HUMAN

Name: JULIE JOHNSON
Age: 47
Residence: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
Occupation: LICENSED OPTICIAN
Years involved with Iditarod: 5
Iditarod Role: I WORKED THE CEREMONIAL START DOING SECURITY AFTER THE SHOOT. AT THE RESTART I WAS A HANDLER FOR SEVERAL FRIENDS’ TEAMS. AND AT THE FINISH I’M A GO-GET-IT GIRL; WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE. AND I’LL BE A CHECKER FOR NIGHTS AT THE FINISH.
Current Location: NOME, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 12, 2019
Temperature: 65F / INDOORS

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

BECAUSE IT MATTERS. THESE ARE PEOPLE’S HISTORY AND THEIR HOPES, LIVES AND THEIR DREAMS. AND THEY PUT SO MUCH INTO IT. AND THE FACT THAT WE GET TO TAKE ONE LITTLE PART OF THAT AND BE PART OF THEIR LIFE AND THEIR HISTORY. IT MATTERS. THIS IS ALASKA HISTORY AND I LOVE IT.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

TWO OF MY FAVORITE: I GOT TO BRING IN JIMMY LEBLING A FEW YEARS AGO WITH A BROKEN ARM, A RAG-TAG TEAM FROM THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLES’ DOG TEAMS. AND TO BRING SOMEBODY INTO NOME, TO KNOW THAT THAT WAS THEIR GOAL IN LIFE; WAS TO FINISH IDITAROD. IT MEANT SO MUCH. AND THEN I GOT TO BRING IN JESSIE ROYER WHEN SHE CAME IN WITH ALL 16 DOGS. AND THAT MATTERED. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS VERY INTO DOGS WHO WAS TEXTING ME AT THAT MOMENT SAYING, “THIS MATTERS”. AND IT IS, IT’S AN EPIC MOMENT.

What do you know for sure?:

THAT WE’RE ALL A PART OF SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER. AND OUR SUM IS WORTH SO MUCH MORE THAN US AS AN INDIVIDUAL. IT’S GREAT TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN MYSELF.