These bright-eyed, frozen-muzzled pups love to run. Look for dogs and mushers at a number of events through the winter in Cook County.
Mush in the New Year at the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race on Jan. 3 and 4 when up to 20 teams of mushers and sled dogs will cover 100 miles on the Gunflint Trail.
Spectators will be able to watch the race and vet checkups throughout. The Gunflint is displaying an impressive lineup of local participants and some travelling down from the north for the race this year, including former state legislator and county commissioner elect Frank Moe of Moetown Kennels. The winners of the Gunflint race will receive a purse of $5,000, plus a mystery cash prize.
For those who want to see more, Cook County is hosting the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Jan. 25-28, which starts in Duluth and ends in Tofte. That race is roughly 400 miles long with a purse of $45,000.
Finally, sled dog enthusiasts can once again participate in Mush For A Cure on March 6-7. It’s a non-competitive sled dog fundraiser that starts at Gunflint Pines, 217 S. Gunflint Lake Road in Grand Marais to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The goal is to have fun while raising money for the foundation and encourage participating mushers to show off their beautiful canine athletes while capping off a winter of hard work.
To date Mush for a Cure has donated $226,500 to the NBCF.
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