February 16, 2019
Due to the change in the UP200 finish, the Wetmore Checkpoint is sad to report that the celebration at the Wetmore road crossing is canceled. We were looking forward to greeting everyone and sharing SMores but that will have to wait until next year. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm!
Read MoreFebruary 16, 2019
Come to the Ceremonial Finish to cheer and support our mushers! Because the finish of the UP200 has been moved to Wetmore, our mushers will participate in a ceremonial finish at 1:00 pm in Marquette.
Come join the fun as all of our mushers run their teams to Mattson Lower Harbor Park to celebrate the 30th running of the UP200. What a way to round out race weekend!
Read MoreFebruary 16, 2019
Joanna Oberg of Grand Marais, Minnesota won her second Midnight Run Sled Dog Race in a row with her win today in Marquette at the Lower Harbor. Joanna wins with a total time of 11 hours 54 minutes and 1 second over the 94 mile course from Marquette to Chatham and back. Larry Fortier and Joann Fortier, a married couple from Gaylord, Michigan, finished second and third, respectively, only 32 seconds apart.
Read MoreFebruary 16, 2019
Trail conditions improved, speeds picked up, and Midnight Run mushers are approaching the finish line! Several teams have passed the Welcome Center in Harvey and are very close to finishing the 2019 race.
Read MoreFebruary 16, 2019
Due to weather and trail conditions teams are traveling more slowly than last year. We anticipate Midnight Run teams to arrive in Marquette Lower Harbor Park starting at about 2:30 pm today. For those wanting to attend the Midnight Run banquet, gather at 5:30 pm at the Marquette Township Hall on Commerce Drive.
UP200 teams are now moving between Wetmore and Grand Marais and should arrive late this afternoon. You can track their progress on Spot Tracker.
Read MoreFebruary 16, 2019
The UP200 race marshal and judges have made the decision to finish the race at Timber Products in Wetmore. Five hours have been cut from the mandatory rest, so teams will complete 11 hours of rest time before leaving Grand Marais. Timber Products is not open to the public. Good luck, mushers!
Read MoreFebruary 14, 2019
Merchandise and the silent auction are on at the Holiday Inn in Marquette and will be open from 9 am to 8 pm on Friday, 9 am to 7 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday (silent auction closes at noon on Sunday). Note that merchandise is currently not available from the on-line store.
Read MoreFebruary 14, 2019
Read MoreFebruary 14, 2019
Ryan Redington and Kelsey Beaber will be the first mushers to leave Marquette in their respective races on Friday evening. Ryan Redington will leave Washington Street at 7:00 pm as the first musher in the UP200. Kelsey Beaber will be the first Midnight Run musher leaving Washington Street at 8:30 pm. Opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 pm.
Read MoreFebruary 12, 2019
This season is offering up great trail conditions! Last Wednesday our National Weather Service
consultant reported a 12 snow base around the Marquette area and a 40 base in Grand
Marais. The trees look and sound like glass ornaments due to an ice storm early last week. The
ice was quickly followed by a snow layer at perfect temperatures to help fuse the snow to the
surface. Another 4 to 12 inches of snow fell across the region at the end of last week.
As gorgeous as it is, that weather sequence put the trail crew on overtime. In addition to
