The UP 200 doglsed race

UP 200 Dogsled Race- start- Downtown Marquette MI
Tonight's the start of the annual U.P. 200 dogsled race, which will take off from the downtown streets of Marquette Mi. The downtown streets are closed, the starting chute is right down the main drag of Washington Street, with a fun to watch but sometimes treacherous curve at the bottom of the hill by the lake. Some years I've photographed entire phases of the U.P 200, which lasts all weekend long. I like to get perspectives of the race from the deep woods where there are few, if any people, but lots of deer. You can see pictures from the 2007 UP 200 here. It always seems like the coldest day of winter coincides with the start of the UP 200. This year, close, but it will be 5 degrees and little wind, much better conditions than usual. Marquette really gets up for the UP 200 I think in part because cabin fever has really set in by now and people are just itchin to get out and have a good time. When the downtown streets are packed with people watching the race, it's a real festive atmosphere.
I live a little ways from "LakenenLand", a metal sculpture park. I suggest it as an excellent place to watch the UP 200 and the teams come by while warming by the bonfires and enjoying the company of the really nice owner who has opened his land to the public with free access to his sculpture park. It's right on the snowmo trail and he gets visitors from all over the world.