HUMAN

Name: David Delcourt

Age: 38
Residence: Willow, Alaska

Occupation: Lead packager at Denali Brewing

First Year Ran Iditarod: 2017

How Many Years Involved With Iditarod: 4 years

Iditarod Role: Musher, handler, volunteer

Current Location: Willow Museum, Willow, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 7, 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, one, the dogs themselves, and two, the opportunity to be out in the middle of nowhere, moving, and the solitude of it. The first time you get to experience it, there’s nothing else like it.

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

 

I got involved running the Iditarod because, in 2014, I was handling for Ray Redington and he kind, of out of the blue, asked me if I was interested. And I had not ever been interested before. I thought everyone that ran was insane. But when someone gives you that opportunity, it is really hard to say no.

 

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

 

My most memorable experience running the Iditarod is the sunset that happened running along the coast. And it is still, to this day, the most breathtaking sunset I have ever seen. It was a cloudy day. The sun was a deep red color and the clouds around, it just radiated that red light in this sea of white and gray, and it felt like I was in another world. It’s still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

What in life do you know for sure?:

 

What I know for sure in life is that, when you’re running dogs, if something’s not going wrong, you’re not doing it right.