Beargrease updates: Rita Wehseler wins half marathon, with full marathon mushers arriving at Trail Center this morning
Mar 03, 2025 08:47AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: Boreal Community Media
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - March 3, 2025
***March 4 Beargrease update: A Race to the Finish***
The 40th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon officially began yesterday at 11:05 a.m. Due to warm temperatures and a lack of snow, Beargrease event organizers moved the start line from Billy's Bar in Duluth to what would typically be the first checkpoint in Two Harbors. This change came after the entire race had to be rescheduled from January due to unsafe trail conditions thanks to warm temperatures and a lack of snow.
2:30 p.m. Beargrease Update: The Race Against the Melt
The Beargrease 120 (which ended up totaling 72.5 miles with the start line change) began and ended on Sunday. 2025 Gunflint Mail Run winner Rita Wehseler unofficially placed first, coming into Trestle Inn just before 10 p.m., followed closely by Joanna Oberg (race officials have not yet released the final results). Oberg won the race in 2023, with Wehseler taking first place in 2022. There were 15 mushers in total, with one musher forced to scratch.
The Beargrease full marathon is currently underway, with the mushers at or on their way to the Trail Center checkpoint along the Gunflint Trail. Beargrease officials said the first teams arrived at Trail Center this morning around 6 a.m. (Erin Aili was first followed closely by Erin Altemus). A live tracking map is available on the Beargrease website or below. The next checkpoint is Skyport Lodge, with an estimated arrival time for the first few teams around 5:30 p.m. Mushers will finish the race in Grand Portage on Tuesday morning.
Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 30s to low 40s on Monday. A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Freezing rain and light snow are expected.
Boreal Community Media will continue to provide updates as they become available. For the most up-to-date information, visit the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon website.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - March 3, 2025
***March 4 Beargrease update: A Race to the Finish***
The 40th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon officially began yesterday at 11:05 a.m. Due to warm temperatures and a lack of snow, Beargrease event organizers moved the start line from Billy's Bar in Duluth to what would typically be the first checkpoint in Two Harbors. This change came after the entire race had to be rescheduled from January due to unsafe trail conditions thanks to warm temperatures and a lack of snow.
2:30 p.m. Beargrease Update: The Race Against the Melt
The Beargrease 120 (which ended up totaling 72.5 miles with the start line change) began and ended on Sunday. 2025 Gunflint Mail Run winner Rita Wehseler unofficially placed first, coming into Trestle Inn just before 10 p.m., followed closely by Joanna Oberg (race officials have not yet released the final results). Oberg won the race in 2023, with Wehseler taking first place in 2022. There were 15 mushers in total, with one musher forced to scratch.
The Beargrease full marathon is currently underway, with the mushers at or on their way to the Trail Center checkpoint along the Gunflint Trail. Beargrease officials said the first teams arrived at Trail Center this morning around 6 a.m. (Erin Aili was first followed closely by Erin Altemus). A live tracking map is available on the Beargrease website or below. The next checkpoint is Skyport Lodge, with an estimated arrival time for the first few teams around 5:30 p.m. Mushers will finish the race in Grand Portage on Tuesday morning.
Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 30s to low 40s on Monday. A Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Freezing rain and light snow are expected.
Boreal Community Media will continue to provide updates as they become available. For the most up-to-date information, visit the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon website.
