2008 Iditarod Musher Profile

Bruce Linton, 45, was raised in Philadelphia.  He studied at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania where he received two degrees, one in Environmental Science and the other in Mathematics / Computer Science.  Soon after graduation, Bruce worked for an environmental contractor near Boston and at the same time pursued his Master's degree in Civil Engineering at Tufts University.  In 1994, he moved to Vermont and worked for the State of Vermont as an Environmental Scientist.  In 1998, while working for the State of Vermont, he began mushing and soon after started a dog sled touring business called Green Mountain Dog Sled Adventures.  Green Mountain Dog Sled Adventures grew quickly and in 2004 Bruce resigned from his environmental job to run his dog sled touring company full time.  Unexpectedly, the touring business took over his life and he realized that he couldn't live his dreams of training and racing his dogs, while at the same time running his business.  "I needed to make a change".  He moved from Vermont to Kasilof with his wife Melissa Stavola in the summer of 2006 to fulfill his lifelong dream of running the Iditarod which he did in 2007.  In his spare time he enjoys running marathons and competing in triathlons.  Bruce has finished 14 marathons and three Ironman Triathlons.  Bruce managed to complete all of these athletic events as a Type I Diabetic which brings its own set of challenges.  Bruce is committed to spreading the word that diabetics can achieve anything as long as they take care of themselves, live a healthy lifestyle, and "dream big" with a positive attitude.  When not working or training his sled dogs, Bruce gives talks around the country to diabetics of all ages and children about the Iditarod and living their dreams.