Copper Basin 300 starts Saturday

WASILLA — The first major mid-distance sled dog race of the new year, the Knik 200 Joe Redington Sr Memorial, was forced north. But there’s no need for an alternative for the next event on the mushing calendar.

The Copper Basin 300 is slated to start Saturday morning in Glennallen.

In a press release issued by organizers, Copper Basin 300 board president Jason Severs reports a, “snow packed, hard, and fast,” trail for the 300-mile race that starts and ends in Glennallen.

The race, billed as “the toughest 300 miles in Alaska,” is known for its challenging snow conditions and extreme temperatures.

Teams will pass through four checkpoints en route to the finish. The first leg is a 49-mile trek to Chistochina and the Red Eagle Lodge. That is followed by 75 miles to Meier’s Lake. Teams then head to the west 40 miles to Sourdough Creek. Then it’s south and 75 miles to Mendeltna. The final leg is 63 miles from The Mendeltna Creek Lodge to the finish at the Old Paths Baptist Church in Glennallen.

According to the press release, the top teams are expected to beginning arriving a the finish line sometime during the afternoon January 16.

As of Wednesday evening, 50 mushers were listed on the race website as part of the 2017 field. The group includes defending Copper Basin champion Ryne Olson of Two Rivers. Six-time Copper Basin champion Allen Moore, the runner-up last year, is competing in his 16th straight Copper Basin race.

Nic Petit, who won the Knik 200 on Jan. 7.

The race begins Saturday at 10 am. in Glennallen.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.