Changes to the first leg of the Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon organizers are making changes to the rules for the first leg of the marathon from Two Harbors to Finland.

Dwindling snowpack and weather conditions have forced multiple rounds of changes. Earlier this week, it was announced that the 40th running would move its starting line to Two Harbors. Now, several more changes have been made to the rules for the marathon teams and mid-distance teams.

Two mushers confirmed they were notified about the following changes:

MARATHON TEAMS

• From the Two Harbors start to the Finland checkpoint, they can either start with a team of 6 dogs and one sled, or a team of 8 dogs and two sleds. The two sleds shall be connected and have the team driver in the first sled and a handler in the second sled.
• Once the teams leave the Finland checkpoint, they can run a full team of 12 dogs pulling a single sled.
• Mushers and dogs must get a total of 21 hours of rest during the course of the race. Original rules required 24 hours of rest.

MID-DISTANCE TEAMS

• From the start to the Finland checkpoint, teams will either start with a team of 6 dogs and one sled, or a team of 8 dogs and two sleds. The two sleds shall be connected and have the team driver in the first sled and a handler in the second sled.
• Once the teams leave the Finland checkpoint, the full team of 8 dogs pulling a single sled can run.
• Required rest has not changed. Four hours rest is mandatory plus the start differential at the Finland checkpoint. This will include a mandatory vet check.

Beargrease 40 teams will not have any rule changes because the maximum size is 6 dogs and there is no mandatory rest.

“Safety of the dogs is the number one concern of the race and all decisions will be made with the health and safety of the dogs as our first priority,” a statement from the organization said.

Fewer dogs in the team makes it easier for mushers to stop them on trails with less snowpack.

One organizer who has been on the trails said conditions improve north of the Finland checkpoint.

Several mushers expressed told WDIO that they are happy there will be a race. However, at least one still has concerns and submitted an anonymous statement to WDIO News.

Race marshals are also dealing with resetting trail markers that were removed and destroyed this week between Two Harbors and Finland. They reported the issue to the DNR and Lake County Sheriff’s Office, who said the DNR helped clean up the paper signs that had been torn down. Anyone with information can call sheriff’s deputies at (218) 834-8385.

The 2025 race is the 40th running. It was originally planned for Jan. 26-28 but was postponed due to unsafe trail conditions then. The 2024 marathon was canceled altogether because of a lack of snow.

RELATED STORY: With dwindling snowpack, Beargrease moves start to Two Harbors

See the race route and find more information on beargrease.com.