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Canceled in 2024 for a lack of snow, the WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race is on as scheduled this winter.
The 17th annual sled dog race is slated for Sunday, Feb. 23, with both the start and finish lines at the city softball complex on Ely’s east end.
Both an eight-dog, 50-mile race and a six-dog, 30-mile event are part of the lineup, and the contests cap off a full weekend of related activities in town.
The festivities begin Friday, Feb. 21 at Grand Ely Lodge, host to the second annual WolfTrack Prance.
Ely’s favorite accordion king, Bernie Palcher, is set to provide line music while a special musher menu is available from 4 to 6 p.m.
The music begins at 5 p.m., and door prizes are offered at the free admission event that also includes a cash bar.
The mushers, and the dogs, take center stage on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Dog teams will assemble beginning at 3 p.m. in the parking lot of the Vermilion campus at Minnesota North College.
It’s the first chance for the public to meet “these beautiful and energetic rockstar athletes and their mushers” according to a news release issued this week.
The college’s Wilderness Club will provide an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner in the school cafeteria from 4 to 6 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door for $10 per adult and $5 for youth. The dinner is a fundraiser for the club.
The WolfTrack Classic crew will also have race gear available for purchase from 3-5 pm, and Midco Communications will offer free drawings and other treasures.
Saturday’s activities lead up to race day on Sunday, Feb. 23, and the main event.
Racing begins at 9 a.m., and the public is welcome to attend although asked to please leave pets at home.
Spectator parking will open at 8 a.m. in the Old Airport Road parking lot, and with close either when the lot is full or at 8:45 a.m.
Should the lot fill, spectators will be directed either to side street parking of the Ely Chamber of Commerce parking lot. The recycling center is closed on race day.
Dog teams will begin departing at 9 a.m., with the energy of the 420 dogs providing a frenzy of high-pitched anticipation.
The eight-dog teams hit the trail first, followed by the six-dog teams at two-minute intervals until all teams are on the trail.
Teams travel the Taconite Trail and return to the Ely start/finish area. Spectators won’t have to wait long before teams come across the finish line starting around noon.
Spectators are invited to enjoy coffee or hot chocolate and a breakfast snack while supplies last, compliments of Midco.
Midco will also provide three warming fires near the dog trucks, start-finish, and coffee area. Robinson Lake Trucking & Excavating will provide the firewood, and Dutchman Tree Service will keep those warming fires burning.
The WolfTrack Classic is organized by the Ely Chamber of Commerce with the support of various sponsors and volunteers.
The race will be live-streamed through iFan Sports. The link for the iFan channel will be available at Wolf-TrackClassic.com and on Facebook.
Teams will arrive in town Saturday for race preparation and vet checks, with the annual “Musher Dinner.”
