Northern Lights 300 starts Friday

WASILLA — Mushers competing in the Northern Lights 300 sled dog race will find a new twist.

Or new loop to be more accurate.

The 2017 course will feature a 50-mile loop on the Skwentna River midway through the race.

Northern Lights 300 race director Sue Allen Allen said a race volunteer from the Talvista Lodge took a run up through what now is a new section of trail, and had great reports. Now, race organizers are ready to try something that has not been done before, and have added that stretch of trail to the course.

It’s out of necessity, Allen said. Trail conditions around Winter Lake Lodge are not suitable for the race, and organizers were forced to eliminate the checkpoint that borders Finger Lake. Organizers needed to find an additional stretch of trail to ensure the Northern Lights stays a true 300-mile race.

“The biggest complaint from musher comes from when we start cutting (miles),” Allen said.

The Northern Lights 300 is an official qualifier for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and Yukon Quest, and Allen said teams need these mid-distances races to train.

Overall, with the change in the course, Allen said trail reports have been positive.

“The trail is looking great,” Allen said.

The 2017 race starts Friday at 11 a.m. at Happy Trail Kennels near Big Lake. Mushers start with a 75-mile trek to Yentna Station Roadhouse. The race continues 45 miles to Talvista Lodge. That is where the 50-mile loop was inserted. Following the loop, teams return to Talvista Lodge before making the 45-mile trip back to Yentna. The final 75 miles takes team from Yentna back to Happy Trails.

According to the race website, mushers will spend a mandatory six-hour layover during each stop at Yentna. Another six hours worth of layover time can be taken at either Talvista or Yentna, depending on mushers’ preference.

Dogs can be dropped at either checkpoint.

The top teams are expected to hit the finish line at Happy Trails Kennel sometime mid-morning Sunday, Allen said.

A key to the success of the race, Allen said, is its host, four-time Iditarod champion Martin Buser, owner of Happy Trails Kennel.

“Martin works his tail off to make this a great little venue,” Allen said.

As of Wednesday evening, 29 mushers were in the field. The field includes Iditarod standouts such as DeeDee Jonrowe and Ramey Smyth.

Organizers are also hosting the Northern Lights 150, which leads teams from Happy Trails Kennel to Yentna and back. There are nine mushers in that field.

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