The trails were fast in the 2016 Gunflint Mail Run. Matthew Schmidt of Mush Lake Racing rounds a bend on the scenic trails on Saturday, January 9. Schmidt, of Grand Marais, finished second in the 12-dog race. See more of the Mail Run on page A3.
Unseasonably warm weather and downed trees on the trails threatened the start of mushing season with the first Northland race, the Gunflint Mail Run on January 9-10, 2016. However, a major effort to clear trails was completed and temperatures dropped to perfect running weather for the canine athletes and the race was on with 23 teams taking part.
Both races started on Poplar Lake near historic Trail Center Lodge on Saturday, January 9 after a “Blessing of the Dogs,” by Reverend Mary Ellen Ashcroft of Spirit of the Wilderness Church. Ashcroft prayed, “May you run with wonder and delight, as you journey under the sky. God keep you safe. And may God give us all even a touch of your energy and exuberance. Amen.”
Racers went out on the first leg of the race and returned for a layover at Trail Center before heading back out for a second leg.
It was a fast race with icy trails. As it got colder and colder, racers returned to Trail Center with the first teams arriving before 8 p.m. and the winners of the 12-dog race coming in before midnight.
First-time Gunflint Mail Run entrant Dusty Klaven with Klaven’s Crazy K9s of Togo, Minnesota came in first in the 70-mile, 8-dog race in 5:42:44. Although new to the Mail Run, she has raced in the White Oak Classic, Wolf Track Classic, Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race and the John Beargrease Mid-Distance Race. Klaven hopped on and off the sled and jogged along to help her dogs.
Wallin wins 12-dog race
Ward Wallin of Silver Creek Sled Dogs in Two Harbors won the 12-dog, 100-mile race completing the two legs of the race in 9:36:33. He finished just 1 minute 22 seconds ahead of Matthew Schmidt of Mush Lake Racing in Grand Marais.
Not far behind, in 3rd place was Frank Holmberg of Holmberg Racing in Newberry, Michigan, finishing both legs in 9:42:24.
Last year’s Gunflint Mail Run winner Leanne Bergen of Gone to the Dogs Racing Kennel of Sioux Lookout, Ontario took 4th place this year, finishing in 10:04:16.
Coming in 5th place was local musher Frank Moe, just over a minute behind at 10:05:49. Moe, a Cook County commissioner, operates MoeTown Kennels of Hovland with his wife, Sherrie Moe.
Klaven claims first in 9-dog race
Dusty Klaven with Klaven’s Crazy K9s of Togo, Minnesota came in first in the 70-mile, 8-dog race in 5:42:44.
Ward Wallin, who operates Silver Creek Sled Dogs in Two Harbors with his wife, Colleen, took first place in the Gunflint Mail Run 12-dog race, finishing in 9:36:33. His dogs were full of energy on the trails.
The 8-dog race was a close contest as well, with 2nd place finisher Chad Schouweiler of Otter Run Kennels of Irma, Wisconsin coming in less than a minute later at 5:43:12.
In 3rd place was Johanna Oberg of Ignace, Ontario with Run Silent Racing. In 4th was Jerry Parke with Alder Creek Kennel from Kingston, Michigan and in 6th was Michael Bestgen of Fugarwe Kennels of St. Cloud.
In 7th was Erin Altemus of Grand Marais also with Mush Lake Racing.
Mary Manning of Doodle Dog Kennel, Hovland took 8th place.
Mike Betz of Minnetonka, Minnesota, also with Fugarwe Kennels was 9th.
Kalyn Holl of Manitou Crossing Kennels of Finland, Minnesota took 10th followed by Michael D’Arcangelo also of Manitou Crossing Kennels in 11th.
Finishing in 12th was first-time entrant Maria Gaffney of Hovland and Adam Treeful of Da Muttley Crue of Grand Marais was in 13th.
The Gunflint Mail Run race purse was $6,000, with winners Wallin and Klaven earning $1,400 and $700 respectively.
Mail Run spokesperson Ann Papenfuss said the feedback organizers have received has been positive. “Everyone seemed to have a good time, mushers and volunteers.”
Papenfuss expressed appreciation to the many volunteers who worked the race and to all the businesses that contributed to the race. She said while other races around the region were cancelled, Cook County was able to pull off the race. “It was a huge community effort, but Cook County always comes through,” she said.
Asked if there would be a Gunflint Mail Run 2017, Papenfuss said yes. A date has not been selected yet, but she said the historic dog sled race would run again.
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