HUMAN

Name: Jim Cantor
Age: 62

Residence: Chugiak, Alaska 

Occupation:  I’m a lawyer

Years involved with Iditarod: Many

Iditarod role: I’m a trail volunteer this year.

Current Location: Ruby, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 13, 2020
Temperature: 10F/Outdoors

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

I got involved with Iditarod after about 10 years of dog mushing. I was working as a young lawyer and dissatisfied and I wanted to go live in the mountains and run dogs. And I thought, “Oh, that’s not going to look good for a lawyer on a resume. Why don’t I run Iditarod?” I went to my law firm and said, “Hey, I’m going to quit, but if I don’t quit, how about if you give me some money to run Iditarod,” and they agreed.

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

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because of dogs. We’ve had dogs for 39 years and we love to watch racing and all kinds of racing. Sprint racing, Iditarod racing; and we help out as much as we can. I haven’t been on the trail since the mid-nineties but I’m now retired and have time to help out in the real place.

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

Tomorrow is my birthday. My birthday, when I was 33 years old, I left Kaltag in a storm, and I was the only musher crossing the portage right then. It was snowing. Partway across I camped out and dug kind of a semi-snow cave and brought some dogs in to be warm. That was how I spent my 33rd birthday. My birthday tomorrow is going to be in Ruby as a volunteer.

What do you know for sure?:

Absolutely nothing.