05/27/2026
🗣️Voices of the Volunteers is back for another year! We're shining a spotlight on the amazing folks behind the scenes of the 2026 Iditarod — the dedicated volunteers who return year after year to help make The Last Great Race on Earth® happen.
Today, we're sharing a story from Iditarod volunteer, John Vassel from Michigan.
🔵 Years as an Iditarod Volunteer: 4 Years
🔵 2026 Location & Duty: Ceremonial Start and McGrath (comms)
🔵 Tell us something about your experience: "This was my 4th year as a volunteer, 1st on the trail. Figured I had it all figured out...HA! I chose McGrath, and comms as my position. Good place to see the teams, as many take their 24 there, and it still allowed me to stay in Anchorage for the ceremonial start. Mushers, Dogs, Volunteers, figured I knew all I needed to know. Boy, was I pleasantly WRONG!
We arrived on Sunday after the start to begin setting up the checkpoint. Each day we added to the roster of both volunteers, and locals looking to help. We had awesome vets, one even from the UK! (Adrian, you were a pleasure to work with!) But as we got closer to 'show time' the energy became palpable. Families showed up to cook for the mushers, to help move snow, to set up supplies, and to sit and watch the tracker and wait! Great conversations were had! Then the artwork showed up from the school in town. We couldn't wait to hang it on the wall for every person to see, specially the mushers! So much togetherness, I don't remember hearing a terse word, or even a negative thought. Everyone was there to see, help and experience the greatest race on earth! I really began to love being around all these great people! The race is great, but the community aspect caught me off-guard and was a very pleasant surprise!
As the mushers came through I got to talk with old favorites, new favorites and meet new faces. Listening to Jody tell her Bison encounter story first hand at 1 in the morning, was jaw dropping. I'll never compete with her in the story telling department!
I had so many favorite moments but two stick out. One was when I was wandering about outside, checking on our 24 hour guests. A small girl had walked out of the community center with 4-5 hand drawn pictures, one for each of the mushers still at the check point. But she sort of froze, not sure about approaching. I'd had conversations with all of them at some point, so fel comfortable making the introductions. Each musher gladly stopped what they were doing (all where in some point of caring for their teams/equipment) and looked at her art, thanked her for it, and tucked it away safely. All genuine, all sincere, and I dare say probably meant as much to them as it did to the young lady. I just silently witnessed it, but it was quite a warm moment.
The other moment was with Jody Potts-Joseph. She had lowly anguished that her 'hair was a mess'. In our volunteer crew we had some great ladies, Karen and Lindsey, who happily offered to braid her hair. Lindsey even had the supplies needed! We joked about McGrath adding the title 'and Beauty shop' to our checkpoint title next year! "
We are so grateful for every single volunteer who gives their time, heart, and energy to support the race and the sled dogs. We truly couldn't do it without you! 💙🐾
