During high school, Mary was active in student council, Triple Trio, Girls Chorus, Y-Teens, Pep Club, Star, Prom committee, and a pool leader. Mary earned her bachelor of science in English from UW-Madison in 1967. During the summers between classes Mary worked as a camp counselor in Wisconsin, Vermont, and Alaska. After spending her second summer in Alaska, Mary knew that this would be her new home. In 1974, Mary became the first woman to finish the 1,049 mile Iditarod Sled Dog race. She has written five books and Mary has made a PBS featured program on dog sledding. Mary has worked for Alaska tourism for the past 23 years. Mary is single and currently living near Fairbanks, Alaska. Mary enjoys living simply, close to nature and sharing her great love of the north through her writing and work for the environment. She has always lived her life from the advice of Robert Frost, “I have taken the road less traveled, and that has made all the difference.”