HUMAN

Name: RON HALLSTROM
Age: 71
Residence: CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA
Occupation: VETERINARIAN
Years involved with Iditarod: THIS WILL BE THE 5TH
Iditarod Role: I’M A TRAIL VETERINARIAN AND WE CHECK THE DOGS WHEN THEY COME THROUGH THE CHECKPOINTS
Current Location: EAGLE ISLAND, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 9, 2019
Temperature: 34F / OUTDOORS

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

THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY, THE APPRECIATION OF WHAT THESE DOGS ARE CAPABLE OF DOING, AND THE MUSHERS, AND JUST A GENERAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITH EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH THE EVENT.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

I’VE HAD MULTIPLE EXPERIENCES. ONE THAT STRIKES ME, IS WHEN WE WERE SITTING AROUND THE TABLE AT THE CHECKPOINT IN SHAKTOOLIK, AND ONE OF THE GIRLS THAT LIVES IN THE VILLAGE HAD BEEN TO ANCHORAGE FOR A POETRY-RECITING CONTEST. SHE WAS, I THINK, A FRESHMAN OR SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL. SHE RECITED THE POEM, ‘THE EAGLE’. AND ONE OF THE OTHER VETERINARIANS WHO WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME SAID THERE’S ONE MOMENT ON EACH IDITAROD THAT STRIKES YOU. AND THAT WAS ONE. AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL POEM AND THE SETTING FOR — YOU COULD SEE THE EAGLE FLYING OVER THE VILLAGE.

What do you know for sure?:

ONE OF THE THINGS I APPRECIATE MOST OR KNOW FOR SURE IS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY. WHEN YOU’RE WORKING ON AN EVENT LIKE THIS, IT JUST BINDS YOU TOGETHER WITH OTHER HUMAN BEINGS AND IT JUST ADDS A LOT TO LIFE.