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Will Forsberg

Born in Lakehurst, New Jersey, Will Forsberg came to Alaska in 1974 and settled in Healy, Alaska where he became interested in sled dogs. In 1980, he got involved with Denali Dog Tours, a business operated by Dennis Kogl that took visitors out on dogteam trips and freighted supplies to mountain climbing groups on Denali. Because of a Park Service ban on motorized access, dog transportation is the primary way climbers using northern routes acquire their supplies. Eventually, Will took over management of the business. Will and his wife, Linda, live in Healy, but have a camp on the Kantishna River where they stay in the fall until after freeze-up, at which time they return to Healy and train dogs until spring when they begin freighting supplies for climbers. Will Forsberg passed away in 2022. For more information about Will Forsberg, see his obituary in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner newspaper.

Date of Birth:

Jan 2, 1951

Date of Death:

Jun 12, 2022

Will Forsberg appears in the following new Jukebox projects:

Denali Mountaineering

Forsberg Trail Slideshow

Will Forsberg's Slideshow

Interview Title	Abstract	Archive #: Oral History	Project	Date of Interview
Will Forsberg	Will Forsberg was interviewed on August 22, 2000 by Bill Schneider at his home on the Stampede Trail in Healy, Alaska. In this interview, Will talks about using dogteams to freight supplies to mountain climbers on Denali. He describes the route he takes, the daily routine on the trail, the types of sleds and equipment used, and the challenges of getting to and from McGonagall Pass. He also talks about the best types of dogs to use for freighting, training the dogs, dealing with injuries, and the use of dogs for the seasonal round of subsistence activities. Finally, he talks about the question of snowmachine use in Denali National Park.	2000-17-27	Denali Mountaineering	Aug 22, 2000