Q & A with Nicole Forto
Location: Willow, Alaska
Occupation: Dog Trainer and Business Owner
Next Adventure:
Teaching the 2025 Dog Mushing course at UAA and APU.
Read More Profiles
- Robert Forto
Nicole Forto grew up around sled dogs and ran in her first race when she was three years old. She is the successor to the mini-media empire that is all things Mushing Magazine an you will see her name around for the next fifty years.
Nicole is a veteran of two Junior Iditarod’s and also one of the instructors for two college dog mushing classes in Alaska.
One Race I Dream of Racing Is...
The Fur Rondy. I think it would be a blast.
One Place I Dream of Mushing Is...
in Sweden.
My Biggest Pet Peeve Is...
WET SOCKS.
One Thing I Can't Live Without...
dogs of course.
The Greatest Advice I Ever Got Was...
“trust the dogs, let them teach you.”
The Sled I'm Running Most Right Now Is...
the hockey stick sled, made by Adnac, that’s as old as I am.
My Biggest Blunder Was...
over snacking dogs when it’s too hot during a race.
I Learned...
to trust my own instincts about the conditions and how the dogs are feeling rather than going by a schedule.
The Hardest Part About Doing My Dream Mushing Trip Is...
the amount of time it would take.
My Best Advice For Young Mushers Is...
don’t feel pressured into a racing world, mushing can be just you running your dogs.
Happiness Is...
silence out on an empty trail.
My Most Challenging Race/Expedition Was...
my first Willow Jr 100.
What Scares Me The Most Is...
wildlife out on the trail.
My Favorite Trail Meal Is...
musher’s trail mix (peanuts, cashews, chocolate chips, goldfish, and craisins).
The True Gift Of Mushing Is...
enjoying the dogs above all else.
One Thing I Will Never Do Again Is...
race in long distance races.
