HUMAN

Name: Erin Smith-Cohen

Age: 63
Residence: Eagle River, Alaska
Occupation: Registered nurse
Years involved with Iditarod: 10th

Iditarod Role: Anchorage comms
Current Location: Lakefront Hotel, Anchorage, Alaska. 
Date of Photo: March 17, 2020
Temperature: 28F/Outdoors

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

I got involved with the Iditarod when I was stationed here with the Air Force 30 years ago and saw that the role of the volunteers was just critical to the success of the race and so I started volunteering in Anchorage.

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

I’m here today because I, again, see the critical role of the volunteer in the whole process and success of the Iditarod. Fortunately now I’m semiretired so I have a little more time to volunteer.

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was watching Susan Butcher mush her dog team past Campbell Airstrip. And I have pictures and, of course, miss her terribly.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that nothing is guaranteed and it’s super important to always have a backup plan. As the mushers have taught me, if you do right by the dogs, that’s all the counts. That’s important, and then you know.