In the first chapter of her book, Julie writes about a family trip to northern Minnesota and her first experience on a dogsled: “I climbed into the sled with our guide/musher and a twelve-dog team. Our guide said he wanted to get off running smoothly and then let me drive. We took off without a hitch and I was amazed at how quiet it quickly became as the dogs settled into their work. The swish, swish of runners on fresh snow and the occasional sound of huskies breathing was mesmerizing. It was exhilarating to fly through the Minnesota winter wilderness!”

In time, that experience would change her life, as she writes in the prologue: “Long before I could define it, the concept of retired sled dogs roaming in the gentler valleys of Wisconsin, I felt the powerful need for a lifestyle I couldn’t clearly identify. I took the leap and made a home for high performance sled dogs and strived to give them their best lives.”

Julie’s initial goal was to simply live in the wilderness with dogs, but the retirees showed her another world, filled with fun and excitement and unexpected possibilities and limitless surprises: A life with sled dogs and all they bring to the table! There were hard times and difficulties, to be sure, but Julie had plenty of good friends and capable assistants who were willing to work and learn right along with her, and together they created a special place for the sled dogs and made Julie’s dreams come true.