MUSHER - KURT JOKELA

I arrived in Alaska when I was 4 years of age and grew up in south Anchorage with dog teams in my neighborhood. I always have had a fascination with sled dogs and finally in 1997, I was able to make my dreams come true, while living in Colorado.

My first two years of mushing were spent giving sled tours at Dan MacEachon’s Krabloonik Kennels located at Snowmass Village, Colorado. Each season, I mushed approximately 1500 total miles at 10 miles per round trip down the side of the mountain across ski trails. We used 150 pound Camp Hale Freight Sleds, loaded with up to 500 pounds of passengers. I was one of 9 mushers caring for and training the kennel’s 250 sled dogs.

The last six years, my wife Val and I have resided in Chugiak, AK with our own team of Alaskan Huskies. I have completed many races to include the Chugiak 50, Tug 120, Denali 300 and other assorted local events, camping trips and all the necessary training runs to properly prepare the dogs for each event or trip.

I am looking forward to doing the Serum Run because it allows me to accomplish several goals on many levels. First, it lets me experience places and cultures in Alaska, which I have never had an opportunity to see, despite living in the state since 1968. Second, it will allow me to travel a historical route in a traditional way with part of my family (we look at our dogs as our family)- a rare thing to do in this modern age. Third, it will allow me to meet new people, make new friends, and spend time with one of my oldest friends-snowmobiler Kurt Adler, who I met in junior high school and later attended college with. I am also doing this run for our friend Mellen Shea who has been my inspiration and has made it possible by letting me use her “dream team” to make my team complete.

When I am not mushing dogs, I have been building cabins in Willow and Trapper Creek areas and am into raising bees and ducks.