CopperDog

If viable, the CopperPull, CopperDash, CopperDart, & CopperDrag happen on the same weekend. Let’s organize a sled dog race! That’s what a small group of people said in 2009, and from that initial idea the CopperDog 150 and CopperDog 35 sled dog races were born. Races usually run the first weekend in March. And as of recently, we have four races. The CopperDog 150 features teams of ten dogs and cov

ers 150 miles in three days, while the CopperDog 80 features teams of eight dogs and covers approximately forty miles each day. The CopperDog 30 and CopperDog 15 are single-stage races using six dogs. Which means… the first weekend in March finds up to 600 dogs racing through Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. The various CopperDog races are organized by CopperDog, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization located in Calumet, Michigan, a small town in the middle of the Keweenaw Peninsula – a narrow finger of land on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that juts into the middle of Lake Superior. With an average annual snowfall of 241 inches it’s the perfect place for …well, a sled dog race. Since its beginning the CopperDog races have attracted mushers from around the world. While many mushers come from the Midwest, each race usually has several Canadian mushers competing – and in 2011 and 2012 a musher from South Africa competed. CopperDog is definitely a labor of love. It is an entirely volunteer operation, with more than 500 volunteers helping to put the race on. Local residents help mushers with their dogs, provide housing, and oversee trail crossings. Local police and fire departments volunteer their time to man all highway crossings and ensure the safety of all volunteers and participants. On its business end, CopperDog is run by an unpaid volunteer board of directors. CopperDog is more than just two sled dog races. In addition to promoting community vitality through sled dog racing, CopperDog strives to provide education on the history and sport of sled dog racing. Numerous public events – such as classroom visits, volunteer training, “Meet the Dogs” events, and free sled dog rides - are held throughout the year. CopperDog is always looking for new volunteers. If you’d like to work with a great group of people and be part of one of the MOST FUN winter events you’ll ever see, please contact us. We can’t do it without you!