MARQUETTE, MI— Excitement is mounting for next week’s UP 200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine 30 sled dog races.
Darlene Walch is President of the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association. She says the trails are spectacular. There’s been enough snow and cold weather for them to be packed. All three courses have been groomed and will be marked in the next week.
Walch says race officials have had to make a few adjustments due to COVID—mostly affecting indoor events. Thursday’s pre-race banquet has been canceled, and the Midnight Run awards ceremony and UP 200 breakfast are now limited to mushers, handlers, family members and race officials. But for the most part, she says, it’s business as usual.
“Probably 90 percent of these events are outside. We’re going ahead with them without any real considerations other than be respectful and wear a face mask. It works great to keep your face warm under a scarf or a neck gaiter,” she says.
There’s been one other change to a race course: the Midnight Run starts in Marquette as usual Friday night, but will end at the Ojibwa Casino on M-28 on Saturday.
Walch notes volunteers are still needed—especially to make sure road crossings are safe for mushers, particularly on Saturday and Sunday. Locations include Chatham, Wetmore and the Harvey area. A couple of volunteers are also needed for the Jack Pine 30 in Gwinn on Saturday.
The UP 200 and Midnight Run kick off Friday, February 18 in downtown Marquette.
For more information, to volunteer, or to sponsor a mile of trail, go to www.up200.org.
