Husky News

The color and excitement of dog sled racing returns to the Rangeley Lakes area after a 7 year hiatus.

On Saturday, Feb. 23, dog sled teams from the United States and Canada will compete in a 40-mile race through the breathtakingly beautiful winter scenery of the Rangeley Lakes region.

The mid-distance mushing race (sanctioned by ISDRA, the International Sled Dog Racing Association), consisting of teams with a musher and eight to 10 dogs, will begin at 9 a.m. (and finish approximately four to six hours later) in front of the Oquossoc Grocery on Main Street.

“The best spots to observe the race,” said race organizer Kitty Fellows, of Oquossoc, “is at the start/finish and/or drive up Route 16 to the Oquossoc Campground.”

“If you haven’t seen dog sled racing,” added Fellows, “the starts are pretty fun as the dogs, handlers and mushers are very excited to race.”

In addition to the dog sled race, event organizers have planned a snowmobile family ride and a family snowshoe trail walk (at 10 a.m. and noon respectively), at the Rivers Edge Sport Camp in Oquossoc. Both the snowmobile ride and the snowshoe events are free and open to the public.

The weekend’s events conclude on Sunday, Feb. 24 with an awards ceremony at 9 a.m. at an area restaurant to be named later.

“There was dog sled racing in the Rangeley Lakes Region,” said Fellows, “from 1972 to 2000. The races back then were sprint races (usually of distances between two and six miles),” added Fellows. The races were suspended in 2000 due to increasing trail issues between dogs and snowmobiles (lack of ample exclusively dog-sled trails).

The return of dog sled racing to the area, according to Felloes is due in large measure, to the generosity of nine private landowners who have allowed the race to use trails on their properties and a core of 18 volunteers who have worked hard to make the dream a reality.

“I came up with the idea of the race in October,” revealed Fellows.

“It seemed like a great winter recreational activity to add to the area. We have a lot of local interest in dog sledding,” added Fellows, “with good area mushers such as Anthony Calello (Oquossoc). I believe he and his dogs have competed in the Can-Am Dog Sled Race in Fort Kent.”

Another well-known local musher is John Bicknell, a champion dog sled racer.

Fellows and her volunteers have held several fundraisers for the race including a raffle, silent auction and a spaghetti dinner.

On Wednesday, Feb. 23 (during school vacation week) another dog sled race fund-raiser is planned at the Lake Side Theater in downtown Rangeley. Wednesday evening’s events (commencing at 7 p.m.) include the screening of a very popular family movie on dog sledding, a 50/50 raffle and an auction.

“I have been very impressed with the support of sponsors such as Cabella’s and local businesses with their donations of auction items,” said Fellows. “I am getting great positive feedback from the community about the return of dog sled racing to the area.”

Source: The Original Irregular