HUMAN

Name: DEBBIE SMYKALSKI AKA DEBSKI
Age: 63
Residence: TALKEETNA, ALASKA
Occupation: RETIRED
Years involved with Iditarod: 26
Iditarod Role: COOK
Current Location: NOME, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 14, 2019
Temperature: 65F / INDOORS

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

THE PEOPLE. MOST PEOPLE COME TO IDITAROD FOR THE DOGS. I PERSONALLY COME FOR THE PEOPLE TO MAKE VOLUNTEERS HAPPY.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE PEE TEAM HAD A PRETTY CHALLENGING YEAR. AND IN THEIR APPRECIATION THEY BOUGHT ME A KAREN OLANNA PRINT CALLED ‘DREAM TEAM.’ AND IT’S ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE THINGS I CAN THINK OF.

What do you know for sure?:

THAT LIFE IS NOT CERTAIN AND DON’T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.