HUMAN

Name: Caden West

Age: 21

Residence: Pocatello, Idaho 

Occupation: Video Production

Years involved with Iditarod: This is #2

Iditarod role: I’m one of the Insiders

Current Location: Unalakleet, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 16, 2020

Temperature: 28F/Outdoors

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

So I got involved with Iditarod because I do a lot of video work and I was able to do a couple of projects with Greg Heister, who was one of the broadcast announcer guys here with the Insider team. And it was just one day he was like, “Hey, what are your thoughts coming in and doing the Iditarod. And so I knew very little about what it was and had the opportunity, so I was like, “Well, heck yeah. Why not?” And so that’s how I got here.

What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?

So I am here today and involved with Iditarod because it is one of the most fascinating events or sports that I’ve ever seen. And it’s just fascinating to watch so many people, the dogs and the mushers and volunteers, and everybody come together and unite to make something really incredible happen in a very remote location, right? It just takes a lot of cooperation and coordination and I just think it’s fascinating what these mushers and dogs can actually do.

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

So one of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was actually this year in McGrath. And I know it’s not cold by Iditarod standards, but it was -25, -27 something, like that. And so it was just something that I was definitely not used to. And to be outside and to do work in that, it was humbling and gave me a good reminder of just basic things in life that I’m appreciative for. And it’s just shocking that people are out working and out … that mushers are out racing in these extreme temperatures. It’s mind boggling to me.

What in life do you know for sure?

So what I know for sure in life is I kind of have stoicism on my mind lately. And so the love of fate and that I love whatever will happen with this race or with whatever I’m doing in my life, that I accept those events and my reality and that I can make the best of it and enjoy my life experience and my experience with the Iditarod. And I see that with these mushers, too, that they’re able to love whatever’s happening. If it’s good situation, bad situation, good weather, bad weather, that they’re always just pushing through and wanting to finish, the end. Then another is remembering that my time is limited, that we have to make the most of our experiences here and now. We don’t have unlimited time and so we should just make the best of it.