HUMAN

Name: Sam Paperman

Age: 22
Residence: Seward, Alaska
Occupation: Qualified member of the engine department on a research boat

First Year Ran Iditarod: This one….2026

Iditarod Role: Musher, handler 

Current Location: Wild Birch Hotel, Iditarod HQ Anchorage

Date of Photo: March 5, 2026
Temperature: 68F, indoors

Question 1: What is it about running sled dogs that you love so much?

What I love about running sled dogs is being able to spend time with my dogs and seeing what they can really excel at and seeing what they’re capable of.

Question 2: What, who or how and when & why did you first get involved running the Iditarod?

 

I got involved running the Iditarod because my friend, Travis Beals, I grew up across the street from him. And just about my whole childhood, I would go over and hang out with his dogs. He was just right across the street and I would just bike over even when I was four or five and go hang out with them. And then when I was five, I got my first dog from him. And then when I turned 14, I started working for him, dog handling at his tour business. And then when I was 16, I ran the Junior Iditarod and Junior Willow, and then have been pursuing running dogs more and more ever since then.

Question 3:  Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences running the Iditarod.

 

Since I’m a rookie, my most memorable experience running is probably the Kobuk 440 in 2025. We got put through quite a harsh storm for about five to 10 hours and it took us about five to 10 hours to go about 40 miles and kicked our ass, but we made it through.

What in life do you know for sure?:

 

What I know for sure in life is that I want to spend time outside, and that’s my happy place.