Copper Dog uses the Keweenaw Snowmobile Club’s network of trails for the race’s route each year. Both organizations mutually support each other’s missions, highlighting recreation opportunities in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Throughout the race, sleds and sled teams might see each other on the trail. Sharing the trails is an important aspect of safety during Copper Dog weekend.
Matt Eberly helps Tony Shepard, Copper Dog’s Trail Boss, with keeping the snowmobile trails safe for the race each year. Snowmobiles play a large role in keeping the race safe each year, with the trail boss leading the way, two rabbits and two trail sweepers.
“I gotta say the snowmobile community’s really been great about Copper Dog,” Eberly said. “In fact, the last several years I’ve run into a lot of snowmobilers that come up specifically for the Copper Dog. They like to go out on the trails, then park along the trails and watch the dog teams go by. So the snowmobile community’s been fantastic.”
Copper Dog encourages spectating the race. While some might hop out of the car, past a road crossing, to watch the teams, Eberly says snowmobilers also stop on the trail and watch the sled dog team run by. He suggests riders provide as much room to teams as they can when near the race.
“There’s no steering wheel on a dog sled team. So most mushers try to train their dogs to run on the right, but in the end they run wherever they want to run,” Eberly said. “So to the snowmobile community, I say, look for the trail sweeps and what we call the rabbits, the snowmobiles that are in front of the dog teams. Listen to them that there’s teams coming your way and slow right down. You can pass dog teams just use slow, steady throttle when you pass them. If you’re coming up head on, be ready to stop because sometimes dogs will dart out in front of you. And last thing you want to do is hit a dog sled team.”
As the first official to come across road crossings, the Copper Dog trail boss is one of the biggest roles keeping the race safe. Eberly emphasizes volunteers at crossings need to communicate well with each other. Once he came across a crossing team that was accidentally at the wrong trail intersection.
“Be careful of vehicles. That’s my biggest thing for the volunteers,” Eberly said. “You get excited that a team’s coming and you want to race out into the road and help. Just remember that there might be somebody up here that does not know there’s a dog sled race going on and they’re not expecting this. So just be very careful for yourself and your fellow volunteers at the road crossings. Wear your reflective vest that you’ll be issued and have a good time, but be aware of your surroundings.”
Snowmobile trails are an essential part of a successful Copper Dog race. Keep an eye out for race route markers if you go out on the trail and watch out for teams and volunteers along the route. The Copper Dog race will primarily use trails #3, #132 and #134. Find more information about Friday’s race start, the Sunday award banquet, volunteering and more online.
