A new sled dog race is reviving the tradition of mushing in Cook County. On Saturday, January 5 through Tuesday, January 8 there are events to celebrate the history of dog sled racing on the North Shore. Visit www.gichigamiexpress.com for up-to-the-minute information on the race.
The Gichigami Express Sled Dog Race is a new worldclass sled dog race that connects three communities in Cook County.
Thirty teams are expected to compete for a $25,000 purse underwritten by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The three-day event celebrates the rich heritage of mushing in the Minnesota Arrowhead Region. Each day teams race on a trail of approximately 60 miles starting in one community and finishing in the next. This year’s stages connect Grand Portage, Grand Marais and the Gunflint Trail. Each community will hold commemorative events honoring local history.
“We are pleased to attract so many competitive teams for the first running of this race. There will be some exciting races,” commented race director Beth Drost.
Competitors include past Beargrease champions Blake Freking, Ryan Anderson, Nathan Schroeder, and Keith Ail.
Look for local mushers Odin Jorgenson, Dennis LaBoda, Curtis LaBoda, Frank Moe, Rita Wehseler, and Bill Wehseler to make a statement, too.
Organizers note that an event like this would not be possible without the support of many, including the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa; Swing Dog sponsors Grand Portage Lodge & Casino, Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply, and Trail Center Lodge; Point Dog sponsors Cook County Visitors Bureau, George Humphrey, Grand Marais Area Tourism Association, Gunflint Trail Association, Lake Superior Trading Post, Northern Wilds, and the Pie Place/Harbor Inn; and many other businesses.
The event kicks off with a mushers’ “potlatch” in Grand Portage on Saturday, Jan. 5. The first stage will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday in Grand Portage. The teams race to Hungry Jack Lodge on the Gunflint Trail where teams will be expected between 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday. In the evening, spectators will have a chance to meet the mushers at the banquet feast at Trail Center.
The event continues on Monday, Jan. 7 with breakfast hosted by Windigo Lodge and the race starting at 9 a.m. Mushers are expected to arrive at Devil Track Landing from 3 to 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, Jan. 8 there is a pancake breakfast hosted by the Grand Marais Lions at Sven & Ole’s Pizza and the race continues from the Cook County School’s athletic fields. Mushers will be arriving at the finish in Grand Portage at around 3 – 6 p.m. There will be an awards dinner at Grand Portage Lodge & Casino that night.
For the latest information on the Gitchigami Express, visit www.gichigamiexpress.com.
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