Skagway Dog Demo

Meet Matt Hayashida

Meet 6 time Iditarod finisher Matt Hayashida and his amazing dogs at the Klondike Gold Fields. Matt Hayashida was born in Massachusetts but moved west to pursue his passion for the outdoors. He worked in Wyoming for three years as a river/fishing guide during the summer and a dog sled tour guide in the winter. In 1993, he began mushing for personal ambitions and set his sights on the Iditarod. Matt moved to Alaska in 1993 to work with Martin Buser and has been running dogs almost year-round ever since.

Learn about the Gold Rush

Learn how the gold rush to Alaska changed the Last Frontier. Miners would travel 33 miles each way just to haul supplies into their camps, braving harsh winters and grueling summers in search of Gold. Learn how sled dogs were used to pack supplies in and out of remote areas and how they became the miner’s best companion.

Learn about the Iditarod

Join Matt Hayashida as he teaches about one of the most exciting dog sled races in the world, the Iditarod. Winding through canyons, on top of frozen rivers, through thick forest for over 1000 miles. Learn about the training and mindset involved to undertake a race like this and how much the race has grown.

Meet the Iditarod team!

Meet the dogs that have become Matt Hayashida’s family. These amazing dogs will end up running more than 100 miles every day in the Iditarod. You’ll get a chance to pet them and learn their names so you can follow along with them in their journey across Alaska.