Something different for your next ski break

Skiing is probably fun. I wouldn't know – I've never tried it. But I have tried shattering a major bone and, in all honesty, that's not fun at all. It's positively unpleasant, in fact.

So perhaps I was being paranoid when on my last trip to Whistler (an odd place for a non-skier to visit, I'll grant), I obstinately refused to touch anything resembling a pair of skis. Yes, this was small-minded of me; yes, it was childish; and yes, it may well have contributed to my partner's decision to hastily extricate herself from our relationship once back in London.

But amid my forlorn recollection of what in retrospect was perhaps not the wisest choice of holiday destination, I have one memory of Whistler which will stay with me forever. I am referring, of course, to my experience of dog-sledding in the vast alpine wildnerness.

It may not be the most energetic way of traversing British Columbia, but there's an undeniable charm about being pulled along by an army of eager, foggy-breathed huskies.

The feeling of arctic winds gushing into your face as you speed through a snowy paradise is like nothing else (well, except skiing). I can't pinpoint what makes it so exhilarating – perhaps it evokes lost childhood notions of Lapland; or perhaps it's simply knowing that you're as far away from the hustle and bustle of city-life as possible – but the magic is undeniably there.

My sled was towed by six proud Siberian Huskies and configured to seat two people. As you'd expect there weren't many amenities during the two-hour ride, but with my attention firmly planted on the glorious natural scenery rushing by, that thought barely entered my head.

Inevitably there were moments when the temperature got the better of us, though our trusty guide – or musher, if you prefer the technical lingo – was always on-hand with extra blankets and even a flask full of vivifying hot chocolate. Notwithstanding those niceties, the cosy design of most dog-sleds guarantees you ample scope for cuddling up to your nearest and dearest.

And best of all, it's completely safe. Barring a freak mauling by one of the dogs, or an impromptu bout of 'extreme sledding' by your musher (a very rare occurrence, I'm told), it's almost impossible to get hurt. Which means there's nothing to do but sit back, and forget yourself. Bliss.

Check out our Non-Skier’s Guide To Ski Resorts for more unique snow activities

Creative Commons photo: Flickr / randihausken