HUMAN

Name: Phillip Meyer

Residence: Wasilla, Alaska

Age: 76

Occupation: I’m a retired veterinarian

Years involved with Iditarod: My first year involving the Iditarod was 1978.

Past Iditarod Roles: I helped with the health check that year. I’ve been a veterinarian on, I really don’t know how many Iditarods, several. And I’ve been involved with the Junior Iditarod since 1979. .

Current Location: Settler’s Bay Lodge in Wasilla, Alaska
Date of Photo: March 1, 2022

Temperature: 68 F Indoors

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

I got involved with the Iditarod in 1978. I came to Alaska in 77 and that was my first winter in Iditarod. I helped do the vet check and I got to meet several Iditarod mushers and was a spectator. I think that’s about it.

What was one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences?

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was my first time in the old town of Iditarod. I showed up there with almost nothing and I wasn’t in any way prepared for it. When I got off the plane, they wanted me to go take a look at Mrs. Fleming. She had been cooking and her pressure pot blew up on her. When they flew me in the weather was going down, we hadn’t established communications yet. And they told me that there wasn’t going to be anybody coming in for who knows how long. So when I went in to see Mrs. Fleming, I didn’t have many other options. When I saw her, the pressure cooker had blown up and splashed boiling water all over the front of her. All over her chest, and I realized right off, that this was beyond my ability. So as I was mumbling and stumbling about, the only thing I could think of was foot ointment for the dog. I had some Furazone, which was water-soluble, so it would be okay, and get her started on something anyway. Complicating factor was, she had a week-old baby and I hadn’t worked out that problem yet. So when I went to get the foot ointment, the radio people had established morse code contact. One of the pilots had found a public health nurse and she was flying out and I was extremely relieved. I was happy to see that when she got there, she used the same medication that I was going to use. But she did take Mrs. Fleming and the baby back to Providence. I was pretty happy with that.

What does the 50th running of the Iditarod mean to you?

This is the 50th Iditarod, it makes me realize that it’s a long time. Somehow it doesn’t seem anywhere near like it’s that long. But when I look at the people who I knew back then, they kind of look like me, and I realize, “Yep”, it has been 50 years.

What do you know for sure?:

The Iditarod has been a beneficial experience for me, and I’m certainly glad for having had the opportunities that I’ve had during and with the Iditarod.