Race Veterinarians
Meet the 2012 Veterinarian team!
Head Veterinarian
Kathleen McGill, DVM
Current Residence: Ohio
Place of Birth: Columbus, Ohio
Nationality: American
Family members: Ross M. McGill and Bailey – 23 year old son.
What are your hobbies? Sled dog medicine, travel, travel, travel, collecting books, natural history, science fiction.
Have you ever driven a dog team? Malamutes when I lived in Colorado.
Do you have sled dogs at home? 1 Malamute and 1 Siberian
Do you have any other pets? 2 siamese sled cats!
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? Back in the mists of time. My first malamute in 1976 and a professor during veterinary school who was conducting research on the Iditarod.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? The bond between musher and each dog on the team. Excellent care requires the best training, feeding and medicine through out the year.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Constant and continuous attention to detail.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and / or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? Iditarods, John Beargreases, UP200s, Grand Portages, Eagle Cap Extremes, Finnmarkslopet (Norway), Yukon Quest 2001 on to present.
What is you favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Working with the dogs in the snow away from all the activity.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Same.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? My tooth brush and a sense of humor.
Please share any additional stories from the Yukon Quest or other sled dog races that you feel demonstrate excellence in canine care and or personify the spirit of the Yukon Quest: The bond between dog and musher. Both of these athletes are entwined with each other. One does not go far without the other. Seeing a musher working on his team, illuminated by only a headlamp, a dog lifts its muzzle and licks his musher’s face and lightly wags a tail.
Vetenarians
John Overell
Current Residence: Dawson city, Yukon
Place of Birth: Edmonton, Alberta
Nationality: Canadian Languages
Family Members: Mom, sister Laura, nieces : Crystal, Ashley, Sarah
What are your hobbies? art, photography, reading, travel
Have you ever driven a dog team? Agata's team: got on, fell down dragged through overflow. Agata "You're a natural! Me: "!?!". Agata: "Natural cause you didn't let go of the team!".
Do you have sled dogs at home? none
Do you have any other pets? none
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? Peer pressure and I live in Dawson.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Love
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Feet
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a Veterinarian? Quest since 1998, Percy DeWolfe head vet since 1999,head vet international sprint race 2006?
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race?
Comradary people/dogs
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Completing the race.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Walking stick
Jessica Heath
Current Residence: Whitehorse, Yukon
Place of Birth: Soabichton, BC
Nationality: Canadian
What are your hobbies? Hiking, cross-country skiing, photography and hardcore knitting.
Have you ever driven a dog team? Sadly not.
Do you have sled dogs at home? No
Do you have any other pets? Two “orthopedically special” dogs and two cats.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? The opportunity to learn about sled dog medicine from more experienced race veterinarians.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Proper training and good nutrition.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Adequate hydration and knowing when to rest.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and / or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? Have done the Quest pre-race vet checks since 2008, have been a vet for the Percy deWolfe Memorial Sled Dog Race since 2008 and was the vet for the 2011 River Runner Race.
What is you favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Treating more sick mushers than sick dogs on the 2011 Percy deWolfe.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Working with all the high performance dogs and watching them complete the race.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Warm boots and a sense of humor.
Markus Barth
Current Residence: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Place of Birth: Zwickau, Germany
Nationality: German
Family members: Wife Heather, Myles (6) and Harris (3).
What are your hobbies? Family, friends, basketball, motorbike, dogs.
Have you ever driven a dog team? Yes, was great, excepts the “fall-offs”… painful.
Do you have sled dogs at home? One retired Alaskan Husky from Sebastian Schnuelle’s kennel.
Do you have any other pets? 3 more dogs and one cat.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? Been there, done that, liked it!
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Don’t start to be competitive in December! Keep them busy year round.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? They pull you!!! Take good overall care of them, but stay in shape yourself!!! Take care of your dogs first, have a chat second!
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and / or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? Overall great people, lots of fun. I just don’t like the complainers! We all choose to be here.
What is you favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? How compassionate these mushers are (most of them!).
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Meet up with old friends.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Excitement!! Every year is a new experience, DON’T let it become routine!
Please share any additional stories from the Yukon Quest or other sled dog races that you feel demonstrate excellence in canine care and or personify the spirit of the Yukon Quest: To sacrifice your ranking by helping out others!
Janiene Licciardi
Current Residence: Bellingham, Washington
Place of Birth: Rochester, New York
Nationality: American
Family members: No children!
What are your hobbies? Mountaineering / backpacking, sea kayaking, Nordic skiing, studying natural history, reading classics.
Have you ever driven a dog team? No, but have skijored.
Do you have sled dogs at home? No.
Do you have any other pets? One dog, a cute mutt from Kasilof, Alaska. An Aussie cross.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? I’ve experienced the Iditarod, now I’d like to see new territory, mushers and colleagues in a more intimate setting.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Affection, a rich environment, exercise, and attention to preventative care and nutrition.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Basic needs – sleep and nutrition + basic health and affection.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and / or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? 4 years as a race vet on the Iditarod. A couple of local races – Cascade Sled Dog Club.
What is you favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Iditarod: A night of northern lights with the dogs and mushers, all of us in awe!
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Opportunities to work closely with mushers and dogs, and to follow their progress. Also good camaraderie with fellow volunteers.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Probably warm boots and mittens!
Please share any additional stories from the Yukon Quest or other sled dog races that you feel demonstrate excellence in canine care and or personify the spirit of the Yukon Quest: The one story that comes to mind is that of a night spent consoling a musher who lost a dog (he carried it in his sled, after a sudden death). Myself and another vet, a pathologist. The musher’s love and commitment to his dog was very moving, as was his strength to go on.
Dave Moroney
Current Residence: Victoria, Australia
Place of Birth: Melbourne, Australia
Nationality: Autralian
Family members: Wife Debbie, Stewart (7), Cat (25), Lizzie (20), and Tab (26).
What are your hobbies? Wood art, bush walking, skiing, guitar, travel.
Have you ever driven a dog team? No.
Do you have sled dogs at home? No.
Do you have any other pets? 5 Jack Russels, 1 pig and 1 cat.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? The dogs and the people.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Feeding,exercise and human contact.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Observation and early intervention.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and / or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? Iditarod 99, 00, 03, 07, Beargrease 2000, Yukon Quest 2010, ASK (Australia) for the past 15 years.
What is you favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? The dogs, moose stew at McCabe Creek, cinnamon buns at Braeburn.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Working and the Dogs, renewing friendships.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Open eyes, ears, and a warm sleeping bag.
Sharon Hartshorn
Current Residence: Corrales, New Mexico
Place of Birth: Fort Rucker, Alabama
Nationality: American
Family members: Husband Tony Martinez, no human children!
What are your hobbies? Falconry, hot air ballooning, geocaching.
Have you ever driven a dog team? I had the privilege of meeting Shirley Liss of Faribanks, and was able to go dog sledding with her. I drove a team of 3 dogs for a 90 minute run, and much later a 4 dog team for another 90 kinute run. The dogs taught me so much even in that short a time. I now appreciate wht kind of physical condition a musher must be in to do this day after day!
Do you have sled dogs at home? No sled dogs!
Do you have any other pets? I have 4 dogs (lab mix, Golden Retriever, German Wirehair Pointer), 2 Amazon parrots, 3 hawks (1 red-tail hawk and 2 Harris hawks), a geriatric green iguana, and a fish pond.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? I wanted to work a sled dog race for many years. I follow the Quest and the Iditarod online every year. Once I finally got a chance to drive a dog team, that strengthened my desire to be a part of one of these great races. I am looking forward to another adventurous learning experience!
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? An excellent nutrition and health care program. A training program designed to get the dogs to top physical and mental form and maintain the condition without overtaxing them is also extremely important.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Awareness of the physical and mental condition of the dogs. A musher must be able to stay ahead of his dogs as much as possible to prevent problems before they happen, whether the problems are related to their energy balance, foot problems, or mental fitness.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and / or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? I was trail veterinarian in the 2011 Copper Basin 300 and the 2011 Yukon Quest.
What is you favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Watching one of the last teams to leave Tolsona Lake very late at night (or was it very early in the morning) during the 2011 CB300, the aurora came out and arched over the lake and over the dog team and was dancing through the sky. We were all so tired, but had to stop and watch. It was just about perfect.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? I am looking forward to the entire experience, from learning more about the care and training of racing dogs to meeting the various people along the trail.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? I plan on bringing an open mind for learning, a sense of adventure – and lots of hand warmers!
Gregg Davis Phillips
Current Residence: Rosemount
Place of Birth: Minnesota
Nationality: American
Family members: Wife Jill, Rachel (16), Noah (17), Emily (16), Megan (16).
What are your hobbies? Playing guitar, bike riding.
Have you ever driven a dog team? I owned and operated a team of Siberian Huskies for 15 years.
Do you have sled dogs at home? Not anymore.
Do you have any other pets? Golden Retriever, Tuxedo Boston Terrier.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? I was a musher before I was a vet. Although my dogs have gone to the great kennel in the sky, I still get to be involved with sled dogs.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Nutrition, conditioning, good parasite control.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Food, wrist and shoulder care, knowing when to rest, knowing when NOT to run.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and / or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a veterinarian? I worked in the vet teams for the 2004-05-06-07-08 Yukon Quest, the 2009 and 2010 Finnmarkslopet, the 2009-20-11 Beargrease, etc.
What is you favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? I love the energy of the dogs even after 1,000 miles on the trail.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? I’ve not worked this race for 3 years. I’m looking forward to the mushers, the dogs, my veterinary colleagues and the people along the trail.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Handwarmers, dry socks, a good attitude and a good work ethic.
Please share any additional stories from the Yukon Quest or other sled dog races that you feel demonstrate excellence in canine care and or personify the spirit of the Yukon Quest: The dogs are always more well rested than the mushers because the mushers work on / with the dogs while they're resting. The dogs always come first.
Christina Hansen
Current Residence: Fairbanks, Alaska
Place of Birth: New York
Nationality: American
Family Members: Sue and RichHansen (parents, 55 and 61, Huntley, IL), Steve Hansen (brother, 28, Woodstock, IL), Jason (boyfriend, 34, Fairbanks, AK)
What are your hobbies?: Camping, running, hunting, skiing, knitting.
Have you ever driven a dog team? Once, it was great!
Do you have sled dogs at home? Maybe one day...
Do you have any other pets? Cat (Adak), Conure (Pluto), Dr. Evil (Iguana), Mac (Horse)
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? I love being a veterinarian, being outside, and traveling, this lets me do all three at the same time. I also get to meet and work with wonderful people from around the world.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Prevention. Dogs run well if they are healthy, happy, well fed, and well trained.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail?
Proper nutrition and foot care.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a Veterinarian? I was a trail vet for the 2010-11 Quest. I also vetted the 2009-2011 Copper Basin 300, the 2009-10 Taiga 300, and the 2009 Gin Gin 200
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race?
Oh I have so many. My birthday has been during the Quest for the last 2 years and the folks on the trail have made them wonderful. I also really like curling at the Carmacks checkpoint.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest?
Being out on the trail, seeing old friends, meeting the new vet team, and of course the amazing dogs.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Ear Plugs
Nene Wolfe
Current Residence: Juneau, Alaska
Place of Birth: Sao Paulo, Brezil
Nationality: American
Family members: Phil Reeves, my husband.
What are your hobbies? Sea Kayaking, music, sailing, hiking, travelling.
Have you ever driven a dog team? Once with Jack Niggermyer, a long time ago.
Do you have sled dogs at home? No.
Do you have any other pets? Cats and birds.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? Was initially invited in 1999.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Attitude, exercise, diet, good health.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Attitude, diet, health.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and / or other sled dog races youhave volunteered with as a veterinarian? YQ 1999 on to present (on and off), Iditarod 1994 to 2004, Copper Basin 04-06, Percy DeWolfe 04.
What is you favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Have many... hard to pin one down. Willomitzer and Schnuelle at Scroggie Creek in a very stinky wall tent with drying/thawing booties dripping onto the wood stove.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Fellow volunteers, mushers, dogs, scenery.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Attitude, boots, clothing.
Mercedes Pinto
Current Residence: Fairbanks, Alaska
Place of Birth: Omak, WA
Nationality: American
Family Members: Mike Ferrell husband
What are your hobbies?: Anything that gets me out in the wilds! I also love to cook, read, travel, and spend time with my family, friends, an pets.
Have you ever driven a dog team? Just once. I managed not to dump the sled :)
Do you have sled dogs at home? No sled dogs, just rescue.
Do you have any other pets?2 dogs, 4 cats, 2 ferrets, the one in my profile picture is Amador, who we adopted from the Fairbanks shelter.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? A friend asked if I would be willing to give it a try. I did, and I am hooked!
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Preventive medicine--diet, vaccines, conditioning, dealing with any issues right away.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Keeping up with constantly changing conditions-it is the little things the mushers do minute by minute and hour by hour that keep their dogs healthy and safe.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a Veterinarian? Quest last year is it so far.
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? The time I spent at Slaven's cabin. An incredible place full of wonderful people. Plus, I loved being able to meet all of the mushers and all of the dogs.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Everything!
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? My sense of adventure.
Please share any additional stories from the Yukon Quest or other sled dog races that you feel demonstrate excellence in canine care and/or personify the spirit of the Yukon Quest: One of my favorite memories comes from a walk I took while in Dawson City. I passed a couple of Team Tsuga's siberians out for a walk with their handlers. These dogs had run 500 miles, rested for about 12 hours, and looked to be the happiest and healthiest dogs in the world. They were bright eyed, playful, energetic, and more than ready to hit the trail again.
Katherine Van Duine
Current Residence: Anchorage, Alaska
Place of Birth: Delaware
Nationality: American
Family Members: Jordan Van Duine- Husband 33yrs old
What are your hobbies? Loving on and playing with my dogs, working on my new house and garden.
Have you ever driven a dog team? I have not driven a full team, but I have driven my three malamutes on our small cart and sled
Do you have sled dogs at home? I have three Alaskan Malamutes that I use recreationally. They are slow but lots of fun! These include two males- Moose (4yrs) and Bear (8yrs) and one female- Meeka (4yrs).
Do you have any other pets? I have three cats that spend most of their time sleeping or beating up the Malsmutes!
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? I have loved sled dogs ever since I was introduced to the sport reading novels as a teen. My passion was especially sparked when I saw my first sled dog race in 2002 in Fairbanks. I am inspired by the bond the sled dogs and their handlers share, and I want to be a part of the sport as much as I can.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? I think excellent canine care year-round comes down to excellent husbandry. Dogs (not just sled dogs) have a few certain basic requirements to become healthy happy dogs. These include simple things like a great diet and preventative medicine measures like vaccines and deworming; but also dogs require leadership, structure and physical and mental challenges. Leadership, structure and mental challenges will help foster a health brain and hinder dogs from developing undesirable behaviors. Physical challenges will foster a healthy body and important for the sled dog, it will develop endurance, resilience and strength needed for racing.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? I think the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail is excellent observation and individual dog examination. These examines are not only the veterinarians job, but more importantly, the musher’s. The musher’s know their dogs better than anyone else. If they can pick up on a slight change in one of their dogs early, we can potentially identify a problem before it completely manifests itself. Disease or illness of any type or severity in the sled dogs can then be diagnosed and treated as early as possible providing the best prognosis or outcome.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a Veterinarian? I volunteered for many races including the 2010 and 2011 Yukon Quests.
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race?
I have many favorite memories but the ones that stick out most in my mind are the quiet moments at checkpoints when I would “catch” a musher loving on his/ her dogs. Seeing those private moments inspires me to be the best vet I can be.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? I don’t even know where to start! Everything- Last year there were so many strong leaders, I can’t wait to see who returns for their chance to win!
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? The most important thing(s) I will bring on the trail is my open ears, eyes and mind! I hope I can help provide excellent veterinary care to the sled dogs while learning more about the athletes, sport and culture of dog mushing! Of course I won’t forget my camera!
Christine Christensen
Current Residence: Frederick, MD
Place of Birth: Decatur, GA
Nationality: American
Family Members: Dave, my husband and 2 daughters: Raina (10 yrs) and Madigan (7 yrs)
What are your hobbies? Yoga, aquariums, and spending time with family
Have you ever driven a dog team? Not yet
Do you have sled dogs at home? No
Do you have any other pets? 3 dogs (beagle, poodle mix and beaglemixed with something obnoxious), 3 cats, guinea pigs, a hamster, frogs, a lizard and lots of aquariums.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? The opportunity to support the mushers and dogs while enjoying the outdoors up North
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Top notch nutrition and training
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail?Attentiveness
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a Veterinarian? Yukon Quest 2006 and 2011; Iditarod 2006; and Chatanika Challenge 2004-2006
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race?
Standing on the banks of the Yukon River at 3am watching the red and purple Aurora Borealis
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Being back up North in the winter, seeing familiar faces, and meeting new people from all over the globe
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Army-issue Extreme Cold Vapor Barrier Boots (aka bunny boots) and an untiring positive attitude.
Dennis Griffin
Current Residence: Wausau, Wi
Place of Birth: Fort Dodge Iowa
Nationality: American
Family Members: Peggy (wife) 50, Katie 33, David 31, Kathleen 22, Vincent 19, Andrea 16.
What are your hobbies? Gardening, farming, skiing.
Have you ever driven a dog team? No.
Do you have sled dogs at home? No.
Do you have any other pets? 2 beagles, 1 border-collie, 1 Englsih Spriner spaniel
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? To experience the "Quest".
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Experience and social interaction.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail?Nutrition and attention to detail.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a Veterinarian? BearGrease 99, Iditarod 2000-2011, Race to the Sky 2010, 100 Anniversary Running of the Sweepstakes All Alaska 2008.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? "Experience the trail", meeting the people.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Warm gear!
Per Eirik Hem
Current Residence: Mosjoen, Norway
Place of Birth: Norway
Nationality: Norwegian
Family Members: Dad, Mum and sister
What are your hobbies? Skiing, hiking, fishing, mountainering, photography, traveling,rock climbing, sea kayaking, vetting sled dogs
Have you ever driven a dog team? No
Do you have sled dogs at home? No
Do you have any other pets? No
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? Be part of of one of the long sleddog races,experience the wilderness,meet interesting people,learn more about the dogs and sleddog races.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Make sure the dogs are happy,well fed and well trained for the races.That they are paid attetion to outside of racing season as well.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail?
Observant mushers,good nutrition and efficiency at check points so dogs get to rest as much as possible.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a Veterinarian? 4 x Finnmarkslopet, Norway
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Experiencing the wilderness in Alaska/Canada and meeting the vet team and mushers
Donna Russel-Swope
Current Residence: Fairbanks, AK
Place of Birth: Walnut Creek, CA
Nationality: American
Family Members: Greg Swope
What are your hobbies? Dogs, sup surfing, skiing, fishing.
Have you ever driven a dog team? Yes, trained with Julie Estey in 2008.
Do you have sled dogs at home? Not yet!
Do you have any other pets? Toklat - chocolat lab, 8 yearold pup and goofball.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? The dogs and enjoy learning from the vets. It is an honor to be part of this team.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? Nutrition, training, attentive musher.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? Attentive musher.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a Veterinarian? Long time volunteer and third year as a vet assistant. Also work CB300 and Open North American, Gin Gin.
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race? Always enjoy a quiet moon light evening, -40 below and listening to a team come in the checkpoint.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest? Being with the dogs, new adventures, people and what color of hair Dr. Pinto will have!
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail? Attitude and big coffee cup!
Hanna E. Fredriksen
Current Residence: Ikornnes, Norway
Place of Birth: Oslo, Norway
Nationality: Norwegian
Family Members: Boyfriend Per Eirik, one sister, one brother, mum and dad.
What are your hobbies? Mountainering, skiing, hiking, dogmushing by good friends, traveling and my dog.
Have you ever driven a dog team? I have trained and mushed sleddog for a few years. The fascination and the great feeling to work together with this fantastic dogs in a team is amazing.
Do you have sled dogs at home? One sled dog terrier!
Do you have any other pets? I have a Parson Russel Terrier that belives he is a sleddog! And he is! He has his own harness and love to train together with the huskies in the team.
What motivated you to become a Yukon Quest Veterinarian? To experience a sleddog race outside Europe. To learn more about this race and sleddogs. And to experience Alaska/Canadas wilderness and meet a lot of new people.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care year-round? To work with the dogs all year round. To know each dog individually and build a team that are happy and trust the musher on the trail.
What do you believe is the most important aspect of excellent canine care on the trail? To have enough knowledge about each dog in the team to be able to pick up small changes and details along the trail.
Please outline your previous experience with the Yukon Quest and/or other sled dog races you have volunteered with as a Veterinarian?
It is my first time at the YQ. But I have volunteered several times as a vet on many of the longdistance sleddog races in Norway; Finnmarkslopet, Femundslopet, Pasvik Trail, Gausdal Maraton.
What is your favorite memory from a previous Yukon Quest or other sled dog race?
Have a lot of good memories from many different races! But I will never forget my first race ever – as a handler. The impression of over 1000 dogs standing in the starting area and the magical atmosphere with hundreds of dogs resting in the straw in the checkpoints was overwhelming! I never stopped to love this sport and this fantastic athletes after that!
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Yukon Quest?
To experience a new race, learn more about sleddogs, meet a lot of new people and to experience the wilderness of Alaska/Canada.
What is the most important item you will bring with you along the trail?
Open mind and a sense of adventure. Unfortunately my loving and famous “octopus” (boot dryer) have to be left back in Norway!
