HUMAN

Name: Tim Bodony
Age: 41

Residence: Galena, Alaska

Occupation:  Radio announcer, KIYU in Galena

Years involved with Iditarod: Since 2002

Iditarod role: Checkpoint volunteer

Current Location: Ruby, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 15, 2020
Temperature: 28F/Outdoors

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

As a reporter for KNOM, you get to really immerse yourself in the race, including being stationed out at the far edge of the Nome road system to be a spotter, and look for teams, and go live on the radio and identify teams. And KNOM does a great job of getting young people who work for them excited about the race. And Tom Busch at that time was the general manager. He’s a critical part of KNOM history, and he did a tremendous job of getting people educated and excited about Iditarod in those years.

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

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because as a checkpoint manager in Galena, I want our village to have a good reputation on the trail, to be seen as a welcoming place that’s very hospitable to mushers, and of course their dog teams. And really, overall, I’m primarily here because of the dogs. I really believe in the Iditarod as a tool for preserving history, and showing people into the future a bit of Alaska’s past, when things really relied on the dog team to move mail, and to move supplies, and, obviously, to move lifesaving medicine at least one time. I think that’s fascinating. I could care less about Iditarod as a race. I see it more like a parade, a historical reenactment kind of sort of. And a kind of gathering of the tribes. All these people get together that don’t see each other any other time, and you meet old friends. It’s great.

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was one of the many times when I have parked a dog team here at the checkpoint, which involves running in front of the lead dogs, getting them into their parking place. And then, usually I get this wonderful moment when I get to stand in front of the lead dogs while the musher gets his or her gear set and brings the snow hook up front to line out that dog team. And I remember one time in particular here at the checkpoint, Kristin Bacon’s team came in. And I’ve got them parked. And I stood there in front of the leaders, and one of the lead dogs gave me a huge hug, jumped up, front paws on my shoulders, licked my face as if to say, “I love you. I’m so happy to be here.” And I think about that. It hasn’t happened this year, but I’m waiting for that to happen again, because I think that’s the coolest Iditarod volunteer moment when a dog thanks you directly. It’s rare, but when it does… The dogs are usually great. I enjoy experiencing that directly to break the stereotype of sled dogs as antisocial, scary wolves, essentially. They’re barely tamed. That’s not usually the case. These dogs are really well-socialized. And that one was the most socialized dog I’ve ever encountered that gave me a hug and a kiss upon being parked in Galena.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that I love my family, I love my daughter and my wife. And that all people are at their core decent and good. And sometimes they forget that.