After delays, start of sled dog marathon moved due to 'unseasonably warm temperatures'
Organizers announced on Tuesday that the race, which has already had weather-related delays, will have its starting location moved "due to unseasonably warm temperatures."
Originally set to begin at Billy's in Duluth, it'll now start just north of Two Harbors, at what was previously the race's first checkpoint, to ensure "a safe and competitive trail for mushers and their teams." The race begins at 11:05 a.m. on March 2.
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Signs will be placed to direct traffic to the starting point, which is at the North Shore State Trail on Township Road 24.
"Weather always plays a role in sled dog racing, and unfortunately, the recent warm temperatures have made conditions at our original start line unsuitable for the race. There is virtually no snow as of right now," Mike Keyport, President of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, said in a statement. "While we're disappointed to move from our traditional start, we're grateful for the support of Two Harbors and our dedicated volunteers who make this race possible."
The delay comes after warm temperatures in 2024 postponed the race until January 2025. Until earlier this year, it had been scheduled to take place in January, but weather again posed a problem, and the race was pushed back until March.
The race, a qualifier for the Iditarod, is the longest sled dog race in the lower 48 states at more than 300 miles.
BMTN Note: Weather events in isolation can't always be pinned on climate change, but the broader trend of increasingly severe weather and record-breaking extremes seen in Minnesota and across the globe can be attributed directly to the rapidly warming climate caused by human activity. The IPCC has warned that Earth is "firmly on track toward an unlivable world," and says greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 in order to limit warming to 1.5C, which would prevent the most catastrophic effects on humankind. You can read more here.
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