Former Oak Lawn man mushing for a cause

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Jason Weitzel, a former Oak Lawn resident, will be riding in the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race that begins Saturday. | Supplied photo

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To follow Weitzel’s progress, visit www.yukonquest.com.

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Updated: March 4, 2012 8:15AM

Based on his plans for the next week or so, Jason Weitzel didn’t leave the South Side’s reputation for producing tough guys behind when he moved to Alaska.

The transplanted Oak Lawn resident, 39, will participate in the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race that begins Saturday. During the 1,000-mile trek, he will have nothing but his sled, some supplies and 14 Alaskan huskies guiding him through the rough terrain of the Arctic winter.

He’s doing it for a cause. When Weitzel leaves Fairbanks, Alaska, for Whitehorse, Yukon, he will be thinking about his contribution to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Some of those thoughts will hit close to home.

Weitzel’s wife, Susan Allmeroth, broke her back while in the Army and is unable to race. It was Allmeroth who introduced Weitzel to the world of sled dogs when they met in Two Rivers, Alaska, “the mecca for dog racing,” after he moved there in 2004. He’s been hooked ever since, even though it’s a challenge to maintain their kennel of 20-plus dogs, Slo-n-Eazy Kennel.

“I almost didn’t do it,” Weitzel said. “I contemplated getting out of dog racing because it’s very expensive. But Susan’s got so much passion for it. She’s the driving force in our kennel, and she can’t do it.”

Weitzel said the Wounded Warrior Project — a nonprofit to benefit injured servicemen — was on his mind as he took part in 200- and 300-mile races over a two-year period to qualify for the Yukon Quest.

“I just decided to do it,” Weitzel said. “In this political climate, with all the budget cuts ... it’s going to come down to the public to step up and take care of our troops. It gives me a reason to do it, just more than for myself.”

Weitzel said his military background, which included training soldiers as an Army specialist from 1990 to 1993, will get him through the grueling race. The terrain includes frozen rivers, four mountain ranges and other remote areas, and it’s expected to take about 10 days for even the first of the 23 entrants to finish.

Weitzel said there will be eight checkpoints, ranging from 30 to 210 miles apart, at which he can pick up and drop off supplies and equipment, with one 36-hour layover at the halfway point.

Weitzel said “mushers” travel all day and night, depending on conditions. His five-hour rest stops primarily will be used to take care of his dogs’ needs, leaving him about an hour or so to sleep.

Weather’s not a concern, Weitzel said, because it’s “warmed up to zero after being 50 below for five days.” He said the optimal temperature for the dogs is 20 below.

Weitzel said even the dogs could suffer at more severe temperatures, but he won’t let that happen. Not only does he love his dogs, but the outcome depends on their well-being.

Weitzel is putting a great deal of faith into the leadership of his own injured warrior, his 6-year-old lead dog, Little Roy. According to reports, Little Roy was among a group of Weitzel’s dogs hit by a truck in 2008. Four of the dogs were killed.

Little Roy survived his serious injuries, according to Weitzel’s profile on the Yukon Quest website, and, as Weitzel’s “old faithful,” will lead the pack.

“He just has it,” Weitzel said. “He has the tenacity, he wants to go and he loves to do it.”

That leaves raising money for the Wounded Warriors Project as Weitzel’s main concern. He has pledged half of his winnings to the cause and will continue to accept pledges online. He said any Yukon Quest finish ensures him a $1,000 prize, and first place earns $35,000.

Weitzel has received donations from friends and veterans organizations in Alaska. He said his parents, Gerald and Joan Weitzel, of Oak Lawn, will support him. He hopes others will hear of the cause from across the miles and contribute.

“Hopefully, I can make the South Side proud,” Weitzel said.