Lack of snow forces cancellation of Eagle Cap sled-dog races
Published 10:00 am Sunday, January 14, 2024
- This photograph, taken the week of Jan. 1, 2024, shows the lack of snow at Salt Creek Summit. The lack of snowpack throughout the area has prompted organizers of the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog race to cancel this year’s event.
WALLOWA COUNTY — For the first time, a lack of snow is forcing the cancellation of the Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race, Dr. Randy Greenshields announced late Thursday, Jan. 4.
Greenshields, a veterinarian who does health checks of the dog teams and serves on the Eagle Cap Extreme board, said board members met and decided to cancel the race because of the scarcity of snow.
“Several other sled-dog races have been canceled as well this year,” he said.
Greenshields said mushers and volunteers were being notified so they wouldn’t make the trip to Wallowa County in vain.
He said six teams had signed up for the 200-mile race, 12 in the 100-mile race and another six in the 31-mile race. Mushers and teams were coming from California, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Washington.
More than 100 people signed up to volunteer as helpers with the races.
The event had been scheduled for Jan. 17-20. Veterinarian checks had been scheduled for Enterprise and Joseph on Jan. 17, with the races starting the next day at Ferguson Ridge Ski Area.
Greenshields said that although the race has never been canceled because of a lack of snow, on its second year — in 2006 — it was cut short because of too much snow.
He said two of the mushers missed hearing that the race had been cut short and were on their own on the course. One of them, Billy Snodgrass of Wyoming, said, “It was the scariest mushing moment I’ve ever had.”
Greenshields said Snodgrass told him that because of the way the snow was falling, he wasn’t sure he was going to make it back.
Greenshields said the race also attracts veterinarians from all over, some from the East Coast and the Midwest, as well as from around Oregon.
“It’s good learning” for the veterinarians, he said.
In addition to the mushers, race spectators will be disappointed by the cancellation. Schoolchildren generally come to downtown Enterprise and Joseph to see the dog teams.
“With all the kids who come to the vet checks,” he said, “it really brings a lot of people together.”
But Greenshields hasn’t lost hope.
“Hopefully we’ll be back next year with plenty of snow,” he said.
