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Riley Parker on Racing, Resilience, and Life Off the Trail in Alaska

August 29, 2026
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What does it take to keep an elite sled dog kennel thriving through one of Alaska’s coldest winters?

In this episode of the Mushing Podcast, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Kourosh Partow welcome accomplished open-class musher Riley Parker of Salcha, Alaska. Riley offers an unfiltered look at managing a kennel of 35 sled dogs while balancing family life, competitive racing, gardening, and a growing herbal business.

She shares how she and her kennel partner divide responsibilities while he is away flying as a professional pilot, the practical adaptations required when temperatures hovered near 60 below for weeks, and the deliberate planning needed to keep the team healthy and conditioned through one of the harshest winters in recent memory.

The conversation also covers developing young race dogs, preparing for Alaska’s biggest sprint races, the breeding decisions that have shaped their kennel for years, and how they incorporate mushing into homeschooling their son. Riley emphasizes that strong relationships with the dogs are built long before race day.

From championship racing to medicinal herbs and local honey, this episode provides an inside look at one of Alaska’s mushing families and the lifestyle that supports success both on and off the trail.