This is the 19th year for our U.P. 200 and over 15,000 visitors are expected to watch alongside trails reaching from Marquette, through Wetmore, to Grand Marais and back. The event has a start time of 7:10pm tonight from Washington Street in downtown Marquette and will finish throughout the afternoon and evening Sunday the 17th at Marquette’s Lower Harbor.
The 200 is a 12 dog, mid-distance race that consists of 240 miles. The teams start one after another in equal time intervals, competing against the clock rather than directly against one another. This is due to logistic considerations of getting teams of 12 excited sled dogs to the starting line for a clean timed start. There will be 27 mushers this year, 25 male, 2 female, 21 veteran, and 6 rookies from all over the U.S. and Canada.
The teams consist of leader dogs, point dogs, swing dogs, and wheel dogs. The lead dog is literally the leader of the pack and is very important to the success of the team. The wheel dogs are the ones that do the “heavy lifting” of the group, they must be strong enough to pull the sled through the snow. Point dogs are behind the leader dogs and swing dogs between the point and wheel dogs. For all dogs endurance, strength and speed are important traits.
The event is an experience unmatched with local shop keepers providing warm cider, coffee, and snacks and an excitement in the air that is contagious. There’s a “Small Town America” feel to the event with neighbors and strangers huddling closely to see the start (and out of necessity to keep warm). It’s a moment in history as well, being that it is a qualifying race for the Iditarod, which has been called the “Last Great Race on Earth” and has won worldwide acclaim. Definitely worth your time! Come out and have fun!
One side note:
“Jim and Ray” will be playing at the UpFront & Co. from 7 to 11. The duo has become a musical fixture in the Marquette area over the years. In fact my wife and I watched Jim and Ray play at Vango’s Lounge (where they still play every Thursday!) 16 years ago on our very first date. Pop on over for a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” along with other classic tunes from Jimmy Buffet, Simon & Garfunkel, and everyone in between – you won’t be disappointed!
The 200 is a 12 dog, mid-distance race that consists of 240 miles. The teams start one after another in equal time intervals, competing against the clock rather than directly against one another. This is due to logistic considerations of getting teams of 12 excited sled dogs to the starting line for a clean timed start. There will be 27 mushers this year, 25 male, 2 female, 21 veteran, and 6 rookies from all over the U.S. and Canada.
The teams consist of leader dogs, point dogs, swing dogs, and wheel dogs. The lead dog is literally the leader of the pack and is very important to the success of the team. The wheel dogs are the ones that do the “heavy lifting” of the group, they must be strong enough to pull the sled through the snow. Point dogs are behind the leader dogs and swing dogs between the point and wheel dogs. For all dogs endurance, strength and speed are important traits.
The event is an experience unmatched with local shop keepers providing warm cider, coffee, and snacks and an excitement in the air that is contagious. There’s a “Small Town America” feel to the event with neighbors and strangers huddling closely to see the start (and out of necessity to keep warm). It’s a moment in history as well, being that it is a qualifying race for the Iditarod, which has been called the “Last Great Race on Earth” and has won worldwide acclaim. Definitely worth your time! Come out and have fun!
One side note:
“Jim and Ray” will be playing at the UpFront & Co. from 7 to 11. The duo has become a musical fixture in the Marquette area over the years. In fact my wife and I watched Jim and Ray play at Vango’s Lounge (where they still play every Thursday!) 16 years ago on our very first date. Pop on over for a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” along with other classic tunes from Jimmy Buffet, Simon & Garfunkel, and everyone in between – you won’t be disappointed!
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