Erin Altemus
Grand Marais, MN – SAWTOOTH RACING
My husband and I have been racing dogs for 13 years. We learned to run dogs at YMCA Camp Menogyn and a few years later we acquired our own team. A mushing friend invited us to a race and soon we were breeding dogs and racing. We now have 30 dogs in our kennel located near Grand Marais. I work as a nurse at the local hospital. Our usual roster of races includes the Beargrease, UP200, Can-Am and Gunflint Mail Run. Last year I made an attempt at running the Iditarod in Alaska but unfortunately had to scratch after 500 miles. I’d like to go back and give it another try. This year, however, we will stick to races in the lower 48. We are incredibly grateful to our community of sponsors in Cook County and beyond that have helped us achieve our mushing dreams. To learn more about our dogs and kennel go to sawtoothracing.weebly.com
Blake Freking
Finland, MN – MANITOU CROSSING KENNELS
Blake Freking is a veteran of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Beargrease Marathon, UP 200, Can Am 250, Race to the Sky, Hudson Bay Quest, Yukon Quest, and many other races. After years of mushing with his wife, Jennifer, he is now enjoying sharing mushing adventures and sled dog races with his daughters, Elena and Nicole. Blake is an Aviation Officer for the USFS.
Andy Heerschap
Nolalu, ON – Paws on Patrol Racing
We live just over the border in Canada and enjoy coming down to the mail run. I have been Mushing for almost 20 years, where does the time go ? We mush because we really enjoy the dogs the lifestyle and the challenge. Dogs and I will be cheered on by my wife and two kids.
Mary Manning
Hovland, MN – DOODLE DOG KENNEL
Mary has been running dogs for many years. The Doodledog Kennel was established in 1998 as a fun diversion and an excuse to spend time in the woods during winter. It all started with a free dog, used sled and a race in Hinckley, Minnesota. Mary and her team have raced from Montana to Maine and many places in between.
Talia Martens
Brule, WI – STUMP JUMPIN KENNEL
Talia is a 24 year old dog musher from northern Wisconsin. She’s been on the runners ever since she was a 2 years old. When she is not mushing dogs she enjoys hiking, camping, woodworking, demo work, and canoeing. Her and her brother have raised and trained the majority of the dogs in our kennel, but this year I have the opportunity to race a team out of stump jumpin kennel. I just want to thank Wade and Sophia Warrs for giving me this opportunity.
Kevin Mathis
Monona, IA – GO THE DISTANCE
I’ve been mushing since 2015. I own Go The Distance kennel with about 20 Alaskan huskies. I live in Iowa and I am a hospital pharmacist. I enjoy the challenges involved with mushing in the winter and being a one unit team with the dogs.
Joanna Oberg
Grand Marais, MN – STONEY CREEK KENNEL
Been racing dogs for quite a few years now but had to sell out my own kennel due to extenuating circumstances this last spring sadly. So thankful to my friend and fellow competitor for many years Rita Wehseler who bought some dogs from us and offered to let me run a 2nd team for her this year!!! Happy to be running dogs and racing even if its not with my own dogs, so thank you Rita you were a Godsend during a heartbreaking time for me!!!!
Erin Schouweiler
Irma, WI – OTTER RUN KENNEL
I’ve been mushing since 1999, with my first race at 10 years old in 2001. It’s thanks to mushing that I met Chad, and we have continued lives and have grown our little family of dog lovers. Look for our two hellions to follow in Grandma Martha’s footsteps here soon.
William Sima
Stanchfield, MN – Bandit Creek Kennels
My name is Bill Sima and I have been interested and involved with sled dogs most of my adult life. I am a retired Soo Line railroad diesel mechanic and welder, and my other hobbies include woodworking, leather working and making knives. I am so lucky to have the support of my wife, daughter and grandchildren who are all very involved with the training and care of the dogs. Working with sled dogs and helping them grow and learn is very fulfilling for me and my family. It’s so much fun to do the work and watch the puppies progress into great working dogs. Blake and Jen Freking at Manitou Crossing Kennels have been instrumental in my understanding the training and development of a sled dog team; the teaching of harness manors, people manors and being able to let the dogs do what they love to do, pull a sled.
John Stumm
Zumbrota, MN – STUMM’S RANCH AND KENNELS
My name is John Stumm. When I was about eight years old my dad and I would feed dogs for a local Sprint Musher’s kennel while he was away at races, in return I was given 2 dogs to race with for my 1st sprint race in Cannon Falls. From there I started training with him and ran many sprint races all over MInnesota and Michigan. In 2004 I was the Gold Medal winner in the Junior Division of the Minnesota Racing Circuit. Due to many different factors I had gotten out of the Sprint Racing Circuit and then started training and handling distance teams for Cindy Gallea and have been doing such since 2011. Finally in 2023 I returned to racing, running a veteran team of Cindy’s in the Wolftrack in Ely. Currently I am building both my family and my Kennel. I have a wife and our first newborn baby boy on our hobby farm in Southeast MN where we have begun growing our team.
Adam Treeful
Grand Marais, MN – DA MUTTLY CRUE
I’m happy to be running in the Mail Run again. My dogs and I are looking forward to a fun time. We thank all that make it possible.
Ward Wallin
Two Harbors, MN – SILVER CREEK SLED DOGS
My family and I have been racing the last 30 years. We have raced in every Mail Run except for one! A special thanks to the race committee for all their hard work and dedication.
Frank Walsh
Rochester, MN – SNOWCREST KENNEL
I’m currently a laboratory technician in Rochester, MN. My dog mushing experience goes back to the early 1990’s, running dogs from Arleigh Jorgenson’s kennel for Gunflint Lodge tourism. More recently, I’ve been working with Cindy Gallea’s “Snowcrest Kennel”, including training and handling for her 2021 Iditarod Run. This will be my very first dogsled race, and I am delighted that it’s on The Trail, a place that has been close to my heart since my first canoe trip back in 1982.
Rebekah Walsh
Rochester, MN – DEEP ROOT KENNEL
The Gunflint Mail Run will be my first dogsled race. I was introduced to dog sledding in 2021 by my husband, who was training and handling with Cindy Gallea for the 2021 Iditarod. Since that time I have enjoyed several trips on the runners in Montana, the BWCA, and Canada, mushing dogs from both Snowcrest and Deep Root Kennels.
Rita Wehseler
Tofte, MN – STONEY CREEK KENNEL
My husband and I have 36 dogs in our kennel. We live on the beautiful shore of Lake Superior in Tofte, MN. I have been running dogs for 25+ years. My lead dogs are Ski, Boo and Raven.