HUMAN

Name: WILLA ECKENWEILER
Age: 55
Residence: UNALAKLEET, ALASKA
Occupation: AN OFFICE MANAGER AT WEST COAST AVIATION. AND A NEW GRANDMA.
Years involved with Iditarod: MANY YEARS
Iditarod Role: WE LIVE REAL CLOSE TO THE CHECKPOINT AND IT’S REAL EASY TO SEE THE MUSHERS COME BY AND WE INVITE PEOPLE TO STAY WITH US AND ENJOY THE IDITAROD.
Current Location: UNALAKLEEET, ALASKA
Date of Photo: MARCH 12, 2019
Temperature: 26F / OUTDOORS

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

I’M BORN AND RAISED HERE. AND THE IDITAROD HAS BEEN HERE EVERY YEAR AND WE JUST ENJOY ALL THE ACTIVITY AND SEEING EVERYBODY; SEEING YOU AND MAKING A LOT OF FRIENDS.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

I REMEMBER MOM AND DAD REALLY ENJOYING THE IDITAROD, SO WE ALWAYS HAD PEOPLE STAYING OVER WITH US. AND THEN ONE YEAR WE WENT OUT TO OLD WOMAN AND JOE REDINGTON WAS OUT THERE. AND HE WAS IN THE LEAD AT THE TIME AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN VISITING WITH HIM. HE WAS TELLING US STORIES ABOUT THE TRAIL. IT WAS NEAT. I REMEMBER JUST VISITING WITH JOE REDINGTON AT OLD WOMAN.

What do you know for sure?:

WELL, I KNOW THERE’S A LOT OF LOVE. THERE’S A LOT OF HATE, TOO, BUT I KNOW THERE’S LOVE EVERYWHERE AND I JUST ENJOY SEEING THAT COME OUT OF PEOPLE.