Comments |
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Wasilla Lake
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The lake named by workers constructing the Alaska Railroad after a nearby creek named Wasilla Creek. The lake shore is the site of a city park, Newcomb Park. It is the northern terminus of the Seven-Mile Canoe Trail, the other end being at Finger Lake. Outside of the park areas most of the shoreline is private property. The lake has a stable population of rainbow trout and fishing is considered good for bank, boat, and ice fishing. |
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Palmer and Alaska State Parks |
Trail maps and passes can be found here: |
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Gold Panning-Hatcher Pass
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More information on winter activities (mountain skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing and snowmobiling) can be found here: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/hatcherpass/hatcherpass.htm |
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Independence Mine State Historical Park
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Learn what it was like to live and work in one of Alaska's largest gold mining camps. |
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Thunderbird Falls
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One of the most popular “first hikes” for families with small children, the one-mile trail to Thunderbird Falls traverses a handsome birch forest along the Eklutna River canyon to reach a deck with views of a 200-foot waterfall. |
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Fort Richardson
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Fort Richardson is a United States Army installation in the U.S. State of Alaska, adjacent to the city of Anchorage. In 2010, it was merged with nearby Elmendorf Air Force Base to form Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The post’s largest military tenant is the Alaska National Guard, with facilities at Camp Carroll and Camp Denali. Fort Richardson also hosts several non-military activities, including a United States National Cemetery and a state-owned fish hatchery. |
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Knik Glacier
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The Knik Glacier snakes out of the Chugach Mountains, tumbling into an iceberg-studded lake that feeds the Knik River. With a five-mile-wide face and daily calving, it’s an impressive sight: 400-foot ice walls rise out of a lake filled with icebergs that are floating, turning, and breaking apart. There are no roads in here, but tour operators travel up the Knik River to the lake. There are also flightseeing trips over the glacier and a dog-mushing camp on the ice. You can also catch a glimpse of the glacier as you're driving the Glenn Highway south of Palmer. |
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Glacier Hiking-Matanuska
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Matanuska Glacier Park is privately owned and charges per person every time you go thru the gate; Alaska State passes do not apply. Regular 2020 entry fee at gate is $30 per person. Hiking season is May to September. |
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Wasilla Creek Wetlands Trail 5990 Nelson Road Wasilla AK 99654 |
Wasilla Creek Wetlands has a gorgeous boardwalk trail that is easy enough for the whole family to enjoy. The trailhead can be a little tricky to find: After you pass The Ranch Alaska you'll pass over a tiny bridge labeled "Wasilla Creek." The parking lot will be on the left. https://www.inspirock.com/united-states/wasilla/wasilla-creek-wetlands-trail-a1332991873 |
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| Flightseeing Tours |
Join us on a Denali flightseeing tour and experience one of the greatest mountain landscapes on earth. Over six million acres of mile-high granite gorges, ancient blue glaciers, and endless icy peaks... let's go! Add a glacier landing to any of our Denali flightseeing tours to walk among the great peaks and experience an environment known only to mountaineers. Our flights are safe, smooth, and exciting. Check out our photos for further inspiration. We look forward to flying with you. |
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| The Mountain Midget | Customizable adventures based on the interests, abilities, and appetite for a challenge of you and your guest. Contact Tony Lutes at mountainmidget1975@gmail.com |
“A once-in-a-lifetime experience combining continuing education with adventure - very professional and flexible organisers.”
- Tore Malmei, Veterinærene Nyland & Malmei, Norway
“Very well-organized event with superb wetlabs supervised by highly-dedicated speakers. Great spouse program!”
- Päivi Nussbaumer, Clinique du Vieux Château, Swizterland
“Well organised, small initmate course with great academic content.”
- Angela Rogers, Blue Hills Veterinary Hospital, South Africa
“Super meeting with vets all over the world, real holiday atmosphere, a congress I would book again anytime, Super staff and service of your team and Mongena, we really enjoyed it and still do.”
- Michael Saxer
“Very good quality conference with amazing outside activities, great accommodation & food which made it a very enjoyable week. It is easy to very nice to meet the other attendees.”
- Mailys Giradoux
ATTENDEE TYPE
Lectures Only
$ 1990.00
ATTENDANCE TYPE
$ 2750.00
If the options you are looking for are unavailable, please contact us.
No tax will be added unless you are a UK taxpayer
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