By Joy Davis, Educational Journalist, IN
From zookeeper to musher Colleen Robertia has had quite a journey. She has completed the 2168 mile Appalachian Trail. Now she is ready to help her team go the 1049 miles from Anchorage to Nome.
Colleen said, “For three years I worked as a handler for Dean Osmar, the 1984 Iditarod champion. He gave me my start and I learned a lot about mushing from him. I have also learned a lot from Jon Little, a 4-time Iditarod competitor, who is very open and honest with sharing information with new and up-and-coming mushers.” As a handler Colleen bonded with these dogs only to see them being raced by another musher. She had the desire for her own kennel and to be able to race her dogs.
Today, Colleen has a kennel of 40 dogs. She stated that the kennel consists of several rogues that includes many runts, rescues, and rejects from animal shelters and re-homed dogs from other mushers. The list of expenses for racing seems to grow daily. The expenses include booties, sled parts, food, etc. Family, friends, and savings from her job as a youth counselor are helping fund Colleen’s opportunity to race in the Iditarod. Kassik’s Kenai Brew Stop is also supporting this local sports team. Although Colleen is cutting costs where she can she also stated, “I maintain a high ethical standard for my kennel, so I keep all my dogs regardless of how they perform, which means paying for dogs year round that I will never see a return from through racing. Still I believe it is the right thing to do.”
Colleen believes “anything easy isn’t really worth doing, but anything worth doing is worth doing well.” She finished 12th the first year that she participated in the Yukon Quest. She has finished the Copper Basin many times with her highest finish as 14th. She has finished the Gin Gin 200 twice in 2nd place. Her team took 10th in the Tustumena 200.
Colleen and team have experience in extremely rough terrain and harsh weather conditions. Colleen said, “I have prided myself in never giving up in these conditions while also never compromising the health or well being of my team. I have never had a dog sustain frostbite, and I have twice been given the Humanitarian Award in races for my extraordinary dog care.”
Training and more training is the daily plan. The dogs are getting accustomed to longer run-rest schedules. “I’m lucky to live in an area that offers a diversity of trail conditions from rugged mountains with deep snow, to lowland rivers that are icy and occasionally open, to windy woods trails that include numerous swamps and lakes.”
Along with the mandatory items, Colleen will carry the ashes of two malamutes that lived with a close friend for nearly 13 years. Thor and Isis used to run with Colleen’s geriatric team. She said, “Their ashes will be spread while I’m on the race, so their spirits can be free in one of the wildest and freest parts of the only state they ever called home.”
The preparation for the race began months ago. Colleen and her husband both work full-time jobs while training and operating the kennel without handlers or helpers. So after the team reaches Nome and all return to Kasilof, Colleen plans to go on a long awaited vacation with her husband.
Please visit Colleen’s website at: www.rogueskennel.com
Have a safe trip to Nome, Colleen.
