HUMAN

Name: DALE & LINDA PETERSON
Age: DALE: 69
Residence: DALE: WE LIVE IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST BETWEEN SEATTLE AND TACOMA, WASHINGTON. LINDA: WE LIVE IN FEDERAL WAY, WASHINGTON.
Occupation: IDALE: I’M A RETIRED MARINE AND A RETIRED AIRLINE PILOT WITH ALASKA AIRLINES. LINDA: I’M A RETIRED AEROBICS INSTRUCTOR AND YOGA INSTRUCTOR .
Years involved with Iditarod: DALE: THIS IS MY 19TH YEAR ON THE TRAIL AS A VOLUNTEER.  LINDA: THIS IS MY 20TH YEAR ON THE TRAIL AS A VOLUNTEER.
Iditarod Role: DALE: I MAINLY WORK AT THE CHECKPOINTS; SETTING THEM UP, RUNNING THEM AND CLEANING THEM UP AFTER THE TEAMS HAVE GONE THROUGH. LINDA: I ALSO WORK AT THE CHECKPOINT CLEANING UP AND I COOK ON THE TRAIL AND I ALSO WORK WITH THE DRUG TESTING TEAM.
Current Location: RAINY PASS CHECKPOINT ON PUNTILLA LAKE, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 4, 2019
Temperature: 9F / OUTDOORS

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

DALE: I’M HERE BECAUSE I LIKE TO GET INVOLVED IN THINGS WHERE I CAN HELP PEOPLE ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS; HELP THEM GET SOMETHING DONE THAT THEY WANT TO DO. IN THIS CASE, THE MUSHERS. LINDA: THE LOVE OF ALASKA IN THE WINTERTIME. IT’S JUST ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS OUT HERE AND I LOVE HELPING ON THE TRAIL.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

DALE: I THINK, FOR ME, IT WAS THE YEAR THAT OUR SON WAS ABLE TO JOIN US. WE WORKED THIS CHECKPOINT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, RAINY PASS, AND THEN WE WENT OUT TO UNALAKLEET. AND IT WAS REWARDING TO ME TO BE ABLE TO INTRODUCE HIM, YOU KNOW, FIRSTHAND IN THE IDITAROD SUPPORT ROLE. LINDA: COOKING ON THE TRAIL. WORKING IN THE HOUSE AND COOKING. IT WAS JUST SO MUCH FUN, AND JUST A REWARDING EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE SUSTENANCE ON THE TRAIL.

What do you know for sure?:

DALE: I KNOW THAT I MARRIED THE RIGHT WOMAN. SHE IS THE SMARTEST THING I EVER DID IN MY LIFE. AND I’M DEEPLY GRATEFUL THAT SHE’S BEEN BY MY SIDE ALL THIS TIME. LINDA: WELL, FINDING MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND AND RAISING TWO ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL CHILDREN AND NOW WE HAVE FOUR GRANDCHILDREN THAT WE REALLY, REALLY LOVE AND HAVE FUN WITH, TOO. SO I THINK THAT WAS MY MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE. IT’S 47 YEARS WITH HIM.