The main race, the 230-mile U.P. 200, is set to conclude near Timber Products in Wetmore, rather than Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette due to recent weather and trail conditions slowing the teams down. Darlene Walch, president of the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association, said a ceremonial finish will take place at Lower Harbor at 1 p.m. today. Teams were expected to cross the Wetmore finish line around 5 a.m. today.

There were 15 teams of 12 dogs each who started the event Friday evening in front of The Mining Journal office on West Washington Street.

The Midnight Run’s champion, Joanna Oberg of Grand Marais, Minnesota, crossed the finish line at about 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Lower Harbor Park. That 90-mile race from Marquette to Chatham and back involved 15 teams of nine dogs.

And the Jack Pine 30, a 26-mile, six-dog race in Gwinn on Saturday, saw Geri Oberg of Newberry triumph in 2 hours, 8 minutes, 50 seconds.

Dean Johnson, of Ogdensburg, Wisconsin crosses the finish line during the the Jack Pine 30 sled dog race in Gwinn Saturday afternoon. The 25-mile race starts and finishes in Gwinn at the First Baptist Church, located on North Billings Street. (Photo courtesy of Matthew Dankers)

“We had 13 mushers in the Jack Pine 30,” said Tom Gillespie, race coordinator. “A few could not make it up here because the (Mackinac) bridge was closed and a couple of others from Missouri didn’t make it either, but I think the race went very well. It’s one of the smoothest we’ve had.”

The Jack Pine 30 saw a change in 2019.

“We had a new trail this year. We moved the trail away from M-553 because some of the mushers were concerned we were too close to that highway, which seems to be getting busier and busier, and we agreed,” said Gillespie, who is vice president of the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association. “There was a lot of drifted snow, but the trail was in good shape considering how much snow we just got. It might have been a bit slower, but it was a good race.”

Despite snowy and windy conditions in general, U.P. 200 race organizers are pleased with how things have transpired.

“Friday night was challenging for the teams,” Walch said. “The weather conditions were tough, including on Friday night and things were slower than we anticipated.”

Fred Huffman of Marquette Country Tours discusses local history and happenings Saturday afternoon during a ride over to Grand Marais from Marquette on the Mush Bus. The Mush Bus is a guided tour that brings enthusiasts of the U.P. 200 Dog Sled Races to Grand Marais, one of the checkpoints for dog sled teams. Tickets went for $25 and were sold out as of early last week. (Journal photo by Jaymie Depew)

That being said, Walch was thrilled with how the U.P. 200 and Midnight Run started.

“It was a spectacular downtown start,” she said. “Everyone was so enthusiastic. It was an absolutely beautiful start in Marquette.”

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