HUMAN

Name: Mark Flanagan

Age: 54

Residence: Moose Pass, Alaska
Occupation: Commercial Fisherman

Years involved with Iditarod: This is my first year involved in the Iditarod
Iditarod Role:Current Location: Cripple, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 12, 2020
Temperature: 0F/Outdoors

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

I got involved with the Iditarod through Tyrell Seavey. He’s a friend of mine and lives in Seward. He asked me last year, at last minute somebody dropped out and I wasn’t able to go, and he asked me again this year and I said “yes.”

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

I got involved, again, through Tyrell, and because he comes from a mushing family, I thought it would be a great opportunity to experience volunteering on the Iditarod with him especially, and that’s why I’m here today.

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

I guess since this was my only year I only have just the last, not even week of experience, but I would say just sitting around and talking to all the people that are involved and the people that have been involved with this organization for many years, which is amazing. And the people that come from all over the world. I never realized how many people come from all different places involved. And the logistics. The logistics of this whole event is just… It’s mind-boggling. And just sitting around. The other night, it was probably two nights ago, just sitting around and just playing games, cards, and just talking with these people and just having a good old time. It’s like we’ve known them for… That I’ve known them for years.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that I will always be an artist and I’ve always, and I always will have a need to be creative.