UPside of Life: Doggin' it

There are some easy comparisons to make between Alaska and the Upper Peninsula, and you don't even have to look very hard to spot them.

First of all, both are blessed with wonderful wilderness, teeming with wild animals and outdoor opportunities. Second, Alaska and the U.P. are both surrounded by water and offer some of the best views in the country. Third, there are few better places to view the night sky (though, admittedly, Alaska gets to see much more of it, especially in December when daylight is just a few hours long).

And while the list can go on and on, there is another similar aspect between the two outdoor wonderlands that is easily to pick out: A love of sled dog races.

Sure, Alaska boasts two of the world's best-known races in the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest, but it's the smaller Alaskan races, like the Tustumena 200 or the Annamaet Gold Run, that bring to mind the U.P.'s own UP 200, CopperDog 150 or the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race.

These races aren't run for the glory, or the deep purses, for that matter. They are run because the mushers, and their dogs, love to race--maybe it's the driving snow, or the way the sled feels as the team urgently races onward, or maybe it's just the time the musher and their team spend together. No matter the reason, the enjoyment of racing in any sled dog event is shared not only by those participating, but by those watching, too.

While it's too late to catch the Tahquamenon race, which was held last week, there is still plenty of time to see Upper Peninsula sled dogs in action. This weekend, in Marquette, the long-running U.P. 200 will take place, along with its associated Midnight Run and Jack Pine 30 races. When Marquette, the U.P.'s largest city, shuts its downtown for an event, you know it has to be big--and the U.P. 200 fits that bill. People line the streets to cheer the mushers on, both as they exit town to begin their journey and days later when they return to finish.

The CopperDog 150 isn't much different, though it will be held March 4 and 5 and starts and finishes in the historic town of Calumet.

Be it a short race, or a long one, there is one thing for sure: sled dog racing is alive and well in the Upper Peninsula for mushers, their teams and the spectators. Like the U.P. 200 slogan says, it's all the excitement of Alaska, but without the airfare.

Sam Eggleston is the managing editor of the U.P. Second Wave and a full-time freelance writer. He was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula. He has been a fan of sled dog racing since living in Alaska. His favorite musher of all time is Tim Osmar. Eggleston can be reached via email.