JAMIE
WEST - MUSHER
Jamie, 56, was born in Louisiana and moved to Alaska after vacationing
from Florida in 1989. Her short visit had made her feel that Alaska
was "home". At ease in the outdoors, she was drawn to
t he state by it's beauty and it's warm yet independent people.
But, always living in warm climates made it a challenging adventure.
Looking for a way to enjoy the outdoors with her dogs was easy
to do through hiking, and skijoring came next as a new winter
activity. Jamie quickly decided she needed more braking power
than her skiing skills allowed. UAA offered at the time MUSHING
101 through their Wilderness Study Program. It sounded like a
fun course. After driving the instructors dog team at the end
of the course, she was hooked on the sport and bought her first
sled.
The next
great influence was a Siberian husky, gee-haw leader, named Murphy
who taught Jamie what to expect from a good sleddog and set the
standards for her team. Murphy also triggered the "potato
chip syndrome" and Jamie and husband Harry Banks moved from
residential Anchorage to the mushing community of Willow where
there is trail access from their yard. There they established
Westrunner Kennels which has grown to 30 dogs, most of them Siberian
Huskies. Jamie also enjoys training her dogs for obedience and
agility and occassionally shows in confirmation.
Jamie wishes
to thank her wonderful neighbors for their encouragement and advice
on training, especially Natalie Norris, neighbor, friend, and
mentor. Jamie's Siberians all go back to Anadyr lines some with
Northome influence. Iditarod mushers Vern Halter, Karen Ramstead,
and Bob Chlupach, have been especially helpful providing training
advice and some very special dogs, as have JP Norris and Kari
Scoggins. Chris and Wayne Curtis of Stormwatch Siberians are helping
provide equipment for the trail. Other neighbors Paul and Erin,
Joan and Bruno, and Maureen have also encouraged with advice and
dog snacks.
A recreational
musher who is employed as a pharmacist, Jamie is grateful to employer,
Fred Myers, pharmacy division, for allowing her to take time off
to train her dogs and run the serum run. As a health care professional,
Jamie believes sharing a health care message with the villages
is an important mission for the serum run members. The trip also
provides a personal challenge for Jamie and her team to travel
through Alaska in a way that few people can.
She is
a member of MUSH with Pride, Willow Dog Mushers, Aurora Dog Mushers,
Chugiak Dog Mushers, Iditarod Trail member, Siberian Husky Club
of Anchorage, and the International Siberian Husky Club.
Jamie has
a grown daughter, Jennifer, who is a nurse in Kansas, and 3 grandchildren,
Shelby, Sydney,
and Bryce.
