HUMAN

Name: JENNIE PROBY
Age: 36
Residence: RENTON, WASHINGTON
Occupation: I AM A PROJECT MANAGER FOR A GLOBAL I.T. COMPANY
Years involved with Iditarod: THIS IS MY 3RD YEAR
Iditarod Role: I AM A COMMS VOLUNTEER
Current Location: RAINY PASS CHECKPOINT ON PUNTILLA LAKE, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 5, 2019
Temperature: 20F / OUTDOORS

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

SO I GREW UP WITH A GIANT ALASKAN MALAMUTE PUPPY; AND WAS OBSESSED WITH THE IDITAROD AS A LITTLE KID. AND MY FRIEND KELLY, WHO WAS ON MY ROWING TEAM, GOT INVOLVED. HER AUNT IS ONE OF THE LOGISTICS PEOPLE UP HERE. SO SHE’S BEEN DOING IT FOR 11 YEARS. AND SHE SAID, “HEY, I DO THIS. YOU SHOULD COME UP!” AND I SAID, “I KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS RACE! OH MY GOD! YOU CAN VOLUNTEER AT THIS?” SHE SAID “YEAH”. AND I SAID, “OH MY GOD, I’M TOTALLY IN.” SO SHE MANAGED TO GET ME A SPOT ON THE TRAIL, AND HERE I AM YEAR THREE.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

YEAH, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE, BUT I THINK THE ONE THAT PROBABLY STANDS OUT THE MOST IS, I WAS OUT AT MANLEY HOT SPRINGS MY FIRST YEAR. AND IT WAS ABOUT TWO IN THE MORNING AND THERE WERE ABOUT FIVE DOG TEAMS LEFT IN THE YARD. AND THE HOLD TEAM WAS BACK IN THE COMMUNITY HOUSE. AND THEY KEPT SAYING “THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ARE GONNA COME OUT, THE NORTHERN LIGHTS ARE GONNA COME OUT!” AND I SAID, “EVERYBODY KEEPS TELLING ME THIS; I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM; I DON’T BELIEVE YOU. THEY’RE NOT COMING OUT.” SO I’M IN THE ARCTIC OVEN WARMING UP, AND THEY COME ON THE RADIO AND THEY SAID, “JENNY, GO OUTSIDE!” AND I’M LIKE, “I WAS JUST OUTSIDE!” THEY’RE LIKE, “JUST GO OUTSIDE!” SO I GO OUTSIDE AND I’M LOOKING AROUND AND I SAY, “GUYS, THERE IS NOTHING HERE. STOP LYING TO ME. AND I WENT BACK INTO THE ARCTIC OVEN. A FEW MINUTES GO BY. THEY GO, “JENNY, GO OUTSIDE!” SO I GO OUTSIDE AND I’M LOOKING AT THE HORIZON, AND I SEE THIS LITTLE WISP OF JUST WHITE SMOKE. AND I’M WATCHING IT FOR A MINUTE. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT JUST STARTS TO DANCE, AND IT STARTS TO SPREAD. AND I GOT TO SEE A BUNCH OF COLORS. I HAD GREEN, I HAD PURPLE. AND THE WHOLE TIME – AGAIN, TWO IN THE MORNING. I’M A LITTLE DELIRIOUS – I’M NARRATING, GOING “OH MY GOD, YOU GUYS, THIS IS AMAZING! THIS IS THE COOLEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE!” AND YOU HEAR THE DOGS, LIKE, HOWLING IN THE BACKGROUND. IT WAS JUST THE MOST INCREDIBLE MOMENT.

What do you know for sure?:

THAT’S A TOUGH ONE. I KNOW THAT I LOVE MY FAMILY. I KNOW THAT ALASKA IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES I HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. AND I CAN TELL YOU, FROM BEING A PART OF THIS RACE, THAT THESE DOGS LOVE WHAT THEY’RE DOING. AND I LOVE WATCHING THAT.