GWINN — Twenty-six miles of winter adventure starts at 10 a.m. at Larry’s Family Foods in Gwinn on Saturday.

Tom Gillespie, coordinator of the Jack Pine 30, said 15 to 20 mushers typically compete in the race.

Those mushers, pulled by their six-dog teams will then travel from Gwinn following M-553, crossing Plains and Southgate roads to the highway overpass before tucking into the woods just before Sands Station. The trail then turns west and then breaks to the north for roughly 4 miles, passing near Uncle Tom’s and Powell lakes alongside a large beaver dam, according to the Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association website.

A 4-mile loop turns mushers around to follow the same trail back to the finish line at the First Baptist Church in Gwinn.

The Plains and Southgate roads crossings have many longtime volunteers assisting, the website states, and the trail crew has been able to find a network of trails this year to eliminate all railroad crossings “which will make for a safer race.”

Gillespie said logistically the race is much the same as it has been in years past, with a few differences.

“Several of the mushers are different this year,” Gillespie said, “(and) we have some new volunteers. Most importantly, I believe everyone is looking forward to colder temperatures this year.”

Community members are encouraged to gather by 10 a.m. on Saturday at Larry’s Family Foods to meet the dogs and mushers and cheer them on as the leave the starting gate to vie for a piece of the $1,310 purse.

The first place finisher will receive $250, with the second and third place mushers garnering $225 and $200, respectively. Mushers who finish in 10th place or above would be entitled to part of the purse, the website states.

Following the race, mushers will meet at Gwinn Baptist Church between 2 and 2:30 p.m. where awards will be given, along with the commemorative Red Lantern Award for the musher who brings in the final team, according to the site.

Gillespie said the shorter race is important to the U.P. 200 tradition, because it provides a way for mushers who are just starting out to get their bearings.

“For some mushers, the Jack Pine 30 is their first race. Some of these mushers go on to compete in longer races like the Midnight Run and U.P. 200,” Gillespie said. “Some larger kennels participate in shorter races like the Jack Pine 30 to run a second team of dogs. They may use this race as training for younger dogs that will run longer races in the future.”

Volunteers are needed at Larry’s Family Foods with musher parking and to help get teams to the start line, officials say. Volunteers are also needed at road and railroad crossings.

For more information or to volunteer to help with the Jack Pine 30 Sled Dog Race, visit e www.up200.org or call Darlene Walch at 906-249-9945.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.