INTRODUCTIONS: 2015-2016 Handlers

Please Help us Welcome Hannah and Lian!

 Hannah Hughes

Hannah grew up in Wyoming MN with 6 siblings and two family dogs. She’s the middle child and an identical twin. Both her parents grew up around Duluth and she’s spent much of her life in Minnesota’s northland, vacationing at her family cabin.

Her interest in sled dogs and wolves started very early in life and she applied that interest by volunteering her time at Carlos Avery Nature Center in Forest Lake, MN.

Working at a dog groomer business gave her some hands-on experience in dog bathing, toe nail clipping, and getting to know all different kinds of dogs. Enjoying time with her own dog, she taught him to bikejor and skijor. All of this will come in handy when working with the Points Unknown sled dogs.


Earlier in the year, Hannah brought her family up to Points Unknown for a dog sledding experience and she was hooked. She just had to learn more and set out to make that happen for herself when, during her adventure with Points Unknown, she handed us her resume! Now that’s going out and getting what you want.
   

Lian Law
 

Lian’s love for traveling and the outdoors started at an early age. Her father’s work for the National Park Service and her mother’s work for an international human rights organization gave her both an appreciation for nature and an insatiable need to travel. Since then, she hasn’t stopped moving.

Shortly after graduating from the University of Rochester with a degree in film and media studies, Lian began her seasonal work lifestyle. She spent six months working at Denali National Park with the Student Conservation Association as a media intern. During her free time, she participated in the volunteer dog walking program. The only National Park with working sled dogs, the kennel relies heavily on seasonal workers to help exercise the dogs during the summer. She quickly fell in love with her dog for the season Tephra and hopes to make it back to her someday.

After departing Alaska, she headed for the desert and spent six months working at Joshua Tree National Park. Her love for the outdoors and National Parks has taken her all over the country. She has hiked extensively, getting out into the wilderness and backcountry whenever she could. She has certifications in First Aid, ATV safety, and several scuba diving certificates. Lian is always looking to learn something new, whether it is swing dancing, underwater photography, aerial silks or mushing dogs. 

 
Having grown up with dogs all her life and spent time volunteering with Denali Kennels, she is excited that her next big adventure will be with Points Unknown.