U.P. 200 dog sled races in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Annual Dog Sled Races Take Off in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Spectators filled the streets of downtown Marquette to cheer on mushers and their dog teams as they start off on the trail of the U.P. 200 Dog Sled Race. (photo by Ron Caspi)

Marquette, MI – This weekend mushers and their teams, from around the Midwest, celebrate the 25th anniversary of the U.P. 200 and Midnight Run dog sled races in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Downtown Marquette was bustling with excitement Friday night as local residents, out of town visitors, and volunteers gathered to help the race get off to a smooth start and cheer on mushers and their dog teams as they began their challenging journeys  into the dark wilderness of the U.P.

Sled dogs eager to hit the trail take off from downtown Marquette during the race start of the U.P. 200 Friday, February 13, 2015. (photo by Ron Caspi)

It’s well worth the trip downtown to see the race starts.  The city is alight with people whose laughter and chatter mix with the barking and howls of sled dogs eager to hit the trails. This year included the addition and comfort of a warming tent hosted by NMU, to help take the chill off and keep spectators in good spirits. The free hot cocoa and cookies  provided by Babycakes didn’t hurt either!

Sunday afternoon you can enjoy more of the U.P. 200 festivities down at the Mattson Harbor Park as folks gather to watch race finishers complete the race. There will be fun activities for the kids with prizes and more hot cocoa to go around.

by Ron Caspi

Ron Caspi has lived and worked as a photojournalist and visual artist for over 25 years. His travels have taken him from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea to New York, Los Angeles, Honolulu, and now Marquette. Caspi cares about what's happening in his community and the world at large and encourages others to express their opinions and take action!

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