To our mushers, volunteers, spectators and sponsors:
Many of you are wondering if the weather will cooperate and our UP200 races will happen. The UP200 Board of Directors is moving ahead with all race plans. We currently have snow across the region and the upcoming warm spell will help set the trail, softening snow during the day and freezing it solid at night. Hopefully the warmer weather won’t linger and winter will return bringing snow to cover a solid base.
Our timeline: the trail crew will be out between now and February 10th grooming and assessing conditions. They’ll provide regular updates. And of course, we’ll be watching the weather. If all goes according to OUR plan, by then there will be no doubt about having a safe trail. That gives ol’ Mother Nature about 18 days to do her work and give us the snow we’re all looking for.
If we can offer our mushers a safe trail (even if there are a few rough patches) we will host the UP200, Midnight Run and Jack Pine 30 sled dog races as scheduled. The races are still three weeks away and a lot can happen in three weeks, especially with UP weather. So, we’re not giving up!
Addendum regarding when a decision will be made if necessary:
UP200 race rules state the following:
"The race will continue under all but the most severe of weather conditions.
- Mushers must come prepared to contend with cold, wind, storm conditions, and bare sections of trail.
- In the event of questionable trail conditions, the UP200 will make the decision to postpone or cancel the race by Tuesday of race week, barring extenuating circumstances."
Tuesday of race week is February 13, 2024. Our trail crew will update us regularly on the condition of the trail in the coming weeks and, in turn, we will update mushers and the public. Our goal is to have the races if at all possible, so we want to give the weather as much time to cooperate as we can while also balancing the awareness that mushers, volunteers and spectators travel far distances to come to our races.
