Val Jokela - 2007 Musher
I arrived in Alaska in 1980 with
an aviation job in hand. My first flying job was out of Merrill
Field giving charter flights and flight instruction. By early
1983, I was flying Twin Otters and Bandeirantes to the Kenai Peninsula,
Kodiak, Cordova, Valdez, Dillingham, King Salmon and Mt. McKinley.
My last job before joining the Federal Aviation Administration
in 1986 was flying F-27’s to Kodiak, King Salmon, Dillingham,
Aleutians and on contract for the USAF DEW line sites.
My love affair with
sled dogs began in March of 1985, when I watched the Iditarod
depart from 4th Avenue. I knew in an instant that I wanted to
be part of that and make sled dogs my lifestyle.
In 1986, I was able
to start mushing with my first five years of mushing being spent
as a handler for Jerry Raychel assisting him in preparing for
3 Iditarod races and becoming exposed to racing by completing
the Chugiak 50 and Knik 200 and doing training runs and trips.
By 1991, I was able to fully make my dreams come true by purchasing
my home in Chugiak, and starting my first dog team with 4 dogs
from Jerry.
The last seven years,
my husband Kurt 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, Knik 200, Arctic Arrow 200, Alaska Comeback
Stage Race and other assorted local events, camping trips and
all the necessary training runs to properly prepare the dogs for
each event or trip.
I have always been
emotionally moved by the history of the Serum Run and intrigued
and humbled by the accomplishment of the original Serum Run mushers.
I am honored to be selected to join the expedition and relive
and talk about the history as we travel from Nenana to Nome. I
am also excited to be able to have the opportunity to travel the
actual historical route.
This trip is dedicated
and being run in memory of our friend Mellen Shea who has been
my inspiration and has made it possible by leaving her “dream
team” in our care, which will make my team complete.
When I am not mushing
dogs, I am into flying, running, biking, hiking, and swimming
and assisting Kurt with building cabins in Willow and Trapper
Creek and raising our bees and ducks.
