HUMAN

Name: Mike Williams Sr

Residence: Akiak, Alaska

Age: 69

Occupation: I’m retired.

How many years have you been involved with Iditarod? I’ve been involved with Iditarod, running in the Iditarod since 1992, but my brother Walter ran in 1983 and I’ve always wanted to get involved with the Iditarod ever since it started. So we kept going. And I’m retired right now. and I’ve been involved with Iditarod since 1983 when my brother ran and I’ve run the Iditarod 15 times since 1992.

Previous Iditarod roles: Musher

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 1974 when I did a research on Iditarod Mushers and along with Dr.Verner Stillner, he was a psychiatrist. We did research on the Mushers and that’s how I got involved. We always had dogs running the Rendezvous, then turning over to the Iditarod. So I’ve been actually involve since 1974 and my brother ran in 1983 and then I started running in 1992. So that’s how I got started.

What was one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences?

Guess the most memorable Iditarod experience is, running on the Iditarod trail, traveling with my friend, Joe Garney. And it was outside of Rohn towards the Farewell Burn, when it was so cold. We decided to stop and we made bonfire out of brush, bows from the trees, it was so cold. And Joe Garney had a big piece of steak and we had steak dinner out there at 70 below. And that was the most memorable Iditarod. Another one of the memorable part was seeing Joe Garney losing his whole team. He hit the tree and the dogs snapped off and took off down the trail. And while I was gone, I’ve seen Joe Redington had lost his team as well, and he was walking and I asked Joe if he wanted to ride, but he said he was sweating and if he rode in my sled he would freeze and he wanted to keep running/walking. So I informed the officials in Rainy Pass that Joe was back there walking and I gave him my jug of water and he had water. So that was another memorable part on my Iditarod.

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

It makes me feel that… I’m glad the race has been run for 50 years and looking for another 50. And my son is now involved with the Iditarod and this race has to be in perpetuity. People of Alaska must keep it going. And I know my son signed up this year to participate in the 50th race. But he had appendicitis and had an operation over a week ago and he had to withdraw and we were bummed out. But hopefully, that we’ll be able to participate in the future. So 50th Iditarod is something special and we made it this…

What do you know for sure?:

I know for sure in life is that the dogs have been part of our life. Ever since time in Memorial. We always had dogs. Snow machines showed up, but we always had dogs forever. Grew up with them and we still have dogs and we will always have dogs. And with those dogs, we continue to live with them and take care of them. And they’re part of the family. They’re much more than race dogs. They are special.