The Northern Whites Sled Dog Kennel
Located in the shadow of the Chugach Mountain Range in Chugiak, Alaska, the Northern Whites Sled Dog Kennel is home to some of the greatest long-distance athletes in the world. Jim Lanier and Anna Bondarenko started the kennel following the birth of a large litter of all white sled dog puppies. Ever since, the breeding program has produced nothing but white dogs, giving the team a unique and beautiful aesthetic amongst sled dog kennels.
A long time fixture in the Chugiak and mushing communities, many mushers have learned, grown, and raced under the mentorship of Jim and Anna. From junior mushers to Iditarod finishers, many have had the privilege of running the Northern Whites over the years. In this way, Jim and Anna have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the sport of dog sled racing.
JlM LANIER
Born in Washington DC and raised in Fargo, North Dakota, Jim moved to Alaska in 1967 and began running sled dogs in the 1970’s. While working as a Pathologist at Providence Hospital for over 30 years, he found time to compete in Iditarod again and again. He has finished the Iditarod an impressive 16 times, his first being in 1979. He is the only Iditarod musher to have competed in the race in every calendar decade it has been run. He has done just about every distance dog race there is (or ever has been), including the Yukon Quest, All-Alaska Sweepstakes, Race for Hope, and all the major mid-distance events.
Jim is also an accomplished author, publishing Beyond Ophir in 2013 and Race for Hope in 2022.
ANNA BONDARENKO
Born in Russia and a graduate of the Music Conservatory in Saratov, Russia, Anna is the first and only Russian woman to complete the Iditarod. She has a master’s degree in education and has shared both her musical and teaching skills with students (human and canine alike) for many years. The true mother/caretaker of the Northern Whites has an inspiring passion for her animals.
