HUMAN

Name: Jack NIGGEMYER
Age: 65 SOON
Residence: KASILOF, AK
Occupation: RETIRED
Years involved with Iditarod: THIS WILL BE MY 37TH YEAR, I BELIEVE, IN SOME ASPECT OR ANOTHER.
Iditarod Role: THIS YEAR I AM NOTHING MORE THAN KIND OF A HANDLER AND GENERAL GO-FER FOR – JUST A DROPPED DOG GUY FOR A COUPLE OF MUSHERS;  JUST KIND OF A RACE GROOPY AND FAN.
Current Location: Airland Transport Warehouse, Anchorage
Date of Photo: FEBRUARY 13, 2019
Temperature: 60F / indoors

What is your Why?.. Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?:

WELL, AFTER BEING THE RACE MANAGER FOR 20 YEARS AND A TRAIL SWEEP AND A VOLUNTEER, I’M BASICALLY JUST HELPING A FEW FRIENDS AND I CAME BY HERE TODAY TO MEET THEM BECAUSE I HAVE SOME PAPERWORK FOR THEM, A COUPLE OF GALS THAT ARE RUNNING THE RACE THIS YEAR. THAT’S WHY I’M HERE TODAY.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

WELL, AFTER 30 SOME YEARS AND AT THE LEVEL I WAS INVOLVED, IT’S HARD TO PINPOINT ONE.  BUT ULTIMATELY, THE REASON I’M STILL INVOLVED, IS BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN IT.  GETTING A CHANCE EVERY YEAR TO SEE NEW FRIENDS – OR SEE OLD FRIENDS/MEET A FEW NEW FRIENDS, AND JUST BE PART OF WHAT I CONSIDER ONE OF THE GRANDEST EVENTS ON EARTH.

What do you know for sure?:

OH, YOU KNOW, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I DON’T KNOW REALLY MUCH OF ANYTHING FOR SURE. BUT YOU KNOW I’VE ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS AND LIVING IN ALASKA, AND MY KIDS GROWING UP HERE AND I JUST CAN’T IMAGINE HAVING IT GONE ANY OTHER WAY.