There and Back Again
Two very different paths somehow crossed on the same trail. Josi and JJ both left their homes and moved to Alaska on their own to pursue their dreams. Fittingly, they met at a sled dog race. Years later, they now own 38 Alaskan Husky sled dogs and live in Two Rivers, AK. "There and Back Again" describes their adventures with the dogs. While they may not know what challenges the trail may have in store, the bond between them and their dogs is what allows them to set out and return safely each and every run.
Josi Shelley
From a 9-year-old with one Siberian Husky dreaming of running the Iditarod to becoming the 2024 Iditarod Rookie of the Year, Josi has been sharing the trail with her elite canine athletes for decades. Her favorite part of mushing is working through new challenges on the trails with her trusted companions. Josi is training to once again run the Iditarod in 2026.
JJ Shelley
JJ grew up in the suburbs of Gilbert, Arizona, where mushing was nonexistent. He was a U.S. Marine after high school and followed that with several seasons as a wildland firefighter. Tired of the heat, he escaped to Alaska to pursue his degree in nutrition and dream of becoming an astronaut. Along the way, he fell in love with sled dogs and the lifestyle they required him to live. Armed with a new passion, he is now in the process of raising his Iditarod team to qualify and compete in the 2028 Iditarod.
Gallery
