MARQUETTE, MI— The UP200 sled dog races are only six weeks away and officials are keeping an eye on the skies.
One Upper Peninsula sled dog race and two Minnesota races recently have been canceled due to lack of snow.
Darlene Walch is president of the UP200. She says a minimum of two feet of snow would have to be on the ground to make good trails, but it also depends on the type of snow.
“Very cold, dry snow is hard to build a trail. So, the best thing that could happen here would be to have a couple of feet of that very nice 20-degree type of snow that you can pack and set your base.”
Walch says it’s also important that temperatures stay cold so trails in marshy areas freeze solid.
She notes anything is possible in six weeks, and officials are moving ahead as though everything will go as planned.
The UP200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine30 are slated to take place February 16th through the 18th.
Last year was the first time in more than 30 years the races had to be canceled because of rain. Walch says it was painful for everyone but it birthed the Festival of the Sled Dog, created to mitigate the economic impact of the cancelation on the region.
Officials will try to have a decision about whether the races will be held no later than Tuesday of race week. In the meantime, a lot of people will be speaking earnestly with Heikki Lunta about getting more white stuff on the ground.
