Welcome to the Upper Peninsula Mushing Adventure Page! This web site not only honors Dog Sled Racing in the Upper Peninsula, but also the two mid-distance race and shorter 30-mile race that have made the U.P. a great place to race sled dogs - the U.P. 200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine 30. I will also recount a few of my fondest memories while attending a few of these dog sled races in my hometown. So lets mush away....!
History of Dog Sled Racing in the U.P.
The U.P. 200 and Midnight Run was only a glimmer of an idea 20 years ago. It was an intriguing thought and the location of the Upper Peninsula for such dog sled races was great, seeing the U.P. is known for its snow. The idea was discussed amongst a few area families and they soon brought the dream to reality. Jeffrey Mann and his family moved to Marquette, Michigan after living in Seattle. He met a few people who loved something that he loved just as much; the sport of dog sled racing. A race plan was quickly developed along with a race course. The course of this new U.P. race was to include Marquette, Alger, and Delta counties, within the towns of Marquette, Chatham, Rapid River, Escanaba, and Gwinn serving as checkpoints for the inaugural start of the U.P. 200. Not only was there to be one dog sled race, but two. The U.P. 200 was developed for the more experienced racing team and would include all of the five checkpoints for an approximate total of 240 miles. The Midnight Run, a smaller race for the less-experienced, would include three of the checkpoints and would start in Chatham and end in Escanaba. The strategic plan came together, and soon enough, it was time to race. On a stormy night in February of 1990, the first annual U.P. 200 took off from the heart of downtown Marquette. Not only was there enormous support from area businesses and volunteers, but the general public also attended the race with a crowd of 10,000 witnessing the first ever dog sled race in the Upper Peninsula. Later on in Chatham, the first Midnight Run also began, again with mind-boggling crowds for a town of its size. The crowd support was huge then and it continues today.
Things have changed since the initial running of the U.P. 200 and Midnight Run. In 2003, the U.P. Sled Dog Association decided to change the course of the U.P. 200. In more recent years, the southern Upper Peninsula has lacked the snow necessary for the race to continue on through that part of the trail, so the trail was rerouted. Some new checkpoints have been incorporated into the new race course including Wetmore and Grand Marais, MI. Grand Marais now serves as the half-way point for the race. After the teams leave Grand Marias, Wetmore again serves as a checkpoint for the final leg of the race until the finish at the lower harbor in Marquette. The Midnight Run race course has also changed since 2003. The racers participating in the Midnight Run also get to experience a "downtown start," as Marquette serves as the starting point of the race. A traditional starting point for the race in the past now serves as the primary checkpoint for the race, that town being Chatham. Once the teams take their mandatory rest here, they follow the same trail back to Marquette where the finish line is.
Lastly, the Jack Pine 30, a sportsman's class race covers a course of 30 miles in length which starts and ends in Gwinn. The inaugural running of the race was in 2003, where eleven racers hit the trails.
The U.P. 200, Midnight Run, and now the JackPine 30 are successful winter-time events in the Upper Peninsula that draw thousands of people to the area to witness some of the best dog sled racers in all of the sport. Some of the mushers use these races as a qualifier or a training run for the Iditarod - the grand daddy of all dog sled races held in Alaska. But there are many mushers who hold high praise for the officials and the communities responsible for the U.P. 200, Midnight Run and JackPine 30 races. It's why many keep coming back year after year. Some even compliment the race as being the best in the lower 48. And that's quite the compliment for such a successful event in our wonderful Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
My Memories of Attending Dog Sled Races
I can't say I've attended all of the U.P. 200 and Midnight Run races in all of my life in Chatham. In 2000, I had a serious cold and couldn't take the chance of catching anything worse than I all ready had. And the first two or three races in the history of the event were missed by me because I was probably too small to go out there bundled up tighter than a mummy. But excluding all those years, I've attended them all. It's not about knowing all of the mushers names and rooting just for one or two of the favorites, but it's about much more than that. Its about having fun, and wishing good luck to all of those mushers that come out of the starting gate as they breeze by from the dog's excitement. That is the best part of all.
I've had plenty of fond memories while attending the races. One of my most fondest was around the time when I was about 8, and attended my first dogsled race. Back then, the Midnight Run didn't start out of the ball field, but right along the railroad grade just North of the Chatham post office. Now I was too young to remember a lot of what went on. But I remember the dogs whizzing by, about as fast as a speeding bullet, as they soon drifted off out of site along the trail into the night sky. I remember tons of people aligning the trail, and the excitement a cheers that went up once a team departed. I also remember walking by many of the parked trucks with the built in dog kennels, keeping some of the extra dogs inside, with their noses peeking out. I saw thousands of people, gazing and walking around the back roads of Chatham, peering into the dog kennels, like I did with my dad. It was an amazing night, one that I will never forget.
A few other events leave a definite impression on my mind. I remember when the starting line of the U.P. 200 became the finish line for the race in downtown Marquette. Hearing Chatham native Lloyd Gilbertson being defeated by only the smallest of margins to a fierce competitor. Trudging through the deepest of mud puddles on a balmy February night that caused the snow to melt tremendously, causing race officials to postpone the final leg of the trip to Marquette, meaning Gwinn became the new finish point. Finally, I'll end it here, the coldest race ever when the mercury reached 20 below zero!
Those are just a few of the finest memories I have about the races. Long live dog sled racing in the U.P.!
What is it Like to Race Sled Dogs?
You are in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. As you stand on the runners of the dog sled, looking in amazement at the very excited dogs that are about to pull you down the trail, you begin to wonder ... Just what have I gotten myself into?
These dogs are psyched and based on how the sled is bouncing around, strong, too. You get a little comfort knowing you will not be alone on the trail. Your guide will be ahead with his own team.
As you stand there, many, many questions go through your mind. Will I fall? Will I be able to hold onto the sled if (and when) I fall? Which one of these things is the brake? When do I use the snow hook again? What were my leaders' names? I think I remember how to undo the snub line.
Suddenly, your guide turns around and gives what you think is the thumbs-up signal with his fur-mittened hand and like a shot he is gone. Your dogs are screaming to join their kennel mates on the trail. You lift your foot off the brake and without warning, you can't believe how fast you are going down this narrow chute through the trees.
The loud barking and excitement at the hook up are behind you. The dogs don't make a sound while they are running. Trees are flashing past you in a blur, seemingly close enough to reach out and tear off your parka. You vaguely remember something the guide said about trying not to hit the trees. You've made it the first half-mile and turn onto a straight, wide trail. Even though the dogs are still running quickly you remember that you are supposed to breathe and begin to relax a little.
Further down the trail the dogs slow to a nice trot and things seem to be under control.
This is the point where you begin to see the attraction of this wonderful sport. It is absolutely breathtaking in the winter woods. Snow hangs on the pines creating a white, sparkling tunnel into a magic land.
You see the breath of each of your dogs and the enjoyment they derive from being on the trail again. They strain into their harnesses, eager to see what is around the corner or over the next hill. It is obvious they are enjoying their work. Their adventurous spirit is almost overwhelming, and definitely contagious. It is apparent these dogs are healthy and well taken care of. They are physically fit athletes that receive excellent nutrition, training and the opportunity to do the thing they love most-run.
The variety of feelings and emotions you experience during your trip is amazing. Excitement, fear, exhilaration, awe, solitude and serenity are just a few, not to mention the kinship you will begin to feel with your dog team as you traverse the north woods. It is easy to understand why mushers choose this type of lifestyle.
You are one of the growing number of people wanting to experience this mystical thing called "mushing." Dog sled touring businesses, or outfitters, are popping up all over the country where snow is abundant.
Here in Michigan, there are numerous mushers around the state, but only a few are offering guided trips, and they are all in the U.P. where winters are long and the snowfall is incredible.
A variety of formats is used by mushers. Some only offer rides in the sled where a musher drives the team. Others allow you to ride the runners of a "trail sled," a second sled attached to the team behind the first sled. A musher drives the sled and actually controls the team. Some outfitters offer half day or whole day outings, while a few offer more extensive, multiple-day trips. On these types of excursions, many outfitters will supply most or all of the specialized winter equipment you will need.
Some of the information and pictures gathered in creating this web site came from the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association's Web Site, "www.up200.org." Much thanks to them!
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