In this episode from the Team & Trail archives, Michele Forto opens the November 2001 issue and looks at what the sport of mushing was talking about just months after 9/11. From the sled dog community supporting search dogs at Ground Zero to Doug Swingley’s historic Iditarod run, race calendars, club reports, classifieds, and preparations for another winter, this issue captures a moment in mushing history that went far beyond the finish line.

It is also a reminder of what Team & Trail did best: preserve the everyday record of the sport and the people who kept it moving between the major races.

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In this special re-air from The Dog Driver Show archives, Dr. Robert Forto and Kourosh Partow sit down with musher Ron Hayden for a conversation about racing, building a team, dryland mushing, and the future of sled dog sports.

Ron also talks about the possibility of traveling to Alaska with Mandy Collins to experience the state's racing circuit firsthand. It's a trip that could put them on some legendary Alaska trails and introduce them to a racing community known for welcoming mushers from outside the state.

The conversation turns toward where mushing may be headed over the next five to ten years. Ron sees continued growth in dryland racing, particularly smaller classes and mono-sports. These events offer a more accessible entry into mushing for people who may not have the ability or desire to maintain a kennel of ten, fifteen, or twenty dogs.

Originally heard on The Dog Driver Show, this episode offers an interesting look back at a conversation about a part of the sport that continues to introduce new people to working with dogs.

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Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.

Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at podcast@mushing.com

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© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved

What does it take to keep an elite sled dog kennel thriving through one of Alaska's coldest winters?

In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Kourosh Partow welcome accomplished open-class musher Riley Parker from Salcha, Alaska. Riley shares what it is really like to manage a kennel of 35 sled dogs while balancing family life, racing, gardening, and running a growing herbal business.

The conversation explores how Riley and her kennel partner divide responsibilities while Gary is away flying as a professional pilot, how they adapted their kennel during weeks of temperatures approaching 60 below zero, and the planning required to keep the dogs healthy and conditioned through one of the harshest winters in recent memory.

Riley also discusses developing young race dogs, preparing for Alaska's biggest sprint races, breeding decisions that have shaped their kennel for years, homeschooling their son through mushing, and why building strong relationships with dogs begins long before race day.

From championship racing to growing medicinal herbs and producing local honey, this episode offers an inside look at one of Alaska's mushing families and the lifestyle that supports success on and off the trail.

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Like this episode? Share it with your mushing friends!

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Join the On-Air Media Coaching waitlist for a chance to get coached on the air by Rober and get your podcast questions answered in real time.

Apply now to the Team and Trail Foundation funding page and get support to turn your outdoor, education, or community project into a real impact.

Apply for the Mushing® Media Accelerator and get deeper support and expert guidance tailored to your specific sponsorship and media goals. Email us at podcast@mushing.com

Follow Mushing® for more muhsing news, insights, and more: Facebook | X | Instagram

You can contact us here: Podcast@mushing.com

© 2010-2026 by Mushing® All Rights Reserved