Beargrease Announces Different Plans for Route

DULUTH - With not enough snow on the ground this year’s Beargrease was in jeopardy of being postponed. Beargrease board of directors have made the decision to keep the races original date, but the starting line will be more north due to the lack of snow and poor trail conditions in Duluth. "The 2015 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon will start as scheduled on Sunday January 25th," Beargrease Media Director Jason Vincent said. Vincent says recent snowfall, "Has helped us extend the course a little closer to Duluth which we were hoping for.""If the race had moved to a different date it would have really affected a lot of mushers,” Musher Billie Diver said. “I think we would have lost half the mushers." What time and where the famous Northland winter event will start is still being fleshed out. The Hwy 2 checkpoint in Two Harbors or Finland by the community center are the options. Safety will be the determining factor."As long as the trails are good I don't really care where we start,” said Diver. “As long as the dogs are going to be healthy." This year participation is up."This race is back and stronger than ever," said Vincent. Forty-seven teams will take on the challenge which is double the amount of last year’s Beargrease competitors. "The board of director really did bring in a whole new kind of energy last year," said Diver. For the most part the historic race will keep with tradition, but it will deliver some new features."We increased the purse to $45,000 dollars which is one of the highest purses that we've had in many years," said Vincent. New additions also include an elevation map and stronger GPS technology to track mushers."Last year the GPS units updated every ten minutes, this year they're going to be updating every five minutes," said Vincent. The finish line will still be at Billy's and a decision for the start of the Beargrease will be announced later this week. The lack of snow still has the Cub Run in jeopardy. Beargrease is in need of volunteers. If you would like to help out click here.