HUMAN

Name: GREG FISCHER
Age: 62
Residence: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
Occupation: COMMERCIAL PILOT
Years involved with Iditarod: 10
Iditarod Role: I FLY FOR THE IDITAROD AIR FORCE AND THEN RIGHT NOW I’M FLYING FOR RUST’S FLYING SERVICE. AND RIGHT NOW WE’RE TAKING THE DAILY NEWS AROUND ON THE TRAIL.
Current Location: TAKOTNA, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 7, 2019
Temperature: 28F / OUTDOORS

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

ACTUALLY, I THINK IF YOU ASK ANY PILOT, OF COURSE IT’S GOING TO BE THE FLYING BECAUSE THE FLYING’S GREAT USUALLY, EXCEPT WHEN THE WEATHER IS BAD. BUT ALSO, ONCE YOU GET OUT HERE, IT’S JUST GOING TO THESE REMOTE CHECKPOINTS AND KIND OF HANGING OUT WITH THE PEOPLE, WHO TYPICALLY ARE IN PRETTY GOOD MOODS AND ARE NICE PEOPLE AND ARE REALLY ENJOYING LIFE. SO IT’S JUST THAT SORT OF SPIRIT.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

YOU KNOW, I HAVE A BUNCH. BUT ONE THAT REALLY STANDS OUT WAS ONE OF MY EARLY IDITARODS. AND THEY HAD A RED DOG. A RED DOG IS A DOG THAT IS SICK AND NEEDS HELP RIGHT AWAY. AND I WAS ON A MISSION FLYING, AND THEY CALLED ME ON THE RADIO AND SAID “DIVERT TO NIKOLAI” — IS WHERE THE RED DOG WAS – “AND PICK UP THE DOG AND BRING HIM TO MCGRATH.” SO I DID. AND WE GOT THERE. AND TANYA – THAT WAS THE VET’S NAME – WAS THERE WITH THE DOG. AND WE LOADED HIM UP REAL QUICK AND WE TOOK OFF. AND I WAS FLYING THE PLANE AND HOLDING THE IV BAG WITH ONE HAND WHILE SHE MINISTERED TO THE DOG. AND GOING AS FAST AS WE CAN GO. WE GOT BACK TO MCGRATH AND UNLOADED THE DOG. AND I CHECKED LATER AND THE DOG CAME THROUGH IT FINE AND WAS HEALTHY. AND I REALLY FELT LIKE I WAS PART OF SOMETHING.

What do you know for sure?:

I’D SAY IT’S THE PEOPLE THAT YOU’RE AROUND THAT REALLY MATTER. THAT’S REALLY IT. EVERYTHING ELSE CAN COME AND GO. BUT MEMORIES AND THE ENERGY AND ALL THAT YOU GET FROM THE PEOPLE YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL FOUNDATION OF HAPPINESS.