March 21, 2022
As a club leader for Organization for Outdoor Recreation Professionals (OORP) at NMU, I was
so excited to find an opportunity to both winter camp and volunteer our time. OORP is a club
dedicated to providing new outdoor experiences and skills to students while building a network
of outdoor professionals and enthusiasts. Working and camping at the H58 road crossing seemed
like a great way to get involved in the UP200. I had the opportunity to mush with Natures
Kennel my sophomore year of college as a class field trip, which made me especially excited. I
February 25, 2022
Longtime Trail Crew member Jon Carlson passed away on February 22. Jon was a true race friend who loved the outdoors and helped with the building and maintaining of the race trails for many years. Our deepest condolences to Jons family. A full obituary can be found here. Jons family has generously asked that donations in Jons memory be made to the UPSDA.
Read MoreFebruary 20, 2022
The UP200 teams that leave Wetmore before 9am will finish in Marquettes Lower Harbor Park. The UP200 teams that leave Wetmore after 9am will finish at the Casino in Harvey. See below for the location the teams will finish. The reason for having 2 finish lines is for safety consideration given the time spread of the UP200 teams.
Read MoreFebruary 20, 2022
Ryan Anderson finished first in the UP200 Dog Sled Race at the Lower Harbor Park in Marquette, MI on Sunday, Feb 20. Ryan finished the 228 mile route at 1:28 pm in first place with Wade Marrs finishing second at 1:47 pm and Nick Vigilante in third at 2:04 pm. This the 9th time Ryan has won the UP200.
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2022
The 2022 Midnight Run outbound from Chatham will be delayed by 1 hour due to inclement weather and safety considerations. The earliest start time will now be 07:32.
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2022
Michael Bestgen and Joanna Oberg are in the lead of the Midnight Run and have both passed Sand River and closing in on the finish at the Ojibwa Casino. The first mushers should finish at approximate 11:15 to 11:30 am Saturday, Feb 19. All Midnight Run mushers have left the Chatham checkpoint and are heading toward the finish at the Ojibwa Casino.
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2022
Mike Bestgen of Clear Lake Township, MN, won the 2022 Midnight Run on Saturday, Feb 19, 2022 at the Ojibwa Casino east of Marquette. Mike finished just at 11:00 am with all 8 dogs he started with at the start in downtown Marquette on Friday. Joanna Oberg of Grand Marais, MN was the 2nd musher to finish at 11:08 am and Larry Fortier was 3rd finished at 11:17 am. In total, 16 mushers finished the Midnight Run.
Read MoreFebruary 19, 2022
Due to more challenging weather and trail conditions, the UP200 mushers are running slower than in previous years. Its expected the first UP200 mushers will arrive in Marquette during the early afternoon on Sunday, Feb 20.
Read MoreFebruary 16, 2022
Mushers and authors Blair Braverman and Quince Mountain will be at Snowbound Books in Marquette on Friday afternoon to meet fans and sign copies of their new book Dogs on the Trail.Iditarod veterans Braverman and Mountain have run the UP200 and Midnight Run in past years and will be running the Jack Pine 30 this year.Dogs on the Trail follows a year in the life of their dog team in northern Wisconsin, capturing the joy, camaraderie and hard work of the team in words and photos. Copies will be available for purchase. Read MoreFebruary 15, 2022
The UP200 Sled Dog Race, an Iditarod qualifier that starts and finishes in Marquette, will officially be powered by Northern Michigan University, beginning in 2023. NMU will become a Gold Sled Sponsor with naming rights for the event, building on a longstanding relationship with the U.P. Sled Dog Association. The official name for the 2023 race will be UP200 Powered by NMU. The new partnership will enhance volunteer, service-learning and participation opportunities already afforded NMU students, faculty and staff.
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