The CopperDog 150 will gather the copper country together Friday night to celebrate the start of the race. Each year the CopperDog attracts hundreds of volunteers from around the Upper Peninsula and sled dog kennels to race along the Keweenaw ridge. Chris Kivi last year helped organizers introduce the Copper Pull and Copper Dash during the CopperDog’s warmest race weekend yet.
No snow. Uh, literally, I don’t know where they got the snow, but they literally were scraping up every flake that they had. This year it’s not as big a problem. – Chris Kivi, CD Kennels
Kivi returns again in 2025 to join the festivities to help organize the copper pull. He says that last year kept the tradition alive and brought together the close knit sled dog community for some sun.
Last year we had them from five different states far away as Tennessee. I don’t remember offhand. I think we had forty some dogs over the course of three matches. But we’ll be doing two matches Saturday, a morning and an evening and then one match Sunday morning. And then Saturday in between the matches we’ll be doing the copper dash for the mini mushers as we call them. – Chris Kivi, CD Kennels
He adds he’s excited to return this year, but also excited to see the CopperPull and CopperDash return for Saturday activities in Calumet. Volunteer coordinator Krissy Tepsa says Kivi’s team will have a few dogs available for kids at the copper dash.
You can bring your own pet from home. We’ll hook them up to a sled, and they’ll actually be a mini-musher. So they won’t be in the basket going for a ride. They’ll actually be the musher. So they’ll get to go 75 feet down the snow road. They’ll start at the starting chute, where the mushers all start on Friday night. And they can go 75 feet. This is from 2 to 4 on Saturday afternoon. So bring your own pet if you have one. Otherwise, CD kennels will have some dogs available. – Krissy Tepsa
Conditions are looking good, dogs are howling with excitement and organizers have just about everything in place.
Well, 620 is going to be that opening ceremony, and then 7 o’clock, the first musher out of the shoot. So it’s going to be 4,000 to 5,000 people downtown again. And just like in the mining days when Calumet was full and bustling, that’s what we’re hoping to bring back again and see that Friday night. – Krissy Tepsa
Volunteer opportunities are still available for those interested in getting involved with CopperDog. If you’re in the copper country this weekend listen for Todd Van Dyke’s race updates on 97.7 the Wolf and 102.3 K-Bear.
Road and trail safety during CopperDog
Throughout the race weekend sled dog teams will use the Keweenaw Peninsula’s snowmobile trails. Snowmobiles are encouraged to ride right, especially when teams are nearby, and take extra precaution when coming around corners and curves.
I think the best thing they can do is continue to ride on the right. Um, don’t stop, just let the dogs go by. Um, the dogs are, you know, they’re hot on the trail of, uh, the race, so they’re not really paying attention. So just don’t act out in any way that would, uh, try to get their attention. – Curt Pennala, Sheriff, Keweenaw County Sheriff Office
Vehicles traveling throughout the region should watch out for road crossings and look for crossing guards signaling if mushers and dogs are crossing. Volunteers that took part in training last week meet organizers and crossing coordinators to learn different hand signals.
just drive with extreme caution, especially when you’re approaching the trail crossings, there will be a fire personnel and law enforcement personnel at them crossings, slowing drivers down. But yeah, just follow the commands of whoever is there, direct in traffic. – Curt Pennala, Sheriff, Keweenaw County Sheriff Office
Copper Dog organizers will travel and meet volunteers throughout the weekend to check in and help where needed. On the road vehicles have the right of way. Stay safe and enjoy the Copper Country’s premiere race weekend.
Volunteer Opportunities still avaialble
Individuals or groups interested in getting involved can volunteer with copper dog too. The race still has volunteer opportunities available on Sunday. The Copper Pull championship rounds will need a breaker to help stop the weighted sled. Copper Harbor’s restart for the 150 and 80 races has dog handling slots open. Road crossing closing out the race between Copper Harbor and Eagle harbor need assistance to control traffic. And who can forget about help with clean up after the last team cross the finish line and help at the banquet. Find more volunteer information here.
Copper Dog activities before and after Friday’s opening night
Attendees enjoying copper dog can start the fun early today. At the Quincy Mine the Quincy Mine Association will host a hug a husky event for visitors. Variety Pack Kennel will have huskies available for the fluffiest hugs, while the mine hoist association will have special CopperDog mine tours occurring. The Hug a Husky event at the Quincy Mine will start at 10 am, and run until 11;30am.
The Big Annie Warmup for kids will start copper dog events in the afternoon at 3 pm. Followed by the start of the street party in calumet at 5pm. While excitement builds and the crowds gather, some will warm up by the fire, or enjoy a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant before the opening ceremony. Todd Van Dyke from 102.3 K Bear will announce teams as they leave town for the night. After the final team sets out for eagle harbor, copper dog will launch fireworks, celebrating a successful start to copper dog in the copper country.
Join the fun on Saturday and visit copper harbor for the CD 15. A shorter race among the three that has teams sprint down 15 miles of trail to find out the fastest short distance team. Or check out the second CopperPull. Dogs from around the area and huskies will see whose the strongest and can pull a weighted sled 15 feet. Kids can also learn a little about becoming a musher with their own pup at the CopperDash. Last year CopperDog included a sort of drag race between two teams. The Copper Dash will use that idea and introduce sled dog racing to a new generation. The Copper Pull and Copper Dash will both take place in Calumet on Saturday.
The Copper Pull will determine the top dog of the weekend on Sunday, just as the CD150 and CD 80 come into Calumet for the end of Copper Dog. The Award banquet will begin at 3 pm on Sunday. Find more information about Copper Dog Events and activities here. Pick up CopperDog merchandise at Copperworld or check out the Copper Dog craft show to find unique hand made items.
Find more information about Copper Dog activities here. Find information about CopperDog here.
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