HUMAN

Name: SPENCER PAPE
Age: 40
Residence: WASILLA, ALASKA
Occupation: BIG GAME HUNTING GUIDE
Years involved with Iditarod: 9
Iditarod Role: TRAILBREAKER
Current Location: NOME, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 13, 2019
Temperature: 30F / OUTDOORS

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

THE WHOLE ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE OF THE TRAIL. THERE’S NOT MANY OTHER PLACES YOU CAN GO IN THE WORLD THESE DAYS WHERE YOU CAN BE OUT IN THE WILDERNESS FOR 60, 80 100 MILES – AND 1000 MILES ALL THE WAY TO NOME – AND NOT SEE ANYTHING. THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE IDITAROD; IS JUST THE ADVENTURE.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

WELL, WE ACTUALLY RELIVED AN EXPERIENCE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAD IN 2013. WE RELIVED IT AGAIN THIS YEAR IN 2019. WEATHER SET IN. THE IDITAROD AIR FORCE COULDN’T FLY SO ALL THE DOG FOOD AND SUPPLIES FOR THE EAGLE ISLAND CHECKPOINT WAS STRANDED SO THE COMMERCIAL FLEW IT INTO KALTAG. THE IDITAROD TRAILBREAKERS RAN UPRIVER, PICKED UP ALL THE SUPPLIES AND 6000 POUNDS OF DOG FOOD AND RAN IT BACK DOWNRIVER TO OPEN UP THE CHECKPOINT TWO HOURS BEFORE THE DOGS PULLED IN TO THE CHECKPOINT.

What do you know for sure?:

THAT MY FAMILY LOVES ME AND I LOVE THEM AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING.