HUMAN

Name: Deke Naaktgeboren
Age: 36

Residence: Fairbanks, Alaska

Occupation:  BLM

Years involved with the Iditarod: 12 years

Iditarod role: Musher

Current Location: Ruby, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 13, 2020
Temperature: 22F/Outdoors

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

I got involved with the Iditarod when I adopted a Siberian Husky back in college. He was my main man and we did everything together. And I had a dream that someday I’d take him to Alaska and plug him into an Iditarod team, not knowing the difference between a Siberian Husky and an Alaskan Husky, so on and so forth. But I eventually made it. He didn’t make it physically, but I made it and we’re running our first Iditarod.

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was going down the Happy River Steps, and then climbing this near vertical wall and being done with that section of the trail. It was a full moon and the mountains were all around, and it was just absolutely beautiful. It so far was the highlight of my race.

What in life do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is, to chase your dreams and have a lot of fun doing it.