Musher Erin Redington of Skagway, Alaska takes off from the starting gate on Washington Street in downtown Marquette. (Journal photo by Corey Kelly)

Hundreds of spectators lined Washington Street Friday in Marquette to watch 15 competing sled dog teams kick off the U.P. 200, a 238-mile roundtrip race that takes 12-dog teams and mushers from Marquette to Grand Marais and back.

Joining the enthusiastic group was several local leaders, over 30 legislators and staffers, as well as Michigan’s new governor and lieutenant governor.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said he heard the U.P. 200 and the Midnight Run sled dog races were considered to be the Mardi Gras of Marquette. Gilchrist traveled from Detroit with his wife and two children because “we wanted to see the U.P. 200 and I convinced my children that these are the coolest dogs they’ll ever lay their eyes on. We have not been disappointed,” he said.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer told Journal staff it was the first time she’d been to Marquette when it had this much snow. Whitmer will be at the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum from noon to 2 p.m. today to visit with community members.

“It’s kind of a continuation of our inaugural festivities to do an event that’s open to the public and free of charge and an opportunity for people in the community to come out,” Whitmer said, adding that there will be food and a variety of activities available for families.

Whitmer said events like that have been a good way to engage in conversation.

“I know it’s been a lot of fun for me and when you have that opportunity it’s great,” she said. “I enjoy it and I work for the people of our state. Every time I have a conversation, it’s something I carry with me and it helps me stay focused on the things that matter.”

During the opening ceremony before the U.P. 200, Whitmer and other speakers thanked volunteers for their dedication as they’re an important element for the sled dog races.

“There is no better place to see the spirit of this great community than at this great event,” said U.S. Sen. Gary Peters. “They hear the dogs, hear the energy, (and see) the mushers head down Main Street and disappear into the darkness for a couple days before they come back. It is truly remarkable. This does not happen without an incredible group of volunteers that put their time and effort, their passion into making this happen.”

Rob Hemmer, who said he’s a “sometimes musher” from the Straits of Mackinac, is one of them. He’s been coming to the event for most of its 30 years.

“I think I missed the first one,” Hemmer said before the race. “I have been involved in all kinds of sled dog events, but this one feels unlike any other — because it’s downtown, but mainly because it starts at night. That’s what makes the U.P. 200 popular.”

Louie Wisniewski, of downstate Jackson, has been attending the race for many years, he said, after being introduced to it by a friend of his wife’s from her school days.

“This race is great because everybody you work with is as cooperative as can be,” Wisniewski said.

Retired musher Michael Truitt, of Menominee, said he made the snowy drive up to Marquette Friday for the race because of “the people.”

“They are old school, the way they’re running things,” Truitt said. “This race is still pure. It’s the real deal.”

Following the departure of the last U.P. 200 team, 15 teams were expected to leave the starting gate in the Midnight Run, an eight-dog race that takes teams 94 miles from Marquette to Chatham and back. The first Midnight Run teams could finish as early as 8:30 a.m. today at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette.

U.P. 200 teams are expected to finish late Sunday morning in Mattson Lower Harbor Park. For more information on the race’s progress, including a map tracking the U.P. 200 teams, visit up200.org and click on the event tracking button.

Jaymie Depew can be contacted at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is jdepew@miningjournal.net. Renee Prusi can be contacted at 906-228-2500, ext. 240. Her email address is rprusi@miningjournal.net.