Musher Question & Answer
How many years have you been running dogs?
21
How did you get started running dogs?
My wife fell in love with a husky pup at a pet store, then we read Libby Riddles' Race Across Alaska and saw Iron Will and we decided it would be really cool to have a team - the rest is history!
What do you love most about running sled dogs?
Why did you enter the Yukon Quest? What are your goals for the race?
Just can't seem to stay away, the trail calls! We are coming back to do our best and cross the finish line with a happy, healthy dog team. We look forward to seeing the amazing friends we have made on and along the Quest trail!
How did your dogs get their names?/ How do you choose names?
We generally try to pick a theme for each litter of puppies, then wait to see personality of the pup before picking a name that seems to suit them. Some of the veterans on this team are the Top Gun litter: Maverick, Charlie (yes, a girl), Viper, Jester. K2 was a massive white pup so hence he fit his name, Strawberry, our 2 year old daughter at the time named. Other litters trying out for this team are the Harry Potter litter (Harry, Albus, Ron, Helwig, Ginny, Hermione) and the Wild West Litter (Doc, Wyatt, Kidd, Garrett).
What music do you listen to on the trail?
Tell us about your favourite experience with a volunteer on the trail
That is hard, there are so many great stories and so many wonderful people. I can’t just give you one story and I still feel like I’m not mentioning so many folks!!
Alaska Trail Breakers, Mike, Daniel and their team, do such an incredible job for the mushers (as do the Canadian Rangers on the Yukon Side). I remember in 2014 when the rivers were opening up a nd MNike and Daniel helped break a new, safe trail for us to cross the river. Daniel got soaking wet in -40 but wouldn’t take any offers of dry, warm clothing from the mushers. Mike is always there going so far above and beyond to keep the trail in and make it the best and safest he can. How can we not mention Dr. Mercedes Pinto and Linda along with the Trail Breakers Mark and Ron who, due to their fast actions and skill in the 2016 race, saved the life of our lead dog Charlie.
While not volunteers, I have had a villager in Pelly Crossing come out with hot, fresh bannock for four of us that were about to head out into a forecasted -50C night. It was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten and he expected nothing in return. Mike, who owned the Central Roadhouse, cooked steak dinners for any musher at no charge and,e\ of course, Braeburn where you get a MASSIVE breakfast or dinner on the house. So many others I could fill two pages!!! Thank you all for making this race what it is!
Alaska Trail Breakers, Mike, Daniel and their team, do such an incredible job for the mushers (as do the Canadian Rangers on the Yukon Side). I remember in 2014 when the rivers were opening up a nd MNike and Daniel helped break a new, safe trail for us to cross the river. Daniel got soaking wet in -40 but wouldn’t take any offers of dry, warm clothing from the mushers. Mike is always there going so far above and beyond to keep the trail in and make it the best and safest he can. How can we not mention Dr. Mercedes Pinto and Linda along with the Trail Breakers Mark and Ron who, due to their fast actions and skill in the 2016 race, saved the life of our lead dog Charlie.
While not volunteers, I have had a villager in Pelly Crossing come out with hot, fresh bannock for four of us that were about to head out into a forecasted -50C night. It was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten and he expected nothing in return. Mike, who owned the Central Roadhouse, cooked steak dinners for any musher at no charge and,e\ of course, Braeburn where you get a MASSIVE breakfast or dinner on the house. So many others I could fill two pages!!! Thank you all for making this race what it is!
List recent sled dog races and/or best performances
2016 - Yukon Quest; 2014 - Yukon Quest- 8th; 2014 - Defi Taiga- 2nd; 2014 - Seney 300- 2nd