HUMAN
Name: Mike Williams Jr.
Age: 38
Residence: Yakutat
Occuptation: In the winter months it’s mushing and spending time with the family. In the spring, summer, fall I work in maintenance and construction if there’s anything in my hometown, but I’m mainly maintenance for the school district.
Years involved with Iditarod: I’ve been involved with Iditarod since I was a kid when my dad was running.
Iditarod Role: I’ve done it seven times myself.
Current Location: Anchorage, AK
Date of Photo: March 2, 2023
Temperature: It’s a nice day out.
What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?
I got involved with Iditarod when my dad was running. His first Iditarod I think was in 1990, and I was five years old at the time. And he’s done it 15 times since, not back to back years, but whenever he can, and I helped him with it.
What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?
I’m here today involved with Iditarod because I was asked by a few people if I was going to do it, and I have the dogs. And I was asked to do it, and I agreed and said okay.
Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences:
My most memorable Iditarod experience was, well I’d have to say the 2014 race. It was pretty brutal trail, especially going down the gorge and then followed up by the burn, the roughest trail I’ve seen. Another memorable experience was … I don’t remember the year, but it was 50, 55 below for several days, several nights, and that was tough to handle.
What in life do you know for sure?
What I know for sure in life is that it’s not going to last very long.