The 2026 Mountain Men of Alaska calendar is coming to store shelves across the state very soon, and you might notice it features both a front and a back cover. That back cover? It’s a throwback—the very first calendar cover ever, from way back in 2016. It stars a musher named Wyatt. Here’s the funny part: Wyatt had no idea he was about to become the face of what would turn into a beloved collectible. In fact, he didn’t even know he was going to be a model until about 20 minutes before the shoot. I had asked my friend Sarah of the local company, Turning Heads Kennel, if any of her employees from her heli-mushing business might be up for a photo while mushing. Her response? Something like, “Let’s fly up and see.” So off we went—in a helicopter—for a quick five-minute hop up to a local glacier. As soon as we stepped out onto the ice, her team emerged from their chores and wall tents. Sarah turned to them and asked if anyone was willing to mush for a photo. Wyatt, without missing a beat, volunteered despite the expectations of said photo. He mushed a couple of laps in the chilly May air, baring it all, and we got the shot that would go on to become one of my all-time favorite covers. Thanks, Wyatt, for your surprise modeling debut, your good-natured spirit, and your willingness to mush at a moment’s notice. Here’s to ten years of Mountain Men of Alaska—and to all the unexpected moments that made it great!
