Mark Moderow-2007 Snowmachine Support

Our family “Salty Dog Kennel” has 27 participants in the 2007 Serum Run (24 dogs and three people)! As Hannah’s snowmachiner I get to accompany my wife, daughter and 24 dogs on a trip of a lifetime. While we will be running some mid-distance races, our kennel’s focus this winter is to train our young dogs for this expedition to Nome. Our kennel website can be viewed at http://www.saltydogkennel.com

I originally came to Alaska in 1974 as a mountain climber and spent many of my early years here climbing, back country skiing and participating in mountain rescue pursuits. I met Debbie in 1979 during a mountaineering expedition into the Denali Park’s Ruth Glacier; we were married in a mountainside ceremony a few months later. We continue to spend much of our time in Denali at our kennel located outside the Park’s entrance. We took up mushing by helping another family train their team for the 1989 Iditarod, and our children Andy (now 24) and Hannah (22) have mushed most of their lives.

Mark, Hannah and Debbie Moderow (Lil’Su and Taiga) in Nome

Our early interest in the sport revolved around traveling and camping throughout the Mat-Su valleys, but we were drawn also into the junior and distance racing scene. I spent these early years designing and making the equipment needed for training, racing and camping. Early kennel accomplishments included 8 Junior Iditarods, 3 Wyoming Stage Races and Andy’s finish of the 2001 Iditarod. Once the kids headed for college, Debbie and I continued camping and training, with Debbie running in 2003 and finishing the Iditarod in 2005, and with me finishing in 2004.

Debbie and I look forward to seeing the original trail to Nome at a more leisurely pace. We are eager to have the time to meet and interact with the people along the way. Having Hannah and the young dogs we’ve raised from puppies along on the trip promise to make it the best ever.