HUMAN

Name: Brad VanMeter

Age: 55

Residence: Watertown, South Dakota

Occupation:  I am retired

Years involved with Iditarod: 14 years as trail crew or checker.

Iditarod role: Trail crew or checker.

Current Location: Ruby, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 13, 2020
Temperature: 10F/Outdoors

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

I got involved with Iditarod in 2005. The previous year I was coming up on a hunting trip and I’d contacted Vern Halter because I’d seen one of the school presentations he had done in the past, and he said, “Come on up.” And I visited his kennel and he said, “You know what, you should come up and see Iditarod.” So the following year it just worked out that came up for Iditarod as a spectator, the following year as a spectator as well. And then the comment was made that I should volunteer. So I guess I was in the right place at the right time and was fortunate enough to be chosen to volunteer at the halfway point.

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

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because I love Alaska, I love sled dogs, and I love the people of Alaska. I guess, I’ve worked village checkpoints and I’ve worked remote checkpoints, and my favorite one is always the one I’m at. I do like the villages because it’s fun to get involved with the community and see how they live, and see the kids and see the schools and the different buildings. But I like the remote ones too, just to get away from everything and unplug and just enjoy the beauty of Alaska.

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was at Iditarod checkpoint. We had gone in, me and several guys, good friend Jim Paulus, we’d gone in a few days before the race to do some maintenance at the camp and put some roofs on, put some siding on, put some windows on. And Jim is one of the reasons I’m still involved with Iditarod. I love the guy, and I probably wouldn’t keep coming if it wasn’t for him. He would always fall asleep with his headlamp on reading a book in his bunk at night, so we made fun of him for that. And the next day I found his paperback book, and I took the staple gun and I stapled it to the bottom of his bunk. And that evening he was looking for his book so he could fall asleep reading and he’s just going crazy because he couldn’t find his book. I think it was the next day we pointed out to him where his book was, and he was so mad that we stapled his book to the top of the bunk. And when he got home, we found out that that was a borrowed book from the library. So his wife wasn’t very happy with us either. But to this day, he reminds me of that. So, that’s one of my favorite experiences and I’m sure it’s one of Jim’s as well.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that I am truly blessed to be fortunate enough to grow up and have Iditarod in my life and some of these experiences. Probably one of my top five memories is Iditarod in Alaska. And I wouldn’t change anything about it. I just love the fact that I’m blessed enough to be able to come and do this every year.