Everyone needs a tune-up for Alaska’s Iditarod which describes itself as the Last Great Race on Earth (official site / Wikipedia). Northern Minnesota’s John Beargrease Sled Dog Race is such a “tune-up” activity. The mushers race 300 miles along Lake Superior’s North Shore hills. Temperatures will fall to over -30F before the race completes on Wednesday at Grand Portage.

Yesterday afternoon, Molly and I took our youngest son and his wife out for an afternoon at the races. I had picked a spot in the woods … French River Crossing. The cascading bridge allows a better view of the dog teams. The weather was perfect … sunny and -9F. We had a great time. Now it’s on to the Arrowhead 135 … humans racing through the northern Minnesota wilderness … quite the ultra marathon as the same weather conditions apply.

Sled Dog Team #7

Sled Dog Team #5

Sled Dog Team #9 (my wife and son may be seen cheering)

Sled Dog Team #12

Sled Dog Team #101 (not doing full marathon … smaller dog team)