These photos may be some of my favorite photos, though I have a small team of sled dogs, I love visiting dog yards and kennels. Each kennel is unique in the same way that each dog is unique. Some mushers share methods, and some vary greatly. On these photo tours, I get to follow, (or chase) the teams on a snowmachine or on another sled, I also get to meet most of the dogs in the kennel. Capturing photos around the kennel is similar to race photos but without the pressure, the dogs are excited and know their routine, the mushers are relaxed and enjoying their stroll through their usual trails. I get to work with the other members of the mushers human team to determine good photo locations and I get a real look into the lives of the mushers and the dogs.
Silver Songs Kennel
Air Bnb and a mush?! You’ve come to the right place. Located in Two Rivers Alaska just of the Yukon Quest Trail, this VRBO/Air bnb is top notch! Running water, indoor plumbing (and shower), multiple bedrooms, a full kitchen, wifi, laundry AND a dog mushing ride are all included!! Elke is your host and has a beautiful kennel of sled dogs that will be excited to show you the trails. We had the best light for our photos and the ride was just magic. You’ll want to book your adventure asap.
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Alaskan Husky Adventures-17th Dog Crew
It was so great to see some new trail out of Willow when I visited the kennel of Matthew and Liz Failor, our photo shoot was tailored to showcase their tag sled tour, where three visitors can all mush with Matthew and another guide at the same time. The weather was phenomenal and the light in the beautiful trails made for some awesome photos. Matthew even brought my favorite dog from his kennel out to lead. Her name is McLaren, but that’s only one of the reasons she’s my favorite dog in his team.
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Trail Breaker Kennel
Authentic Alaskan Sled Dogs, tours, racing, adventure and the enduring legacy of 4-time Iditarod Champion Susan Butcher this kennel is founded in history. Now operated by Susan’s, two daughters and husband, visitors from around the world can witness the lives of mushers and Alaskan huskies in Interior Alaska from right in the middle of Fairbanks (located right by the airport). Tekla invited me to the kennel for multiple visits and the weather did not disappoint. The perfect snow storm presented itself to help illustrate that it doesn’t take much to be alone on those trails.
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Real Alaskan Experience
Located in the Iditarod checkpoint known as McGrath, I had the honor of visiting and photographing this family owned kennel with a few friends while photographing the Iditarod in 2022. Composed of mostly malemute, Siberian mixed huskies, and a few less stubborn Alaskan Husky leaders this team travels trails around McGrath and is worth a visit if you’re ever in town. Real Alaskan Experience LLC
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Nome Dog Fur Sewing and Harmon’s Happy Huskies.
Though not a racing kennel Cole has seen a fair share of races and has dogs that have seen plenty of trail. Dedicated to teaching the community about mushing in all aspects, speaking of the old ways and traditions, I learn something new from Cole with every encounter. You will also see much of Cole’s amazing fur and leather work can be seen on mushers state wide. So many beautiful ruffs that you see in race photos are hand crafted by Cole with the amazing hand crank sewing machine that you can see in this gallery.
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Ryno Kennel
Ryne was one of the first distance mushers that I met when I was just getting into sled dog photography. I followed her rookie run of the Yukon Quest along with two other mushers (another rookie and a veteran). Together Ryne, those two mushers and the Yukon Quest taught me so much about the mushing lifestyle and showed me just how much there is to love about it. I have worked with Ryne on dog mushing tours as well as reindeer tours that she operates out of Chena Outdoor Collective.
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Smokin’ Ace kennel
The sled dog kennel of 2017 Yukon Quest Champ Matt Hall in Two Rivers, Alaska. The Smokin’ Aces compete professionally in mid to long distance races throughout Alaska and Canada. Matt shows his skill in mushing in some of these photos and it was so great to witness the relationship with his dogs when I watched Matt step off his sled, command his team to gee all the way around. The dogs did so without Matt on his sled and not leave him in the dust. Matt might have been showing off for the camera just a tad in some of these photos, but you can tell he’s been on the sled much of his and feels most at home here.
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White Mountain Racing Kennel
White Mountain Kennel is owned and operated by a couple friends of mine, and though they no longer race, they still run their dogs recreationally. Each year for the past few years they have called on me to watch their kennel when they go to visit family in the lower 48. It is my favorite little mushing get away where I get to pretend I live off grid and take care of 20 or so sled dogs for a week. Its my reset into mushing at the end of a busy summer and it is great!
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ATAO Kennel
Will Troshynski and his small dog team live in Two Rivers, Alaska they are building their kennel with aspirations of running the Yukon Quest and Iditarod. There is no doubt Will’s best intentions are for the heath and happiness for his dogs.
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Black Spruce Dog Sledding Kennel
Established in 2013. Black Spruce Dog Sledding is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Jeff and KattiJo Deeter. Their kennel is located outside of Fairbanks with an awesome view of the lower valleys. I have made multiple trips to this kennel and enjoyed every visit. Jeff and KatieJo ensure that their visitors are well educated with everything mushing. With multiple tour options, and an awesome team of happy dogs this is a must visit kennel for a tour, summer or winter, its a great destination!
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Arctic Dog Adventure Co
These photos were taken along the trails near Lisbet Norris’ kennel, Arctic Dog Adventure Co‘, where Mike Loades, director and author learned to mush so that he could document it for his upcoming book where some of these images may appear; Dogs –Working Origins and Traditional Tasks .’
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Yukon Quest 2019 Vets
Along the 2019 Race this year while in Eagle Alaska, I caught wind that a few of the Veterinarians (100% volunteer their time for the race) along the race had never been mushing. I asked a couple kennels that I knew might be able to accommodate, and Ryne Olson, Matt Hall and Amanda Brooks said they could make it happen. Here are some photos of their first times on a sled.
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Noble Paws
Noble Paws is a local non profit located in the Goldstream Valley, though I have always loved dogs and photographed many, Noble Paws was one of my first introductions to mushing photos aside from the Yukon Quest. Volunteering with this organization allowed me to get closer to sled dogs, learn to mush, and gain valuable experience capturing sled dogs with my camera.
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