Fast and furious Beargrease trail 2010

Don Galloway of Makinen, MN was the first musher across the finish line in Tofte in the John Beargrease Sled Dog Mid-distance Marathon. Galloway was closely followed by five other mushers, including Cook County’s Robin Beall who finished in sixth place.

The trail was fast and icy for the 27th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon January 31 – February 3, 2010, offering challenges for experienced and novice racers alike. Nathan Schroeder of Chisholm held the lead throughout the race and crossed the finish line at Billy’s in Duluth a few minutes after 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 3.

The top Cook County musher was Rita Wehseler of Stony Creek Kennel in Tofte who finished at 4:30 p.m. on February 3 in eighth place. In a brief interview at the quiet Sawbill checkpoint on the up bound trip, while she rubbed liniment on her resting dogs’ legs, Wehseler said ice made the trail treacherous in places. Wehseler finished the race with only eight dogs.

Mark Black of Hovland, in his last Beargrease marathon, finished tenth. Black too, said the trail was slick. He crashed his sled by the railroad tracks in Beaver Bay. Resting by the bonfire at the Sawbill checkpoint, Black described his close call. He said if his cant hook had not caught on a tree, he and/or his dogs could have been seriously injured. He said he was looking forward to getting to Trail Center where he would be reunited with his team handlers, including his wife, Mary, co-operator of Black Magic Kennels. Black finished his last Beargrease, with eight dogs, at Billy’s at 6:39 a.m. on Wednesday.

Top: Frank Moe of Hovland praises one of his dogs, Ace, at the Sawbill checkpoint in Tofte on Monday, February 1. Moe finished 13th in his first Beargrease attempt. Middle left: Rita Wehseler of Tofte gives her dog, Slowpoke, some attention during their rest stop at Sawbill. Wehseler said the dog does not live up to his name. “He’s not slow, he’s my lead dog,” she said. Middle right: Matt Groth of Colvill with his John Beargrease mail pouch at the start of the race. Groth scratched at the Sawbill checkpoint on the down bound trek, but that was a good attempt for his young dogs. Left: A marathoner snuggles in for a nap at a checkpoint.

It was the last Beargrease for Mark Black and the first for Frank Moe of Hovland. Frank and his wife, Sherri, operate Moetown Kennels. Also interviewed at Sawbill up bound, Moe said, “The trails are great!”

Moe wouldn’t predict how he would finish his first Beargrease, but said, “I’ll keep going as long as the dogs are healthy.” Moe was the 13th musher across the finish line.

Two other Cook County mushers scratched, or did not finish, the race. Odin Jorgenson of Arleigh Jorgenson Sleddog Adventures in Colvill made it to Finland on the return trip.

 

Matt Groth, also of Colvill, didn’t make it quite that far. He scratched at Sawbill on the down bound trek, however that is a good finish for the very young Oomingmak Kennel he operates with his wife, Hope. Groth started the race with only 13 dogs. He had really hoped to complete the race. In years past, he had to scratch at Trail Center, so he made progress this year.

Mid-distance finish rough

Don Galloway of Makinen, MN was the first mid-distance Beargrease racer across the finish line at Tofte at 8:29 a.m. on Monday, February 1. Despite the fact that race organizers moved the finish uphill from the traditional location to avoid icy switchbacks, the last hundred feet of the race still challenged many racers, including Galloway. Asked about trail conditions, Galloway said, “Well, I won’t make ESPN with that finish—I was too worried about stopping the dogs to enjoy it!”

Galloway recovered from the stressful finish quickly, helping feed and water his dogs. “Praise ‘em up good,” he told his handlers.

 

Robin Beall of Amorak Kennels in Colvill, the only Cook County musher in the mid-distance race, had a very respectable sixth place finish. However, friends and family watched worriedly as her sled crashed just before the icy finish line. Beall was grinning as she made the last few yards and crossed the finish at 8:56 a.m.

Congratulations to all of the Beargrease racers!