Dog Days of Winter and sled races set for Jan. 30-31 in Brownville Jct.
WINTER RECREATION GUIDE
BROWNVILLE JCT — On Saturday, Jan. 30 the town of Brownville and the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club will present the seventh annual Brownville-KI and Beyond Sled Dog Race and Dog Days of Winter event. The activities take place at and around Railroad Avenue, and new this year the event continues on Sunday, Jan. 31.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
AND THEY’RE OFF! — A dogsled team takes off during a previous Brownville-KI and Beyond Sled Dog Race & Dog Days of Winter event. The seventh annual weekend will be hosted in Brownville Jct on Saturday, Jan. 30 and Sunday, Jan. 31 by the town of Brownville and the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club.
Saturday begins with breakfast at the American Legion on Railroad Avenue starting at 5 a.m. and going through 9:30 a.m.. Mushers arrive from 6-8:30 a.m. and equipment checks will take place from 8-9:45 a.m.
Dog sled teams will start the 30-mile race at 10 a.m., departing from the edge of Railroad Avenue with teams scheduled to be on the trails until the middle of the afternoon. The 30-mile trail is a scenic out and back course, traversing varied terrain. Race entry forms can be found at www.mainesleddogclub.com. At 10:30 a.m. a shorter 20-mile race commences.
The Brownville Snowmobile Club maintains the trail, assists with marking the route and is providing sweep sleds for the safety of mushers. The Piscataquis Amateur Radio Club is manning radio communications safety checkpoints along the trail.
A mushers’ fun run starts at 11 a.m., and lunch will be served at the American Legion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Dog Days of Winter will include a number of other free events during the early afternoon along Railroad Avenue, such as turkey bowling sponsored by the American Legion; snow art competition, also sponsored by the American Legion; indoor arts and crafts hosted by the Brownville Recreation Department; a mushing board game hosted by the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club; snow sledding sponsored by the General Store and More; and the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club’s one dog event as participants of all ages are invited to try their hand at mushing.
The day will conclude with a public dinner and musher awards ceremony sponsored by the Brownville Jct. United Methodist Church and taking place at the American Legion from 3-5 p.m.
On Sunday, Jan. 31 the Brownville-KI and Beyond Sled Dog Race & Dog Days of Winter continues with another 20-mile fun race at 9 a.m. and then a skijor 101 clinic at 10 a.m.
For more information, please contact the Brownville Town Office at 965-2561 or go to www.trcmaine.org/dogdays, www.mainesleddogclub.com or the Maine Highlands Sled Dog Club Facebook page.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HUSKY, BUT STILL ABLE TO RUN FAST — A few dogs patiently wait their turn to head out onto the trail before a race in Brownville Jct.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
READY TO RUN — A team during the 2014 Brownville-KI and Beyond Sled Dog Race in Brownville Jct. gets ready to head to the starting line for the 30-mile competition. In 2016 the 30-mile race begins at 10 a.m., with a 20-mile jaunt starting at 10:30 a.m.
Observer file photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MUSHING THROUGH THE SNOW — An eight-dog team starts its run on the trail two years ago in a Brownville-KI and Beyond Sled Dog Race. New in 2016 will be a 20-mile fun run on Sunday morning at 9, followed by a 10 a.m. skijor 101 clinic.