HUMAN

Name: KARL HEIDELBACH
Age: ABOUT TO TURN 55
Residence: KNIK, ALASKA
Occupation: RETIRED AIR FORCE VETERAN AND I AM NOW CURRENTLY A RECREATIONAL MUSHER.
Years involved with Iditarod: THIS IS MY 20TH YEAR. IT IS MY 11TH AS THE ANCHORAGE START COORDINATOR.
Iditarod Role: I AM THE ANCHORAGE START COORDINATOR FOR IDITAROD. I TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING FROM THE CEREMONIAL START FROM THE START TO THE FINISH. I HAVE AT LEAST 12 COORDINATORS THAT HELP ME OUT WITH THIS PROCESS.
Current Location: DOWNTOWN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 2, 2019
Temperature: 21F / OUTDOORS

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

THAT’S A HECK OF A GOOD QUESTION. I LIKE THE SPORT AS A RECREATIONAL MUSHER. AND THESE ARE MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, SO I LIKE TO MAKE SURE THEY GET OUT OF TOWN ON TIME. AND I’VE BEEN HAVING A BLAST SINCE DAY ONE. SO I KEEP COMING BACK.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

REQUESTED TO GO OUT ON THE TRAIL. WAS OUT ON THE TRAIL IN KALTAG. AND I WAS ABLE TO HELP AGAIN, BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE LIKE MY NEIGHBORS, AND JIM LANIER WHO ACTUALLY DISLOCATED HIS SHOULDER THAT YEAR. SO I WAS IN THE CHECKPOINT FOR THAT; BE ABLE TO HELP HIM AND GET HIM OUT.

What do you know for sure?:

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE.