Winter Sled Dog Race Schedule

Hi friends! It’s been another slow week in our household. I am still taking it easy to let my foot recover, and Riley has been sick all week. Both seem to be on the mend.

Now that it is officially meteorological winter (as of December 1st) and astronomical winter will be here in a couple weeks, we are getting more and more excited! We had a few snow flurries again, but nothing significant to speak of.

If you remember, we brought home a sled of our very own last fall! It was a gift from our friends Blair and Q! We have yet to be able to use it, but hopefully soon!

The last time, and only time, we were ever on a sled, with sled dogs, on snow, was back in February of 2022. We are so eager to try it again! If things work out, we’d love to try a sprint race this winter. Something easy and short to get our feet wet so to speak. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll hope for snow to just go on some short fun runs!

If you’re like us, you’re already looking ahead at winter sled dog races! I know this isn’t a complete list, but we’ve put together a list of some races in the U.S. that we’ve heard about. Whether you’re wanting to attend in person, or armchair mush, here are some options:

• January 4: Knik 200 Sled Dog Race, Knik, Alaska; 200 miles

• January 11-12: Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race, Newberry, Michigan; 10 dog sled pro (66 miles over two days), 6 dog sled pro (40 miles over two days), 4-6 dog sport (16 miles), 2-3 dog youth (3 miles)

• January 11: Gunflint Mail Run, Cook County, Minnesota; 12 dog (100 miles) and 8 dog (65 miles)

• January 24: Kuskokwim 300, Bethel to Aniak, Alaska; 300 miles

• January 26-28: John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, Duluth, Minnesota; 12 dog (300 miles), 120 miles, and 40 miles

• January 31-February 1: Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby, Excelsior, Minnesota; 8 dog (40 miles)

• February 1-2 TENTATIVE: Three Bear Sled Dog Race, Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin; Sprint Race

• February 1: Yukon Quest Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska; 550 miles, 200 miles, and 80 miles

• February 1: Yukon Quest Canada, Teslin, Yukon; 450 miles, 250 miles, and 100 miles

• February 8-9 TENTATIVE: Doris Lovrine Memorial Sled Dog Race, Gleason, Wisconsin; Sprint Race

• February 8: Northern Pines Sled Dog Race, Iron River, Wisconsin; 4 dog (4.4 miles), 6 dog (8.2 miles), 17 miles, and 32 miles

• February 13: UP200, Marquette, Michigan; 12 dog (228 miles), 8 dog (82 miles), 6 dog (26 miles)

• February 15-16 TENTATIVE: Willow Springs Round Barn Sled Dog Rally, Wausau, Wisconsin; Sprint Race

• February 18: Canadian Challenge, Saskatchewan, Canada; 10 dog (200 miles), 6-8 dog (100 miles), 6 dog (60 miles)

• February 22-23: Heal Creek Dog Dash, Rhinelander, Wisconsin; Sprint Race

• February 23: WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race, Ely, Minnesota; 6 dog and 8 dog races

• February 28-March 2: CopperDog, Calumet, Michigan; 6 dog (16 miles), 6 dog (30 miles), 8 dog (74 miles), and 10 dog (135 miles)

• March 1: Iditarod, Anchorage, Alaska; 12-16 dogs (1000+ miles)

• March 7: Percy DeWolfe Memorial Mail Race, Dawson City, Yukon; 200 miles

• April 3-7: Kobuk 440, Kotzebue, Alaska; 440 miles

In the mean time, we are going to get some rest. Talk to you all next week!

-Hannah, Riley, Boo, and Pence