Iditarod Musher Profile

Paul Gebhardt, 53, was born and raised in Minnesota and came to Alaska in 1989 "to escape the rat race of the Lower 48 states."

With a number of top Iditarod finishes, including crossing the finish line in second place twice, Paul Gebhardt, 53, is ready to move into the winner's circle.  After selling out most of his Kasilof-based kennel, and taking a hiatus from the Iditarod in 2002, Paul has demonstrated a remarkable ability to breed and develop a high-caliber dog team in a very short period.  Many of his bloodlines trace back to his Golden Harness Award winning-leader, Red Dog, and with two Leonard Seppala Humanitarian Awards to his name, Paul has proven his devotion to his canine athletes. Unlike most competitive mushers that focus on their kennels as an exclusive profession, Paul is a true "working man's musher".  He is a General Contractor that specializes in custom homes and commercial properties, and together with his wife Evy, operates Aspen Hollow Lodging on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula for seasonal visitors. Paul lives in a custom log home that he built himself, and is one of the few mushers to build his own dog sleds as well. 

Paul is an avid hunter, and true to his Minnesota-born heritage on a family dairy farm, enjoys raising pheasants and horses, as well as gardening. Paul has been racing the Iditarod since 1996, and has won various mid distance events including the Copper Basin 300 and the Tustumena 200.

Paul and Evy are the parents if one adult child, Kristin.