The Pedigree Stage Stop sled dog race kicked-off in Jackson Friday, Jan. 28, and 23 of the mushers were in Sublette County as of Monday – racing the fourth leg of the race in white-out, single-digit conditions.
“The dogs are looking great, the weather’s played nice so far – we’re going to get a little Wyoming treat today,” race judge Laura Daugereau said referring to the winter weather.
The stage stop is a 302-mile race with eight stops all together, starting in Jackson and ending in Driggs, ID.
“All the mushers are out here - they’re being very competitive, but they’re also really good friends. It’s a small world,” Daugereau said.
The unique “stage-stop” format means teams race 30 to 35 miles per day in each location and then drive to the next town for the following day’s race.
It was founded in 1996 with the goal of creating a sled dog race that’s more accessible to the public and to showcase smalltowns in Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming.
Teams come from across the U.S. and Canada and are competing for $165,000, which is the largest sled dog racing purse in the lower 48.
Racers will finish in Driggs, ID on Feb. 5.
