Musher Biographies

Peter Bartlett
Manager, Skagway

Peter Bartlett, 33, is a native of Maine. He was working in law enforcement when he decided to move to Alaska in 1997 because Joe Redington Sr. advised him that if he wanted to run dogs, Alaska was the place to do be.

Shortly after moving to Alaska, Peter met his future wife, Theresa Greene, who shared his passion for sled dogs. The two joined forces starting Mawg-Dawg Kennel in 1998 and were married in December of 2000. They started purchasing a few key dogs from some of the top mushers in the area and began developing their own bloodlines with an eye toward speed and endurance. Now they have a thriving kennel of more than 60 dogs. After six years of breeding, raising, and training dogs, the Bartletts finally realized their dream when Peter entered the 2002 Iditarod.

During that race, Peter hit a tree and was dislodged from his sled, while his team continued to run. Fortunately another musher, running just ahead, saw his team coming with no driver and was able to secure his team. Peter managed to collect himself and his team, finishing the Iditarod in 26th place - an impressive finish for a rookie.

Click here for Peter's website.

Therese Bartlett
Musher, Skagway

Therese grew up in Marquette Michigan. She graduated from Northern Michigan University, Magna Cum Laude in 1991. She went on to receive her Master's in Statistics from Michigan Technological University in 1993. Therese also moved to Alaska in 1997 to handle for Libby Riddle (first woman to win the Iditarod). She was introduced to the sport by Lloyd and Mary Gilbertson while teaching at Northern Michigan University, but was drawn to Alaska because of its beauty and accessibility to sled dogs.

Click here for Therese's website.

Jacques Philip
Musher, Skagway

Jacques was born and raised in France and graduated from medical school in 1980. Soon after, he got into mushing and brought back his first dog, a Siberian Husky from the Yukon Territory. Jacques raced in Europe for 3 years and returned to Alaska to run his first Iditarod in 1985. Jacques learned much from Joe Reddington Sr., the “Father of the Iditarod.” From advice from Reddington Sr. and strong will, Jacques was able to take a team to the summit of Denali (Mount McKinley).

Jacues now lives in the Fairbanks area where there is good snow all winter for training. For many summers now, Jacques has worked for Alaska Icefield Expeditions at both of our sites.

Click here for Jacques's website.

Joel Kersting
Musher, Skagway

Joel Kersting fell in love with the mushing experience after recieving a few dogs and a sled. He now owns and trains dogs at Suomi Hills Kennel in Minnesota. Joel has always been very excited to share his dog sledding experience so he began giving rides to folks who were interested in learning more about dog sledding.

In 2004, Joel accepted a mushing job with Alaska Icefield Expeditions. He has returned every summer since and has driven his dogs each time from Deer River, Minnesota all the to Skagway, AK.

Click here for Joel's website.

Molly McCarty
Musher, Skagway

Molly McCarty, born in Portland, Oregon, began running sled dogs recreationally almost 20 years ago. She started mushing with her Australian Shepherds and gradually added Siberian huskies from the local animal shelter. She entered a local sled race in 1998 and although came in last, still found it to be fun. It was there that she was introduced to the Alaskan Husky by other racers and started filling her team with them. All of them other racers cast-offs. She won the Pacific Northwest Championship her first year of racing mid-distance with Alaskan Huskies.

She relocated to Willow, Alaska in 2004 and spends her winters raising and training pups and adults for racing. Since 2005, she has spent her summers giving tours by dogsled on the Denver Glacier outside of Skagway, Alaska. She currently has 30 dogs in her kennel. 25 Alaskan Huskies, 4 Siberian Huskies (descendants of the originals) and 1 Border Collie.

Click here for Molly's website.

Joe Holod
Musher, Skagway

Joe Holod grew in Livonia, Michigan where his family started a small show kennel of Siberian Huskies. By the time Joe started High School, he started racing for fun with a family-oriented mushing group. His first time on a sled was at his first race in early 2001 and he says he's 'been hooked since'. After competing in some three-dog and five-dog races for a few years throughout Michigan, Joe decided that he wanted to learn more about the sport of Dog Mushing. Soon after he graduated High School he packed up his car and moved to Alaska.

Joe and his fiance Melissa now own and operate Screaming Huskies Racing, a small racing and winter touring kennel located in Willow, Alaska. With his first racing season behind him, Joe is looking forward to his fourth season on the Denver Glacier. Make sure you stop by this summer and visit with this aspiring young musher.

Click here for Joe's website.