The
Altitude 5000 – Dinner Plain Sled Dog Challenge, the only Australian sled dog race held on snow, turns 25 this year and is expected to attract teams from as far afield as Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
Dinner Plain is a picturesque resort town set in the snowfields of Victoria's High Country. Photo: Ian Gill / Footloose PhotoBank
Sled dogs have been used for travel over snow and ice for hundreds if not thousands of years in the often freezing climes of Europe, northern Asia and North America. Cold climate breeds such as the Alaskan Malamute and the Siberian Husky have been bred specifically for the purpose and today compete in sled dog races around the world including, believe it or not, right here in Australia.
As many as 350 dogs and their handlers, 'mushers', are expected to compete during the two days of rancing around Dinner Plain. Photo: Ian Gill / Footloose PhotoBank
The Altitude 5000 – Dinner Plain Sled Dog Challenge 2018 will be staged over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 11th & 12th August with organisers expecting as many as 350 dogs to compete over the 2-days. Racing will be staged between 9 AM and 1 PM on both Saturday and Sunday.
Two, four, six and eight dog teams will contest a series of races along tree-lined tracks through the pristine snowfields of the Victorian High Country and all within walking distance of the Dinner Plain Village.
This is a unique sport contested in one of Australia's most scenic winter environments. It's an event not to be missed but you will need to book early as accommodation can be hard to come by in Dinner Plain during ski season. Visit the website at
www.sleddogchallenge.com for details and some great value accommodation packages.
Racing in the Altitude 5000 - Dinner Plain Sled Dog Challenge will be held between 9 AM and 1 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. Photo: Ian Gill / Footloose PhotoBank
Dinner Plain is 388 Kilo9metres northeast of Melbourne, just under a 5-hour drive via the Hume Freeway/M31 and the Great Alpine Road/B500.
Alternatively, it's 445 kilometres, about a 5¾ - hour drive via the Princess Freeway/M1 to Bairnsdale and then the Great Alpine Road/B500.
Be sure to make your way to Dinner Plain for the 25th running of the Altitude 5000 - Dinner Plain Sled Dog Challenge over the weekend of Saturday & Sunday the 11th and 12th of August. Photo: Ian Gill / Footloose PhotoBank
