Rohn to Nome

Rohn to Nome: The Journey Continues

Thanks for visiting the site! My name is Rohn Buser, the team and I are gearing up to run the 2026 Iditarod. I am inviting you to support us in the upcoming racing season. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to make it to the starting line, and this is where you can help! Between the dog food, equipment, entry fees, vet care, and travel expenses, putting together a successful racing season is always a challenge. Donating even $5 gets us one set of dog booties closer to the finish line in Nome, and the team and I greatly appreciate your support!

About the Team

The group of dogs that will be vying for a slot on the race team could well be the most talented bunch of dogs that I have ever worked with. Almost all of the dogs in the team were born and raised here at the kennel. They come from championship bloodlines, and have already started to prove themselves-finishing well in various mid distance races. We have been building an experience base with the team over the last few seasons and are finally ready to confidently enter the Iditarod- the ultimate challenge for a team of sled dogs. By supporting the team, you make it possible for these dogs to reach their full potential!

About Rohn

I am a father to two amazing kids, Kaladin and Elowen. Together my wife, Alyssa, and I own and operate Susitna Sled Dog Adventures. I am a second generation dog musher. I grew up surrounded by Iditarod sled dogs, and learned how to mush from my father Martin Buser, who is a four time Iditarod Champion. I was named after an Iditarod checkpoint. Dog mushing is in my blood. I have finished the Iditarod three times, running dogs out of my parents’ Happy Trails Kennel. I am a champion of the Jr. Iditarod, Knik 200, Kuskokwim 300, and Denali Doubles. Over the last two seasons, I have competed in several mid-distance races such as the Knik 100, Knik 200, Yukon Quest 300, and most recently the Kobuk 440 where we achieved a Third Place finish and Rookie of the Year. I am looking forward to getting myself and the team ready for Iditarod 2026!

About The Race Season

We are planning on participating in a few mid-distance races this upcoming season. The main focus will be Iditarod, but as of right now our race schedule will probably look like this:

December: Knik 100

January: Copper Basin 300, Kuskokwim 300

March: Iditarod

April: Kobuk 440

Race season by the numbers

Dog mushing is expensive. I will work on putting together a more detailed breakdown of the costs involved in getting out on the race trail, but here are some quick numbers:

Iditarod entry fee: $2,000 (Usually $4,000. 50% Sponsored this year by Iditarod expedition musher Kjell Inga Røkke)

Food Drops for Iditarod: roughly 1,500 pounds of supplies, mostly dog food, at a cost of somewhere between $1.50-$2.50 per pound.

Air freight: Cost to ship out the food drops is generally somewhere around $1,200-$1,500 to fly the supplies out on the trail. Cost to fly the dogs back from the finish line is somewhere around $1,000-$2,000

Dog Booties: Current price for dog booties is right around $1.16 per bootie.I am expecting to wear through approximately 4,000 individual dog booties over the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Equipment: Harnesses, Sleds, Gear. A distance racing sled costs somewhere around $3,000-$4,000. With the amount of miles we run throughout a season, harnesses for the dogs need to routinely be replaced, gear for the musher gets worn out with repeated use, so we are constantly replacing equipment a little bit at a time.

Food: Probably the single largest expense. During the winter, the dogs eat a ton of food- literally 2,000 lbs of just the dry dog food- every month. That equates to $3,300 a month from November to April. We also feed tons of raw meat to our dogs as well, which substantially adds to the food bill. They eat the healthiest and highest performance diet possible, because that is what they deserve!

Join the Team!

By donating to our race efforts, you become part of the team! We can’t do it without your support. I will give regular updates as the season progresses, so be sure to sign up on the mailing list!

We are excited to launch the official Rohn to Nome 2026 Sponsorship Program! This season, we’ll be doing a tiered fundraising system (and giving out cool swag) to help support our racing efforts. There’s a way for everyone to be part of the team:

Artwork Sponsor – $25

Receive our official 2026 Rohn to Nome sticker and a personalized thank-you card.

T-Shirt Sponsor – $100

Get a limited edition 2026 “Rohn to Nome” t-shirt.  This will be a limited run of shirts, available for the 2025-2026 mushing season only! You also get a sticker and thank-you card. 

Dog Sponsor – $500

Your name will appear on our website and on our exclusive dog sponsor list. You’ll also receive a printed and signed portrait of your sponsored team member. You will also receive a T-shirt, sticker, and card. 

Premier Sponsor – $1,000+

Your name or logo will ride with us throughout the season—featured on the sled bag and parka during the races, and also appear on our website.

Subscribe to Our Mailing List to get updates:

Sponsor a Dog and become part of our team in a truly meaningful way.

Thanks for supporting the team, see you on the trail!

Visit Us in Talkeetna!

If you’re looking for an unforgettable Alaska experience, come meet the dogs in person! We offer year round dog sled tours giving you a chance to see the dogs in action, learn about mushing, and support our kennel. Susitna Sled Dog Adventures.