On the trail again

DARRELL L. BREESE/ Frontiersman reporter

SHEEP MOUNTAIN - And they're off!

It may not be the race to Nome, but the sixth-annual Sheep Mountain 150, which began Saturday, marks the start of the mid-distance sled dog racing season. And for some it was the first step toward competing in the legendary Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

While the race may be a blip on the radar of most sled dog racing fans, it is a vital step in the journey to Nome for several competitors.

&#8220The race to Nome starts today,” said Iditarod veteran Melanie Gould of Talkeetna. &#8220If you want to have any success in the Iditarod, races like this one are the foundation.”

Half of the race's 40 entrants are scheduled to begin the journey to Nome in March, and among them are 15 veterans and five rookies of the Last Great Race. Gould was joined by five other Mat-Su Valley entrants in the race, including Ryan Redington of Wasilla, Rick Townsend of Willow, Anjanette Steer of Sheep Mountain and Jeff Davis and Richard Hum from Talkeetna.

For Gerry Willomitzer of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, the race is the beginning of what will be nearly 3,000 miles of competitive mushing this winter.

&#8220I'm gearing up for the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod,” Willomitzer said. &#8220This race and a handful of other mid-distance events will serve to get both me and my dogs prepared for those races.

That is the reason Zack Steer, race director, organized the event six years ago.

&#8220I wanted to create a race that will ease the mushers and dogs into the racing season,” Steer said. &#8220I believe that we have grown into an event that is on par with other early season races like the Kuskokwim 300 and the Klondike 300. With a full field of 40 mushers it is evident that this is the type of race that the competitors want to begin their transition into the longer races.”

In addition to attraction an experienced field of distance mushers, seven of last year's top 10 drove their teams of 12 dogs away from the starting line at Sheep Mountain Lodge for the first of three 50 mile legs north along the Glenn Highway to the Eureka Lodge.

Defending champion Lance Mackey of Kasilof, is among those who is running the race again.

&#8220I've got a group of young dogs that I need to evaluate,” Mackey said. &#8220They've performed well enough in training runs, to earn a spot on the team today, we'll have to see if they have what it takes to cut it in a competitive race.”

The race includes three legs of approximately 50 miles, with two mandatory layovers of five hours separating them. Both of the five-hour layovers will be at Eureka Lodge. The first and last 50 miles will be the same trail between Sheep Mountain Lodge and Eureka Lodge, but run in the opposite direction. The middle 50 miles will be a loop that starts and finishes at Eureka.

&#8220Our rules follow those of the Iditarod,” Steer said. &#8220Must be self sufficient during the race. There is no help allowed from their handlers and they will have to deal with a little sleep depravation and they won't be sleeping in their comfortable beds.”

&#8220Its a shakedown race for me,” Gould said. &#8220I have a group of 2-year-old dogs and I am experimenting with a couple new ideas. The race is a way for me to fine tune what I will do on my way to Nome.”

The goal of this race is to provide mushers with a well-marked, safe course for early season distance training and competition. Good sportsmanship and ethical behavior are expected of all participants. Additionally their is a total purse of $4,100 in prize money involved to make things a little different from the regular early season training runs.

Mushers are expected to finish the race some time in the early afternoon today at Sheep Mountain Lodge. Mackey finished a little after 1 p.m. last year to win the race.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or at darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.