HUMAN

Name: Ansley Ozment

Age: 25
Residence: North Carolina
Occupation: I am a student and I’m an EMT and I work at a rock-climbing gym.

Years involved with Iditarod: This is my 2nd

Iditarod Role: First year on the trail, but always worked Anchorage comms.

Current Location: Rohn, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 10, 2020
Temperature: 5F/Outdoors

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?

I got involved with the Iditarod through my sister. She would come out here and just go hiking in Alaska, and finally, there’s an Alaska native, and they’re like, “Hey, you should come in the winter and experience Alaska.” But volunteer for the Iditarod. I was in England when that was happening, and I was like, “I’m coming. I will meet you there.” And that was our first year, last year, and we’ve never looked back as soon as we figured out you could be on the trail.

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

I’m here today and involved with the Iditarod because I just think it’s incredible what people and dogs can do, and it was the community that drew us back. It’s such a niche sport; where I’m just used to bigger sports where I feel like you don’t really know the athletes. Here they’re so down to earth and grounded, and it’s a fun way to interact with them and see the teams up close, yeah, being on the trail with them.

Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences?

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences – it was probably last night – and just prepping out and around, flying out here days early, getting everything prepared, setting up comms, and all of a sudden, when we knew dog teams were coming in, and we’re getting updates from Rainy Pass on when they’re going to get here. It was just this calm before the storm. And so, finally, it was like, “Okay, they’re probably going to be here in 15 minutes.” And it was just all the volunteers from this checkpoint came out and just stood until the first team came. I think that was a really cool, exciting way to start off a night that has been pretty much nonstop since then, welcoming teams. So yeah, just welcoming the teams in.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is, literally, people can make or break, literally, whatever you do, wherever you do it. I’ve been to a lot of cool places, but, literally, it’s just, I think, the most important thing is who you do it with. This is another cool thing. You get to meet a lot of cool people and do fun things with them, and it makes all the difference.