Expeditions
Our expeditions take us out into the wilderness on a longer trek, from the northwoods of Maine and right across Alaska.
Centennial Seppala Expedition 2025
In January of 1925, in the coastal gold mining town of Nome, Alaska, a rampant outbreak of diphtheria was claiming many lives, mostly the lives of children.
A small team of brave mushers agreed to transport antitoxin to the remote village- nearly 750 miles through the low arctic interior, during the blizzard of the century- by the only means possible- dog team.
No dogteam did more to save the children of Nome than the Siberian dogs of Norwegian immigrant, Leonhard Seppala.
With his famed leader, Togo, Seppala mushed over 261 miles in the relay- and risked the treacherous Norton Bay Sea Ice twice in the effort.
January of 2025 marked the one hundred year anniversary of their heroism.
To commemorate this historic event, US Marine, explorer, high school teacher and minister, Jonathan Nathaniel Hayes lead a dogsled expedition- retracing the entire original 750 mile route during the darkest and coldest time of year, across Alaska’s frozen arctic interior, across the Norton Bay sea ice to the village of Nome, Alaska.
His dog team comprised solely of Seppala Siberian Sleddogs, the registered descendants of Leonhard Seppala’s team.
Along the way, the team connected with original relay village schools and churches.
The team consisted of Jonathan Hayes, Jamie Nichols, Jeff Kelley and videographer Caleb Gringas.
Jonathan is now working on the book of the expedition and the filmed documentary will be out at the end of the year.
Togo 261 Expedition 2021
In March of 2021, Jonathan embarked on a 285-mile, unsupported, dog-sled expedition across the Northwoods of Maine with a team of Seppala Siberian Sleddogs. The goal of the 7 day expedition was to raise funds for a monument to Togo the sled dog, at his final resting place in Poland Spring Maine.
Film maker Jeremy Grant of The Timber Cross, followed the expedition to produce this stunning documentary of the expedition. Thanks to the generous support of Native Performance Dog Food, and Poland Spring Resort, the documentary was completed and launched.