The 2000 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race Champion, Aliy Zirkle moved to Alaska permanently in 1993 after spending time in the Arctic since 1990. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, she took a position in the small village of Bettles as a biologist for U.S. Fish and Wildlife. About 50 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Bettles, population 35, can only be reached by airplane all year round, boat during the summer, and snow mobile or dog sled during the winter. During her first winter, she began exploring the vast wilderness first on a snow machine and then on a dog sled. Her first team was a mix of old trap line dogs and green village dogs, and she and her six four-footed friends traveled far and wide. Several years and thousands of miles later, Aliy entered her dog team in a village Christmas race and got hooked.

After acquiring a team of talented dogs from the Village lines of Huslia, Hughes and Allakaket, Aliy moved to Two Rivers, a mushing town about 30 miles outside of Fairbanks, and began to train for racing. During her first winter, she took 3rd in the 200-Mile Henry Hahn Sled Dog Race. The following year, she took 2nd in the Henry Hahn and raced the 1000-Mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race for the first time. The Yukon Quest covers 1000 miles of trails that trace the old mail and miners routes of Interior Alaska and the Yukon Territory, Canada. Yukon Alone: The World's Toughest Adventure Race by John Balzar was written about that race and in part, Aliy's challenging rookie year. With one Quest under her belt, Aliy trained hard and took 4th place in the 1999 race and won the coveted "Challenge of the North Award" for best embodying the spirit of the Yukon Quest. In February 2000, Aliy became the first woman to win the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. She led the pack from the halfway point at Dawson City, Yukon Territory to the finish line. Aliy is also known for her superb dog care. In her championship year, she received an honorary mention for the "Veterinarian's Award for Excellent Dog Care".

Aliy competed in the 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Iditarod is an intense 1150-mile race running from Anchorage in South Central Alaska to Nome on the Western Bering Sea and is the largest and most renowned sled dog race in the world. The race celebrates the 1925 serum run to save the people of Nome that covered 674 miles between Nenana and Nome in relay fashion. In 2001, her dogs got very sick during the race, a version of European Kennel cough, but she was able to finish 33rd and earn the respect of the race veterinarians along the trail. In 2002, the fastest Iditarod yet, she finished in 10 days 18 hours and 1 minute. In 2003, the weather created problems throughout a good bit of the traditional Iditarod Trail. Lack of snow and ice on the rivers prevented the race from running on its normal route. After the Ceremonial Race Start in Anchorage, the Restart began almost 400 miles north in Fairbanks and ran to many villages that had never seen the Iditarod Race before. Aliy finished 14th, her highest finish yet, in this peculiar race. In 2004, Aliy had high hopes for her team. After some very critical injuries and very warm weather moved in, Aliy's goal switched to getting the team to the finish line, getting experience for the many young dogs left in the finishing team. She and 6 dogs came over the finishline in Nome in 34th position. The racing year of 2005, Aliy took 3rd in the Tustumena 200 and won the humanitarian award. She won the same covetted award in the 2005 Iditarod, after taking 11th place, coming across the finishline in Nome 2 minutes behind 10th place musher, DeeDee Jonrowe. She will be back on 4th Ave in March 2006.

After the racing season, Aliy spends most of the spring months traveling by dog team in Interior Alaska. She either leads dog sledding tours or ventures out alone to explore. The mushing season can be extended into mid May by traveling the wind swept tundra of the North Slope.

Aliy has been featured by the media in several television series; PBS Alaska Magazine TV, CBS Sunday Morning, and USA Network's Iditarod. She has been spotlighted in newsprint as well; Sports Illustrated, Marie Claire, People, National Geographic Adventure, Mushing, and local and national newspapers.

Racing is important to Aliy, her competitive nature demands this, BUT the dogs themselves are what keeps her motivated. Her kennel and home are one in the same, highlighted with a balcony overlooking the entire dog yard. She enjoys all aspects of dog mushing, from the general care and nurturing to breeding and training. Traveling by dog team can be an extreme marathon event or a short pleasant journey - either way, mushing is more then a sport, it is a gratifying lifestyle.