HUMAN

Name: Kristin Kirschbaum

Age: 69

Residence: I grew up in Anchorage, currently have a home in Seattle and Tucson

Occupation: Retired

Years involved with Iditarod: It goes back to the beginning in ’73, but consecutively, this is my 31st start.

Iditarod Role: Just a fan. Great supporters of Martin Buser’s Happy Trail team and others through the years.

Current Location: Ceremonial Race Start, 4th Ave, Downtown Anchorage, Alaska
Date of Photo: March 5, 2022

Temperature: 32 F Outdoors

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

I first became involved with the Iditarod back in ’72, ’73 when Joe Redington was trying to raise money, funds for the race. My dad bought one of the one inch squares of Joe’s homestead that he was selling, and I still have that certificate today.

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

I’m here today and involved with the race because I’ve just been a great supporter through the years. This is my 31st start here on downtown Anchorage. And I am good friends with Martin and Kathy with Happy Trails Kennels.

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences, and there are many, many, but I think the year that so many were caught in a blizzard, and I got stuck in Kotzebue with Joanne Potts and some of the other mushers that weren’t racing. And that’s the year that Susan and Rick Swenson went out in the blizzard, in the storm from White Mountain, and Susan turned around because it was so bad. And Rick said, “Nope, I’m going.” That was ’91, and he won the race that year.

What do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is that it’s short and you make the most of every day and appreciate all the friends and family that you have.