HUMAN

Name: Dakota Schlosser

Age:  28

Residence: Willow, Alaska

Occupation: Heavy Equipment Operator

First Year Ran Iditarod:   2021

How Many Years Involved With Iditarod: 1

Iditarod Role: Musher

Current Location: Iditarod Headquarters, Wasilla, Alaska

Date of Photo: June 27, 2026

Temperature: 62F outdoors

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

What I love about running sled dogs is building a team. I love raising the dogs from puppies. I’ve had a few litters of puppies over the years and building them up from a little puppy to a race dog really means a lot.

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

 

I got involved running the Iditarod because I’ve always been into sled dogs. I grew up running sprint dogs and then when I was a teenager, I did Junior Iditarod a couple times. And after I finished Junior Iditarod I was hooked, I wanted to run the Iditarod.

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

My most memorable experience running the Iditarod probably was … well, I did the Gold Loop Trail, so we were coming back to Willow and I would say running up the gorge was one of them. We left Rohn and there was about a foot of fresh snow and it was a total blizzard coming up the mountain, and I left there about 3:00 in the morning. And then pushing through the snow and got up the mountain, and when I got to the top of Rainy Pass it stopped snowing and it was the perfect sunrise.

Question 4: What in life do you know for sure?

 

What I know in life for sure is got to be happy, and I know I’m always happy when I’m on a dog sled or involved with dogs.