Relatives here

Another Iditarod musher has Ludington connections

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Friday, February 22, 2002

Daily News Staff Writer

While many Ludington residents will be following Al Hardman and his progress in the 2002 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the Kostreva family of Ludington will have their eyes on rookie Perry Solmonson.

Solmonson, who winters in Plain, Wash., and spends his summers in Whittier, Alaska, has in-laws who have lived in Ludington since 1994. Solmonson’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law, the Rev. Sam and Ruth Kostreva, and mother-in-law Joan (pronounced Jo Ann) moved to Ludington in 1994.

Ruth said Solmonson has dreamed of running the Iditarod for years.

“He’s an outdoor guy, we’re excited about it and praying to the Lord that he makes it,” she said.

Solmonson, 43, and his wife, Lois, run a kayak tour business out of Whittier, Alaska, during the summer, then live in Washington state in the winter, moving the family twice each year. In 1994 Solmonson broke his back snowboarding and during his recovery he began to research the Iditarod and started designing his own dog sleds, using telemark skis for sled runners.

Inevitably he was bitten by the mushing bug.

Lois said that the couple rescued a team of 11 dogs in 1995 and started running small races in Washington. They raised 21 dogs to build Solmonson’s 16-dog team for the Iditarod.

“Most of our mushing is done in Washington, giving tours,” she said. Trails lead right from their home to miles of scenic Washington wilderness.

Raising money for Solmonson became a community event for Plain, a rural town of less than 1,000 people. The town is so small it doesn’t have a bank or a post office, only a grocery and a hardware store. The few businesses in town donated merchandise and trips while bed and breakfasts offered rooms in a silent auction that raised $7,000 for Solmonson’s race.

“It really makes him motivated. The support is heartfelt; everybody just pulled for it,” Lois said.

Many mushers carry personal items in their sleds like letters and stuffed animals.

Solmonson will carry a different, more solemn cargo.

Mother-in-law Joan said that Solmonson will be carrying the ashes of a Whittier woman who had planned on cheering Solmonson as he competed in his first Iditarod.

She said the woman always wanted to get to Nome but died before she got the chance, her husband contacted Perry and he is taking them on his sled.

Solmonson is proud to have raised two of his leaders, Minke and Seal, named after sea animals because they were born while the family was in Alaska running their summer kayak tour business on Prince William Sound.

The Solmonsons run the Prince William Sound Kayak Center during the summer months, giving paddlers an Alaskan taste of sea kayaking. Calving glaciers are commonly seen on the trips.

Lois won’t make it for the start of the Iditarod, raising two small children will keep her in Washington as Perry takes to the starting line on 4th Avenue. She plans on being there at the finish in Nome, though.

Solmonson was the 56th musher to sign up for the Iditarod and is one of 21 rookies entered.