Musher Information

   

Attention:

If you are a musher and are in need of a volunteer to help with being a driver or handling etc please contact

Anna Sanford

asanford@nmu.edu

Phone: (906) 942-7850

Cell: (906) 869-4827

Thanks and see you in February!

contingency plan

2012 Alternative Race Schedule

The race might have changed but the party hasn’t. Downtown Marquette Start, don’t miss the excitement of the dogs as they patiently wait to showcase their talents just for you.

Adopted February 8, 2012 UPSDA Board of Directors

To all the UP200 Mushers, Midnight Run Mushers and Jack Pine 30 Mushers and Spectators.

The decision to alter the races was not an easy one.  We debated this for many hours.  The lessons from last year were foremost in our minds as we made the current trail decisions.  We could have waited a few more days because there is snow in the forecast, so they say.  We decided against this for several reasons:   We did not want to make changes so late as to make it impossible for the trail crew to handle, and we did not want checkpoints to try to make volunteer changes later.

The good news is that there still is a downtown start and even better news is that there is a good trail that local mushers are confident will make for a fun experience. 

Kim Pirman is our new checkpoint coordinator in Chatham and she is very organized.  We will be there to support her and  she will do a great job. 

Mushers we want you to know that every possible effort is being made to give you the race you have wanted for several years. 

Waiting to see you all soon, Pat  

UP 200

Friday night 8:00 pm, Start of the UP200 in Chatham.

Chatham to Wetmore, unassisted checkpoint, mandatory rest 3 hours plus the differential.

Wetmore to Grand Marais, assisted checkpoint in Grand Marais.

Grand Marais to Wetmore, second unassisted checkpoint in Wetmore.

Return to Grand Marais to Finish will be on Sunday.

Approximate arrival of first teams 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Earliest finish time in Grand Marais 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Mushers allowed 3 bags of food for unassisted checkpoints.

Midnight Run

Friday night 7:10 pm Ceremonial Start in Downtown Marquette in front of Mining Journal.

Mushers will utilize the same eight dogs used for the Cerimonial Start that they will for the Chatham start.

10:00 pm Restart in Chatham.

Chatham to Chatham Loop (musher trucks stay in Chatham)

Layover, Chatham, assisted checkpoint, 5 hours rest plus differential.

Chatham to Munising Finish will be on Saturday.

Approximate arrival of first teams 11:00 am

Bag check will be held at ceremonial start.  No bag check will be held at restart.

Jack Pine 30

Saturday morning 9:30 am start in Gwinn at Larry’s Foods.

Run the old UP 200 trail near Highway 553 to Sands Station.  Follow railroad track to Goose Lake then on to 480 Finish.

IDITAROD QUALIFIERS

Mushers using the 2012 UP200 as an Iditarod qualifier will be assessed $25.00, which can be paid during musher registration at the Holiday Inn.

Schedule

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2012

Race Headquarters will open and remain open until Monday morning, February 20, 2012

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2012

Musher registration opens at 9am at the Holiday Inn. * All Mushers must be registered before Mandatory Meetings. (please allow 20 miniutes for registration)

There will be a ‘welcome’ gift for you to pick up at headquarters and any additional forms requiring your signature will be on hand.

A musher under the age of 18 will require parental and race official approval.

MANDATORY MEETINGS will be held at the Holiday Inn. (The meeting room will be posted at headquarters)

MIDNIGHT RUN meeting is at 4pm (EST)

UP200 is at 5pm (EST).

PRE-RACE BANQUET will be held at the Holiday Inn (Marquette), at 6:30pm. A social hour will be followed by dinner and the bib draw. All Mushers are required to be present, UP200 and MIDNIGHT Run mushers will receive one complimentary ticket. Additional tickets can be purchased in the merchandise room at the Holiday Inn.

There will be a split draw for bib numbers, if there are 40 entries in the UP200 the first 20 will draw numbers 1-21 ( we do not use bib # 11 ). Bib numbers will be drawn in the order entries were received. The UPSDA board will conduct the bib draw during the musher meetings and will be given to the mushers at the pre race banquet.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2012 

MANDATORY vet check will be held in the Holiday Inn and Riverside Auto parking lots. Rabies must be given by a veterinarian at least two weeks prior to the race.

It is the mushers responsibility to call and reserve a vet check time. Please call Denise at 906-228-7749 (choose 0 to be connected to her office)

THE UP200 BAG DROP AND MUSHER BRUNCH is scheduled at ( 10am -1pm ) and will be held at the “Commons” in downtown Marquette, (down the hill from the Post Office). Our Lead Dog sponsor, The Mining Journal will hosts this event.

Midnight Run Mushers Chili Fest is scheduled at (1pm – 3pm) and will be held at the “Public Service Garage” located on McClellan and W. Baraga. Public Service Garage will be hosting this event.

RACE START TIMES

UP200: Chatham 8:00 pm

Midnight Run Start: Ceremonial Start Downtown Marquette 7:10 pm

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2012

MIDNIGHT RUN AWARDS MEAL will be held at Sydney’s Restaurant in Munising at 4pm and is open to the public. All MNR Mushers will receive one complimentary ticket, additional tickets can be purchased in the merchandise room at the Holiday Inn or at the door.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2012

UP200 AWARDS BREAKFAST will be at the Holiday Inn at 8am. All UP200 mushers will receive one complimentary ticket, additional tickets can be purchased in the merchandise room at the Holiday Inn.