HUMAN

Name: Rick Cornejo

Age: 58

Residence: Wasilla, Alaska
Occupation: Field operations trainer for Alaska Railroad and a safety manager for Orion Construction Company 

Years involved with Iditarod: 10
Iditarod Role: I’m a handler, or I’m a jack of all trades.

Current Location: Ophir, 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 Iditarod from Kyle Forsgren, invited me to come out and help out a little bit and he was shorthanded. And I’ve been involved every chance I can ever since.

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

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because I just love coming out here and enjoying the history and the nostalgia and all the people. And there’s no hustle and bustle of life as we know it today.

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

My most memorable Iditarod experiences are when I get to sit down with the Iditarod veterans like, DeeDee Jonrowe and Martin Buser and have a casual conversation and a nice dinner with them.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that if you want to survive, you’re going to have to adapt and overcome and deal with what life has given with you. Not worry about plan A, what you do with plan B.