HUMAN

Name: ALISON LIFKA
Age: 27
Residence: WILLOW, ALASKA
Occupation: DOG HANDLER
Years involved with Iditarod: SINCE 2013
Iditarod Role: MUSHER
Current Location: TAKOTNA, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 7, 2019
Temperature: 25F / OUTDOORS

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

I STARTED WORKING WITH IDITAROD RACE DOGS IN 2013. AND I ALWAYS HELPED TRAIN THE TEAMS AND THEN HAD TO WATCH THEM LEAVE ON THE TRAIL. SO I REALLY WANTED TO DO IT MYSELF. I GUESS THAT’S A “WHY.” THE WHOLE PICTURE “WHY”, IT’S JUST REALLY FREAKIN’ COOL TO GO RUN ACROSS ALASKA WITH SLED DOGS. THE SLED DOGS ARE AMAZING. I LOVE THE BONDING WITH THEM. AND IT’S JUST INCREDIBLE WHAT THEY CAN DO.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

I BROKE MY RUNNER ON THE WAY TO NIKOLAI PROBABLY ABOUT 15 MILES OUTSIDE OF ROHN. SO I HAD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PATCH UP MY RUNNER AND MAKE IT TO NIKOLAI. SO THAT WAS MEMORABLE. I REALLY LIKE GOING DOWN THE GORGE. EVERYBODY HATES IT, BUT I LOVE IT. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. BUT WE ALSO HAD GOOD SNOW THIS YEAR.

What do you know for sure?:

NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. IF YOU TAKE THINGS AS THEY COME INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT THEM, IT’S A LOT EASIER TO ENJOY LIFE.