HUMAN

Name: John Schandelmeier
Age: 68
Residence: Delta Junction and Paxson, Alaska
Occupation: I guess you could call me a commercial fisherman, but I do a lot of other things besides.
Years involved with Iditarod: I’ve only been involved with Iditarod in the background. 

Iditarod Role: I’m officially a dog musher today.

Current Location: Finger Lake Checkpoint, Alaska at Winterlake Lodge.

Date of Photo: March 9, 2020
Temperature: 30F/Outdoors

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

I got involved with the Iditarod in 1993. The previous year, I’d won the Yukon Quest and I felt that I would like to try running a different trail. So that’s how I got involved.

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

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because my wife had a last-minute medical issue and dogs are our focus in our life. And so with everything being on the trail ready to run a team and the team sitting in Willow, I hooked them up and went.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that success is based on honesty and kindness. And if you don’t have that, you don’t have anything.