Turning Heads Kennel

Alaska Dog Sledding Tours

Ground Crew

Sam Paperman

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Sam grew up in Seward, AK next to Travis Beals. As a kid, when he got in trouble, he would go hide in Travis’ dog houses! After that childhood, he started working for Travis at 14 and ran the Junior Iditarod when he was 17, in 2020. The last two years, he has volunteered for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race at the Shaktoolik and Eagle Island checkpoint. This year, Sam finished both the T-Dog 200 and the Kobuk 440.

Sam has been part of the Turning Heads Kennel team for over 8 years on and off. When not working on the Glacier or at the Kennel, Sam also spends time on the RV Sikuliaq as a diesel mechanic.

Min

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Min is our spunky teacup Sheltie and one of the greeter dogs at Turning Heads Kennel. While she’s not a fan of playing fetch, she absolutely loves watching the other dogs play. Min enjoys a good chase, especially when it comes to the sled dogs or the dog cart (if we let her, of course!). She’s a fan of gentle ear scratches and will happily accept them. Min has some quirky habits—she’s a little neurotic when it comes to windows and coffee pots. If someone touches either, you can bet she’ll have a full-on barking fit! Despite her small size, Min has no shortage of confidence and firmly believes she’s the biggest dog in the kennel.

Elias Beals

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Elias Beals is our joyful two-year-old who has a big heart and a love for the little things in life. He’s all about bubbles, trucks, and his beloved cat, Kitty. At the airport, he can’t get enough of meeting new people and watching the helicopters take off—pure fascination in his eyes every time! Elias is happiest when he’s outside, whether he’s sitting on the fuel tractor or running around with the puppies at the kennel. He loves going for dog rides and has a special bond with Min, though his favorite sled dog is Switch. Elias brings so much joy to everyone he meets and makes every moment brighter!

Nate Grandchamp

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Born in Maine, Nate was raised on outdoor adventure sports like canoeing, backpacking, fishing, and hunting. In 2020, he earned a degree in Outdoor Leadership through an associate’s program and has since spent every season working as an adventure guide, from Maine to Alaska and everywhere in between. While fly fishing and whitewater sports dominate his free time, Nate is always on the lookout for new experiences. This curiosity led him to Seward in 2023, where he had his first taste of working with sled dogs, helicopters, and glaciers. The incredible experience that season brought him back to Seward for 2025, and he’s excited to help others discover all the area has to offer once again.

This is Nate’s second season with Turning Heads Kennel. Nate will be filling in on Godwin Glacier as a mushing guide, at Turning Heads Kennel and at our Bear Glacier Yurt camp run in conjunction with Seward Helicopter Tours.

Hunter Keefe

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Hunter Keefe is originally from Okemos, Michigan, but has been chasing his childhood dream of being a dog musher in Alaska since 2018. He’s had the incredible opportunity to race across Alaska in numerous events, including The Iditarod! Summer is always one of his favorite times of the year, as it allows him to explore new parts of this beautiful state and share the exciting sport of dog mushing with guests from all over the world! This is Hunter’s first season at Turning Heads Kennel.

Although he will be primarily at the kennel, Hunter will also be filling in on the Godwin Glacier from time to time.