HUMAN

Name: Glen Hanson

Age: 68

Residence: Anchorage, Alaska

Occupation:  I’m retired. Was a pilot and mechanical engineer 

Years involved with Iditarod: Since 1985

Iditarod role: Pilot and trail breaker

Current Location: Unalakleet, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 15, 2020
Temperature: 31F/Outdoors

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

I got involved with the Iditarod in 1985 when the race was halted in Rainy Pass. I was talked to by one of the people from Iditarod. My brother was also involved hauling extra dog food up to Rainy Pass. At the time I had a 185 on wheels. I shuttled freight from Anchorage to Skwentna and the ski planes took it the rest of the way.

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

I am here today and involved in Iditarod due to the people that I’ve met. The experiences that I’ve acquired through the Iditarod being the airplane pilot mechanic as well as a trail breaker for a few years. 

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

One of the memorable items in addition to all the people that I’ve flown was during the race, I believe it was ’96 or ’97, when we’re out of Kaltag, about midnight to one o’clock in the morning, the moon was out and the northern lights was happening, we’re stopping and having a little shot of Captain Morgan’s, and a snow machine here pulls up and it’s a local from Kaltag that was out wolf hunting and he had a couple of funny stories. One was, he asked what us silly white boys were doing with them there sticks (the sticks meaning the sticks that we used to mark the trail.) And ocaptain of the team, he explained to him, yes, we’re trail breakers and all that. The guy was sort of, not indignant, but he was sort of funny at the same time. He says, “Oh, I was just wondering, because I never saw none of them ever standing up.” I guess it’s one of their sports they used to run them down.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know in my life for sure is wherever you go, you’re always going to meet wonderful people. Iditarod has been an experience of a lifetime, met very many wonderful people and a lot of my current friends are from Iditarod.