HUMAN

Name: Bill Roth
Age: 65
Residence: Anchorage, Alaska
Occupation: Photojournalist
Years involved with Iditarod: 40 years
Iditarod Role: Staff photographer at the Anchorage Daily News, I’m covering the ceremonial start
Current Location: Downtown Anchorage Ceremonial Start, Anchorage, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 1, 2025
Temperature: 30F outside

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

First time I covered Iditarod was 1985 with the Anchorage Daily News photographing the ceremonial start.

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

I’m covering the ceremonial start for the Anchorage Daily News. Traditionally, I would cover the restart in Willow, but it had been moved to Fairbanks, so I volunteered to work today.

Tell me about your most memorable Iditarod experiences?:

I was out on the trail in 1990 and at Finger Lake, camped out in a tent, and Redoubt blew and ash covered the whole area and I was stuck there for three days. The planes couldn’t come in or out because of all the ash, and I saw every dog team come through Finger Lake that year. And the thing I remember about that is, mushers saying that the dogs couldn’t dip. Because when dogs are running they dip snow and the snow was covered in ash. So they’re getting a mouthful of ash when they dipped.

What do you know for sure?:

You only get one shot and you need to make the best of it.