MARQUETTE, MI-- The trails for this year’s UP200, Midnight Run and Jack Pine 30 sled dog races certainly won’t lack snow.
Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association President Darlene Walsch says the routes look really good and officials don’t have to worry about gravel coming up off them.
Walsch says the races will be run pretty much like last year except in the Jack Pine 30, where the entire trail has been re-routed.
“We decided that we wanted to get it off of M-553 and away from the railroad so we have a new start line at the Baptist Church in Gwinn,” she says. It will run a short stretch of snowmobile trail, then travel out to the plains on a loop on private property.
Fourteen teams are currently registered for the UP200, 16 for the Midnight Run and 20 teams will compete in the Jack Pine 30.
Walsch says from 5 to about 6:15 p.m. Friday people can go to the parking area on Washington Street and look at the dog teams during the Dog Tail-Gate Party. Officials are asking people to leave their own pets at home.
Opening ceremonies are at 6:30 p.m. in downtown Marquette. The first musher leaves at 7 p.m.
For more information or to volunteer go to up200.org.
