Exciting Dog Sled Event-Mush for a Cure March 12-13

 Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais, MINNESOTA ─ If you thought the Beargrease Marathon was fun to watch then you will love the Mush for a Cure Sled Dog Fundraiser on Minnesota’s Gunflint Trail. Mushers and their dog teams cloaked in pink begin the event at a mass start on Gunflint Lake on Saturday, March 13th. It’s a sourdough start where mushers wait for the sound of the shotgun signal while tucked inside of their sleeping bag. They hop out of their bags, struggle to get their boots on, hook up their dogs and begin the fun run to Trail Center on Poplar Lake.

 The best thing about Mush for a Cure is everyone is a winner. Last year’s participants and spectators raised over $25,000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Spectators are treated to an up close and personal look at the sport of dog mushing during the Mush for a Cure. While competitors at the Beargrease are tense and protective of their dog teams participants of the Mush for a Cure are relaxed and ready for fun. It’s a winter carnival like atmosphere at both the start and finish line making it a fun-filled all day long event for people of all ages. Everyone gets involved for the cause by wearing their pink in hopes of winning the best pink costume competition. The public is welcome at all of the Mush for a Cure festivities.

The Pink Pasta Party on Friday night will include Hair Cuts for a Cure and live music at Trail Center. There will be games galore on Poplar Lake Saturday while mushers and skijorers make their way to the finish line. The fun doesn’t stop at sundown it just moves into Trail Center for another evening of live music and dancing. You won’t want to miss a minute of the excitement so plan to spend the weekend of March 12-13th on Minnesota’s Gunflint Trail during the 4th Annual Mush for a Cure Fundraiser.
Mush for a Cure When: Friday, March 12th and Saturday, March 13, 2010 Where: 5:00pm Cuts for a Cure begin on Friday at Trail Center during the Pink Pasta Party 12:00 Noon start Gunflint Pines Resort on Gunflint Lake. Finish at Trail Center Lodge on Poplar Lake on the historic Gunflint Trail. Length of Fun Run: 24 miles Entry Fee: $50.00 - The mandatory entry fee for mushers and skijorers to cover the cost of insurance, trail permits & other expenses. Pledge money to be collected at registration the day of the event. Team size: 5-8 dogs Type of start: Sourdough / Shot Gun Start. Mushers hop out of their sleeping bags, put on their boots and hitch up their team before taking off down Gunflint Lake.

Parking: Due to parking limitations at the start location the Mush for a Cure Fun Run is limited to 50 teams. Visit MushForACure.com and click on the “Reserve a Parking Space” or e-mail info@MushForACure.com for more information. Pledging: All donations should be made payable to Mush for a Cure. Reserve your Lodging: Visit Gunflint-Trail.com or call (888) 922-5000. Racer Registration, Pledging, Sponsorship information: Mary Black at info@MushForACure.com or call Tel. (218)370-9063 http://www.mushforacure.com.

Storm Clearing Continues on the Banadad

Trail Alert- Portions of the Banadad Ski Trail remain closed due to the accumulating on alder brush and small trees caving them into the trail and making the trail impassable.  Crews of two to four people composed of Boundary Country Trekking's staff, members of the Banadad Trail Association and other Gunflint Trail residents have been out daily clearing the trail but the going is slow, wet and cold. It has been taking the crews four to five hours per mile to clear the brush. Thus far the Lace Lake and Tall Pines Trails are open and tracked. Twenty kilometers of the Banadad's thirty kilometers have been cleared. It is expected that the remainder of the Banadad should be cleared and re-opened by Februrary 10. Stay tuned folks!