| VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES!
Volunteers
are a vital part of organizing and facilitating the John Beargrease
Sled Dog Marathon. In the 25 years, many interesting people from
all over the nation have done their part to make the Beargrease
a great experience. There’s the "cookie lady"
who hands out baggies of chocolate chip cookies to each passing
musher. Volunteers provide warmth and good cheer at the checkpoints
with warm food and big bonfires. Others get more extreme: a couple
from Iowa each year camps in the frigid emptiness at one of the
road crossings to assist teams and another man constructed a teepee
outside The Landing at Devil Track Lake for the duration of the
event.
Nearly 1,000
volunteers are needed by race time to ensure this event runs smoothly
and safely. There is a volunteer opportunity for everyone, from
those who have experience with sled dog races, those who are interested
in a first-hand look at the race happenings, or dog lovers. All
areas of the race need volunteers, especially the starting area
and various checkpoints.
BANNER
SQUAD
If you would like to be a part of and see ALL of the race from
the very beginning through the finish and the awards banquets,
then the "Banner Squad" is something to consider. Many
of the race sponsors have small, medium and large banners that
need to be proudly displayed at all the race events and checkpoints.
The squad will have the sole responsibility in making sure that
all sponsor banners are displayed at the right locations, precisely
at the right times throughout the entire race. Typically, 2 squads
(2 vehicles) "leap frog" these banners all the way up
and down the trail just ahead of the mushers, media and spectators.
The responsibilities of the Banner Squad are huge, as is the time
commitment. The Banner Squad typically needs to commit from the
very first day (Saturday, January 26th) all the way through to
the Marathon Banquet (Thursday, January 31st). However, the rewards
are huge as well, as you will witness first hand the entire race
from start to finish.
MERCHANDISE
If you enjoy
talking to people, being very busy and selling merchandise this
is the place for you. There are several events throughout race
week where your skills are needed: The Cutest Puppy Contest and
Opening Ceremonies on Jan. 26th, the Start Line on Jan. 27th and
at both the Mid-Distance and Marathon Awards Banquets later in
the week to name a few. We can use your help at any one or all
of these events – you can help for an hour or all day. Volunteers
will help set up the merchandise displays and sell our popular
Beargrease merchandise.
MUSHER REGISTRATION
Volunteers are needed early Saturday morning (January 26th) in
Duluth, at Grandma's Sports Garden - Canal Park to register the
mushers, their handlers and their teams into the respective races.
This is your opportunity to individually welcome and meet every
musher entered in this year’s race.
VETERINARIAN
CHECKS
Early Saturday morning, January 26th, at Grandma's Sports Garden
- Canal Park, thirteen Race Veterinarian’s begin performing
complete comprehensive physicals on over 600 sled dogs. Although
there are veterinarian assistants and mushers near by, there is
a need for volunteers to assist the veterinarians as they make
their rounds. Holding on to the dogs, marking dogs in or out of
the race and making notes for the vet are just a few of the duties
required. This is a great opportunity to see "really up-close"
all of the canine athletes entered in this year’s race.
CUTEST
PUPPY CONTEST (FITGER’S Inn & Brewery Complex)
From noon until 2:00pm on Saturday, January 26th, Fitger’s
Inn & Brewery Complex hosts "The Cutest Puppy Contest".
Anyone may enter a puppy (age restrictions of puppies apply) to
be judged by the public as "The Cutest". Nearly 30 puppies
enter this contest and there is a lot of set up to do before the
puppies arrive. Setting up tables, banners, registration materials
and then escorting the puppies to their positions for the judging.
Ballots from over 500 judges also need to be tabulated quickly
as these little canines are anxious for their crown! This is an
extremely popular Beargrease event that assuredly draws large
crowds. It is the ideal volunteer opportunity for those who prefer
the warmth of indoors.
HEADQUARTERS
(Billy's)
Beginning on Sunday, January 27th at the Start, the Beargrease
office (headquarters) located in downtown Duluth becomes the 24
hour a day "heartbeat" for the race. This too, is an
excellent opportunity for volunteers to stay warm throughout the
entire race and yet feel every bit a part of the action as others
along the trail. Many volunteers are needed (24 hours a day) to
receive phone calls from race officials with the "race times".
These race times need to be carefully and accurately recorded
and immediately be posted on our website. Thousands of race fans
from all over the world are watching and for most of them, the
website offers the most current information. The telephones get
notoriously busy all during the race from numerous newspapers,
radio stations and television media from all over the world, all
wanting race updates. For the family members of the mushers, handlers
and many of the volunteers, the Beargrease "headquarters"
is perhaps the only communicative avenue they have to keep up
on the race and to get emergency messages out to the trail. Volunteers
are needed for all and any shifts.
START
LINE SET UP/TEAR DOWN (ORDEAN MIDDLE SCHOOL)
It’s "show time"! Over 80 mushers, over 600 dogs
and 4000 spectators will start to gather at about 10:00am on Sunday,
January 27th for the start of the race. There is a tremendous
amount of set up work to do, dog trucks to park, banners and snow
fence to set up, tents to erect and hundreds of spectator vehicles
to park before the mayhem begins. If you volunteer for the start,
be ready for fast paced excitement as the sled dogs instinctively
know its time to go and they are begging to "get at it"!
If you’ve never witnessed a dog sled race start…you
will never forget it.
DOG
CREWS (START/ORDEAN MIDDLE SCHOOL)
If you want to get your hands dirty on the trail, the dog crew
chief is looking for your help. This is a great way to meet some
of the mushers and get hands-on experience handling racing dogs.
Helpers will need to assist mushers with moving their dog teams
from the truck to the starting point. Volunteers should be bundled
up in warm clothes and have the ability to run while holding a
gang line.
PARKING/CROWD
CONTROL (START/ORDEAN MIDDLE SCHOOL)
Volunteers are needed to direct people and cars with where to
go and where not to go at the Start. For many spectators, this
is their first race and there are numerous questions about the
race, the dogs, the best place to see from and "where are
the bathrooms".
MID-DISTANCE
AWARDS BANQUET
This years
Mid-Distance Awards Banquet will be held on Tues. Jan. 29th at
11:00 am at the Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior in Tofte, MN. Nearly
100 hundred attendees, including the mushers, will be on hand
for the banquet to see the Awards being handed out, to hear “tales
from the trail” and to enjoy a good meal. Volunteers are
needed to help with ticket sales and to set up and sell merchandise.
You’ll be busy!
MARATHON
AWARDS BANQUET
The Marathon Awards Banquet will be held on Thurs. Jan. 31st at
11:00 am at the Northland Country Club in Duluth. Over 100 hundred
attendees, including the mushers, will be on hand for the banquet
to see the Awards being handed out, to hear “tales from
the trail” and to enjoy a good meal. Volunteers are needed
to help with ticket sales and to set up and sell merchandise.
You’ll be busy!
ROAD CROSSINGS
Another on-site volunteer opportunity, this allows people to help
teams across road crossings. The demands of this position are
to maintain enough snow for teams to cross the roadways, create
a "human fence" for trail continuity, and sometimes
answer questions from the public about musher status and from
some of the crossing racers. Some of these road crossings are
rather remote. Many "road crossing" volunteers prefer
it that way. Bring a snow shovel, a flashlight or lantern, lots
of hot chocolate, a close friend or loved-one, build a huge beautiful
warm fire alongside the road and watch the race go right by you,
amidst the amazing Milky Way and Northern Lights.
CHECKPOINTS
(BILLY'S, HIGHWAY 2, FINLAND, SAWBILL, TRAIL CENTER.
There are five checkpoints in this year’s route from Duluth
to Trail Center and back. One of the best ways to be directly
involved in the race at a checkpoint is to volunteer as a "Checker".
Checkers are the first to greet the teams as they arrive at the
checkpoint. Armed with time sheets on clipboards, Checkers quickly
and accurately record time in and time out, count the number of
dogs standing in the team as well as any dogs in the sled and
rapidly check the sled bag to ensure the musher is carrying all
the mandatory equipment. As a Checker, you are a vital piece to
the success of the race and you have a lot of responsibility with
regards to getting mushers in and out of checkpoints quickly and
safely, however, expect being outside, exposed to cold temperatures
for long periods of time with little or no sleep.
Other checkpoint volunteers at these sites get a feel for the
excitement and the elements involved in the sport of mushing.
Help is needed to assist the mushers in and out of checkpoint
locations, set up and tear down checkpoint sites and handle other
activities such as keeping large, warm bon fires fed, crowd control
and miscellaneous assistance related to the checkpoints.
General
Checkpoint Information
BILLY'S
This location is easily reached by car even after some of the
mushers have left the starting line. The parking lot provides
the area for the actual checkpoint, where racers will probably
not stop for much more than signing in and a quick bootie change
if needed. Hundreds of fans generally visit this checkpoint because
it offers good race action; all the racers are hustling to stay
ahead of their nearest competitor. Billy's is the finish line
for the 2008 Marathon Race. Come be a part of this excitement.
HIGHWAY
2 (OUTSIDE OF TWO HARBORS)
This will be a good spot to view teams, mushers and handlers as
it is a required layover for both races. Marathon teams are not
likely to spend much time at this checkpoint on
their up bound route. However, they are required to take a 6 hour
mandatory layover here on the return leg. Marathon teams should
start arriving around dusk on Sunday evening.
There will be a bonfire, food and merchandise available and a
whirlwind of activity with teams coming and going till after midnight.
We will need help with road crossings on Highway 2 and the Alger
Grade. In the checkpoint area (aka "The Pit" or "The
Checkpoint from Hell") we will need help finding room for
all the teams and trucks, handling teams as they come off and
then on the trail and to keep the fire going.
FINLAND
The Finland stop offers good food and refreshments at the heated
Tent, which provides a good place for a little R&R for the
mushers, handlers, race officials and dogs. Spectators and volunteer
enjoy this stop because they can more easily talk with some of
the mushers and handlers.
SAWBILL
Seclusion and solitude is why the Sawbill spot is one of the favorites
among mushers. There is not much here but the woods, the trail
and the frozen Temperance River. This site is a good volunteer
opportunity for the person who prefers peace and serenity to the
crowds and mayhem at other checkpoints. Volunteers keep several
fires roaring throughout the night and keep spirits high. Each
year, Volunteers provide tents that act as the Command Center
and more importantly, provide lots of hot food and drink (free
of charge) to all mushers, handlers, volunteers and race officials.
Marathon mushers are most likely to arrive very early Monday morning.
On the upward bound route, the Sawbill Checkpoint is designated
as a remote "wilderness checkpoint" which means "NO
HANDLERS". The Mushers must provide for the care and feeding
of their dogs and themselves. Marathon mushers are required to
take a 6 hour mandatory layover at this location on the upward
bound. While all the Teams are in the checkpoint, a strict "order
of silence" is in effect, as the canine athletes and their
owners rest and re-fuel. It is a spectacular sight to see 365
dogs all resting together in one spot! Many volunteers are needed
to insure that the teams get in and out safely. Marathon musher
times are adjusted for the starting differential at this checkpoint
so musher strategies start to play out as they jockey for trail
positions throughout the rest of the race. When Marathon mushers
leave this checkpoint they will be heading out on the longest
leg of the trail as they travel over 60 miles to Poplar Lake.
Returning Marathon teams can be expected back at this location
anytime Tuesday. Parking is limited as handler vehicles need room
to park (on the downward bound leg) near the checkpoint. Plan
on a little walk from your car to the checkpoint. There are three
rules that all persons must comply with while at the Sawbill Checkpoint:
1) Do whatever it takes to insure the safety of the dogs, 2) No
whining about the cold, and 3) you must have fun!
MID-DISTANCE
FINISH LINE - TOFTE, MN.
The 2007 Mid-Distance Race is slated to finish in the shoreline
community of Tofte. Expect the first musher to arrive Monday morning,
January 28th. Help is needed in the form of Checkers, setting
up the finish line with banners, sound system, building and maintaining
warm fires, as well as maintaining crowd control and assisting
teams as they pack up their dogs and equipment.
TRAIL
CENTER - POPLAR LAKE
This spot up the Gunflint Trail has a unique wilderness setting
without as much of the madness that is found at other stops. Along
with a great view of the race, Trail Center offers food and other
facilities at this location. Some lodging will also be available
along with gasoline. This checkpoint essentially marks the halfway
point of the trail. From here, the Marathon teams begin their
return leg to the finish at Billy's in Duluth.
BILLY'S – FINISH OF THE MARATHON RACE
The end of the long Marathon race is a spot full of festivity
and excitement. Billy's offers a great setting to watch the Marathon
finishers. Teams come in towards a cheering crowd of fans to receive
finisher accolades. Mushers and handlers are almost always willing
to share stories of the trail. Help is requested to set up and
tear down the sound system, tent, banners and other miscellaneous
debris found at the finish line. Other important tasks are greeting
all of the finishing mushers with a spirited atmosphere and providing
crowd control. Expect the first Marathon musher to cross the finish
line sometime after 2:00pm on Wednesday afternoon.
|
