Perry Solmonson, 47, was born in Colorado. When he was five, his father was transferred to Alaska with the Air Force and he lived here until 1976. He finished his last two years of high school in California. Perry began mushing in 1995 and says he was interested in the Iditarod since it started. He was the Red Lantern winner in the 2005 Iditarod, his first. Perry says, “It’s an adventure of a lifetime. I enjoy being a part of the celebration of volunteerism that drives this great event. To share a goal with my dogs and work together to achieve a bonding relationship that seems to equal no others.” For the last 25 years, Perry has been the owner of Prince William Sound Kayak Center in Whittier. He’s a member of the Iditarod Trail Committee, Inc., Mush with P.R.I.D.E. and the Washington Mid-Distance Mushers. He says his special interests are sea kayaking, rock climbing, skiing and sled building. Perry and his wife, Lois, have two children, Mira, 7 and Anders, 5.