HUMAN

Name: ROB JOHNSON
Age: 68
Residence: EAGLE RIVER, ALASKA
Occupation: I AM A RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER WHO IS NOW DRIVING A TOUR BUS IN THE SUMMERTIME AROUND HERE
Years involved with Iditarod: THIS IS #13. 10TH YEAR ON THE TRAIL.
Iditarod Role: I WORK COMMUNICATIONS, WHICH IS BASICALLY STOMPING OUT AS MANY FIRES AS I CAN
Current Location: UNALAKLEEET, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 11, 2019
Temperature: 32F / OUTDOORS

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

WELL ONE OF THE REASONS FOR WHY IS THAT WHENEVER YOU VOLUNTEER, YOU GET TO STAND INSIDE THE FENCE AS OPPOSED TO OUTSIDE THE FENCE LOOKING IN. AND I DON’T KNOW…. IT’S VERY REWARDING TO BE PART, AND TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

THE MOST MEMORABLE REALLY CAME OUT OF HERE. I WAS STANDING UP BY THE CHECKPOINT AND IT WAS 3, 4 O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND DEAD STILL. AND OUT OF THE NORTHWEST CORNER, I HAD A DOUBLE HELIX OF NORTHERN LIGHTS COME UP. AND IT GOT UP TO ABOUT 80 DEGREES TO THE TOP AND THOSE TWO LEGS FLATTENED OUT AND WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SOUTHWEST. SO WE HAD THE LIGHTS 100% OVER MY HEAD ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SOUTHEAST. IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS IN LIFE WHEN YOU STAND THERE AND SAY, “WOW! HOW LUCKY WAS I TO BE HERE!”

What do you know for sure?:

YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING FOR SURE, SO YOU BETTER MAKE UP YOUR MIND TODAY AS TO WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO DIE AND HAVE ANY REGRETS.