DULUTH – The message from officials behind the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon: Think snow.
Nearly the entire 300-mile race course, which starts in Duluth and winds up the North Shore to Grand Portage, is currently without snow cover. The 40th running of the near-annual races, which include a 120-miler and a 40-miler, is scheduled to start Jan. 28.
The Beargrease's Board of Directors meet Jan. 2, and will decide whether to postpone the race until a March 3 start — a date that conflicts with the Iditarod and would mean losing a handful of teams to the race in Alaska. The Beargrease was postponed in 2012, but hasn't been canceled since 2007, according to board president Mike Keyport.
There is usually snow on the North Shore by March, he said.
"We're hoping Mother Nature cooperates," said Beargrease vice president Mickie Naperala.
Alex Angelos, the race's trail boss, said ideally there would be at least 8-10 inches of snow on the route — preferably with a wet and packed base.
The extended forecast shows rain and temperatures peaking in the high 30s into late next week, according to the National Weather Service.
This year's Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon has a full slate of 17 mushers signed up, including Ryan Redington, who last year won the Iditarod — a race his grandfather founded. Erin Aili, who won the closest race in Beargrease history in 2021, is signed up for the race — but her husband Keith Aili, who won last year, is not. Ryan Anderson, the 2022 winner, is also planning to run.
