HUMAN

Name: URTHA LENHARR
Age: 69
Residence: CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
Occupation: RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER
Years involved with Iditarod: 45
Iditarod Role: I’M AT HEADQUARTERS TO HELP COORDINATE THE CHECKERS AND I’M ALSO KIND OF THE CHECKER THAT BRINGS IN THE FIRST FOUR MUSHERS.
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?:

WELL, ALASKA, I FEEL, IS PRETTY MUCH MY FIRST HOME. PENNSYLVANIA IS LIKE THE SECOND. AND I’VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH IDITAROD SO LONG THAT IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT BIT ME AND I KEEP RETURNING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

MOST MEMORABLE IDITAROD EXPERIENCE FOR ME WAS THE 1991 SLED DOG RACE WHEN I RAN THE IDITAROD. MY TRAINERS WERE NORMAN VAUGHAN AND JOE REDINGTON, SR. AND JOE, BEFORE I LEFT, TOLD ME THAT – GAVE ME ALL SORTS OF CLUES ALONG THE TRAIL. AND HE SAYS, “WHEN YOU GET TO THE STEPS, BE SURE TO GO DOWN THE STEPS DURING THE DAYLIGHT.” SO I’M TRAVELING ALONG. NEXT THING I KNOW IS IT’S LIKE RIDING A ROLLER COASTER STANDING UP; NOT SEEING ANYTHING AND UP AND DOWN AND UP AND DOWN AND SWITCHBACKS LEFT AND RIGHT. THEN IT MELLOWS OUT AND THEN IT ALL STARTS AGAIN. AND AT DAYBREAK I END UP AT THE BOTTOM AND JOE’S SITTING DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL DRINKING A CUP OF COFFEE, MAXWELL HOUSE COFFEE, AND LAUGHS. AND HE SAYS, “DIDN’T I TELL YOU TO DO THIS DURING THE DATIME?”

What do you know for sure?:

THAT NOTHING IS FOR CERTAIN; THAT YOU’VE GOT TO ENJOY EVERY DAY AS IF IT’S YOUR LAST. YOU’VE GOT TO BE ADVENTUROUS. YOU’VE GOT TO GET OUT AND DO THINGS. AND YOU’VE GOT TO APPRECIATE WHAT IS AROUND YOU BECAUSE IT ONLY COMES AROUND ONCE. THANK GOD.