HUMAN

Name: Zack Kelly

Age: 21
Residence: Alabama
Occupation: I work construction in installing interior core graphics for total wine more liquor stores
Years involved with Iditarod: 2
Iditarod Role: Return dog handler
Current Location: Lakefront Hotel, Anchorage, Alaska. 
Date of Photo: March 17, 2020
Temperature: 28F/Outdoors

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

I got involved with the Iditarod with my older brother who’s been volunteering for, this would be his 10th year now. And after high school I pretty much had a sense of divine adventure, wanting to go up to Alaska. Then an opportunity arose for me to come up here to help out with the return dog program. So I took a leap of faith, went and did it, and ever since then I had the urge or the bug as everyone calls it, to keep coming up and volunteering as much as I can.

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

I’m here today and involved with the Iditarod because of the Alaskan lifestyle, dog mushing, the Iditarod and just the beauty of nature of what Alaska holds in store for many people.

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was when I got the opportunity to go out on trail my first year as a return dog handler. It’s rare that first years get to go out, but with the experience and knowledge that I had enabled me to get to go out and experience that going out on trail for the first time and get to view the beauty in nature of what nature holds for Alaska.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is, life is too short. The old saying I’ve always been told, “You live every day, but you only die once.” So you just go out, enjoy life and see what life has in store for you. Take a leap of faith and do whatever you’d like to do. Have fun with it.