HUMAN

Name: Reb Hanson
Age: 68
Residence: Anchorage, Alaska
Occupation: I’m retired, but I was an accountant before that.

Years involved with Iditarod:I started – directly involved with it when my husband volunteered in the ‘80’s.
Iditarod Role: The cook at Unalakleet
Current Location: AIRLAND TRANSPORT WAREHOUSE – ANCHORAGE
Date of Photo: FEBRUARY 21, 2020
Temperature: 64 F inside

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

I got involved with the Iditarod as an Air Force widow, my husband volunteered to be an Iditarod Air Force Pilot. I had a son, who ran the Junior and actually won once. Another daughter who ran the Junior and ran the Iditarod when she was 18, and at that time she was the youngest woman. Kimberly Michelle Hanson and Brian Robert Hanson is my son. My youngest also ran Lindsay, or Z, as we call her. She ran three years the junior also. So I was asked to be a cook out in Unalakleet. And, my husband was the chief pilot out there. My daughter, Brittany, was the load coordinator out there, so it became a family affair.

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

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because my family’s involved. I’ve made great friends and I love Unalakleet, and it’s one of the highlights of my year. What I know for sure in life is if you can’t have fun, um, you need to start a new track of life.

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

One of my most memorable experiences at Iditarod – there are too many to count – but I love coming back because Iditarod becomes a family of volunteers. And that’s what I love about it.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is, if you can’t have fun, you need to start a new track of life.