Although Cook County is filled with sled dog racing fans and many people feel as if they know all of the racers, there is a special fondness in the community for the mushers whose kennels are “close to home.” For that reason, the Cook County News-Herald offers this look at the local racers in the 2016 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon and Mid- Distance Race.
Marathon mushers
.Erin Altemus and her husband, Matthew, live with the 27 Alaskan huskies of Mush Lake Racing Kennel near—what else?—Mush Lake off the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais.
The 2016 Beargrease is Erin’s fourth event and second full marathon. The couple often takes turns racing, however, Erin said, “Usually Matt and I switch off each year between races, but he thought I ran a good race last year at the Beargrease, and I really wanted to do it again, so we decided I would run it again.
“I’ll let him run it one of these years,” she added with a laugh.
Asked about the route returning to Grand Portage this year, Erin said, “I am excited about running to Grand Portage, though nervous about the extra miles for the race. I liked running the so-called ‘loop-to-nowhere,’ which went up to Gunflint Lake—especially because my team enjoyed running on the lakes—and this year we won’t have any lake running at all, not even Devil’s Track. But new trail is always fun too, and it’s great that Grand Portage is helping to support the race. It changes the strategy for mushers—keeps things interesting.”
Erin said Mush Lake Racing has most of the same team that ran for her last year. “Leaders include Beezus and Nancy who led Matt’s Mail Run team, and Buda and Judy Blume, who led my Mail Run team. Judy and Beezus led my team to the finish line last year,” she said. .
Jennifer Freking of Finland, owns and operates Manitou Crossing Kennel with her husband, Blake. She has run the Beargrease and the Beargrease Mid- Distance race several times, as well as the Iditarod, UP200, Can-Am and Hudson Bay Quest.
Freking told Beargrease organizers, “I’m really looking forward to running the marathon again.”
Jennifer and Blake are also the proud parents of fledgeling mushers Elena and preschooler Nicole, who are taking part in the Beargrease Cub Run. Elena will be running her dog BooBoo and Nicole will be running Janis.
Mid-Distance mushers
.Frank Moe of Hovland operates Moetown Kennels with his wife, Sherri. They have 44 dogs, a cat and a pig named Petunia. Frank has run the full marathon, but this year decided to switch to the 8-dog, mid distance race, because they have so much going on. Frank is a Cook County commissioner and the couple is building a new home. “We need to bite off a bit less this year,” he said.
However, he added that he is pleased to see the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa sponsoring the race once again. “It’s great that Grand Portage is again involved. It means a lot to the race in several ways, plus that part of the trail is as beautiful as any on the North Shore.”
Asked which dogs would be running the race, Frank said, “Our plan is to run our veteran leaders Wolf and Storm with two-year-olds Colt, Cinder and Donny. The other team dogs will probably be Cowboy, Duke and Indy. “
.Mary Manning lives in rural Hovland and operates Doodle Dog Kennels. She has been running dogs for almost 20 years, including the Gunflint Mail Run, Apostle Islands, Wolf Track Classic, Tahquemenon Country, Mackinaw Wilderness Run and the Hinckley Great Trail.
.Michael Hoff of Silver Bay is running his fifth Beargrease Mid-Distance this year. He is proud to run out of Ward and Colleen Wallin’s Silver Creek Kennel. Michael has also run the Gunflint Mail Run, the Midnight Run and Can-Am 60.
Mike is backed by some of the best—Ward and Colleen Wallin are familiar faces in North Shore races. Ward Wallin was the winner in the January 9-10 Gunflint Mail Run 12-dog race. Colleen is racing in the marathon this year.
.Rita Wehseler of Tofte has been running sled dogs for about 19 years. In 2001, she was the first woman to ever finish the Can Am 250 race in Maine.
Rita and her husband Bill own and operate Stoney Creek Sled Dog Rides in Tofte. They offer sled dog experiences of various levels, ranging from the “Joy Ride” and “Trot around the Block” to “The Cruise.”
They have about 45 dogs, so the News-Herald asked how she chooses which dogs to use in a race. Rita said it depends on which dogs are the healthiest and most ready to run. Her team will likely be Maggie and Ron, Ron’s brother George, his sisters Herminie and Ginny, Starter, Quest and either Foxy or Ichor.
The Mid-Distance race is finishing at Trail Center on the Gunflint Trail instead of Tofte. The News-Herald asked if that is disappointing and Rita said no, she travels those trails now for training. “It’s just good to be out on the trails!” she said.
Asked for tips on a good place to watch the race, Rita recommended the Cramer Road in Schroeder. The road is plowed and on the up bound legs of the race teams tend to come by in groups, she said.
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