One of those winter favorites is the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. The 39th running of the Beargrease starts this year on Sunday, January 29th at Billy’s Bar in Duluth, and will run all the way up the north shore to Grand Portage (for the full marathon). 

Brief History of the Beargrease

The race is named after John Beargrease (born in 1858), an Anishinabek man from Beaver Bay, Minnesota. In the late 1800s, the news would travel via mail and/or word of mouth. Beargrease held an important role in delivering that news either by boat or dog sled from Duluth/Two Harbors to Grand Portage. 

Boreal Community Media talked with Brittany North, Vice President of the Beargrease Board of Directors about the upcoming race, its brief history, what to expect, and what’s new this year. 

About the Race

“The Beargrease started in 1980, and is a nod and tribute to John Beargrease and other Indigenous people, to honor nature, and to celebrate the K-9 athletes and those that came before them”, said North. 

“It’s also important to those of us at Beargrease to keep the tradition of mushing alive in a time of climate change and development,” she added. 

According to the Beargrease Marathon website, the mission of the race is: “the John Beargrease sled dog marathon is the premier long-distance sled dog race in the lower 48 states and one of northern Minnesota’s greatest winter attractions. The sled dog marathon honors John Beargrease’s legacy, the indigenous cultures, and the North Shore communities while celebrating the history of mushing and the incredible canine athletes who make it possible.”

As in past years, the race will start at Billy’s Bar in Duluth on Sunday, January 29, 2023.

“It’s always an exciting and fun event to be at the beginning. There will be opportunities to meet the mushers, eat, and celebrate the race”, said North. 

There are three different race distances that begin at Billy’s Bar on the 29th: 

• the 40-mile race which ends in Two Harbors

• the 120-mile race which ends in Finland

• the 300-mile race which ends in Grand Portage

A closing ceremony is held in Grand Portage on Wednesday morning.

Various checkpoints and ending times are scheduled throughout each of the races. You can find more information about the checkpoints (and parking) and ending dates/times here. 

The mushers

There are 68 mushers registered for the three different races (including three junior mushers competing in the Beargrease 120). These mushers come from all over the country, with many coming from Alaska, Canada, and other spots in the northern US. 

"The Beargrease is an important race because it can be used as a qualifier for the famous Iditarod in Alaska," shared North.

Depending on which distance each musher is competing in determines how many dogs they can control on their sled. 

According to North, the Marathon 300-mile race is 12 dogs, the 120-mile race is eight dogs, and the 40-mile race is six dogs.

Mushers not only have to look after the dogs, but they also have strict rules about the items they need to carry throughout the entire race. 

“Mushers have to stop at every checkpoint for rest, food, or a potential vet check (depending on the checkpoint). 

Additionally, at every checkpoint, a musher must have a bag check completed by a race judge. Each musher has to have particular items in their bag or they could be disqualified”, North said. 

The purpose of these bag checks is to make sure each team has the proper items for safety along the course of the race - especially considering the limited access in some areas on the race course. 

You can learn more about the mushers here. 

The dogs

The safety of the dogs is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. 

The Saturday before the race, every single dog must go through a vet check. This year, the mandatory vet checks will be held at the Black Bear Casino (which is this year’s biggest sponsor of the Beargrease, along with Visit Cook County). 

“This incredibly thorough vet check will determine whether each dog can compete or not,” said North. “Sometimes, the vet determines a particular dog won’t be able to compete. It’s unfortunate, but it happens.” 

Additionally, each checkpoint has a team of vets standing by in case a musher has a concern about a particular dog. 

“Mandatory rest breaks are also scheduled throughout the race, not only for the dogs but also for the mushers”, North added. 

Like years past, a four-hour layover is set at Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, where the dogs can rest, eat, and get checked by a vet (if needed). Mushers will lay straw down, and check each of the dog’s paws. 

And speaking of eating…

“Sled dogs can easily burn 10,000+ calories a day,” North shared. 

When asked what they eat on the trail to keep their energy up, North laughed. 

“Some people refer to it as a soup. Mushers will heat up water with some kibble, potentially beef or chicken, and sometimes some fat. The dogs really slurp it up.”

North mentioned that it can be hard to get dogs to drink water during the race, so mixing their food into a ‘soup’ is a great way to ensure they stay hydrated. 

The volunteers

“I can’t talk about the race without acknowledging the fact that without our amazing volunteers, there wouldn’t even be a race. I take every moment that I can to thank them”, said North.

There are a variety of volunteer positions available to help out with the race. North mentioned that they are still looking for volunteers. You can find more information on the website here. 

Spectator dos and don’ts

“There are two main things I’d tell fans who want to come to watch the race. First, as much as we love dogs, please leave yours at home, as they can be a distraction to the sled dogs. 

The second is to dress for the weather. Layer up, wear waterproof and windproof gear if possible, and wear boots”, said North. 

The race operates in all temperatures, and as far as North can remember, there hasn’t been a cancellation for cold temperatures. 

“10 degrees Fahrenheit and less is absolutely perfect for the dogs. If we get into the mid-30s, while nice for fans, that's warm for the dogs.” 

Finally, be aware of various requests at checkpoints. “Take the mandatory layover checkpoint at Sawtooth as an example. Many mushers and dogs use this stop as an opportunity to sleep, so we ask that fans are respectful of that,” North said.

Can't make it there in person? 

North shared that one of the organization's goals this year is to make the event as accessible as possible for people who can't attend. 

To do so, they hope to share as much as they can on their social media channels, and share updates on their website throughout the duration of the races.