Monica Zappa poses for a photo at the finish line in Nome on Saturday March 21, 2015 during Iditarod 2015.

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Growing up in Wisconsin, Monica Zappa was accustomed to being around sled dogs due to the fact that her parents mushed and competed in mid-distance races. After years of being away from mushing and earning various college degrees- a B.S. in Meteorology and a M.S. in Geography- Monica eventually had the thought of heading to Alaska in order to pursue mushing. With just a backpack, bike, and a goal, Monica moved in Alaska in June 2010.

Since then, Monica has competed in several mid-distance races. Additionally, Monica has completed the Iditarod four times: 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Monica’s partner, Tim Osmar, is also an accomplished musher; he has completed the Iditarod 23 times and he also won the Yukon Quest in 2001. Tim and Monica run Osmar Racing and Tours in the Caribou Hills of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. While not racing or providing guided sled dog tours with their Alaskan Huskies, Monica and Tim also commercially salmon fish in the summer.

[photo credit: Terrie Hanke]

In 2017, Monica was recognized as Alaska’s Activist of the Year by the Northern Center. Monica has used mushing as a platform to help raise awareness about the dangers and disastrous effects that mining has had on the salmon populations. Monica’s mission and goal is to protect Alaska’s salmon habitat.

Although Monica is not racing in the Iditarod this year, she plans to race the Iditarod again in the future. Monica has always been a supporter of the Iditarod Education program and she sees the value in teaching about the Iditarod, sled dogs, mushing and Alaska. Monica is currently completing an independent race experience from Nenana to Nome, which follows the journey along the historic route of the 1925 Serum Run.

After reaching out to Monica with some questions to get to know her better, she immediately responded with some awesome information and answers. Check out her following responses:

Who has been your most influential teacher, mentor or coach? Why did you admire this person?

In the world of mushing, that has to be my partner, Tim Osmar. He has taught me about everything about mushing and racing. His patience is second to none and that is one of the things I admire most about him and his perseverance in the long haul. His mantra is tough, diligent and organized. That’s our goal. My other heroes are truly some of my dogs. They are my true teachers, because on the trail it is just me and them, and that’s what matters. They care deeply about me and I care deeply for them, that’s what matters. 

What is one of your favorite memories from being on the trail?

Oh, so many. Lots of fun memories with my lead dog Blue Steel. One time he disappeared on me in the middle of the Yukon River! It was cold, dark, so very dark and [we were] miles from anywhere. I had a dog in my basket and I was leaning down to mess with him and get him comfortable when all of the sudden we stopped. All the dogs were in a big bundle and I had to try to figure out how to untangle them. Normally, the first thing I do is find the leader. I searched all around in the ball of dogs, and Blue Steel was nowhere! I got them untangled and he still was missing. His leader snap had frozen open and he was gone! I kept thinking he was playing a trick on me, some kind of magic trick or something. I was very sleep deprived and wasn’t sure if I was hallucinating, but after a few minutes, I came to realize this was for real, and I was now in trouble because without my lead dog, I was going nowhere. That’s about when I realized there were wolves. I instantly got scared. Did Blue Steel run off to join the wild? Or, did they get him? Are they after us next? The human mind can do mean things when you are along on the Yukon without your lead dog. Luckily, after 10 very long and worried minutes, he came trotting back to us from the dark. I was so happy to see him and we could continue on. 

Monica Zappa Congratulates her dogs at the finish line in Nome on Saturday March 21, 2015 during Iditarod 2015.

(C) Jeff Schultz/SchultzPhoto.com – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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Can you recall the most challenging obstacle that you’ve encountered on the trail? What was it and how did you overcome it?

Basically it was more of a lack of something, snow. Trying to mush a dog team across Alaska without snow (which was most lacking my first year of Iditarod 2014) was hands down the biggest challenge of my life. It was so scary, crashing all the time, into trees, into ice, rocks, holes in the ground, stumps, roots…..just all very unforgiving to me and the sled. There have been other parts of the trail over other years that have been very challenging but nothing as scary and nightmarish as going through the Dalzell Burn in 2014. Check out Jeff King’s view for an idea of what it looked like, and honestly, it was so much worse. I had to stop my team going straight down a mountain because there was a snowmachine tipped upside down in the trail and there was 3 inches of glare ice on the mountain. None of us could even stand up, let alone try to walk or drive a sled. I just kept going because I had planned to do the race and there were still others in front of me that had made it through and I didn’t have any broken bones and my sled still worked. Just keep going. 

When did you begin mushing? Who or what influenced you?

I have to say my parents were a big influence because I was raised with sled dogs and they ran races in the Midwest when I was a kid. I never in a million years dreamed that I would be a dog musher, but after they sold the team when I was about 12 I was without dogs for about 15 year of my life. It was at this time when it hit me that I needed to be with dogs and I moved to Alaska to try mushing again. 

Do you have a “favorite dog story or moment” that you’d be willing to share?

I have several books going about my favorite dog, Dweezil. And still, no words can describe the relationship and life we had together. He was my companion, my lead dog, my rock and my light. He passed this year just before his 5th birthday after over a year-long struggle with heart disease. His whole story holds both the saddest and happiest memories of my life and I doubt anything or anyone will be able to top him anytime soon. I miss him so very dearly. 

Spectators clap and cheer on Monica Zappa on Long Lake during the Restart of the 2016 Iditarod in Willow, Alaska. March 06, 2016. (C) Jeff Schultz/SchultzPhoto.com – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DUPLICATION PROHIBITED WITHOUT PERMISSION

What advice would you give someone who is interested in getting  into mushing?

You have to love the dogs more than anything and give them a chance to please you and do what is right for them. Being dedicated to the dogs on a day after day basis is the hardest thing; you don’t get any days off. It is not a job or a way to be famous, but rather, it is a lifestyle, every day. You must be tough, (being uncomfortable is something you must be able to do for long periods of time), diligent (every single day), and organized (there is just an innumerable amount of aspects to this and you have to keep it all straight). I also believe in this mantra, for anything; People who make it look easy, work harder, prepare more and take nothing for granted.  I would emphasize that last one, nothing for granted. Do the students get that one? I am learning it on a daily basis. 

What is your favorite book?

Chop Wood Cary Water: A Guide to Finding Spiritual Fulfillment in Everyday Life. Written by Rick Fields, Rex Weyler, and Peggy Taylor

Who is your favorite musical artist and what is your favorite song?

Depends on the day. Love the amazing females that are killing it: Lady Gaga, Maren Morris, Beyoncé, Jewel. You can feel their power and their aspirations are bigger than life and they just roll with it. 

Were there moments when you were bored or lonely on the trail? If so, what did you do to pass the time?

Yes, lots of time you are bored, but never lonely. I always feel that I have company with my dog team. Never lonely. But yes bored on the back of the sled, get tired of staring at dog butts. I listen to music or do exercises on the back of the sled or day dream about how to fight the big mining companies. 

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