HUMAN

Name: Jessica McGinty

Age: 42

Residence: Kaltag, Alaska

Occupation: Iditarod volunteer.

Years involved with the Iditarod: Maybe about 10 years, altogether.

Iditarod Roles: I’ve helped out, just gathering stuff and helping out at the checkpoint, preparing the buildings for the people to come in, the dog food sorting, and receiving the dog food when it comes in. 

Current Location: Kaltag, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 12, 2022

Temperature: 9F Outdoors & Windy

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

I got involved with the Iditarod probably about… I’d say actually helping about 10 years ago, I started. I grew up and my dad was a checker, so I got to see how my dad helped out and what he did to prep for the Iditarod. So probably about 10 years ago, I slowly started getting involved at hauling the dog food and storing the hay, and then it just grew from there. And now that my dad’s a little bit older, I want him to take a break, and I’d like to help more in his spot so he can enjoy watching.

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

I’m here today and involved with the Iditarod because… it’s because I grew with it. My dad raced in the Iditarod before I was born. And then since then, for as long as I could remember, he was a checker here, and I’d just like to carry that on. Over the years, my kids and myself have been able to help out, and we enjoy getting to see new people and just carrying on what my dad did.

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was just as a kid, that was my experience. Back then, they used to have the families come to the homes, stay in the homes, so my dad had to find everyone a place to stay, a sponsor or a host family. And so, I remembered all the people that would come in and we would get to meet. My dad’s friend, Larry Thompson, who he was real close with and how he came to Kaltag. But yeah, just seeing all those people that meant so much to my dad, Joe Runyan and his family. And just, I don’t know, the family part of it, it wasn’t so much… All these years, it’s about dog mushing and seeing dogs and coming down here and seeing how they’re running and stuff. But there was more to, in my family, it was like a family thing. And this year, I’ve reflected a lot on that, just because my dad’s getting older, I guess. But just having that families that came into our homes, it was just, that’s what the Iditarod was then. It’s so different now, but yeah.

What in life do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is that to always pay attention, to always try to learn from those that are older than us. Especially the younger people, we’re going to be here to carry on and keep stuff going in our community, the things that I grew up with. So just take time to pay attention to those that are trying to teach you, and never be too rushed to listen.