Sheep Mountain 150 starts Saturday

Dec. 15, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

SHEEP MOUNTAIN - For the last several days, Zack Steer has been sort of like a weatherman.

Mushers from across the state have been frantically calling the director of the Sheep Mountain 150, seeking the latest conditions of the trails adjacent to the Sheep Mountain Lodge.

&#8220We could have used a little bit more snow,” Steer said on Wednesday. &#8220But it's one of the few places in South Central Alaska to hold a race right now.”

When Steer hasn't been reporting the conditions, he's been working to improve the trail of the annual sled dog race that starts Saturday at noon at Sheep Mountain Lodge.

To avoid areas with ice and thin layers of snow, Steer has opted to run the trail in more of the high country that surrounds the lodge. Rather than including the section of trail that runs along the Glenn Highway, mushers will now head up toward Cameron Pass and Willow Creek, where the conditions have been, &#8220really good,” Steer said.

Steer has been running his dogs on the new section of trail, and he said the finish times should be close to those of the 2005 race. The big change is more time in the hills.

The trail is made up of a pair of 50-mile loops, and there will now be four major climbs on the trail. The steepest is a 1,500-foot climb in about a four-mile stretch.

After running on the new portions of the trail, Steer said he is now leaning toward liking the new course better.

As the first major sled dog race of the season, there are two schools of thought when referring to the Sheep Mountain 150. While some are in it to win it, others are just looking for a good training race.

&#8220About half of the field is trying to get miles in,” Steer said. &#8220As competitive as I like to be, this is an early season race.”

Steer re-routed the course to avoid sections that could be dangerous. He wanted to avoid as much ice as possible, and stick to areas with a decent amount of snow. He wants a safe trail.

&#8220I'm sending my wife out with my ‘A' team,” Steer joked, referring to his wife Anjanette who is one of the 40-plus mushers in the field. &#8220I wouldn't do that if I didn't think the trail was good.”

Steer's wife is part of a field he calls, &#8220competitive as ever.”

Fifty signed up for the race, and 47 were still on board, as of Wednesday. Steer said he expects the number of mushers who depart Sheep Mountain Lodge to be in the 45-range. That's up from last season's total of 37.

Leading the cast are the winners of the last two Sheep Mountain races. Fairbanks' Ken Anderson, the defending champ, is back. Lance Mackey, the winner in 2004, is making the trip from the Peninsula. Mackey originally opted not to race, but is filling in for his brother Jason, Steer said. Jason Mackey is still recovering from injuries he suffered in a car accident in the Kasilof area earlier this year.

There are 13 mushers hailing from the Valley in the field, a group that includes Talkeetna's Melanie Gould and Wasilla's Ryan Redington.

Steer said there is a strong Canadian contingent, led by the likes of Hans Gatt (Atlin, British Columbia) and Gerry Willomitzer (Whitehorse, Yukon). Willomitzer, Steer said, has been staying in the Sheep Mountain area for about the last two weeks, running the trails on a daily basis.

Other notable names in the event are John Schandelmier, of Paxson; Aaron Burmeister, of Nenana; Jon Little, of Kasilof; and Jessica Hendricks-Bullen, of Two Rivers.

The first musher, Sebastian Schnuelle, will leave Sheep Mountain at noon Saturday. Teams will then depart in two-minute intervals. Steer said he expects the winner to arrive sometime between 11 a.m. and noon on Sunday.

Sheep Mountain Lodge is located on Mile 113.5 of the Glenn Highway.

For race updates, see www.dog sled.com/sheep-mountain-150/index.html.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.