HUMAN

Name: MARK COX
Age: 62
Residence: MCGRATH, ALASKA
Occupation: I WORK FOR THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY AS A FIRE FIGHTER AND LOGISTICS.
Years involved with Iditarod: THIS IS MY 30TH YEAR.
Iditarod Role: I’M DOING LOGISTICS HERE AT THE CHECKPOINT FOR THE MCGRATH AREA AND I AM ALSO THE CHECKER AND JUDGE FOR MCGRATH.
Current Location: MCGRATH, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 6, 2019
Temperature: 28F / OUTDOORS

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

OH, AFTER 30 YEARS, THIS IS MY FAMILY. THE NEW FOLKS, THE OLD FOLKS, WE CAN SEE EACH OTHER ONCE A YEAR. GO UP THE TRAIL. YOU KNOW, LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

BOY, THERE’S BEEN SO MANY, BUT 2003 WAS THE FIRST TIME I MOVED UP THE TRAIL TO SHAKTOOLIK. I THINK THAT GAVE ME A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE MUSHERS AND THE REST OF THE VOLUNTEERS IN THE WIND AND THE SNOW AND GETTING TO MEET THE REALLY INCREDIBLE PEOPLE IN THE COAST. AND RESCUING SOME FOLKS OFF THE ICE THAT YEAR. WHOLE DIFFERENT THAN THE INTERIOR. SO I THINK THE FRIENDS I GAINED THAT YEAR, I STILL HAVE AND CHERISH.

What do you know for sure?:

WELL, I KNOW THERE’S ALWAYS YESTERDAY, AND YOU NEVER KNOW IF THERE’S A TOMORROW. SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YESTERDAY.