Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon will start Jan. 31 in Two Harbors, Minn., instead of Duluth. It marks the second consecutive year the race start will be moved because of a lack of adequate snow cover. 

Shortened John Beargrease race finds snow

There are only about 5 inches of snow on the ground in Duluth near Lake Superior and "you need quite a bit more than that, probably close to a foot, before you can have a real good, safe starting area for the marathon," said Beargrease race board member Jason Rice.

The 383-mile Beargrease runs to Grand Portage, Minn., and is expected to end in Duluth on Feb. 3. It's the longest sled dog race in the lower 48 states. Established in 1980, it commemorates John Beargrease, an Ojibwe man who delivered mail by dogsled up and down the North Shore in the late 1800s for nearly 20 years.

About 30 mushers are registered to compete in this year's races. In addition to the marathon, mushers will also compete in a 119-mile race.

Other sled dog races also are challenged by skimpy snow this year. The Tahquamenon Country race in Michigan's Upper Peninsula has been postponed until Jan. 23 because of a lack of adequate snow cover. The Iditarod in Alaska is considering moving its start to Fairbanks. 

Organizers are committed to keeping the start of the Beargrease race in Duluth in the future, although moving it to Two Harbors has been discussed, Rice said.

"If the trend continues the way we've had it the past few years, where near the lake the snow cover is just too light to do a start, we're going to have to look at a more permanent solution," he added.

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Dan Kraker

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But the 383-mile race isn't being shortened much because it now extends up to Grand Portage, Minn.

Lack of snow means Beargrease race will start in Two Harbors again

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