Greatest Canadian Musher?

As this is being written, the 2009 Yukon Quest is winding down...as the race unfolded there were some startling developments that led to significant changes in the overall standings. The winner was a German who has lived in the Yukon for several years and who may in fact be a Canadian citizen. Second place went to an American who lives part-time in the Yukon, third place went to an American living in Alaska, fourth place to another Alaskan and fifth place to another German living in the Yukon.

When we take a look back at famous or great Canadian dog mushers, the question of just who was the greatest Canadian musher of all time presents itself. The fact is, there have been inumerable great mushers of all nationalities...but I am limiting my list to Canadians. What names come to mind?

Currently there are some incredible Canadian mushers on the scene. Blaine (Buddy) Streeper of Fort Nelson British Columbia is a standout, as is his father Terry Streeper. Grant Beck of Yellowknife N.W.T. and his uncle Ray Beck of Rocher River N.W.T. are just two of many outstanding dog mushers from that region. Herb Brade of Vanderhoof British Columbia was a man who broke many barriers and was actually responsible for introducing significant changes in dog mushing into the north. In addition to being an award winning dog musher, Herb Brade was a champion canoe racer (a combination that is really not all that uncommon, perhaps Solomon Carriere of Cumberland House Saskatchewan best personifies this combination).

Emile St. Goddard of the Pas Manitoba was the winner of the sled dog demonstration sport that was held as part of the 1932 Lake Placid Olympics. Sandy Saunderson of Fort St. John British Columbia first travelled with sled dogs in the 1960's as a member of the RCMP in the Yukon and N.W.T. and went on (with two of his sons Rodney and Ross) to become a formidable foe in sled dog racing circles, he was also a canny sled dog breeder with an eye for a "good dog" and he did a great deal to advance those qualities that make Alaskan Huskies the wonder dogs that they are today......whether he used the term or not, Sandy knew a lot about selective breeding.

But my vote for the top Canadian dog musher of all times goes to a Newfie...does that make him a Canadian? Captain Bob Bartlett had a career in the north that is almost too grand to be able to comprehend. He was principally a mariner born into a sea-going family...he captained ships for arctic explorer Robert Peary and in the process mushed dog teams almost to the north pole on more than one occasion. He went on to captain the ill-fated Karluk as part of the Stephanson expedition that was financially sponsored by the Canadian government. When the Karluk went down after being pinned in the ice, Bartlett went on to mush a dog team to Siberia to summon help for the Karluk survivors who were marooned on a small island (Wrangell Island) between Alaska and Russia. As I said, the story is phenomenal and Bartlett's skill with sled dogs is evident on every page of his biography. There are in fact several books written about Bartlett but he authored at least one himself, The Karluk's Last Voyage.

O.K. this is a start, who would like to put forward other names as the greatest Canadian musher of all time?