The UP200

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2013 UP200 Purse

The UP200 is one of the top 12-dog mid-distance races in the Midwest, as well as being an Iditarod 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 68 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, approximately 53. 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 at Lakenenland (Sculpture Park on M28) and to be picked up by Mushers Handlers. 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 15, 2013 and is limited to 40 teams, so mushers are encouraged to register early.