Musher Details

2012 Iditarod » Mushers » Bob Chlupach

Bob Chlupach

Bib Number: 49
Hometown: Willow, Alaska


Biography

Bob’s dad’s family immigrated to America through Ellis Island in 1859. His mother’s family immigrated pre 1900. Bob’s dad was raised as a farm boy during the great depression. He walked to school every day of his life to the railroad town of Manley, Iowa. His mother was the daughter of a railroad switch tower man at Manley. Her mother was a school teacher. Bob’s father worked his whole life as a railroad brakeman/conductor, while his mother was a telegrapher for Western Union. Bob, 63, was born and raised in Mason City, Iowa, completing high school in Mason City and college at ISU, Ames, Iowa.

During the summers while attending college, Bob worked for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the last two summers for Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Upon graduation with a Fisheries and Wildlife Biology degree he worked several seasons in southeastern Alaska, before being hired on as a permanent fishery biologist.

Working in Juneau, the sports headlines for the two Anchorage newspapers were not of pro-basketball or pro-football, but instead of sled dog racing events. He became enamored with sled dogs and moved to south-central Alaska and by the mid 70’s had a sled dog team. He was close friends with two noted Siberian husky families, that of Darrel and Angie Reynolds and world renowned Siberian husky breeders Earl and Natalie Norris.

Bob was greatly influenced by Darrel and to this day, his spirit is thought of daily. He entered his first Iditarod and completed it in 1977, subsequently, entering and completing 10 Iditarods over four decades. He ran the 2012 Iditarod in the fifth decade, his first race since 2001.

Living in Willow his post college life, he has one daughter, Melissa, who is a dietician for the Alaska Native Hospital and API. Bob is grandfather to Josephine, Melissa’s daughter.

Since retirement he has worked as a carpenter and professional sports fishing guide.

Though his dog kennel is not all Siberian huskies, he will be running a predominately Siberian husky team, with Siberians bred from within the kennel. He has watched the race exponentially evolve, but despite all the new technologies, he is looking forward to renewing old friendships in the villages along the way. Too, the undeniable beauty and sense of freedom continues to harbor in Bob’s psyche. Through the years Bob has attempted to teach the art, science and psychology of the sled dog world.

Sponsors

Well known Siberian Breeder--Lower 48
Frances Underwood, WA
Cecile Hoovler, WA
Jane Barnes
Rick Outwin
Linda & Larry Cline/Gigglewood Lakeshore Inn
Pastor Cheryl Newsome

Larry Lubonty, NY
Gail Castongray, NH
Lev Shvarts
Underdog Feeds
Dee & Mike Jonrowe
Cheryle Packard, WA


2012 Standings

Checkpoint Time In Dogs In Time Out Dogs Out Rest Time Previous Layover Status Distance
Enroute Time Speed (mph) 8hr 24hr
Anchorage 3/03 11:43:00 12
Willow 3/04 15:34:00 16
Yentna Station 3/04 20:10:00 16 3/05 00:58:00 15 4h 48m 4h 36m 9.13 42
Skwentna 3/05 04:37:00 15 3/05 09:57:00 15 5h 20m 3h 39m 8.22 30
Finger Lake 3/05 17:31:00 15 3/06 00:54:00 15 7h 23m 7h 34m 5.29 40
Rainy Pass 3/06 05:24:00 15 3/06 12:00:00 15 6h 36m 4h 30m 6.67 30
Rohn 3/06 17:24:00 15 3/07 00:52:00 15 7h 28m 5h 24m 6.48 35
Nikolai 3/07 18:10:00 15 3/08 03:08:00 15 8h 58m 17h 18m 4.34 75
McGrath 3/08 11:24:00 15 3/09 12:12:00 15 24h 48m 8h 16m 5.81 ✔ 48
Takotna 3/09 14:26:00 15 3/09 14:32:00 15 0h 6m 2h 14m 8.06 ✔ 18
Ophir 3/09 17:43:00 15 3/10 01:41:00 15 7h 58m 3h 11m 7.23 ✔ 23
Cripple 3/10 18:26:00 15 3/11 06:45:00 14 11h 19m 16h 45m 4.36 ✔ 73
Ruby 3/11 20:38:00 14 3/12 10:25:00 14 13h 47m 13h 53m 5.04 ✔ ✔ 70
Galena 3/12 18:04:00 14 3/13 06:07:00 14 12h 3m 7h 39m 6.54 ✔ ✔ 50
Nulato 3/13 14:24:00 14 3/13 22:26:00 14 8h 2m 8h 17m 4.47 ✔ ✔ 37
Kaltag 3/14 06:15:00 14 3/14 16:00:00 14 9h 45m 7h 49m 6.01 ✔ ✔ 47
Unalakleet 3/15 16:52:00 14 3/16 00:19:00 14 7h 27m 24h 52m 3.42 ✔ ✔ 85
Shaktoolik 3/16 06:29:00 14 3/16 13:39:00 14 7h 10m 6h 10m 6.49 ✔ ✔ 40
Koyuk 3/16 22:36:00 14 3/17 08:44:00 14 10h 8m 8h 57m 5.59 ✔ ✔ 50
Elim 3/17 15:12:00 14 3/17 19:37:00 14 4h 25m 6h 28m 7.42 ✔ ✔ 48
White Mountain 3/18 04:15:00 14 3/18 12:55:00 14 8h 40m 8h 38m 5.33 ✔ ✔ 46
Safety 3/18 20:26:00 14 3/18 22:45:00 14 2h 19m 7h 31m 7.32 ✔ ✔ 55
Nome 3/19 02:55:10 14 4h 10m 5.28 ✔ ✔ 22