10:45 a.m. Beargrease Update: Erin Aili is the 40th running Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon Winner, Erin Altemus places second
Mar 04, 2025 10:45AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: Boreal Community Media
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Communtiy Media - March 4, 2025
10:45 a.m.
Erin Altemus has finished second in the 40th Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon race. Jesse Terry is the next closest team, with less than 10 miles to go, followed by Shawn McCarthy, with less than 20 miles to go. Clayton Perry, Nathan Schroeder, and Mary Manning have all left Mineral Center and are on their way to Grand Portage. Five mushers are at Mineral Center or have yet to arrive.
10:10 a.m. update:
Erin Aili has crossed the finish line and is the unofficial winner of the 40th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Aili is from Miles Ahead Racing Kennel, which is based in Ray, MN, just outside of Voyageurs National Park.
See a video of Aili at the finish line here or below.
10:00 a.m. update:
Erin Aili is less than two miles from the finish line, with Erin Altemus approximately three miles behind her. Jesse Terry has 13 miles to go, with Shawn McCarty and Mary Manning with 27 and 30 miles until Grand Portage, respectively. Clayton Perry has left the Mineral Center checkpoint.
9:30 a.m. update:
Erin Altemus's tracker has updated. She is still racing behind Aili, with less than 10 miles to Grand Portage.
9:15 a.m. update:
The teams are making their way to Grand Portage. Erin Aili appears to still be in the lead, with less than 10 miles to the finish line. Erin Altemus's tracker was last updated an hour ago. It is not clear if the tracker is not working, or if Altemus stopped. Jesse Terry has less than 20 miles to the finish line. Shawn McCarty has left the Mineral Center checkpoint, and is just over 30 miles from Grand Portage.
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The mushers and dogs are en route to the finish line in Grand Portage this morning. According to race officials, around 4:30 a.m., three teams had made it to the Mineral Center checkpoint: Erin Aili, Erin Altemus, and Jesse Terry.
At 6:58:24 a.m., Erin Aili left Mineral Center with eight dogs, with Erin Altemus close behind with nine dogs, leaving at 7:10:44 a.m. Jesse Terry left around 7:59 a.m.
At 8:10 a.m., Erin Altemus had passed Erin Aili, and was ahead by approximately three miles. By 8:14 a.m., Aili was ahead by less than two miles. Terry was behind by approximately 10 miles. View live tracking here.
Race officials estimate the first few teams will cross the finish line in Grand Portage around 9:30 a.m.
One team led by Rhonda Heerschap was forced to scratch early this morning just outside of Skyport.
Temperatures remain in the 30s and 40s, warm for the dogs and mushers. The Winter Weather Advisory that was in effect until 10 a.m. this morning for freezing rain has been cancelled.
Boreal Community Media will continue to provide updates as they are available.
Related: March 3 Beargrease updates: Rita Wehseler wins half marathon, with full marathon mushers arriving at Trail Center this morning
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Communtiy Media - March 4, 2025
10:45 a.m.
Erin Altemus has finished second in the 40th Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon race. Jesse Terry is the next closest team, with less than 10 miles to go, followed by Shawn McCarthy, with less than 20 miles to go. Clayton Perry, Nathan Schroeder, and Mary Manning have all left Mineral Center and are on their way to Grand Portage. Five mushers are at Mineral Center or have yet to arrive.
10:10 a.m. update:
Erin Aili has crossed the finish line and is the unofficial winner of the 40th running of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Aili is from Miles Ahead Racing Kennel, which is based in Ray, MN, just outside of Voyageurs National Park.
See a video of Aili at the finish line here or below.
10:00 a.m. update:
Erin Aili is less than two miles from the finish line, with Erin Altemus approximately three miles behind her. Jesse Terry has 13 miles to go, with Shawn McCarty and Mary Manning with 27 and 30 miles until Grand Portage, respectively. Clayton Perry has left the Mineral Center checkpoint.
9:30 a.m. update:
Erin Altemus's tracker has updated. She is still racing behind Aili, with less than 10 miles to Grand Portage.
9:15 a.m. update:
The teams are making their way to Grand Portage. Erin Aili appears to still be in the lead, with less than 10 miles to the finish line. Erin Altemus's tracker was last updated an hour ago. It is not clear if the tracker is not working, or if Altemus stopped. Jesse Terry has less than 20 miles to the finish line. Shawn McCarty has left the Mineral Center checkpoint, and is just over 30 miles from Grand Portage.
______________________________________________________________________________________
The mushers and dogs are en route to the finish line in Grand Portage this morning. According to race officials, around 4:30 a.m., three teams had made it to the Mineral Center checkpoint: Erin Aili, Erin Altemus, and Jesse Terry.
At 6:58:24 a.m., Erin Aili left Mineral Center with eight dogs, with Erin Altemus close behind with nine dogs, leaving at 7:10:44 a.m. Jesse Terry left around 7:59 a.m.
At 8:10 a.m., Erin Altemus had passed Erin Aili, and was ahead by approximately three miles. By 8:14 a.m., Aili was ahead by less than two miles. Terry was behind by approximately 10 miles. View live tracking here.
Race officials estimate the first few teams will cross the finish line in Grand Portage around 9:30 a.m.
One team led by Rhonda Heerschap was forced to scratch early this morning just outside of Skyport.
Temperatures remain in the 30s and 40s, warm for the dogs and mushers. The Winter Weather Advisory that was in effect until 10 a.m. this morning for freezing rain has been cancelled.
Boreal Community Media will continue to provide updates as they are available.
Related: March 3 Beargrease updates: Rita Wehseler wins half marathon, with full marathon mushers arriving at Trail Center this morning
