John Beargrease board member welcomes all to the race

There are many great opportunities to see happy dogs and mushers like this team on the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon route. Bundle up and head to a checkpoint to see the racing action.

There is a great deal of excitement around this year’s John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon because the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the Grand Portage Lodge are again major sponsors of the race—and because this year the race returns to its roots, making the trek to Grand Portage. No one is more excited than Beargrease Board of Directors member Mike Keyport of Grand Portage.

Keyport, the great-grandson of the man the race honors, visited with the Cook County News-Herald from on the road. When thanked for taking time out of his busy schedule, Keyport acknowledged that it has taken a lot of work to get the race to this point. However, he added, “You work all year to get to this point. But now comes the fun part!”

Although he isn’t a musher now, Keyport enjoyed working with sled dogs when he was younger. He recalls training a puppy by having it pull a tire, with his young daughter sitting on top!

 

Keyport said it is fitting that the race is returning to Grand Portage, which was “home” to John Beargrease. Despite his confidence that it was the right thing to do, Keyport said he was nervous bringing the idea to the Grand Portage Tribal Council. Keyport is the Grand Portage emergency management director, so he deals with the Tribal Council on an almost daily basis. “This was different—I was nervous. This means a lot to me and my family,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the Tribal Council, the Grand Portage Lodge and the many volunteers who work to make the race happen. At the Mineral Center trailhead for instance, a retired couple has volunteered to man the turn-around point. There will be a fire burning in the warming shed and a bonfire, with hot chocolate and hot dogs going for anyone who wants to come watch the race.

Keyport said there are many other great places to catch the mushing action, from start to finish, including a performance by the Grand Portage Stonebridge Singers at the race start and a graveside ceremony to honor John Beargrease in Beaver Bay.