2025 UP200 Powered by NMU Mushers - Upper Peninsula Sled Dog Association - UP 200

I originally got into mushing from being a race volunteer at the Sawbill checkpoint at the Beargrease. To add to the excitement from that experience, my wife/kennel manager Cristen and I stayed with Deke Naaktgeboren on our honey moon where Deke gave us our first four sled dogs.

I have raced in 2 dog sprint races to 12 dog mid-distance races including the Beargrease 120, Jump River, the Knik 200, and the Wolf Track Classic.

My biggest claim to fame is getting the red lantern in the Beargrease120 and the Wolftrack in my first race year… it can only be up from there!

I enjoy the outdoors.

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Montana, Maine, Alaska

I'm looking forward to being back at the UP200.

It just happened...

Mn, WI, MI, Montana, Id, WY, UT, ME, Ontario, Manitoba, Alaska 

It has always been great every time I come to the UP. Can't wait to get back!

I got into dogs back in 2008. I bought a dog from a musher and he invited me for a dog sled ride, I was on the runners within 3 miles and running dogs by myself the next week. It's all history after that.

Maine and Canada

I have to many too lists. I once hallucinated tree houses and bridges coming into the Allagash checkpoint during Can Am.

I first got involved in sled dog racing my freshman year at Michigan Tech with the Mushing Club. When I first visited the kennel, I was blown away by all of the dogs, and I got hooked. Being a person pursuing Veterinary School, it was an awesome opportunity to learn more about animal care.

I have raced in the Beargrease 40 in 2022, and at the time of the UP 200, I will have completed the Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race 10 dog pro.

Over this past summer, I had the amazing experience of going to Alaska to run dryland dog tours the entire summer. It was a great experience to run the dogs that I run here in the UP every day, and to be able to mush other teams from around the country, especially the Iditarod kennels. It was also a great experience to meet mushers from around the country and to gain knowledge and experience from them. 

My 7 year old son fabricated a sled and tied it to our golden retriever. To avoid injury to the dog or child, I bought a dog sled and here we are.

Montana, Maine, UP, Minnesota

Awesome to run down the lighted street at night for the UP200

I met a really cute musher. Dog sledding was one of our first dates.

Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin

Yes, but I'm going to tell you in poem form :)

The dog leaned into the harness, then looked back with a glance
all muscle and power and pride in her stance.
"Alright!" I yelled, and she charged into the storm,
away from her dog box, the straw nice and warm!
The wind was a howlin' race 2022!
The snow dumped down and still the wind blew.
Two tough days later the race was completed,
nerves of my first UP200 completed!
We traded more snowflakes for party confetti,
then fish for the dogs and for us...spaghetti!

I blame friends who wanted to share their addiction! Racing motivates me to be a better dog trainer

Michigan, Minnesota, Maine, Montana and Wisconsin

I fell asleep one year during a leg of the UP 200; I fell over while still holding the driving bow and the dog inside the sled bag gave a little yip to wake me up. Everyone was fine and we headed off to the final checkpoint together - thankfully!

I like the challenge of racing my dogs. Training them and trying to improve them every year.

I raced a lot of Can Am Crown 250 miles and won it 10th times. Here in Michigan, I placed a lot of time in second or third place.

In the Iditarod 2022, Me and my team were attacked by a moose. I had to fight with my ski pole to stop him hitting my dogs. A biography book is coming.

Colleen and I went to watch the Beargrease and it changed our lives, kinda like raising children.

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maine, Ontario

Can't believe it was thirty years ago when I entered my first race, right here in Marquette! I have laughed, I have cried, I have celebrated, I have winced in pain many times - ALL during the course of the race! I enjoy the Yoopers, especailly the ones who hand out beers going to the finish line! Thanks to all the great people that make this a world class event!

I got my first dog from a Mushing kennel. I started to hook her up on my bike or getting her to pull me on my roller blades.

Minnesota, Michigan, Maine, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Quebec

My best memory is looking at my daughter having a good time in Dawson City during my 36h break on the Yukon Quest

Mushing is a life style for us. All the family is involved. It's so nice to race with my son the last couple years. I started mushing when I was 12 years old in sprint races. I am the third generation of musher in my family. I love the freedom to be in the trail with my dogs. 

Can-Am 250, Maine, UP200

One of the most memorable stories is the first time my son raced the UP200 at only 17 years old in 2020

I was born in a mushing lifestyle. All the family is involved in racing. I really enjoy to be with my dogs, I like everything around them. Racing with my dad and handling by my mother.

UP200, CanAm 250, PG Expedition

In 2023, I raced the Can-Am 250 for the first time by myself. I usually have my dad in the race and could talk to him at checkpoints but he didn't race in 2023. That year was pretty challenging for me.

We learned to run dogs at YMCA Camp Menogyn and a few years later we acquired our own team. A mushing friend invited us to a race and soon we were breeding dogs and racing. We now hve 30 dogs in our kennel located near Grand Marais MN.

Primarily Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, but we often go to CanAm in Maine and last year we ventured to Alaska where we ran several races in Alaska and I attempted the Iditarod. Unfortunately I had to scratch after 500 miles, but I'd like to go back and try again in a future year.

My husband Matt Schmidt has run this race a number of times more htan me and usually its myself driving the dog truck through a blizzard to Grand Marais or scrambling to show up at the checkpoint in the nick of time before the team arrives. On several occasions, I have just barely made it. This will be Matt's first time handling for me at this race, so I look forward to seeing what he can do.

This is a sport I grew up in. My mom is the one who got me started at a very young age and just have been doing it ever since.

Alaska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, UP Michigan

I am really looking forward to conquering the UP200 this year. I absolutely love this race and the challenges that come up.

My sister and I grew up with Sled dogs our entire lives. My mother originally had sled dogs.

2x Jr. Beargrease 120 Champion
4x Jr. Iditarod Top 3 (2021 Champion)
Klondike Dog Derby
Gunflint Mail Run
Northern Pines Sled Dog Race
Apostle Island Sled Dog

Almost drowned while on a training run with a 14 dog team in subzero temperatures. We were covering a huge section of trail that was submerged in 2 ft water from rainfall the previous couple days. Water was incredibly murky, could not see the bottom whatsoever. One of the dogs in the team got tangled half way through, so I got off the 4-wheeler to go fix him. Sloshing through the water the team move and shoved me off the trail. I took one step off the trail and plunged up to my head in icy water!