CALUMET, Mich. (WZMQ) – For the first time in its history, the CopperDog sled dog races are canceled. Like many other winter events this year, the mild winter and poor trail conditions led to the races’ cancellations.
CopperDog Race Director Kelly Probst said some of the trails in Keweenaw County are bare ground, while others only have three to four inches of “dust” snow.
The CopperDog board met Monday, Probst said, to discuss the feasibility of continuing the race the weekend of March 1. She said the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club, which grooms the trails used for the sled dog races, told the board crews are unable to groom the trails because there isn’t enough snow.
“They told us that they would not resume grooming the trails until they had a significant snowfall accumulating, basically, one-and-a-half to two feet or more,” said Probst. “There’s no base whatsoever.”
Around 80 teams from all across the U.S. and Canada were signed up to participate in the CopperDog 150, 80, 20, and 15 events. Probst said mushing teams told race organizers it’s been a tough season for practicing but that they would ready to race come March. Ultimately, Probst said the decision to cancel the races came down to the safety of the dogs.
“Ten inches of snow packs down to one inch. You would need three feet of snow to be able to set a snow hook properly– and the snow hook is what stops a sled dog team from having an accident, losing a dog team– and if you cannot set a snow hook, you cannot safely run a dog team,” she said.
The CopperDog board is planning to replace the races with community events the weekend of March 1-3, starting with a party in downtown Calumet Friday night with live music, food, and fireworks to end the night. The CopperPull and CopperDash, two new events to the lineup this year, are still planned for Saturday and Sunday. The CopperPull is a sled dog team weighted pulling competition, and the CopperDash is a kids sled dog competition.
Details for the weekend of events are still in the works. To keep track of updates, follow the CopperDog on Facebook or its website.
