About Us

Former Morristown resident Bruce Linton has traveled 4,500 miles, to Kasilof, Alaska, to realize his dream of running the Iditarod dog-sled race.

Now, it looks as if his dream of becoming the first Vermonter to complete the race might come true. But first, he’ll have to complete a 300-mile qualifying race and raise nearly $10,000 to cover his entry fee and other expenses.

Bruce Linton, 43, started mushing — racing teams of sled dogs — in 1998.

He was born in New York City and raised in Philadelphia, and moved to Vermont in1994 to work for the state government as an environmental scientist. He had dreamed about running the Iditarod since childhood, but didn’t buy his first Alaskan husky until the early 1990s. Within a few years, he had four — enough for a small dog-sled team.

He started a business called Green Mountain Dog Sled Adventures, offering tours in Morristown, Eden and at Smuggler’s Notch. The tours quickly became popular, and in 2005 Linton resigned from his environmental job to run his company full time.

Last winter’s unusually warm and icy weather hurt his business and made it difficult for him to train and race his dogs.

His wife, Melissa, suggested the couple move to Alaska where there would be more opportunities for him to train his dogs and prepare for the Iditarod.

They moved to Kasilof — a small town 117 miles west of Anchorage — in June. They bought some land and a recreational vehicle to live in and built kennels for the dogs. Linton estimates the move cost $80,000.

Living in Alaska has provided him resources he didn’t have in Vermont, Linton said. His neighbors, for example, are experienced mushers who have eagerly mentored him.

The couple lives mostly off of Melissa Linton’s wages as principal of a local public school during the fall and winter, while Bruce Linton trains full-time. During the spring and summer, he will run his own business as a seafood broker, buying salmon and halibut from local fishermen and distributing it to restaurants.

He has built a race team, which he calls his “A team,” of 28 dogs.

His lead dogs — chosen for their ability to listen to and follow commands — are in peak condition and have about 1,400 miles of racing experience, Linton said. read more....

Green Mountain Dog Sled Adventures is truly a magical place. Occupying 77 acres and surrounded by 4,100 acres of state-owned wilderness, our winter wonderland is unquestionably the ideal setting for our sled dogs. We are located near Stowe, Vermont, known for generations as the Ski Capital of the East. Our dog sled tours are definitely unique. You won't find a dog sled tour like it anywhere in the East.

Our first love is racing our dogs. Our kennel consists mostly of Iditarod dogs that have been flown in from Alaska. They have competed in numerous mid-distance dog sled races throughout New England and are presently in training for a longer 250 mile race in 2005 and hopefully the 1,000 mile Iditarod race in 2006 or 2007.

Our dog sled tours originate from our kennel and scenic cabin in Morristown, Vermont. We provide an educational tour as well as an actual dog sled tour. Your adventure begins with a discussion about how the dogs live, how they are cared for, their incredible abilities and genetics, and how they are trained. Our dogs have been socialized with people since they were puppies and are very friendly towards adults and children. After you meet your team, one of our experienced mushers and team of eager Alaskan Huskies will swiftly transport you in our padded and enclosed sleds through six to eight miles of winding woodland trails that have been hand cut by us. The dog sled trail meanders through large tracts of wilderness and is hilly, so the ride is quite exciting - it is not a flat tour in a field. Tours are as hands-on as you want them to be. You can learn how to harness the dogs, ride the runners, or just sit back and have the ride of your life while enjoying the breathtaking scenery. There are plenty of opportunities to stop and take pictures and to drive your own team.

The running time of the tour is based on trail conditions and the weight of the sled, but generally lasts an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half. Once back at the cabin you will be served hot chocolate and are welcome to stay as long as you want to cross-country ski or snowshoe on the property if you desire. The entire dog sled experience lasts between two and a half to three hours.