Mushing in Alaska Passed On to Another Generation

ALASKA  – The Iditarod seems a long way from Stamford but there is a connection through a native son. Neil Eklund graduated from Stamford Central School in 1967 and got his love of the outdoors from his father, Holgar Eklund, and growing up near Stamford.

Eklund, who lives in Alaska,  ran the Iditarod twice in the 1980's, according to relatives. Now  his son, Lauro Eklund, has completed the race. Neil Eklund has been described as a rogue Alaskan adventurer and has written a book about those adventures.

The Iditarod is an annual dog sled race in Alaska, usually taking place in March and traveling 1,000 miles over challenging terrain that includes mountains, frozen rivers and dense forests with extreme weather conditions. It is a tribute to Alaska's history and the role of the sled dogs. In 1925, when the sled dogs were almost no longer used, they were given a mission that no other form of transportation could make, to deliver serum during a blizzard in order to save people from the diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska  

It takes more than a week to complete the race with about 50 competitors. Jesse Holmes won this year's race, finishing in 10 days, 14 hours, 55 minutes and 41 seconds. Lauro Eklund finished this year's race in 14th place. It took him 12 days, 13 hours, 10 minutes and 5 seconds.

Lauro first became interested in dog mushing while spending his childhood on the Yukon River. His father used the sled dogs for transportation and animal trapping, in addition to training for the Iditarod. Lauro grew up exploring the remote and rugged interior with his father and living on a log raft. Each summer they would float down the Yukon River.

Lauro listened to his father's stories of camping and traveling in the Northwest Arctic and of the old timers his father encountered. It piqued his interest to vow he would one day run the Kobuk 440.  It is a mid-distance sled dog race that allows mushers to gain experience to run in the longer races.

According to his Kobuk 440 bio, Lauro purchased his first dog from Lester Erhart in Tanana and has since developed a kennel. He and his father run tours and train at Skookum Expeditions in Two Rivers, outside of Fairbanks. He has been mushing since he was a teenager

He received the Sportsmanship award at the 2023 Yukon Quest 550, along with "Funniest Finish" award at the Copper Basin 300. His funniest finish happened at the finish line, when snow from the sign fell on top of his head. He finished 26th in last year's Iditarod in 11 days, 21 hours, 22 minutes and 30 seconds.

His goals for the 2025 Kobuk 440 were like everyone else's, to finish with a strong team, improve from his last finish and to give the yearling dogs on his team "some great trail experience". He said he was excited for that race because, "Sled dogs are cool and I am looking forward to seeing some of the prettiest country in Alaska and meeting the most welcoming people at the race checkpoints. There is no race like the Kobuk." 

This year he placed fifth in the race and received the Humanitarian award.

Neil Eklund (left) poses with his son, Lauro Eklund, and  his son's sled dog team underneath the start line of the 2024 Iditarod sled dog race in Alaska. It is known as the Last Great Race. The younger Eklund is  following in his father's footsteps by entering the race where he finished 14th this year.