HUMAN

Name: Sheri Siegel
Age: 57
Residence: Georgia
Occupation: I’m a veterinary radiation oncologist.

Years involved with Iditarod: This is my first year.

Iditarod Role: As a veterinarian.

Current Location: Puntilla Lake, Rainy Pass Checkpoint

Date of Photo: March 10, 2020
Temperature: -8F/Outdoors blowing 15 MPH

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

I got involved with Iditarod through a friend of mine. Lynelle Toshi is a veterinarian, and she’s been doing it the last five years. And she said this is something that I should do. I finally retired, and so I found myself with time and looking for new experiences. And here I am with my first Iditarod year.

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

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because of my friend Lynelle, who advised me to apply and also, because, since I’ve retired, I’m looking for some new experiences and to utilize my veterinary skills with these new experiences. And I found that this is one of the best ways to do it. And how unique is it to be in Alaska at the Iditarod?

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was, just being the first year, I’ve been exposed to so many things that I wouldn’t have been at home. Some of them are just simply going to collect the water with the snow machine, which I’ve never ridden on before. And so I rode that as well as sitting in the tent with the kerosene heater. And, unfortunately, it caught my coat a little bit. And so some of my experiences have been ones that probably will be a little bit costly on the coat end of it.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that it’s short and you cannot predict it. And so you’ve got to take advantage of experiences in life and go with the flow, and just try to enjoy life.