Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race canceled due to lack of snow
By Joe Hathaway on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA COUNTY — One of the largest and most exciting events in Northeast Oregon, won’t happen this year.
The Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race has been canceled due to lack of snowpack, according to race organizers
The 200-mile course is Oregon’s largest sled dog race and one of the few qualifying courses outside of Alaska for the Iditarod and Yukon Quest, attracting mushers from around the U.S. Three other races are also run for both experienced mushers and those new to the sport.
The races run through the Wallowa Mountains beginning at Ferguson Ridge Ski Area outside of Joseph. The 100- and 200-mile courses are along forest roads — up to Salt Creek Summit along the Canal Road and down to the Imnaha River through the ponderosa, pine and spruce stands of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The two-day, 31-mile and 22-mile courses are out and back, starting and finishing at Ferguson Ridge.
Randy Greenshields, director of the race, said 24 teams signed up for 3 races (200 mile, 100 mile, and 62 mile 2 day race). He added that 100 volunteers also signed up for the race, that were eager to help out.
Organizers of the race said in the Facebook post, “While we’ll miss seeing everyone this month we look forward to more snow in 2025 and an amazing race return then.”
