Iditarod from a musher's experience

my 5lb poodle Molly

Here's some pretty good reading. It's a blog from my dog's vet(written by Mary Hunt), who is racing in this year's Iditarod. I'm pretty sure these guys wouldn't recognize me or my dog as we're only in there for the yearly or bi yearly vaccination, but nonetheless it's kinda cool to have an acquaintance that's up in Alaska racing sled dogs right at this very minute.

Here's a pic of Dr. Hunt racing his team at the UP 200 a couple years back. Beautiful day, happy looking dogs. The UP 200 is a rather huge event here in Marquette in February and is a qualifying race for the Iditarod.
UP 200 sled dog race, Dr. Hunt's team

And they're off!

Camera phones line the starting chute like a string of Christmas lights,The UP 200 Dogsled Race, Marquette MI

Made the decision to go to Marquette for the start of the UP 200 sled dog race last night based purely on the weather. It was downright balmy with absolutely no wind, so it felt like you weren't fighting anything, the cold didn't even get to me one bit.

Intrigued by the lead dogs, UP 200 Sled Dog Race, Marquette MI

The UP 200 has become more than just a dogsled Race. It's turned into a celebration of the Upper Peninsula and the winter season. The nature of the event itself ties together all of the towns that serve as checkpoints for the race, with each location having family friendly events and accomodations of their own. A comforting sense of community springs to life, where volunteers put in a lot of time and effort to make this event run like clockwork, transforming it into the event of the season. It would be cool if it was possible to tag along with a musher to see all of the mini events that pop up along the trail route from Marquette to Grand Marais. Bonfires are especially popular Friday night. From a musher's point of view, it must take some getting used to, when approaching each trail intersection and hearing the countless hoops and hollers of race watchers cheering the dogs and mushers on as they wind thru the wilderness.

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.