Musher Question & Answer
How many years have you been running dogs?
12
How did you get started running dogs?
My first time running a team was a 14 hour trip to Tanana, AK at 35 below.
What do you love most about running sled dogs?
Are you a member of any other organizations involved in sled dog sports?
Dog Powered Sports Association of the Yukon
Why did you enter the Yukon Quest? What are your goals for the race?
To finish with a happy and healthy dog team.
How did your dogs get their names?/ How do you choose names?
I usually wait a couple of months before I decide on names to make sure their personalities fit their names. I find there's usually similar pairs in each litter. So I have Hansel and Gretel, Timber and Talon, Ayla and Ariel, Hunter and Fisher for example. I also name pups after family and friends: Macy, Swizzy, Elsie, Freddie for example.
What music do you listen to on the trail?
Tell us about your favourite experience with a volunteer on the trail
All the volunteers are usually amazing. I remember during the Quest 300 when I arrived in Pelly after going swimming through some overflow between McCabe and Pelly, one of the local volunteers took my wet parka and bibs to the school and put them in the dryer for me. So appreciative of warm, dry gear after spending a couple of hours encased in ice (luckily it wasn't that cold then).
List recent sled dog races and/or best performances
2013 Yukon Quest 300 - 7th; 2015 - GinGin200 - 32nd; 2014 - River Runner 140 - 9th; 2014 - Silver Sled 100 - 13th