HUMAN

Name: Pam Aviza
Age: 56
Residence: Caswell, Alaska
Occupation: Walmart
Years involved with Iditarod: over 20 years
Iditarod Role: Musher parking
Current Location: Downtown Anchorage Ceremonial Start, Anchorage, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 1, 2025
Temperature: 30F outside

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

I got involved with the Iditarod doing dog handling. I had to go learn how to do dog handling with classes. I’ve worked on security for the trail through Anchorage. That’s when I first started out. Then I met Ramey Smyth, and then I started handling for him. And that’s when I started going on the trail, getting to know more of the trail, and I was hoping one day to run it myself.

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

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod just because I love dogs, and I love helping mushers, and the love of the sport.

Tell me about your most memorable Iditarod experiences?:

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was the year I did the Trail Sled through Anchorage and it was raining, and basically it was all mush. It wasn’t snow. We were going over dirt and everything like that. And I just remember doing a couple of tumbles because I’m used to being on snow and not dirt with a sled.

What do you know for sure?:

I do what I can to help the dogs. I donate to different animal places. Like here I donate to Iditarod, or the Wildlife Center down in Seward, or the one down in Girdwood. I just try to help out where animals are needed because they can’t talk for themselves.