Gunnar Kaasen

About

Dogsledder who, with his trusty dog Balto, delivered a vital shipment of diphtheria antitoxin to save people in Nome, Alaska.

Before Fame

He emigrated from Norway to Alaska to take part in the Gold Rush and became an expert dog musher: the primary means of transportation when the roads and waterways were ice-locked.

Trivia

He was part of a group of mushers taking the 300,000 units of the serum from Anchorage to Nome: a 674-mile trip, parts of which he spent on treacherous roads in near white-out conditions.

Family Life

He was born in Burfjorddalen in Troms county, Norway.

Associated With

Steven Spielberg made an animated feature film Balto, which was based on his husky.