Before there were roads on the North Shore, and after the winter shipping season on Lake Superior ended each year due to ice, there was John Beargrease!

“For almost twenty years, between 1879 and 1899, John Beargrease and his brothers delivered the mail between Two Harbors and Grand Marais by sled dog team. With the limited equipment available and loads weighing as much as 700 lbs. The trip was made once a week…an incredible feat for one man to accomplish especially when you consider the constant range of altitude along the shore.” (read more via JohnBeargrease.Com)

Now each winter the sled dog race marathon honors this Anishinabe Native American. This afternoon the race started in rural Duluth. In a few days the marathon will end after 400 miles … up the shore of Lake Superior on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation (this tribe is the major sponsor of the race). The mushers are both male and female, and there is only “one race” (not one for men, and one for women).

Molly and I watched the mushers and their teams for two hours late this morning. Although the trail itself is packed, once you step even inches to the side one is in thigh deep snow! A great time! All of these photos were captured using a wide angle, non telephoto lens. I am standing within a foot of the trail.

Two Different Sled Dog Teams (maximize these photos to get the full effect)

Jennifer Freking: #9

Alice White: #2

A Short Video (50 seconds … slomo of final team)(link for email subscribers)