The Race to the Sky is a long-distance sled dog race held annually in Montana. There are several divisions offered at different distances. The longest race was originally a race but is currently . It is a qualifying race for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and is sometimes called "The Iditarod of the Lower 48."
History The race was first held in 1986 and was a 500-mile competition called the Governor's Cup Sled Dog Race. From the outset, it was a qualifying race for the Iditarod. In 1989, the race organizers incorporated as Montana Sled Dog, LLC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. That year, the race was temporarily renamed the Montana Centennial Sled Dog Race, honoring the centennial of Montana statehood. After that, it was called the Race to the Sky and other races with shorter distances were added to the program. The 500 mile format was the longest United States sled dog race outside of Alaska. A race was added in 1991, raised to 300 miles from 1993 to 1996. In 1997, the 500-mile race became a 350-mile race. The shorter race became for a time, and then a race for adult competitors and a 100-mile race for youth competitors were offered.
The race commemorates the World War II sled dog training camp that operated about 15 miles west of Helena, Montana, the Camp Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center. The facility trained as many as 800 sled dogs as war dogs for a potential invasion of Norway, a plan that ultimately did not materialize. Instead, the sled dogs were assigned to search and rescue missions in Greenland, Canada and Alaska. Pack dogs were also trained at the facility and about 125 soldiers were taught mushing skills to become drivers.
Structure and route The first leg of the 300-mile race begins with an official start at the site of former Camp Rimini, near Rimini, Montana and ends near Exit 138 of Interstate 15 at Elk Park near Butte, Montana. The following day, the mushers and dogs are transported to Lincoln, Montana and the race restarts at that location. The 100-mile race also begins in Lincoln and finishes at Seeley Lake, Montana. The 300-mile race competitors continue past Seeley Lake to a turn-around point at Owl Creek, where they return to Seeley Lake and then to Lincoln to finish.
There are a number of checkpoints along the way where the dog teams stop for examination and spectators can view the progress of the race. The specialized veterinary care for the competition dogs is provided by veterinarians who are part of the International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association. The 2014 race raised funds to support the United States War Dog Association
Participants in the Race to the Sky qualify to compete in the Iditarod.
Winners Race to the Sky winners of 300, 350 or 500 mile race. Hometown and location information given for the year of their win. Year MusherDistance Hometown Notes Time Cite1986 Linwood Fiedler1987 Mark Nordman1988 Linwood Fiedler1989 Greg Swingley (1)Doug Swingley's brother1990 Dean Osmar1991 Doug SwingleyLincoln, MontanaFour-time Iditarod winner: 1995, 1999, 2000 and 2001.1992 Greg Swingley (2)1993 Robin Jacobson1994 Jesse Royer (1)Age 17 at time of win, youngest winner1995 Maria Hayashida1996 Cliff Roberson (1)1997 Cliff Roberson (2)1998 Christian Clarc1999 Jean LaCroix2000 Butch Parr2001 Sarah Spinola2002 Harmony Kanavle2003 Jason Barron2004 John Barron (1) 2005 Cancelled due to lack of snow and icy conditions2006 John Barron (2)2007 Mark Stamm (1)2008Tom Thurston2009 Mark Stamm (2)2010 Rick Larson2011 Curt PeranoFinished with 11 dogs 2012 Warren PalfreyQuesnel, BC, CanadaFinished with 12 dogs2013 Alea RobinsonAge 17 at time of win, second youngest winner49:37:002014 Jenny Greger Bozeman, MT18-year-old winner, finished with 9 dogs2015 Jesse Royer (2)2016 Jesse Royer (3)First three-time winner2017 Laurie WarrenCouncil, Idaho2018 Jesse Royer (4)First four-time winner2019 Brett BruggemanGreat Falls, Montana2020 Jesse Royer (5)First five-time winner 2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic2022 Jesse Royer (6)First six-time winner2023 Jesse Royer (7)First seven-time winner 2024 Cancelled due to a lack of snow2025 Clayton PerryPower, Montana 2026 Cancelled due to a lack of snow and icy conditions
See also
List of sled dog races Dog sled Sled dog Devil's Brigade
References
External links