HUMAN

Name: MARTIN REITAN
Age: 21
Residence: KAKTOVIK, ALASKA
Occupation: POLAR BEAR PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDES IN KAKTOVIK
Years involved with Iditarod: I GUESS, THE FIRST TIME I WAS REALLY INVOLVED WAS WHEN I DROVE A SNOW MACHINE ALONG THE TRAIL IN 2017 BECAUSE ME AND MY DAD WERE MUSHING FROM NOME TO KAKTOVIK. AND I DID THE KOBUK 440 ON THE WAY. THAT WAS THE YEAR I WAS DOING ALL MY QUALIFIERS.
Iditarod Role: MUSHER
Current Location: TAKOTNA, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 7, 2019
Temperature: 32F / OUTDOORS

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

WELL, IT’S KIND OF THE ONE YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT AND THE ONE EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT. AND I’VE BEEN WATCHING THE DVDS SINCE I WAS A KID; WE’D HAVE FAMILY NIGHTS WATCHING THE DVDS. AND IT’S JUST AMAZING TO BE OUT HERE WITH ALL THESE GREAT MUSHERS. I DON’T SEE THEM A LOT, BUT IT’S FUN TO KNOW THAT I’M GOING DOWN THE SAME TRAIL AS THEM.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

WELL, GOING DOWN THE STEPS, I BROKE MY STANCHION. I HAD TO GO CHOP DOWN A TREE AND LASH IT ONTO THE STANCHION. AND IT’S HELD UP THROUGH THE GORGE AND THROUGH THE BURN. AND IT’S PRETTY SOLID, SO THAT’LL TAKE ME TO NOME. I HAVE TO BRING THAT SLED TO NOME BECAUSE WE’RE DOING THE LONG TRIP AGAIN FROM NOME TO- I GUESS WE’RE STOPPING IN PRUDHOE BAY WITH DOGS THIS TIME.

What do you know for sure?:

I KNOW FOR SURE I’M GOING TO DO THOUSAND-MILERS AGAIN. I LOVE THE QUEST, AND I LOVE THE IDITAROD SO FAR. IT’S AMAZING TO BE OUT HERE WITH MY DOGS DOING THIS. IT’S REALLY FUN, AND THERE’S ALL THESE GREAT PEOPLE HERE. AND IT’S REALLY NICE. AND IT’S ALSO REALLY SIMPLE IN A WAY. YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR DOGS AND MAKE SURE YOU STAY WARM AND — BUT THAT’S NOT A PROBLEM. I’M OUT HERE RIGHT NOW. IT’S JUST SIMPLE THINGS TO DEAL WITH COMPARED TO EVERYDAY LIFE. EVERYTHING’S SO COMPLICATED.