HUMAN

Name: KATY KERRIS
Age: 56
Residence: ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
Occupation: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
Years involved with Iditarod: 12
Iditarod Role: COMMUNICATIONS
Current Location: LAKEFRONT HOTEL, ANCHORAGE
Date of Photo: MARCH 16, 2019
Temperature: 68F / INDOORS

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

I THINK BECAUSE IT GIVES ME A CHANCE TO BE PART OF A TEAM THAT JUST HAS TO COME TOGETHER AND DO THEIR BEST AT THE LAST MINUTE AND WORK 24/7. AND I FEEL LIKE IT ALLOWS ME TO DO A LOT OF PROBLEM SOLVING. AND TO BE OUTSIDE IN ALASKA IS ALWAYS A HIGH PART OF BEING AN ALASKAN.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH STAYING UP LATE AT NIGHT BECAUSE I’M USUALLY A MORNING PERSON. BUT I GENERALLY HAVE NIGHT SHIFTS WHEN I’M A COMMS PERSON AND I LIKE TO BE OUTSIDE. SO I’M KIND OF A HANDS-ON COMMS PERSON. AND SOME OF THE THINGS I’VE SEEN OVER THE YEARS … IT MIGHT BE -50 IN UNALAKLEET AND YOU’VE GOT VETS OUT THERE WITH A STETHOSCOPE IN THEIR HAND, YOU KNOW, CHECKING OUT DOGS AND KIND OF THE, YOU KNOW, THEIR BREATH AND THE DOG’S, KIND OF STEAM COMING UP IN THE COLD; AND EVEN OTHER EXPERIENCES I’VE HAD IN OPHIR WITH MAYBE NORTHERN LIGHTS OVERHEAD; OR EVEN JUST SITTING THERE IN THE DARK, YOU KNOW, WAITING FOR A MUSHER TO COME IN, BECAUSE IN OPHIR WE DON’T HAVE MUCH OF A CLUE ABOUT WHEN THEY’RE COMING. WE JUST KNOW THEY ARE COMING. SO THERE’S A LOT OF TIME HANGING OUT OUTSIDE AT 3:30 OR 4:00 IN THE MORNING AND KIND OF TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS. AND HEARING DOGS HOWLING WHEN THEY COME IN AND WHEN THEY LEAVE.

What do you know for sure?:

WELL, I GUESS NOTHING IS FOR SURE, REALLY. THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW FOR SURE. AND I JUST TRY TO APPROACH EVERYTHING TO DO MY BEST AND WORK MY HARDEST AT WHATEVER I PUT MY MIND TO AND, I THINK, TO BE THERE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE; AND JUST HAVE SUCH A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES IN MY LIFE; IS WHAT I STRIVE FOR.