There is no shortage of snow on the trails for the 2014 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, to be held January 26 – 29. There are several great spots to see the sled dogs in Cook County.
For 30 years, the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon has provided a break from cabin fever for North Shore residents and visitors. Will a Cook County musher take top honors? Will Iditarod-bound Nathan Schroeder, who won the Beargrease last year, finish first again? The excitement starts in Duluth on Sunday, January 26, with marathon and mid-distance teams leaving from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Other Beargrease checkpoints are in Two Harbors, Beaver Bay, and Finland and in Cook County – Sawbill, Devil Track Lodge and Trail Center. Checkpoint arrival times are unknown, because the pace of the marathon depends so much on weather conditions, but “best guess” checkpoint arrival times can be found online. There isn’t a bad place to watch the race anywhere, but some of the best viewing spots are in Cook County—at secluded Sawbill, Devil’s Track Lake, and boisterous Trail Center. Visit the marathon website for projected arrivals. And new this year, all teams taking part in this year’s race will be equipped with GPS technology, tracking their every move along the 374-mile course. Sign on to beargrease.com/marathongps-tracking/ to see how your favorite musher is doing.
At press time, no Cook County mushers were registered for the full marathon, however former Grand Marais resident Cindy Gallea, now living in Wykoff, Minn. is running. Gallea has finished the Beargrease several times, earning 5th place in 2005.
In the short race, at press time only Erin Altemus of Grand Marais was registered. Erin and her husband, Matthew Schmidt, take turns racing their dogs for their Nuannaarpoq Kennel, which means “extreme joy in being alive.”
A special event being held in Cook County is the banquet for the Mid- Distance Marathon, which will be Monday, January 27 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Birch Grove Community Center. The meal will be Cross River Cafe’s famous chili, cornbread, salad, dessert and beverages. The cost is $12 for adults and $8 for 12 and under. All are welcome and all proceeds go toward Birch Grove Foundation’s programming.
The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is the longest-running race in the lower 48 states. The course of rugged, awesome scenery winds its way along the CJ Ramstad North Shore State Snowmobile Trail on the North Shore of Lake Superior and into remote Superior National Forest. This race commemorates the courage and endurance of John Beargrease, the intrepid Ojibwe dog-driver who carried the U.S. mail to outposts along the North Shore of Lake Superior in the late 1800s.
For up-to-the minute race information, directions to checkpoints, musher biographies, and lots more, visit the official website at www.beargrease.com
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