Volunteers
Note: to volunteer at the Grand Marais turn-around checkpoint for the UP200, please contact the Grand Marais coordinator at gmup200@gmail.com.
Thank you to each and every volunteer! We simply can’t do this event without you.
Race dates for 2023 are February 16-20 — volunteer for some sled dog fun!
Volunteer Descriptions
Race Information Booth: Filled as of 1-28-23
Assist with public information, musher registration, phone calls, musher updates, and race history.
Merchandise Sales:
Assist the merchandise coordinator in the sale of race related merchandise to the public. You will be assisting customers in helping them choose their items and possibly assisting with the cash register.
Vet Check: Filled as of 1-18-23
Assist race veterinarians with examination of sled dogs and assist with record keeping.
Time: Friday 9am-12:00noon
Bag Checkers:
Check each musher’s sled bag for mandatory items and/or prohibited items.
Friday 5:30 – 6:30pm for UP 200 and 6:30 – 8:30pm for Midnight Run
Saturday 9 AM to 3:00 PM for Midnight Run finish
Sunday 12 noon until late afternoon for UP200 finish or until the last team has either finished or scratched.
Dog Handling: Marquette filled as of 1/28/23; Chatham still needed
Assist in moving dog teams to the starting gate (physically demanding, requires a training session prior to race) Marquette downtown- 5:30PM until all UP200 and Midnight Run teams have left the gate. Midnight Run – Chatham 5:00AM Saturday until the last team has left the checkpoint.
Crowd Control: Filled as of 2/4/23
Assist law enforcement with providing for the safety of mushers, dogs, and spectators. Friday 5:30 PM – until the last musher leaves downtown (approximately 9:30 PM)
Start Line Setup and Take Down:
Set up barriers and fencing prior to the race start and remove them for storage after the last team has left the starting gate. Setup Friday 11:00am – 2:00pm; Final Setup 5:00pm – until Start of Race. Take-down (fences and barricades) Friday after last team has left the starting gate until approximately 11 PM
Timers and Record Keepers:
Record, document, and communicate each musher’s departure and arrival times at the starting gate, checkpoints, and finish line. Friday evening (Marquette, Chatham); Saturday morning to afternoon (Chatham & finish Ojibwa Casino Marquette); Sunday morning until evening or until last team has either finished or scratched (finish at Ojibwa Casino Marquette).
Chatham Checkpoint:
Assist with Midnight Run checkpoint at MSU Extension Farm: dog handlers, timers, computer communications, record keepers. Volunteers also needed at Chatham road crossings.
Wetmore Checkpoint:
Assist with UP200 checkpoint at Timber Products: dog handlers, timers, computer communications, record keepers, food prep, checkpoint setup and take down.
Ojibwa Casino Finish:
Assist with incoming road crossings, bag checks, timing and other tasks associated with getting teams from the finish line to their dog trucks.
Road Crossings:
Safely assist the Musher and their dog team in road crossings. Note: Crossings with long hours are broken into shifts. Friday 5:30 PM downtown Marquette, Harvey, Sand River and into Alger County. Depending upon which race and the specific crossing, the last team may cross at midnight (12 AM) or later. Saturday morning until early afternoon (Chatham to Marquette for Midnight Run and Gwinn for Jack Pine 30), and Sunday early morning until 9:00 PM or notified that last team has crossed. Road Crossing Guide
NOTE: The Grand Marais road crossings are located near the village. They are coordinated by the Grand Marais checkpoint and the crossing instructions are slightly different. Please contact gmup200@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering for a crossing in Grand Marais.
