MARQUETTE, Mich (WZMQ) – The Tahquamenon Dog Sled Race is canceled due to the lack of snowfall this season. The poor course conditions and sloppy snow made the trails unsafe for racing. Secretary for the Tahquamenon, Laura Bontrager says they had to make the call for cancellation. “The biggest thing that happened to us this year is the warm-up. The whole U.P. got that big blizzard over Christmas it was a lot of work to put our trail in but we were super happy with it”, says Laura Bontrager.
Throughout the holiday week, the upper peninsula saw a spread of 1 to 3 feet of snow. Creating packed powder for the dogs to run through. “The snow packed down to a pretty thick layer of ice and that was the biggest obstacle for us”, says Bontrager.
With the UP 200 just 6 weeks away, Trail Boss Mike Sjolund says they sled right alongside mother nature and are always ready to adapt. “You want a good base you want a good pack a good trail that’s packed hard so that it’s not punchy meaning the dogs can punch in with their paws, legs which tend to cause sprains and twists and injuries so the biggest concern is making sure your trail is a firm trail.”, says Sjolund.
Anyone who was looking to participate in the Tahquamenon Race is still eligible for the Superior Crown Series which includes the Tahquamenon, UP200, and the Copper Dog 150.
