Back to Montana

Well we are heading back to Montana for the Race to the Sky a fantastic race that I know the team who are running the Grizzle T sled are very excited about. This race is also significant for us as it organised by Jack and Pam Beckstrom from Adanac Sleds who make the most fantastic sled dog harnesses, in fact their company invented the "X" back harness that we sled dogs wear. Our team use these fantastic harnesses too. If you are coming to Crufts this year at teh NEC in Birmingham (March 11-14), go and see the Spiffy Dog (Europe) team as they will have some of these great harnesses on their stand in Hall 1, stand 125 along with the Spiffy Dog collars and leads.

Pam has written a short piece about the upcoming race, so I shall hand you over to her.

"Montana’s Race to the Sky has 21 mushers (15 for 350 mile marathon and 6 for junior race) signed up to run this year’s 25th anniversary dog sled race. Mushers from Montana, Washington, Colorado, Canada, New Jersey, Michigan, Tennessee, Idaho, and California are preparing to head out on the trail next weekend starting at Camp Rimini, at the foot of McDonald Pass near Helena for the 350 mile mushers and at Hi Country Snack Foods near Lincoln for the start of the junior race and restart of the 350 mile race.

This year, organisers of the premier race have added a Junior Race to the Sky. The junior dog mushers will be running from Hi Country Snack Foods (Sunday, February 14, 10:00 start) to the White Tail Ranch (about 50 miles) with a mandatory layover before proceeding to the finish line about 50 miles away at Seeley Lake Community Center in Seeley Lake. This 100 mile continuous race has six mushers schedule to run ranging from 12 years old to 16 years old. Included in the Junior Race to the Sky are: Lacey Hart of Livingston, Montana, Jenny Greger of Bozeman, Montana, Justin Fink of Gladwin, Michigan, Aiyana Ferraro of Victor, Montana, Eimanne El Zein of Edmonds, Washington and the latest entry from Josie Thyr of Cataldo, Idaho.

The 350 mile race will start at Camp Rimini at 10:00, Saturday, February 13. The distance mushers will run to the finish that day just off the Woodville Exit near Butte. Mushers are predicted to finish that leg between 5:00-10:00 p.m. that evening.

Fifteen mushers are entered so far in the 350 mile race are: Rick Larson of Sand Coulee, Montana, Steve Madsen of Cougar, Washington, Chris Adkins of Sand Coulee, Montana, Jarle Halsnes of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Lachlan Clarke of Buena Vista, Colorado, megan Routley of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, Laura Daugereau of Port Gamble, Washington, Kim Darst of Blairstown, New Jersey, John Fink of Gladwin, Michigan, James Bardoner of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, Ryne Olson of McMillan, Michigan, Kris Hoffman of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Cindy Gallea of Seeley Lake, Montana, Mark Ibsen of Helena, Montana and Doug Wurzelbacher of Chilcoot, California. Officials expect a few last minute entries to come in this weekend.

The restart of the 350 mushers will start Sunday at noon from Hi Country Snack Foods near Lincoln. This starts the continuous portion of their journey and they will be following the junior mushers into White Tail Ranch Checkpoint.

Also on Saturday is the Junior Vet Check at the corner of Park and Dakota in Uptown Butte at 3:00-4:00 p.m. Come and see the dogs have their physicals before they run 100 miles and then head to Woodville to see the bigger teams finish the first leg.

Checkpoints for this year’s race include Camp Rimini near Helena, Woodville Exit near Butte, Hi Country Snack Foods near Lincoln, White Tail Ranch near Ovando, Seeley Lake Community Center in Seeley Lake, Owl Creek wilderness checkpoint near Condon and back to Seeley Lake, finishing under the start/finish archway at Hi Country Snack Foods.

All checkpoints are accessible by car. The White Tail Ranch and Owl Creek wilderness checkpoints are not operational for the public but the rest of the checkpoints are accessible by car. The public is encouraged to take part in all the events."

Thanks Pam! If you can't get to Montana then I hope my English friends will see you at the NEC for Crufts. Remember we are in Hall 1, stand 125 and we may be able to reveal some exciting new Spiffy Dog designs coming out later this year.

Until next time ... Keep Wagging those tails

Spiffy xx