GRANTHAM — This Saturday, Grantham will belong to the dogs. Beginning at 9 a.m., the public is welcome to gather at Grantham Recreation Park, 113-135 Shedd Road, to watch the Blue Mountain Sled Dog Race.
The event is the only one of its kind in the Upper Valley this winter.
“The dogs go ballistic before they run,” said Elizabeth Strobridge, the fundraising chair for the event. “They’re just insanely excited.”
The event — in its second year — is co-hosted by Blue Mountain Snowdusters and North Country Mushers. There are 15 mushers participating and they have an average of eight dogs each. Admission is free, but there will be refreshments available to purchase.
An alternate viewing spot is the end of Walker Road.
Be sure to wear appropriate clothing that’ll keep you warm for multiple hours outside.
“These are the trails I run on with my kids and my dogs,” said Strobridge, who has a team of six Alaskan huskies and hound mixes, but is not participating in the competition “It’s a real joy to show them to other people.”
Most of the dogs racing are Alaskan or Siberian Huskies. Some competitors also have Eurohounds.
“It gets very loud,” Strobridge said. “We have just as many dogs as we do people.”
The event is for all ages, but spectators are asked to leave their dogs at home.
“We had tons of families last year,” Strobridge said. She added that spectators need to “be cautious around the working dogs.”
There are three different races that will take place that day. There is a 30-mile race for those with eight dogs, an 18-mile race with six dogs.
New this year is an 18-mile skijoring course, “where you ski on cross country skis behind two dogs,” Strobridge said.
Regardless of which teams win, it’s a unique opportunity for Upper Valley residents to see sled dog racing up close.
“That’s always been my favorite part: it’s all about the dogs,” Strobridge said. “They get so excited and it’s really fun.”
For more information visit snowdusters.org. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
