ELY — The Wolftrack Classic sled dog race celebrated its tenth anniversary last weekend with 45 teams, perfect conditions, and a milestone debut at a brand new venue.
Teams competed in 8-dog and 6-dog classes, racing 50-mile and 30-mile loops respectively, all starting and finishing at the newly opened Ely Regional Trailhead Complex. The move to the new facility on the west end of town paid dividends on the trail.
“Conditions were great — it was the fastest-running race we’ve ever had,” said Eva Sebesta, executive director of the Ely Chamber of Commerce, which produces the event. “We shaved a couple of miles off from being on the east end of town, and now we’re on the west.”
The competition lived up to the billing. In the 6-dog class, Ashley Miller took first place in a race so tight the top finishers were separated by just six seconds. Ryan Anderson won the 8-dog class.
“He has been super hot on the race circuit this year,” Sebesta said. “He won the Beargrease marathon and the UP 200 this year. It’s always exciting to have him join.”
The weekend’s festivities kicked off Friday evening with the WolfTrack Prance dinner and dancing to the music of Bernie Palcher. Saturday brought Meet the Mushers Day to Vermilion College’s parking lot, where hundreds of visitors and locals mingled with competitors — though the dogs, as always, stole the show. Sebesta estimated about 300 people attended throughout the day.
The afternoon wrapped up with a spaghetti dinner hosted by the Wilderness Club in the college dining facility. “The spaghetti dinner is the only fundraiser the Wilderness Club has each year,” said Alyssa Richards, a faculty member and head of the Wilderness and Park Management and EMS programs on campus. “The funds go toward student activities and trips supporting greater learning about parks and wilderness management. Sled dog trips are part of the activity list — everyone loves that!” Several hundred people turned out for the meal, a welcome warm-up after a full afternoon outdoors.
Sunday morning’s race day temperatures hovered around 3 degrees — “a perfect race day temp,” according to more than one musher. Two snowfalls earlier in the week had laid down a solid base on both loops, and a large crowd braved the cold to watch teams launch down the trail. It’s the most electric moment of the weekend, one that makes clear just how much the dogs love their work.
The new Trailhead Complex earned high marks from attendees beyond just the race itself. “Lots of folks are really enjoying the Trailhead Building,” Sebesta said. “Kids brought their sleds and were sledding on the hills. I think the building is going to become a really good community gathering point.”
For Sebesta and the Chamber, moving to a new venue after a decade at the same location was a learning experience — but a successful one. “The first time running an event out of any new location will show you what you don’t know,” she said. “It went really well. Parking was the only challenge that we had, but we’ve got some great ideas for next year.”
The race wouldn’t happen without the roughly 100 volunteers who staff it each year. “We deeply appreciate everybody who helped make the race fun and safe,” Sebesta said. “We couldn’t do the race without them.”