Nathaniel Hamlyn | Yukon Quest Canada

Nathaniel Hamlyn

27 YEAR OLD YUKON QUEST MUSHER

Experience:

Veteran - YQ 1000; Rookie - YQ 250; Veteran - YQ 100

Nationality:

Canadian

From:

Whitehorse, Yukon

Occupation(s):

Environmental Assessment Analyst

Kennel Info

Kennel Name:

Step Up Kennels

Kennel Name Origination:

From my desire to constantly learn and improve.

Breeds:

Alaskan Husky

Bloodlines:

Swingley, Buser

# of Dogs in Kennel:

Musher Q & A

How many years have you been running dogs?

How did you get started running dogs?

Went from Inuit dogs to Siberian to Alaskan Huskies. My dad introduced me to the sport/lifestyle and we attempted to convert pet dogs into sled dogs for the first couple of years. My mentor (Marcel Morin) then introduced me to racing and sparked my dream to run the Quest into a fire.

How did your dogs get their names?/ How do you choose names?

The dogs I raised are assigned themes, ex, Guns: Remington, Ruger, Tikka or tree/Shrubs: Tuniper, Sprure, Aspen, Rose.

Why did you enter the Yukon Quest? What are your goals for the race?

To have fun, and challenge myself with a foster paced race (hopefully :))

What do you love most about running sled dogs?

The unique lifestyle that comes with it and the feeling of being a part of an amazing team.

Tell us about your dogs, particularly some stories or facts about dogs running this year's race

Snickers is a very unique dog, she is very smart so likes the coach just as much as running it seems. When she runs and gets tangled she hops up and down like a rabbit to fix the issue. This has not failed to work.

Tell us about your favourite experience with a volunteer on the trail

Too many positive experiences to pick one. My memories tend to be centred around food, however. Spectators handing me a burger or hot chocolate as I went by is an example of the amazing Yukon Spirit. These actions and words of encouragement mean a lot as the race is very hands-off by nature.

What music do you listen to on the trail?

The country mostly but I dabble in rock and rap when I need some motivation.

What mushing organizations are you a member of?

DPSAY

List your recent sled dog races and/or best performances: