About Frank

Frank grew up in the big city of Toronto. He has a master in social work degree with focus in community developement.

 

In 1973 a friend wanted Frank to join her on vacation in the Yukon. Frank wanted to go to Mexico. They decided to flip a coin. Frank lost and the rest is history!

 

Since then Frank has built up his mushing business and spent a lot of time working with First Nation communities.

 

 

 

 

 

In 1984 Frank started down the race trail - one of the few Canadians to enter the very first Yukon Quest: a marathon soon labelled "the toughest race on earth". He has entered the race every year since, except in 2006 when his son ran instead. He is the only musher to have run so many. In 1995 he set the record for fastest time (10 days, 16 hours and 22 minutes) - a record that stood for 12 years. However even more important, he finished with 10 dogs, more than any of the other top five teams.

 

Frank knows the 1000-mile trail between Whitehorse and Fairbanks better than anyone, and has thousands of stories to tell about his years on the Yukon Quest trail.

 

 

 

 

Frank is known for more than winning the Yukon Quest: he has also received international recognition for dog care.

 

In 1991, the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company in Alaska created the Vet's Choice Award for exceptional care of dogs in the Yukon Quest and Frank was the first recipient. He received the award again in 2001. Only one other musher has won this prestigious award twice: Frank's friend and fellow Quest champion John Schandelmeier. The objective always is to finish the race with happy, healthy dogs and every year Muktuk Adventures makes this a top priority.

 

As well as running in the Yukon Quest, in 1991 Frank went on an expedition to Siberia and he has been on two more Artic trips since including one in 2000 with his Japanese friend Kazuo Kojima. They travelled from Cambridge Bay to Grise Fjord in Nunavut (1600km across the Artic). He has also entered a number of shorter races: Percy DeWolfe, Carbon Hill, & Copper Basin 300.

 

 

Frank is always interested in finding ways to contribute to the Whitehorse and Yukon community. He welcomes students at the kennels and has helped to raise funds for the Yukon Learning Disabilities Association and for the Special Olympics.