Opportunity to support Copper Dog race tomorrow

The Otter River Kennel and Michigan Tech’s student mushing club will be offering free dog sled rides at Calumet’s Aggasiz Park, off Fourth Street, Saturday beginning at noon. The Elks Lodge is hosting the annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser, which starts an hour later.

Organizer Doug Harrer says all proceeds go directly to the purse. He pegs the total cost to put on the annual race at around $60,000. He says the dog sled event also plays a pivotal role in the future of Copper Dog. The mushing field is slowly dwindling and Harrer says it is more important than ever to hook the next generation on the sport.

When he first became involved with the race, Harrer says he knew nothing about dog sledding, but as his familiarity grew, so did his appreciation for the activity. Calumet serves as the starting point for the longest distance run, billed as 150 miles and usually just a touch shorter. As many as 3,000 people come out to encourage the teams as they leave the start chute.

This year’s Copper Dog 150 takes place from March 4th to the 6th.