HUMAN

Name: DANIEL HAYDEN
Age: I’LL BE 45 ON THE 22ND, SO RIGHT NOW I’M 44 YEARS OLD
Residence: NORTH POLE, ALASKA
Occupation: I FLY COMMERCIALLY FOR WRIGHTS AIR SERVICE
Years involved with Iditarod: THIS IS MY FIFTH
Iditarod Role: I AM ONE OF THE IDITAROD AIRFORCE PILOTS
Current Location: WILLOW ALASKA
Date of Photo: FEBRUARY 16, 2019
Temperature: 10F / OUTDOORS

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

I’M INVOLVED IN THE IDITAROD BECAUSE IT’S A GREAT JOY TO BE PART OF THE VOLUNTEERING PROCESS OF HELPING TO MAKE THE IDITAROD HAPPEN. AND AS A PILOT I’M HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WILLOW FLY OUT, WHICH IS KIND OF THE KICKOFF TO THE IDITAROD. AND RIGHT NOW IT’S SNOWING REALLY HARD AND NOBODY’S REALLY GOING ANYWHERE, BUT I’M STILL HERE TRYING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

I WOULD SAY FLYING THE LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER, JEFF, FOR THE IDITAROD AND GETTING SOME AMAZING PHOTOS BY NOT ONLY TIMING THE DOG TEAM’S SPEED, BUT TIMING MY AIRPLANE’S SPEED TO GET SOME PRETTY AMAZING PICTURES. AND IT’S BEEN A REAL CHALLENGE AND VERY REWARDING TO GET THOSE PICTURES BY JUST EXPERIENCE AND USING SIMPLE MATH AND MAKING IT HAPPEN. IT’S—THOSE PICTURES ARE JUST PRICELESS.

What do you know for sure?

WELL, FOR SURE IN LIFE, LIFE IS SHORT AND LIFE IS WHAT WE MAKE IT. AND, AS FAR AS IDITAROD IS CONCERNED, EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID READING ABOUT THE IDITAROD IN THE ALASKA MAGAZINE AND SEEING THOSE AIRPLANES FLYING THOSE DOGS AND PEOPLE AROUND …. I WANTED TO DO THAT WHEN I GREW UP AND GOT OLDER AND LEARNED HOW TO FLY. AND LIFE IS JUST, LIKE I SAID, SHORT; IT’S WHAT YOU MAKE IT, AND YOU’RE ALSO HERE TO SERVE AND HELP OTHER PEOPLE.