HUMAN

Name: Kris Fister

Age: 70

Residence: Fairbanks, Alaska

Occupation: Currently retired as of a couple weeks ago. I had been working with the National Park Service as a park ranger for 38 years.

Years involved with the Iditarod: I have been involved with the Iditarod, how many hours? I think two hours, four hours today, never before been involved with it.

Iditarod Role: Volunteer in the dog yard.

Current Location: Nome, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 15, 2022

Temperature: 30F Outdoors & 68F Indoors at Iditarod Headquarters

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

I first became involved with the Iditarod, for Iditarod 2022, when I came to Nome to visit a friend. And this is the first time I’ve ever been involved with the Iditarod.

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

I am here today and involved with the Iditarod because I stopped into the Iditarod headquarters to see what was here and they indicated they needed volunteers on the last day that I would actually be able to participate. And so we signed up.

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

I guess one of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was certainly seeing the finish this morning and to see Brent Sass become the most recent champion. I had the opportunity to meet him during the Yukon Quest, because I had helped staff a checkpoint, or actually a dog drop there. So that was very exciting, but also I think being able to volunteer and to help out with the dog yard and just to help facilitate, as mushers are coming back, and to help out there. That’s certainly I think one of the high points of being here in Nome this week.

What in life do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is that nothing is set in stone and it’s just important that you seize the moment and live for today and live life to the fullest.