Melissa Owens Stewart runs with her team on Front Street

Melissa Owens Stewart made her first attempt at Iditarod in 2008.  She finished in 30th place and in doing so claimed the honor of being one of the youngest females to ever complete the Iditarod.  Melissa is also a four-time Jr. Iditarod competitor.  In 2004 at the age of 14, Melissa claimed 13th place out of twenty mushers.  In 2005, Melissa claimed Jr. Iditarod gold.  In 2006 she placed 5th and received the Humanitarian award for outstanding care of her dogs.  In her final Jr. Iditarod, Owens claimed 4th our of a field of 26 mushers.

Melissa was born and raised in Nome.  She says, “My dad ran the Iditarod the year I was born and mushing is in my blood.”  She’s been mushing ever since she could stand on a sled and has wanted to run Iditarod as long as she can remember.  After completing her first Iditarod in 2008 and attempting Nome in 2009 and 2011, Mellissa took a few years off from intense long distance training and racing to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  Melissa has given generously of her time to the Junior Iditarod acting as race marshal for several years.

Melissa and husband, Jason, share the responsibilities of the their kennel.  Melissa says in her race biography, “We’ve decided it is time to come back and run again and show the dogs what it is like to race across Alaska.” 

James Volek stepped up to take a Martin Buser dog team to Nome when Martin’s younger son, Rohn, withdrew.  It’s not like he’s new to dogs or to Happy Trails Kennel.  Volek, who was born in Michigan earned a Degree in Criminal Justice from Northern Michigan University.  Seeking adventure, James came to Southeast Alaska in 2012 to work with dogs on the glacier.  Later he took a job with Happy Trails as a musher/tour guide.  He completed his first Iditarod in 2013 with a team of Buser puppies.   He placed 52nd with a time of 13 days, 9 hours and 12 minutes.  In his second run to Nome, Volek placed 50th with a time of 11 days, 3 hours and 54 minutes.  At the finish line Volek said he was happy to be in Nome.  As far as memorable moments on the trail, he recalled the beauty out side of Unalakleet with the northern lights.

Tim Pappas, also running Buser dogs finished in 51st place.  The rookie Pappas has spent two years working as Martin Buser’s apprentice.  Tim was raised in Wyoming.  In those years he cultivated a deep respect and love for the wilderness and the bond between man and animals.  He’s worked as a hunting guide and has guided wilderness pack trips.  During the winter, before taking up mushing, Tim worked as a ski patroller.  He’s run dog tours on the Mendenhall Glacier outside of Juneau.  Pappas feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to run a phenomenal team of yearlings to Nome.  He earned his coveted Iditarod finisher’s belt buckle with a time of 11 days, 6 hours and 15 minutes.  Tim praised his young dogs saying they exceeded my expectations.  Describing the miles from Anchorage to Nome he said, “It was incredible.  Everyday was beautiful, just beyond words.”