HUMAN

Name: CARL DIXON
Age: 68
Residence: WINTERLAKE LODGE, ALASKA
Occupation: LODGE OWNER, OPERATOR, SOMETIMES DISHWASHER, SOMETIMES GUIDE, DOG RUNNER, EMPLOYEE MANAGER, AND OF COURSE HUSBAND.
Years involved with Iditarod: SINCE ABOUT LET’S SEE, 1985. NOT AS LONG AS YOU.
Iditarod Role: LODGE OWNER HOST
Current Location: FINGER LAKE, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 4, 2019
Temperature: 9F / OUTDOORS

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

WE ARE OPEN YEAR-ROUND AT THE LODGE HERE. AND WE REALLY LOVE THE IDITAROD RACE. WE LIKE THESE CHALLENGING, REALLY, SPORTING EVENTS. AND IT’S A STATE-WIDE COMMUNITY EFFORT. AND WE REALLY LIKE THAT – TO BE A PART OF THAT. AND WE PARTICIPATE AS MUCH, AS WE CAN. WE’RE NOT DOWN THERE IN THE ICE CHECKING IN DOGS, BUT KIRSTEN LIKES TO OFFER FOOD TO THE MUSHERS. AND CERTAINLY WE OFFER THEM A PLACE TO HANG OUT AND REST, AND WATER, COFFEE, ALWAYS IN DEMAND. EVERYBODY NEEDS HOT WATER. AND THEN WE GET A CHANCE TO MEET THE MUSHERS. AND WE CAN BE INVOLVED IN THAT WAY. THEY COME INSIDE. OUR GUESTS GET TO MEET WITH THEM FOR A LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT THE RACE. AND SO IT’S FUN FOR US. AND WE HOPE THE MUSHERS, LIKE IT ALSO.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

BOY, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY. WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE RACE EVERY YEAR. IT’S A LOT OF WORK FOR SURE. IT’S A LOT OF WORK, BUT IT’S A FUN KIND OF WORK. AND IT’S REWARDING, I THINK, BECAUSE THE GUESTS. SOMETIMES THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THEY CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT’S GOING ON HERE. AND, IN FACT, ONE YEAR SOMETIME AGO, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, WHEN PEOPLE GOT DROPPED OFF ON THE LAKE AS DAY SPECTATORS WEARING THEIR SPRING-LIKE CLOTHES AND TENNIS SHOES AND 32 PEOPLE GOT STUCK HERE FOR THREE DAYS. THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN FOR US. IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE TRICKY THAT PEOPLE ARE ALL ANXIOUS AND NERVOUS AND WORRIED AND MISSING PLANES AND SO ON. BUT IT WAS FUN FOR US BECAUSE WE GOT TO SHOW THEM SOME ALASKAN HOSPITALITY AND ASSURED THEM THAT THEY WOULDN’T FREEZE AND THEY WOULDN’T GO HUNGRY AND TO JUST HAVE FUN AND TAKE IT AS WHAT IT IS: THE WEATHER WILL CHANGE.

What do you know for sure?:

THAT’S A TOUGH ONE. I THINK THAT YOU FIND OUT WHAT YOU CAN COUNT ON. AND, YOU KNOW, FAMILY HAS CERTAINLY BEEN IMPORTANT FOR US. AND OUR DAUGHTERS ARE INVOLVED IN OUR BUSINESS WITH KIRSTEN AND I. AND WE KNOW THAT FOR SURE.