The UP200

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Adopted February 8, 2012 UPSDA Board of Directors

UP 200

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

* Changes in Trail – The trail crew in Grand Marais found, marked, and GPS a 10 mile loop that they say is great.  This gives the 200 mushers 30 more miles.  Brings the total to 240.  We have also decided to change the three hour + differential , that was to be completed the first time at Wetmore.  The first time the 200 goes to Wetmore they will have a mandatory rest of 3 hours—-no differential.  The second time to Wetmore they will make up the differential.  Please go to the UP200 under race info for updated map.

Chatham to Wetmore, unassisted checkpoint, mandatory rest 3 hours.

Wetmore to Grand Marais mileage will be 68 with an 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.

2012 UP200 Purse

Some exciting changes this year for the UP200, with a new sponsor we were able to raise the purse for the upcoming races.  We also have decided to go back to purses through 15th place.  

Please be advised the information below is historical information and not applicable for 2012.

The UP200 is one of the top 12-dog mid-distance races in the Midwest, as well as being anIditarod qualifier. The UP200 trail covers 240 miles of challenging terrain from Marquette to Grand Marais, Michigan and back again through forested land and near-wilderness. Mushers Face hills, creek crossings, deep snow, and isolated trail. This is a true test of skill and stamina! 

The first leg of the trail is from Marquette to Wetmore, a distance of approximately 60 miles. On the up-bound trail, Wetmore is an unassisted checkpoint and only the musher may interact with the dogs, although a dog may be dropped from the team at that point and will be transported by truck to Grand Marais. From Wetmore, the trail winds through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and continues on to Grand Marais, another 60 or so miles. The Grand Marais checkpoint is the midpoint of the race, and offers excellent viewing opportunities for spectators. The local Community Center is the checkpoint headquarters, and visitors can have lunch, bid on items at a silent auction, and see the teams up close. Here the mushers will rest and feed their teams, be checked over by vets, and plan their strategy for the second half of the race. A total rest time of 16 hours is required, and the mushers decide how much rest time they will use at each checkpoint. 

The return to Marquette is over the same trail. On the down-bound trail, Wetmore is an assisted checkpoint and handlers may help the teams; in addition, a dog may be dropped in Deerton to be transported to the finish by truck. The UP200 ends on Sunday afternoon when the mushers cross the finish line in Marquette. This race is a test of the musher’s skill in navigating and the team’s stamina and fitness. If you’re a musher, you won’t want to miss it, and if you’re a spectator, come join the thousands of people who gather to cheer the teams out of the starting gate in Marquette! 

The race starts on Friday evening, February 17, 2012 and is limited to 40 teams, so mushers are encouraged to register early.