Iditarod Musher Profile

Hugh Neff, 43, was born in Tennessee. He grew up in Evanston, Illinois and attended Loyola Academy and the University of Illinois. Before moving to Alaska in 1995, Hugh worked as a golf caddy in Evanston, Illinois. He says that he moved to Alaska "running down a dream." After reading one of Lew Freedman's books and hearing Hobo Jim's Iditarod song, Hugh began thinking about someday running the Iditarod. He began mushing in 1994 when he was a handler for Bill Mitchell and the Erharts.

Hugh says, "Racing is an excuse to play with our beloved beasts all over the North." He lists his occupation as dog musher and public speaker. He is a member of Mush with P.R.I.D.E., the IOFC, and the Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout) and says he enjoys "making other people smile."